29th January 2024 - Lumpy Gravy
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One of the issues of aNONradio is that I have something to listen to 
most of the time. Throw in podcasts and I find myself sitting down 
with an album rather rare. Today, I decided to sit down with an album 
and felt in a Frank Zappa mood so ended up with Lumpy Gravy.

Released in 1968 and worked on at the same time as 'We're Only In It 
For The Money' which was recorded with the Mothers of Invention, Lumpy 
Gravy is a truely weird album. If you consider Frank Zappa's work so 
far as being mixes of blues, rock, do wop and just about any other 
contemporary style of music then Lumpy Gravy is the out pouring of 
Frank's mind. It certainly feels that way. The album consists of 2 
parts which last around 15 minutes each. Originally, Lumpy Gravy was 
meant to be an orchestral work released by Capitol Records. However, 
MGM felt this violated Zappa's contract with Verve Records and so that 
album was recalled. As became a typical Zappa move, Frank ended up 
releasing another album with the same name which is almost an 
anti-commercial 'middle finger raised' affair. Well, there is no 
almost about it. Zappa made an album which is a series of musique 
concrete pieces from fragments of the original orchestral music, 
non-sensical jabberings from various people and then moments of surf 
music. Clearly not aimed at commercial success, clearly aimed to annoy 
lots of people. 

Yet, there is a strange manner in which it all comes together. At 
times, you ride the weirdness and have a lovely time. Then moments 
come and you are lost, confused and angered at the lack of musical 
sense. However, these moments are short and often rewarded with a 
period of musical coherence. It makes for a fun journey although not 
one you wish to make regularly. Will it make you a fan of Zappa? Hell 
no! I certainly do not recommend starting here in your journey with 
Zappa's music. Start somewhere else like 'Freak Out!', 'Absolutely 
Free' or 'Apostrophe (')'. I would love to recommend starting with 
'Hot Rats' as a favourite album but you have to be comfortable with 
the orchestral side of Zappa to really embrace that album I think. 

This is an album which I keep returning to. It is a fun ride and some 
of the snippets are stuck deep in the head. I often find myself with 
some tune bouncing in the head and it can often be tracked to Lumpy 
Gravy. There are even 2 versions of which I recommend finding and 
listening to if you find you enjoy this sort of thing. The album was 
remixed in 1984 a couple of times. A quick look and there are even 
more remixes if you hunt. Poor Zappa completionists! Anyhow, if you 
like anything experimental, odd or just plain weird then give it a go. 
Maybe give it another go. Sometimes you need to work out how to tune 
your ears to what sounds like noise, a la Captain Beefheart and the 
Magic Band's 'Trout Mask Replica'. It can be worth the effort. I 
certainly found it so.