Frank Zappa 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' UK LP Mint

	£		38
	$		50

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: 'WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH' LP - Rare Original 1970 UK Press (Reprise RSLP 2028)

Weasels was originally designed as a sampler for a 12-record set, ‘The History and Collected Improvisations of the Mothers of Invention’. It includes live and studio recordings, demonstrating that, for Zappa, heavy R&B - Sugarcane Harris’s performance of Little Richard’s ‘Directly From My Heart to You’ is consummate - was part of the same sonic universe as the avant garde orchestral music of Varèse and the freeform jazz of Eric Dolphy. The latter was given his own ‘Memorial Barbecue’, a stunning encounter between bizarre harmonies and electronic distortion. Weasels also featured another notorious sleeve - for me one of the greatest ever - a hilariously gruesome painting by Neon Park (Martin Muller from San Francisco). When guitarist Lowell George - who can be heard imitating a Gestapo officer on ‘Didja Get Any Onya’ - broke away to form Little Feat, he insisted on using Neon Park for all their covers. The title of ‘Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mark’ nodded to Debussy’s ballet about the skipping faun, but the heavy-rock sounds were totally The Mothers. ‘My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama’ (a Zappa classic) is an icon of teenage rebellion and was issued as a single. The title track was simply two minutes and seven seconds of feedback and distortion – amazing electrical mayhem. It would be many years later - with the advent of lo-fi and ‘noise’ bands like Sonic Youth - that such strategies would become familiar to rock listeners. As it was, Zappa was happy to be known as the King of Weird: it gave him carte blanche to employ any musical texture or style that took his fancy. This album is essential (but then again he made around 60 others that are too).

Vinyl - remarkably thicker than later flimsy reissues - is in superb condition, on first inspection it looks virtually unplayed, retaining all of its original shine. This one has obviously been played very little, and always treated with extreme care - a beautiful piece! As you surely already know, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find classic vinyl in such nice condition. This one has no scratches, no hairlines, no surface marks at all - even when seen under strong light! Playing the record, I can confirm that play-grade coincides with visual grading - it plays superbly, without any clicks or pops, jumps or crackle. Record is graded as mint!

Dark tan Reprise labels are also virtually mint, without any tears or writing, also no spindle marks.

Stunning sleeve - also made of much better quality stock than later pressings - is in fantastic condition for its age - please have a look at the photographs, I do my best to give an accurate detail of item's condition! It shows 100% solid seams, no splits or tears, no writing, no ring, no spine wear, perfect graphics, and only a couple of light creases and extremely light general wear to detract it from attaining an even higher grade! Spine is fully and clearly readable. Cover must warrant an excellent to near mint grade, if not better! These pressings are extremely hard to find, in any condition - even more so on the stunning shape this one is in. Don't miss your chance to own one!

Track Listing

1. Didja Get Ant Onya
2. Directly from My Heart to You
3. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask
4. Toads of the Short Forest
5. Get a Little
6. Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue
7. Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula
8. My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
9. Oh No
10. The Orange County Lumber Truck
11. Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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