Tag Archives: 1970

The Mothers Of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh

On August 10, 1970, “Bizarre” label released “Weasels Ripped My Flesh”, the seventh Mothers of Invention (The) album. It was recorded December 1967 – August 1969 at various locations and was produced by Frank Zappa. This is the second Mothers of Invention (The) album released after the band disbanded in 1969 (first one was Burnt Weeny Sandwich).

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, lead guitar
  • Ray Collins– vocals
  • Lowell George– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Don Preston– organ, electronic effects
  • Roy Estrada – vocals, bass
  • Art Tripp– drums
  • Jimmy Carl Black– drums
  • Ian Underwood– alto saxophone
  • Motorhead Sherwood– baritone saxophone, snorks
  • Bunk Gardner– tenor saxophone
  • Buzz Gardner– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Don “Sugarcane” Harris– vocals, electric violin
  • Neon Park – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Didja Get Any Onya
  2. Directly from My Heart to You – Richard Wayne Penniman
  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

Donny Hathaway

On January 13, 1979, Donny Edward Hathaway died aged 34. He was musician (piano, keyboards), singer and songwriter, started successful career after signing contract with “Atlantic Records” in 1969 and after releasing his first single for the “Atco” label, “The Ghetto, Part I”. The “Rolling Stone” magazine “marked him as a major new force in soul music” in 1970 and his collaboration with Roberta Flack won him the “Grammy Award” for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” for the duet, “Where Is the Love” in 1973. On January 13, 1979, Hathaway’s body was found outside the luxury hotel “Essex House” in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.

The Altamont Speedway Free Festival

On December 6, 1969, “The Altamont Speedway Free Festival” was held at the Altamont Speedway in Northern California. The festival made it in the history mostly for the violence that resulted with the death of Meredith Hunter and three accidental deaths: two caused by a hit-and-run car accident and one by drowning in an irrigation canal, number of injured people, numerous stolen cars and extensive property damage. Performers on the festival were Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Rolling Stones. The Grateful Dead canceled their performance due to the rising violence. Approximately 300,000 people attended the concert. Filmmakers Albert and David Maysles shot footage of the festival which can be seen in the 1970 documentary movie “Gimme Shelter”.