Burnt Weeny Sandwich [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 1995)
• Original Release Date: February 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Zappa Records
• ASIN: B0000009S5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,651 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

From the Label
Originally released at the end of 1969, this is a collection of archival material from The Mothers of Invention, largely instrumental and featuring a lot of piano work from Ian Underwood. The doo-wopping "WPLJ" leads off a progressive jazz-influenced set including the full studio version of "Little House I Used to Live In" (far longer and more involved than the overture version on FILLMORE EAST); and "Holiday in Berlin, Full-Blown". Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada, Sugar Cane Harris and Don Preston are among the supporting cast.

Product Description
Japanese limited edition reissue of 1969 album, packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offbeat Musical Mastery, January 22, 2001

By	Brion Emde (Fort Collins, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album contains a mix of studio recordings and live material blended together masterfully. Like 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' it was released after the breakup of the original Mothers of Invention.

The first cut, WPLJ, is a doo-wop number originally written and performed by the Four Deuces. The Mothers show their considerable skill with this musical form while they sing the praises of drinking White Port and Lemon Juice. Roy Estrada flavors the song with some off-color Spanish commentary.

The instrumental Igor's Boogie appears in two different forms; Phase 1 and Phase 2. Both are short tributes to Igor Stravinsky, one of Zappa's great influences and bear some passing similarity to 'Histoire du Soldat' by that composer. The phases contain strong saxaphone playing by Bunk Gardner and honks by what might be a bicycle horn.

Both the 'Overture to A Holiday in Berlin' and 'Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown' are strange, beautiful melodies with a feeling of something out of 'Caberet'. There are also lyrics to 'Holiday in Berlin' on other recordings that describe a riot staged by Berlin revolutionaries and their attempt to coerce Zappa to help them. There even seems to be a theme in these songs that later appears, only slightly modified, in the Star Wars soundtrack, written by John Williams many years later! The Full Blown version contains one of the most accessible of Zappa's guitar solos, very melodic and to the point. There is an almost worshipful atmosphere created by the Mothers as they back Zappa in this live recording that was spliced onto the preceding studio material.

The 'Theme from Burnt Weeny Sandwich' is a long guitar jam with various percussion effects and organ backing. It is beautiful and danceable.

'Aybe Sea' which used to close side one and open side two of the original vinyl release is a very fine, haunting solo which segues nicely into 'The Little House I Used To Live In', one of Zappa's finest tunes. The full power of the Mothers is evident in this mixture of live and studio material. The music can scarcely be contained, it is so joyous and flamboyant! Highlights are the violin playing of SugarCane Harris, Zappa's manic guitar work, Don Preston's piano solo and Zappa's concluding frenetic organ solo. This nearly-nineteen minute piece is the highlight of the album.

Before the concluding doo-wop number 'Valerie' with Roy Estrada singing a very fine falsetto, there is a short live recording of Zappa 'interacting' with an audience member which should be heard to be appreciated. Zappa makes one of his straightforward statements that shoots an arrow of truth for those who will see it.

All in all this is a wonderful album, very well recorded and well played and is one of the finest albums that Zappa produced in his long career.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take A Bite Out Of This One!, December 7, 2000

By A Customer

The doo-wop numbers that open and close this album are pretty neat (especially "WPLJ"), but the instrumental numbers in between are truly fascinating, and show The Mothers Of Invention at their best. The "Holiday In Berlin" suite is very humorous in parts and really runs the stylistic gamut. BURNT WEENY SANDWICH on the whole eschews the tape manipulation and free-form skronking found on much of UNCLE MEAT and WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH, relying instead on the compositional and instrumental virtuosity of Zappa and the Mothers. "Little House I Used To Live In" starts with a haunting piano intro that segues into the main theme (one of Zappa's best for my money). From there, a long jam ensues featuring some wicked violin soloing from Don "Sugarcane" Harris which never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Certainly one of the top five Zappa albums of all time. Check it out, y'all!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite mothers album., December 11, 2001

By	Bill Allison "Bill Allison" (Southwest Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is, by far and away, my favorite album from the Mothers of Invention. I completely fell in love with it the first time I heard it and will probably stay in my top-ten favorite list until I die.

Starting with the fifties doo-wop of "WPLJ" and ending with the fifties doo-wop of "Valerie", Burnt Weeny Sandwhich is a beautiful recording of live and studio instrumentals that is further proof that Frank Zappa, was indeed, WAY ahead of his time. He and good buddy, Captain Beefheart, presented the world with some of the greatest and most eccentric music ever recorded. No, Beefheart is not on this record (please check out "Trout Mask Replica"), but what we get here is some great musical arrangements and some damn fine guitar playing (wait till you hear track 4).

Among many other things, I believe that this album (or any album by the Mothers) enhances creativity. Billy Bob Thornton once said that "if you listen to this stuff while you write, no matter what you're workin' on, it's gonna come out a little different." He was right. He listened to this over and over while writing "Sling Blade" and that screenplay won him an Oscar. I believe he knows what he's talking about.

Anyway, if you still have some doubts, just get the album and let the music do the talking. They really don't make music like this anymore. I miss Frank Zappa...