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Editorial Reviews
Official Release #14
Originally Released: March 1972
Produced by: FZ
The Mothers exist of:
FZ: Guitar & Vocals
Mark Volman: Lead Vocals
Howard Kaylan: Lead Vocals
Ian Underwood: Winds, Keyboards & Vocals
Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
Don Preston: Keyboards & Minimoog
Jim Pons: Bass & Vocals
Originally Released: March 1972
Produced by: FZ
The Mothers exist of:
FZ: Guitar & Vocals
Mark Volman: Lead Vocals
Howard Kaylan: Lead Vocals
Ian Underwood: Winds, Keyboards & Vocals
Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
Don Preston: Keyboards & Minimoog
Jim Pons: Bass & Vocals
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Mad Dog
Format:Audio CD
4.5 Stars, rounded up because Frank was a genius.
As the 60's melted into the 70's, Frank Zappa was moving towards change. This recording is a sort of predictor of that change. Upon hearing it back in '72, I couldn't help but feel that the innocent age of the Mothers was about to come to a close. It was as if the Mothers had gone full circle and were, in a way, a parody of their former collective self. Still, this disc is excellent, if for nothing but an historical document. But I like the music and in many ways prefer these live performances to the original studio versions.
Who among us cannot relate to a song about a mountain named Billy who's wife Ethyl is a tree growing off his shoulder? And when the song's self proclaimed hero (Studabaker Hawk) serves up an ultimatum to Billy and Billy responds by unleashing a rock slide on him, we feel Hawk's pain as he exclaims: "Oh ****, I'm gonna need a truss!"
And who among us cannot relate to a song that implores us to "Call any vegetable, call it by name" ? Personally, I'm glad I cannot relate to the character singing "Magdelena", since I have no interest in molesting children, but many in the day dismissed it as an indicator of Frank's sickness, rather than seeing it for what it was: social commentary. So don't buy this for it's sound quality - many later Zappa live albums have much better sound. And I don't think of it as one of the better performances from the virtuoso rock band point of view, which evolved in Frank's bands during the 70's. No, buy this disc because it is a window into a point in time when rock and roll was allowed to be goofy, silly and sleezy while still having a foundation of intelligence and informed perspective.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
The album begins with the 25-minute "Billy the Mountain", an astoudingly clever construct which presents itself as a mini-operatta where draft-dodging, air-force bases, las vegas, an economic superhero with a most amusing method of levitation, and SO much more, all tie-in to one of zappa's most hilarious pieces of social commentary. After this the listener is pummelled with a storming suite of songs covering issues such as how to treat your vegetables, double knit pants which stretch in all the right places, and father-daughter paedophilia. Inane advertising jingles and slogans serve as a conceptual theme throughout the album - Zappa absorbs this stuff and spits it back in our face. And we take notice 'cause it's so damn funny. The reason why this and most of the other Zappa albums with Flo & Eddie were live recordings seems to be so as to capture their frenetic, spontaneous energy and endearing charm. They had an enthusiastic dyanimsn about them which later more high-brow Zappa line-ups where never quite able to recapture. I love this album!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a child of the late sixties and early seventies, this album brings back fond memories. The saga of Billy the Mountain, Ethel the Tree and Studebaker Hawk is silly and vulgar and reeks of the anti establishment fervor that was rocking our country during that time.
This isn't an album you can enjoy as background music all day. This is an album you listen to intently, in order to enjoy its wonderful weirdness. It's a twisted time machine.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth Owning for Billy the Mountain Alone
It's hard for me to objective about Frank but i believe this is a must own if you're going to own 10+ FZ Albums. it's a nice time capsule performance with Flo & Eddie (turtles). Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time Travel
To be transported back in time to a much easier and peaceful time in life. Purchased as a surprise for my Husband as he couldn't remember what the cover looked like. Read more
Published 3 months ago by AUNTIDEEB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album!!
The band is amazing -- Flo & Eddie take Frank's bizarre humor over the top. For an album that's about 40 something years old... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars
(Most Definitely) Not Just Another Band From L.A.
Frank Zappa substantially re-tweezed this album for its previous CD releases, making it quite a bit brighter sounding than the original vinyl LP. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Craig Young
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of Zappa with Flo & Eddie
If you have to pick only one official release from the period of Zappa's association with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, this is the one to have. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Douglas R. Miner
5.0 out of 5 stars
good album
I have been looking for this album for quite some time now. came across this site and bought it. I will be going back to look for more older hits to buy. hope i can find them. Read more
Published 15 months ago by plumbercoo
3.0 out of 5 stars
Billy, Eddie, several vegetables, bad breath and child molestation?
Frank Zappa / Los Mothers / Just another band from L.A.:
Five Live songs...
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Billy The Mountain - This is the reason to buy the album. Read more
Five Live songs...
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Billy The Mountain - This is the reason to buy the album. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Bynum
4.0 out of 5 stars
oddly appealing
Anyone who's a fan of the clever humor and the intelligently spoken storytelling aspects of Frank Zappa, Just Another Band from L.A. is DEFINITELY the album for you! Read more
Published 17 months ago by B. E Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just a bit of mental prep required...
...to be fully ready for the Flo and Eddie dynamic. With your ears ready to hear them go nuts in context of Frank's circus, you might be blown away as I am by this album. Read more
Published 18 months ago by F. J. Khoury
5.0 out of 5 stars
Billy the Mountian
One of Frank's masterpieces. I own the vinyl but because of its value I decided to buy the disk. If you haven't listened to this and you are a Zappa fan it is a must have.
Published 19 months ago by Ralph C. Russo
