Tag Archives: Lumpy Gravy

Frank Zappa: Lumpy Gravy

Lumpy Gravy

On August 7, 1967, “Capitol” label released “Lumpy Gravy”, the debut Frank Zappa album. It was recorded in February 1967, and was produced by Nick Venet. “Lumpy Gravy” is an album of orchestral, electric and concrete sound, performed by a group of session players Zappa dubbed the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – conductor
  • Glenn Phillips – vocals
  • Tommy Tedesco – guitar
  • Al Viola – guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Jimmy “Senyah” Haynes – guitar
  • Tony Rizzi – guitar
  • Michael Lang – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Lincoln Mayorga – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Paul Smith – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Pete Jolly – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Bob West – bass
  • Jimmy Bond– bass
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass
  • Roy Estrada– bass, chorus
  • Frank Capp – drums
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Shelly Manne – drums
  • Alan Estes – percussion, drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion, drums
  • John Rotella – percussion, woodwind
  • Emil Richards – percussion
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Jimmy Zito – trumpet
  • Kenny Shroyer – trombone
  • Richard Parissi – French horn
  • Vincent DeRosa– French horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn
  • Arnold Belnick – strings
  • Harold Bemko – strings
  • Joseph DiFiore – strings
  • Jesse Ehrlich – strings
  • Ray Kelly – strings
  • Jerome Kessler – strings
  • Alexander Koltun – strings
  • Bernard Kundell – strings
  • William Kurasch – strings
  • Harry Hyams – strings
  • Leonard Malarsky – strings
  • Jerome Reisler – strings
  • Joseph Saxon – strings
  • Ralph Schaeffer – strings
  • Leonard Selic – strings
  • Tibor Zelig – strings
  • James Getzoff – strings
  • Philip Goldberg – strings
  • Bunk Gardner – woodwind
  • Jules Jacob – woodwind
  • Ted Nash – woodwind
  • Donald Christlieb – woodwind
  • Gene Cipriano – woodwind
  • Harold Kelling – vocals
  • Larry Fanoga (Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood) – vocals, chorus
  • Jimmy Carl Black– chorus
  • Monica Boscia – chorus
  • Louis “Louie the Turkey” Cuneo – chorus
  • Bruce Hampton – chorus
  • Cal Schenkel – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Sink Trap
  2. Gum Joy
  3. Up and Down
  4. Local Butcher
  5. Gypsy Airs
  6. Hunchy Punchy
  7. Foamy Soaky
  8. Let’s Eat Out
  9. Teenage Grand Finale

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