Tag Archives: Cheap thrills

Mothers Of Invention: Cruising With Ruben & The Jets

Frank_Zappa_-_Cruising_With_Ruben_&_the_Jets

On December 2, 1968, “Bizarre”  and “Verve” labels released “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets”, the fourth Mothers of Invention studio album. It is part of Mothers project named “No Commercial potential” which featured three albums: “Uncle Meat”, We’re in it Only for the Money” and “Lumpy Gravy”. The album was recorded December 1967 – February 1968, at the “Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– low grumbles, oo-wah and lead guitar, bass, piano, drums
  • Ray Collins– lead vocals
  • Roy Estrada– high weazlings, dwaedy-doop and electric bass
  • Jimmy Carl Blackand/or Arthur Dyer Tripp III – lewd pulsating rhythm
  • Ian Underwoodor and Don Preston – redundant piano triplets
  • Motorhead Sherwood– baritone sax, tambourine
  • Bunk Gardner, Ian Underwood – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Cal Schenkel – artwork, cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Cheap Thrills
  2. Love of My Life – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
  3. How Could I Be Such a Fool
  4. Deseri – Ray Collins and Paul Buff
  5. I’m Not Satisfied
  6. Jerry Roll Gum Drop
  7. Anything – Ray Collins
  8. Later That Night
  9. You Didn’t Try to Call Me
  10. Fountain of Love – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
  11. No. No.
  12. Anyway the Wind Blows
  13. Stuff Up the Cracks

Big Brother And The Holding Company: Cheap Thrills

Cheapthrills

On August 12, 1968, “Columbia” label released “Cheap Thrills”, the second Big Brother and the Holding Company studio album (first one with Janis Joplin as lead singer). It was recorded March-May 1968 and was produced by John Simon, who incorporated recordings of crowd noise to give the impression of a live album, but only the last song, band’s cover of “Ball and Chain”, had been recorded live at “The Fillmore” in San Francisco.  “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Cheap Thrills” at number 338 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Janis Joplin– vocals
  • Sam Andrew– vocals, lead guitar, bass
  • James Gurley– guitar
  • Peter Albin – bass, guitar
  • Dave Getz – drums

Track listing:

  1. Combination of the Two – Sam Andrew
  2. I need a Man to Love – Sam Andrew, Janis Joplin
  3. Summertime – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  4. Piece of My Heart – Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovy
  5. Turtle Blues – Janis Joplin
  6. Oh, Sweet Mary – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, David Getz, James Gurley, Janis Joplin
  7. Ball and Chain – Big Mama Thorton