On December 24, 2012, Ray Collins died aged 76. He was musician (harmonica, tambourine) and singer, best known as member of The Mothers of Invention. Collins was the lead vocalist on most songs for their early albums, including “Freak Out!”, “Absolutely Free”, “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets” and “Uncle Meat”. In 1968 he quit The Mothers of Invention, but continued to contribute to other Frank Zappa projects in the 70s.
Tag Archives: Ray Collins
The Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!
On June 27, 1966, “Verve” label released “Freak Out!” the debut Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded in March 1996, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tom Wilson. In 1999, “Freak Out” was honored with the “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 246 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, orchestration, arrangements, conductor, musical director
- Elliot Ingber– alternate lead and rhythm guitar
- Carol Kaye– 12-string guitar
- Neil Le Vang– guitar
- Ray Collins– vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin, weezers
- Eugene Di Novi – piano
- Mac Rebennack– piano
- Les McCann– piano
- Roy Estrada– bass, guitarron, boy soprano
- Jimmy Carl Black– vocals, percussion, drums
- Gene Estes – percussion
- Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba
- John Rotella – clarinet, sax
- Kim Fowley– hypophone
- Kurt Reher – cello
- Raymond Kelley– cello
- Paul Bergstrom – cello
- Emmet Sargeant – cello
- Joseph Saxon – cello
- Edwin V. Beach – cello
- Motorhead Sherwood– noises
- Paul Butterfield– vocals
- Jeannie Vassoir– the voice of Cheese
- Val Valentin – engineer
- Ami, Tom – engineer
- Eugene Dinovi, Neil Levang, Vito, Ken Watson – engineer assistant
- Jack Anesh – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
- Hungry Freaks, Daddy
- I Ain’t Got No Heart
- Who Are the Brain Police?
- Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder – Frank Zappa, Ray Collins
- Motherly Love
- How Could I Be Such a Fool
- Wowie Zowie
- You Didn’t Try to Call Me
- Anyway, the Wind Blows
- I’m Not Satisfied
- You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here
- Trouble Every Day
- Help, I’m a Rock (Suite in Three Movements)
- Okay to Tap Dance
- In Memoriam, Edgard Varèse
- It Can’t Happen Here
- The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet in Two Tableaux)
- Ritual Dance of the Child-Killer
- Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)
The Mothers Of Invention: Absolutely Free
On May 26, 1967, “Verve” label released “Absolutely Free”, the second Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded November 15–18, 1966, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG”, and was produced by Tom Wilson and Frank Zappa.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, conductor
- Jimmy Carl Black– drums, vocals
- Ray Collins– vocals, tambourine
- Roy Estrada– bass, vocals
- Billy Mundi– drums, percussion
- Don Preston– keyboards
- Jim Fielder– guitar, piano
- Bunk Gardner– woodwinds
- Suzy Creamcheese (Lisa Cohen) – vocals
- John Balkin – bass
- Jim Getzoff – violin
- Marshall Sosson – violin
- Alvin Dinkin – viola
- Armand Kaproff – cello
- Don Ellis– trumpet
- John Rotella– contrabass clarinet
- Herb Cohen– cash register machine sounds
- Terry Gilliam, girlfriend and others – voices
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa.
- Plastic People
- The Duke of Prunes
- Amnesia Vivace
- The Duke Regains His Chops
- Call Any Vegetable
- Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin
- Soft-Sell Conclusion
- America Drinks
- Status Back Baby
- Uncle Bernie’s Farm
- Son of Suzy Creamcheese
- Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
- America Drinks & Goes Home
Frank Zappa: Apostrophe
On March 22, 1974, “DiscReet” label released “Apostrophe”, the eighteenth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1969 – 1974, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City; “Bolic” in Inglewood and “Paramount Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album was released in stereo and quadraphonic formats.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, bass, bouzouki
- Tony Duran– rhythm guitar
- George Duke– keyboards, backing vocals
- Tom Fowler– bass guitar
- Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass guitar
- Jack Bruce– bass
- Aynsley Dunbar– drums
- Ralph Humphrey – drums
- Johnny Guerin– drums
- Jim Gordon– drums
- Ruth Underwood– percussion
- Ian Underwood– saxophone
- Napoleon Murphy Brock– saxophone, backing vocals
- Sal Marquez –trumpet
- Bruce Fowler– trombone
- Don “Sugarcane” Harris– violin
- Jean-Luc Ponty– violin
- Lynn – vocals, backing vocals
- Robert “Frog” Camarena, Ruben Ladron de Guevara, Debbie – vocals, backing vocals
- Ray Collins– backing vocals
- Sue Glover – backing vocals
- Kerry McNabb – backing vocals, engineer, remixing
- Barry Keene – engineer
- Steve Desper – engineer
- Terry Dunavan – engineer
- Bob Hughes – engineer
- Cal Schenkel– artwork, design
- Ferenc Dobronyi – design
- Bob Ludwig, Paul Hof, Oscar Kergaives, Brian Krokus, Mark Aalyson – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
- Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow
- Nanook Rubs It
- Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast
- Father O’Blivion
- Excentrifugal Forz
- Apostrophe – Frank Zappa, Jim Gordon, Jack Bruce
- Uncle Remus – Frank Zappa, George Duke
- Stink-Foot
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
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
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