Sold Date: July 8, 2015
Start Date: June 28, 2015
Final Price: £17.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 1684
Buyer Feedback: 42

FRANK ZAPPA/THE MOTHERS The Grand Wazoo 1973 UK REPRISE 1973 UK REPRISE (K 44209) FIRST PRESSING - SEEN VERY LITTLE USE AND PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT PRESSED WITH THE FIRST ISSUE TAN REPRISE LABELS MATRIX: K 44209 A1 / K 44209 B1 RAYS + KIPS The gatefold cover is NEAR MINT and the record is in MINT condition.  

Like its immediate predecessor, Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo was a largely instrumental jazz rock album recorded during Frank Zappa's convalescence from injuries sustained after being pushed off a concert stage. While Zappa contributes guitar solos and occasional vocals, the focus is more on his skills as a composer and arranger. Most of the five selections supposedly form a musical representation of a story told in the liner notes about two warring musical factions, but the bottom line is that, overall, the compositions here are more memorably melodic and consistently engaging than Waka/Jawaka. The instrumentation is somewhat unique in the Zappa catalog as well, with the band more of a chamber jazz orchestra than a compact rock unit; over 20 musicians and vocalists contribute to the record. While Hot Rats is still the peak of Zappa's jazz-rock fusion efforts, The Grand Wazoo comes close, and it's essential for anyone interested in Zappa's instrumental works.
Side 1: For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers) (7:15) The Grand Wazoo (13:24) Side 2: Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus (2:55) Eat That Question (6:41) Blessed Relief (8:00)
 Musicians: Frank Zappa – guitar, percussion, vocals; Mike Altschul – woodwind; Bill Byers – trombone; Chunky (Lauren Wood)– vocals; Lee Clement – percussion; George Duke – keyboards, vocals; Earl Dumler – woodwind; Aynsley Dunbar – drums; Tony Duran – guitar, bottleneck guitar; Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass; Alan Estes – percussion; Janet Neville-Ferguson – vocals; Fred Jackson, Jr. – woodwind; Sal Marquez – bass, trumpet, vocals, brass; Joanne Caldwell McNabb – vocals, brass, woodwind; Malcolm McNabb – trombone, horn, trumpet in D; Tony Ortega – woodwind; Joel Peskin – saxophone, woodwind; Don Preston – Mini Moog; Johnny Rotella – woodwind; Ken Shroyer – trombone, brass, contractor and spiritual guidance; Ernie Tack – brass; Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone, C Melody Saxophone (the ‘Mystery Horn’), woodwinds; Robert Zimmitti – percussion; Gerry Sack - phantom tambourine.
Brief Artist & Album Info: Overdue for offering this classic Zappa album, and this is one of his very best and in the type of condition his fans demand. Certainly one of the most treasured albums he produced in the early 1970s. This carries on the ideas on Waka/Jawaka and extends them much further with a big band of session musicians and a few of the remaining Mothers of Invention. This is a predominately instrumental set and includes some stunning solos and virtuosity. The Grand Wazoo must have surprised those who thought Zappa had gone down the road of bawdiness and wanted more of the same – this proved yet again the unpredictable nature of his albums, and that was just one reason why his music and career was so fascinating. It was recorded when he was recovering from the horrendous fall from the stage at the London’s Rainbow Theatre after being pushed. This is a superb set, one of my personal favourites from his amazing catalogue. This is big band jazz-rock, often dubbed as ‘Art Rock’, few albums I have heard sound quite like it. Highly rhythmical, with Aynsley Dunbar on drums, George Duke on keyboards and featuring a great Moog solo by Don Preston. An album including 22 musicians including Frank, this is brilliantly produced by the man himself and this copy plays beautifully. I doubt if it had been played any more than once or twice. Something of a landmark album that provides a stepping-stone to his later complex instrumental works. The cover is astonishing, featuring stunning artwork from Cal Schenkel, this would have helped sell a few albums for those curious buyers at the time – but like most at this time –it failed to chart. One all collectors will want near perfect and this will not disappoint, never easy being somewhat prone to all forms of wear if not treated and protected carefully. The record is superb with playing surfaces and labels that remind of new – this too, on a record over 41 years old, it offers sublime sound and detail as only the earliest cuts do. For those who found a vocal Zappa a little too extreme at this time, this classic mainly instrumental set is well worth checking out – I guarantee, no-one will be disappointed – this is kind’a like jazz, but not as we know it – Parompa pom pom.
NOTE! Postage indicated in the auction is not the actual postage as ebay doesn't allow a higher postage then 4 GBP in this category. Postage for this item is 8 GBP to most countries within Europe and 16 GBP for the rest of the world. This is up to 2kg, so you can add up to 6 more LP's for the same postage. Postage for 7 LP´s is the same as for 1 LP, so buy more to save on postage!

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POSTAGE COSTS FOR THE BUYER:
Postage for 1 LP is the same as for 7 LP's (<2kg), so please order more LP's to save on shipping!
1-7 LP's priority mail:

EUR1: 8 GBP
EUR2: 9 GBP
EUR3: 10 GBP
Rest of the world: 16 GBP

EUR1:
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EUR2:
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