All day yesterday these four albums played over and over.
In December of 1971 Frank Zappa was assaulted by a “fan” in London, tackled onstage and thrown into an orchestra pit. He broke a bunch of bones (and injured his larynx, which, oddly enough, improved his singing voice) and had to spend about a year off the road. He put this time to good use, though, writing and recording the large scale fusion masterpieces “Waka/Jawaka” and “The Grand Wazoo.” The latter opens with some sharp guitar soloing which melds into a big-band horn breakdown. Later in the album there is a part where they sing like elves. One of my favorite FZ albums.
I know I know I know that the Grateful Dead is all about the live show. But, you know, sometimes you just aren’t in the mood for a fifteen minute guitar solo or a haunting, ethereal exploration of “Space.” Sometimes, a three and a half minute complete song is just what the doctor ordered. And the songs that are found on “Workingman’s Dead” are some of my favorites. Probably the most spare you’ll ever hear the Dead (and, unlike so many of the live tapes out there, well recorded and, importantly, mixed for harmonies) this album as an artwork stands alone from the entire Dead phenomenon and, if I may be so bold, presents their talents in a unique and seperate context. Exhibit A in the arguement that sometimes less is more. Certainly if you’ve just played Zappa’s “Grand Wazoo” three times.
This album has the greatest version of “Stella By Starlight” I’ve ever heard.
Saving the best for last. NRBQ, when at their best, will open a song you’ve never heard before, and after only ten seconds in you’ll ask “How have I ever lived my life without this song before?” Really fun, really heartfelt, really catchy, really soulfull, really lacking in any pretension. Perfect.
