Son of Tweezer Glint – Part 1B

Welcome fellow KUR-meisters to the second installment of the “Son of Tweezer Glint – Part 1B.” In this installment, we hear unique versions of Mothers of Invention songs, the singles, as well as early edits of songs which would see major changes in later remixes. For some, a pleasant trip back to original vinyl collections, while for others, especially new fans of FZ and the M.O.I., a real audio treat. Also in this installment, demo (acetate) versions from Uncle Meat and We’re Only In It For The Money. Finally, a smattering of extended versions, longer edits, and proto versions to give a taste of what is forthcoming in the final four parts of the series.

Click here to listen to the mixtape.

(Note: each part in the series will be up for a two week period. Next installment: September 17th.)

Much thanks to gundamcustom for supplying the much improved audio version of “Dead Girls of London (Van Morrison, vocals)”.

Cruising With Ruben & The Jets — Vinyl Revisited

Cruising With Ruben & The Jets is a Mothers of Invention album released in 1968, and controversially reissued in an alternate mix with newly recorded bass and percussion in 1984 by Frank Zappa (all post-1984 reissues of the album have featured this remix).

The following three clips from the 1968 vinyl version of the album (“Anything“, “Love of My Life“, and “I’m Not Satisfied“), with original bass and drum parts, which has not been officially rereleased on CD, is a real treat for those who have only known the 1984 remix, and never heard the original release:

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Small Screen Zappa – 67/68

On September 16, 1967, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention made a brief 10 minute appearance on Fred Weintraub’s WOR-TV New York show “From The Bitter End”. They lip synched “Son Of Suzy Creamcheese” from Absolutely Free, then performed an improvisation (above) which has come to be known as “In Memoriam, Hieronymus Bosch” which appeared on the bootleg, Apochrypa.

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Bill Payne Interview

An exclusive 10 part series of interviews with Bill Payne of Little Feat conducted by Living Legends Music, recorded on May 1st, 2008 at The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL. In part 4, above, Payne discusses 1969’s “Summer of Love”, hearing Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention‘s “Uncle Meat” for the first time, how he got introduced to Lowell George (then still a Mother), and his life and experiences with Little Feat (which included former Fraternity of Man member, Richie Hayward, as well as former Mother, Elliot Ingber).
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Whatever Happened To Ray Collins?

Check this bittersweet little piece on the current whereabouts of former Mother, Ray Collins:

He moved to Claremont after a modest legal settlement with Zappa over his and other founding members’ contributions to the band, he says. […] Collins turned down several offers to join the Grandmothers, a band made up of graying ex-Mothers. Instead, he’s lived a hand-to-mouth existence, mostly by choice. His only income is Social Security and twice-annual royalty checks from co-writing the doo-wop song “Memories of El Monte.”

That doesn’t appear to have made him a bitter man though:

“If you just enjoy life,” Collins continues, “it’s conducive to not being successful. You know what I mean? I just enjoy life.”

(via)

The Jimmy Carl Black Story — Jon Larsen

jon_larsen_-_the_jimmy_carl_black_story

Recorded prior to Jimmy’s passing from cancer in 2008, The Jimmy Carl Black Story is a double CD from Jon Larsen‘s label, Zonic Entertainment/Hot Club Records. Joined by Zappa alumni Tommy Mars (keyboards), along with Knut Reiersrud (guitar/harmonica), Ola Kvernberg (violin), Rob Waring (marimba) and Jon Larsen (guitar) — the first CD is “Part One: The Surrealistic Space Odyssey”, one hour of music inspired by Jimmy’s life:

The music is groove based R&B, laidback spacerock, and zappaesque jazz/rock, and even with some glimpses of Django. Here is also the 20 minutes adventure of Capt. Zurcon and his crew onboard the Spaceship BigEar III, on their way to the red planet Mars, and their problems with the sexually frustrated Martian (the Guacamole Queen), the mutant fromage, and a lurking whale (depicted on the cover).

The second disc is “Part Two: “The Rockumentary”, an 80 minute documentary about the “Indian of the group”. We hear about Jimmy’s start at the reservation, growing up in Texas with a racist father, The Soul Giants, Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, mafia connections, and years of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, but also moving stories from a long, and unusual life in music. Jimmy Carl Black is the born storyteller. An intriguing and unique addition to the oral history of rock music, with an insider’s view of life in the “Mothers”. Jimmy’s stories have a measured, thinking-out-loud quality to them as he remembers details and clarifies contradictions among seemingly muddled recollections. A must have in any Mothers of Invention collection.

Jimmy Carl Black has always held a special place among fans of the original Mothers, myself included. Jimmy might not have been the most successful of musicians, yet he always managed to live the life of a true troubadour. In his own words: “I’m famous, but I don’t have a pot to piss in,” he was fond of saying.

Although famous for his avant-garde work with Zappa, he was really more of a roots musician and worked extensively in blues, Tex-Mex, and country-rock. He came from a generation of musicians for whom working in a rock & roll band meant playing for strippers, four or five sets per night with more than one version of “Wooly Bully.”

For Black, being impoverished wasn’t just a private matter. His former boss, Zappa, had recorded band meetings and arguments, inevitably about money and the lack of it, and had edited these spoken word bits into several Mothers releases. But no matter how hard times became, Black always remained involved in some kind of musical project … He moved around the Western United States, almost always having to work at some job other than music in order to survive and support his five children.

Always an inspiration, Jimmy’s life seemed as deeply rooted as the blues he sang and played so well.

The following excerpts from The Jimmy Carl Black Story:

Hi Boys And Girls, I’m Jimmy Carl Black
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Hi Boys And Girls.mp3]

California In 1964-In Walked Roy Estrada-The Soul Giants
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/California In 1964-In Walked Roy Estrada-The Soul Giants.mp3]

Then We Went To Hawaii-LSD
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Then We Went To Hawaii-LSD.mp3]

Back To L.A-Frenchy’s A Go-Go-The Original Suzy Creamcheeze
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Back To La-Frenchy’s A Go-Go-The Original Suzy Creamcheese.mp3]

New York City-Absolutely Free-Off-Off-Broadway At The Garrick Theatre
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/New York City-Absolutely Free-Off-Off-Broadway At The Garrick Theater.mp3]

Miami Pop Festival-Freak Out at the Cast Away Hotel-Arthur Brown
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Miami Pop Festival.mp3]

Note: if we are infringing on anyone’s copyright, contact KUR and we’ll remove the offending material.

Mothers Night: A Ten Hour Marathon

Rich of another Ugly Radio writes:

We are doing a ten hour marathon of The Mothers on Portland OR station KBOO this Friday night starting at 8pm (PST). That’s right, it’s time once again to remember our Mothers. Of course we mean The Mothers of Invention. Frank Zappa’s seminal band of renegade freaks and musical experimentalists. Bizarre and hilarious indigenous “folk” music, borne of the denizens of the streets of 1960s Los Angeles and El Monte.

Join us FRIDAY, MAY 8TH from 8:00 pm until 6:00 am. Featuring rare live performances, “incidents”, interviews, and special Mothers gifts for those who decide to become a MEMBER of Community Radio KBOO during the broadcast.

Folks around the world can listen in on the web at www.kboo.fm/listen.
Some highlights from last year.

Lost KBOO Airtapes – Frank Zappa Interview


From the vaults of the popular psychedelic show ‘The Radio Lab’ which later became ‘Cryptic Propensity Projections’ and ‘Midnight Collage’ on KBOO FM, Portland, Oregon from 1971-1985, Michael Christopher, Harry Mishkin and Bill Reinhardt talk to Frank Zappa after his performance at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon. In the first clip, Frank discusses Germans, pop culture, the music scene and his own dubious popularity. In the second clip, he discusses musical interests, critics, and former ‘Mothers’ drummer, Jimmy Carl Black. The third clip is a spicy stew of The Mothers of Invention and The Firesign Theater. Unavailable since it’s broadcast on the Radio Lab in 1974.

Holland Doc: Zappa Documentary

For those who missed the posting of this documentary the first time around, here’s it is again (in all it’s glory). Documentary by Roelof Kiers. Zappa talks about his youth, his interest in explosives, blues, guitars, non-Western music and the establishment of The Mothers of Invention. Also, about the unknown possibilities of the vacuum cleaner in family Zappa.

RIP Jimmy Carl Black

Very sad news comes to us from Jerry Ford, long time friend of JCB, and caretaker of Inkanish Records:

It is my sad duty to report the news that JIMMY CARL BLACK has passed away. Jimmy left this earth around 11pm Germany time on October 31st. of cancer.

A benefit concert is being planned for December 7th in California, more information on that here (soon). And of course there’s the London benefit, which takes place next November 9.

All of us here at KUR wish to pass our condolences to Jimmy’s family. I think it’s safe to say that, through his music, Jimmy has made a lasting impression on each of our lives. He shall be sorely missed…