We're Only in It for the Money [Original recording remastered]

Frank Zappa, Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, The Mothers of Invention | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Zappa Records
• ASIN: B0000009RX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (130 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,988 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #38 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Progressive

Track Listings

1. Are You Hung Up?

2. Who Needs The Peace Corps?

3. Concentration Moon

4. Mom & Dad

5. Telephone Conversation

6. Bow Tie Daddy

7. Harry, You Are A Beast

8. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?

9. Absolutely Free

10. Flower Punk

11. Hot Poop

12. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music

13. Let's Make The Water Turn Black

14. The Idiot Bastard Son

15. Lonely Little Girl

16. Take Your Clothes Off When you Dance

17. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise)

18. Mother People

19. The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Mothers of Invention answer the sentiments of the suits, the suburb dwellers, and flower children of the 60's with a big fat raspberry. Considered by many to be the Mothers' (and some would say Zappa's) best album, We're Only in it for the Money deals with harsh subject matter in a seemingly glib and light-hearted fashion (eventually a Zappa trademark), sparing no targets with catchy melodies and high-pitched vocals. Zappa applies the same aggressive studio techniques he did on Lumpy Gravy, creating a jarring collage of sound that still sounds avant-garde today. Highlights from this flawless album are numerous and include the hippie bashing "Who Needs thePeace Corps," the bedroom science of "Let's Make the Water Turn Black," the anthematic "Mother People," and the perfect payoff of "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?" Quite simply one of the best rock albums of all time. --Andrew Boscardin

Product Description

1995 1 cd 19 track album produced by Frank Zappa and featuring Mothers of Invention. Full jewel case p/s

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Censored? Not really. August 19, 2005

By Dan Watkins

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This isn't really a review so much as a response to Zappafreak's claim that this CD is censored. Having just listened to it, I can assure readers that this disc is identical to the original 1968 LP. I'm guessing that Zappafreak is referring to the omission of a few bits that were restored on the heavily remixed and overdubbed version of We're Only In It For The Money that was released in the '80s on a disc paired with Lumpy Gravy. While I agree that it would have been nice to hear these censored portions included (particularly in the album's original mix), I believe that MFSL's primary goal is to restore--to the best of their ability--the *original* album. Therefore, I think it's pretty unfair to accuse these guys of bastardizing Frank's work. In fact, this CD has the same content as the "FZ approved" edition that Ryko released in 1995. And say, I just noticed that the front cover of this version actually has all the black bars removed from the people's faces. How 'bout that?

As for the sound quality, MFSL did pretty good job given the source material. While there is still some noticeable distortion and fuzz here and there, the album certainly sounds crisper and cleaner than the current Ryko version. Whether or not it's worth the upgrade mainly depends on how fussy you are over some minute quality variations. The sound quality most likely won't blow you away, but I can't imagine this album sounding any better. I definitely won't be needing my old CD anymore.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Think It's Your Mind January 4, 2002

By Mad Dog

Format:Audio CD

How can a record be bad when it implores you to "Take our Clothes Off When You Dance" ? At the ripe young age of 12, this collection seemingly peeled back the protective skin on my forehead and injected my brain with the fresh breath of reality. It didn't just offend the hippies that thought they were the greatest thing since sliced bread - it attacked nearly every segment of 60's culture and asked us "Are You Hung Up"?

I think Frank Zappa was a very misunderstood artist, which relegated him to the status of a cult legend. But people are still listening and some are learning that he was one of the great musical geniouses of the last century. This disc might not be the most accessible place to start, but if you are looking to expand back into the early part of the catalog, you must find a place for this disc in your collection, if only to find different ways to look at yourself. As Frank said:

"What's the ugliest part of your body?
Some say your nose, some say your toes
But I think it's your mind."

65 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Zappa hits the target July 5, 2001

By Tyler Smith

Format:Audio CD

Zappa's mocking attack of the "summer of love" and its adherents' bloated self-importance might seem dated to some (I still find it very funny), but the satire of "We're Only in it for the Money" isn't really the point. Its strength lies in Zappa's command in the studio and his ability to piece together a huge patchwork of sounds into one wonderfully varied 39-minute work.

The 1968 release was Zappa's answer to the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," which he lampoons on the cover. The Beatles' work had in turn been inspired by the Mothers' "Freak Out." Whatever the difference between "Money" and the Lennon and McCartney's work, though, the two albums share one similarity: they both surprise with sound. Zappa's work includes patches of melody played backward, spoken words, doo-wop, surf music, hard-edged guitar, and a note held at the end of the tone poem "The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny," which ends the album and provides Zappa's final comment to the closer of "Sergeant Pepper's," the then-spooky "Day in the Life."

The album nearly unrelentingly taunts the "flower power" generation, but its tones run deep. There is anger at the police, real insight into the gaps between parents and kids, and Zappa's ever-present love of plain absurdity. With the "Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny," he reveals his orchestral sense and his willingness to challenge his audience with a thoroughly free work. Zappa never condescended to his audience.

Zappa's music was always a great leavening agent to the reigning pomposities of the day. "We're Only in it for the Money" sears with satire but also amazes with the sound of surprise.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Crazy Re-done versions May 28, 2003

By Mark Pollock

Format:Audio CD

Okay, so the story is, the Ryko 2-fer of these albums is rather odd. Lumpy Gravy is fine-sounding, but is only two tracks, making finding your favorite section rather difficult. The newer, single-disc version is the better choice.

But We're Only In It For The Money is really odd. Zappa chose to re-record the drums and bass for the entire album, and then remix it. The plus side is that the sound is rather clean, and all the previously censored bits are all back in force.

The negative is that, while the drums aren't too bad, the bass is ridiculous. It sounds NOTHING like a 1967 bass should, either tonally or melodically. ANd it just clashes with everything else. The drums have their own problems, sometimes sounding too 80's like, and sometimes just not mathing the rhythms of the music.

Luckily, the original version has been re-issued as a single disc from Ryko. This 2-fer version is interesting, but not really how most fans originally heard this album.