On November 30, 1999, Don Francis Bowman “Sugarcane” Harris died aged 61. He was musician (violin, guitar), a pioneer in amplification of the violin. He was member of the doo-wop band The Squires, the duo Don and Dewey, Pure Food and Drug Act, performed with Little Richard, recorded and performed with John Mayall & the Bluesbrakers, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, John Lee Hooker, Harvey Mandel, Tupelo Chain Sex, Johnny Otis, Billy Bang, Freddie Roulette, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. As leader Harris released nine albums.
Tag Archives: Mothers of Invention
Mothers of Invention: We’re Only in for the Money
On March 4, 1968, “Verve” label released “We’re Only in It for the Money”, the third Mothers of Invention studio album. It was recorded from March to October 1967, at “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles; “Mayfair and Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa – lead vocals, guitar, piano, weirdness, editing
- Jimmy Carl Black –vocals, Indian of the group, drums, trumpet
- Roy Estrada – vocals, electric bass, asthma
- Billy Mundi – vocals, drums, yak & black lace underwear
- Don Preston– retired
- Bunk Gardner – all woodwinds, mumbled weirdness
- Ian Underwood – piano, woodwinds, wholesome
- Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood – baritone and soprano saxophone, all purpose weirdness & teen appeal
- Suzy Creamcheese(Pamela Zarubica) – telephone voice
- Pamela Zarubica – vocals
- Dick Barber – snorks
- Eric Clapton– male speaking part
- Gary Kellgren– “the one doing all the creepy whispering”
- Spider Barbour – vocals
- Dick Kunc – “cheerful interruptions” vocal
- Vicki Kellgren – additional telephone vocals
- Ronnie Williams – backwards voice
- Sid Sharp – conductor
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa
- Are You Hung Up
- Who Needs the Peace Corps
- Concentration Moon
- Mom & Dad
- Bow tie Daddy
- Harry, You’re a Beast
- What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?
- Absolutely Free
- Flower Punk
- Hot Poop
- Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
- Let’s Make the Water Turn Black
- The Idiot Bastard Son
- It’s His Voice on the Radio
- Take Your Clothes off When You Dance
- What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body (reprise)
- Mother People
- The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny
Frank Zappa
On December 4, 1993, Frank Vincent Zappa died aged 52. He was musician (guitar, various instruments), composer, bandleader, producer, actor and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than 30 years, with The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist, Zappa released more than 60 albums, working most of the time as an independent artist. His work gained critical acclaim worldwide; magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at No. 71 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and in 2011 at No. 22 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1995, Zappa was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and in 1997 he was posthumously awarded with the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Mothers Of Invention: 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.
- Cheap Thrills
- Love of My Life – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
- How Could I Be Such a Fool
- Deseri – Ray Collins and Paul Buff
- I’m Not Satisfied
- Jerry Roll Gum Drop
- Anything – Ray Collins
- Later That Night
- You Didn’t Try to Call Me
- Fountain of Love – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
- No. No.
- Anyway the Wind Blows
- Stuff Up the Cracks
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats
On October 10, 1969, “Bizarre” label released “Hot Rats”, the first Frank Zappa album. It was recorded July- August 1969, at the “T.T.G” and “Sunset Sound” in Los Angeles, “Whitney Studios” in Glendale, and was produced by Frank Zappa.
Personnel
- Frank Zappa– guitar, octave bass, percussion
- Captain Beefheart– vocals
- Lowell George– rhythm guitar
- Ian Underwood – piano, Organus Maximus, saxophones, flute, clarinets
- Max Bennett– bass
- Shuggie Otis– bass
- Ron Selico – drums
- Paul Humphrey– drums
- John Guerin– drums
- Don “Sugarcane” Harris– violin
- Jean-Luc Ponty– violin
All tracks by Frank Zappa.
- Peaches en Regalia
- Willie the Pimp
- Son of Mr. Green Genes
- Little Umbrellas
- The Gumbo Variations
- It must be a Camel
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.
- Didja Get Any Onya
- Directly from My Heart to You – Richard Wayne Penniman
- Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask
- Toads of the Short Forest
- Get a Little
- Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue
- Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula
- My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
- Oh No
- The Orange County Lumber Truck
- Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Lowell George
On June 29, 1979, Lowell Thomas George, died aged 34. He was musician (guitar, sitar, saxophone, harmonica), songwriter, and producer, member of Frank Zappa’s “Mothers of Invention”, but best known as a leader, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of “Little Feat”. George also worked as a producer, he produced the Grateful Dead’s 1978 album “Shakedown Street”, the “Little Feat’s” albums and Valerie Carter’s 1977 album “Just a stone’s throw away”. In 1979 George released his only solo album “Thanks, I’ll eat it here”.
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: One Size Fits All
On June 25, 1975, “DiscReat” label released “One Size Fits All” , the tenth and the final Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded August 1974 – April 1975, at “Record Plant Studios” , “Paramount Studios” in Los Angeles and “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, CO, and was produced by Frank Zappa.
Personnel
- Frank Zappa – lead and backing vocals, guitar
- George Duke– lead and backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizer
- Napoleon Murphy Brock– lead and backing vocals, flute, tenor saxophone
- Johnny “Guitar” Watson– vocals
- Captain Beefheart (credited as ‘Bloodshot Rollin’ Red’) – harmonica
- Tom Fowler– bass guitar
- James “Bird Legs” Youman – bass guitar
- Ruth Underwood– marimba, vibraphone, percussion
- Chester Thompson– drums, sound effects, voices
Track listing
All tracks by Frank Zappa.
- Inca Roads
- Can’t Afford no Shoes
- Sofa no.1
- Po-Jama People
- Florentine Pogen
- Evelyn, a Modified Dog
- San Berdino
- Andy
- Sofa no.2
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