Zappa disbanded the original Mothers of Invention line-up in 1970 to create music under his own name, but shortly reformed an entirely new band sometimes known as "The Mothers". This new incarnation had a strong vaudeville style and were much bawdier than before, with new vocalists Flo & Eddie, previously of the Turtles, taking the lead. After Zappa was pushed offstage in the Rainbow Theatre in 1971, he broke up this second band and concentrated on a jazzier style with a short-lived big band called the Grand Wazoo, but returned with a third lineup of the Mothers in 1973. This reformed group retained musical similarities to the previous group and the chamber music of the late '60s Mothers, but with a tighter, funkier sound; George Duke's soulful vocals being perhaps the most memorable addition. Whilst members of the new Mothers frequently appeared on albums credited solely to Zappa, three albums, Overnite Sensation, Roxy & Elsewhere and One Size Fits All display the name Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.
The Mothers of Invention (1966-1969)
Frank Zappa - Musical director, guitar & vocals
Ray Collins - Lead vocalist, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers 1966-early 1967, September 1967-August 1968
Jim Black - Drums
Roy Estrada - Bass & guitarron; boy soprano
Elliot Ingber - Alternate lead & rhythm guitar early 1966-September 1966
Jim Fielder - guitar, piano late 1966-February 1967
Don Preston - keyboards November 1966-August 1969
Bunk Gardner - woodwinds November 1966-August 1969
Billy Mundi - Drums November 1966-Decmber 1967
Euclid James Motorhead Sherwood - soprano, tambourine baritone saxophone & Roadie 1966, September 1967-August 1969
Ian Underwood -Woodwinds,Saxophone July 1967-August 1969
Arthur Dyer Tripp III - drums, timpani, vibes, marimba, xylophone, wood blocks, bells, small chimes December 1967-August 1969
Lowell George - Rhythm Guitar November 1968-May 1969
Buzz Gardner November 1968- August 1969
Core discography (note that the band's canon is nebulous, due to the often poorly demarcated overlap with Frank Zappa's solo discography; this list additionally omits albums released after the breakup of the band)
1966 - Freak Out!
1967 - Absolutely Free
1968 - We're Only in It for the Money
1968 - Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
1969 - Uncle Meat
1970 - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1970 - Weasels Ripped My Flesh
1971 - Fillmore East - June 1971
1971 - 200 Motels
1972 - Just Another Band from L.A.
1972 - The Grand Wazoo
1973 - Over-Nite Sensation
1974 - Roxy & Elsewhere
1975 - One Size Fits All
1975 - Bongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart)
Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Sexually Aroused Gas Mask
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics
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The Mothers of Invention's song Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask is a surreal and satirical track that defies easy interpretation. The lyrics are sparse and enigmatic, with only one line actually being sung: "Blow your harmonica, son," spoken by Frank Zappa himself. This line can be seen as a metaphor for the song's twisted and unpredictable soundscape, which features distorted saxophones, electronic noises, and bizarre vocal effects.
The song's title is a reference to the famous composition by French composer Claude Debussy, "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun," which explored themes of sexual desire and eroticism. Zappa's version takes this idea to an absurd extreme, inventing a scenario in which a gas mask becomes a fetish object. The song can be seen as a commentary on the absurdity of sexual fetishes and the ways in which they can distort desire and pleasure.
Overall, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask is a challenging and provocative work of art that defies easy categorization. Its surreal imagery and twisted sense of humor make it a classic example of Zappa's unique and innovative approach to music.
Line by Line Meaning
Blow your harmonica, son
Play a tune on your harmonica, young man
Squawk with the chicken, talk with the ham
Make noises like a chicken and talk to a ham
Get up, pick a card
Stand up and choose a card
Any card
Choose any card
Come on a down to the store
Come down to the store
Get with the people who've got rhythm
Hang out with people who can keep a beat
Hey officer!
Hey, police officer!
You want to arrest somebody, arrest them over there
If you want to arrest someone, arrest one of those people over there
They're breaking the law
Those people are breaking the law
Get up, get down, all around
Stand up, sit down, move around
Get funky when you can
Dance in a fun and energetic manner when you have the opportunity
Take off your shoes
Remove your footwear
Take off your hat
Remove your headwear
I am no nuclear scientist, I love the bomb
I don't have expertise in nuclear science, but I appreciate the destructive power of an atomic bomb
Drop your pants
Lower your pants
Raise your eye, get ready for the big surprise
Open your eye wide, prepare for a big shock
Everything you know is wrong
All your knowledge is incorrect
Black is white, up is down and short is long
Contrary to what you believe, black is white, up is down and short is long
And everything you thought was just so important doesn't matter
Things that you thought were important are now trivial
Let my people go
Free my people
Watch out for that dude over there who says stuff
Be cautious of the man over there who speaks out
Remember that first two hundred thousand years or so, man didn't have a God, so he was free to sin
For the first few hundred thousand years, mankind did not worship a deity, allowing him to commit sins without religious consequences
Welcome to the United States of America
Greetings to the country known as the United States of America
Welcome to the supermarket of love
Welcome to a place where love is treated like a commodity
Love comes in spurts, it's a funny thing
Love is unpredictable and comes in unexpected bursts
Love is a rose that can stick you from the inside out
Love can be beautiful but can also cause pain
Love is frequently inadequate, false, and fictional
Love is often insufficient, untrue, and imaginary
Love is a verb, love is a doing word
Love is an action, it requires effort
Love is a feeling that can turn in a minute
Love can change quickly
Now we're cooking with the big microwave
Now we are using a powerful microwave oven
People hated disco music but I always liked it
Despite the fact that many people disliked disco music, I was always drawn to it
The most important thing in the universe is cynicism
The most critical element in the cosmos is cynicism
Sexual depravity is my duty to perform
I have a responsibility to engage in sexual misconduct
I tell you baby, you can't have cunnilingus if you do not eat meat
I am stating that if you are a vegetarian or vegan, you cannot perform oral sex on a woman
There are a few things that are shocking in life, and anal sex is one of them
There are some life experiences that are surprising, and anal sex is among them
I am the slime from your video
I am the slime that is contaminating your videotape
Take one bite, take one bite of the apple, suck one drop of the juice, taste the white elixir
Have a bite of the fruit, consume a sip of the juice, try the liquid that is white in color
Grow your teeth, bite your gums
Use your teeth to bite your gums
Swallow your soul, have a nice cold glass of Drano
Ingest a toxic substance known as Drano that can dissolve materials, and suppress your emotions
And then you'll dream, you know you'll have a dream
Afterwards, you will have a dream
The snail is fast compared to thou
The snail is quicker than you
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.