Frank Zappa & The Mothers - Wisconsin '69 (The Legendary Appleton Broadcast) (2023)

After living for some time in New York, Frank Zappa and The Mothers returned to Los Angeles in mid-1968, and the Zappas moved into a house on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, only to move again to Woodrow Wilson Drive (Zappa's home for the rest of his life). Despite being successful in Europe, The Mothers were not doing well financially. Their first records were vocally oriented, but as Zappa wrote more instrumental jazz and classical style music for the band's concerts, audiences were confused. In early 1969 there were nine band members and Zappa was supporting the group from his publishing royalties whether they played or not. It was this ensemble who performed a stunning and legendary show at Lawrence University Chapel in Appleton, WI, on May 23rd 1969. Performed less than a month after the release of The Mothers Of Invention’s sixth studio album, the challenging and partially structureless Uncle Meat - which Rolling Stone described as "inspired monstrosity … [an] assault of glorious noise" - the concert is equally somewhat demanding.

The Appleton show features an extended version of Uncle Meat’s finale, the side-long ‘King Kong’, plus the title track, alongside cuts from previous albums, the yet to be released compilation Weasels Ripped My Flesh, a tune by Don Preston, and material from other sources making for a truly eclectic and wide-reaching set list.

The gig was recorded for live FM Radio broadcast and the results are now included on this new CD in their entirety, and while the only existing recording of said broadcast does have its flaws, the overall event remains an enjoyable and interesting listening experience.

Tracklist
1 Some Ballet Music
2 Uncle Meat
3 Eye of Agamotto
4 My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
5 Clap & Vomit
6 Improvisation
7 Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue
8 Hungry Freaks, Daddy
9 Return of the Son of the Hunchback Duke
10 Transylvania Boogie
11 The Story of a Pound for a Brown
12 Help, I'm a Rock
13 King Kong
14 Igor's Boogie/Little Doo-wop