The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1966 to 1969. Th… Read Full Bio ↴The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1966 to 1969. Throughout, their output was primarily directed by composer and guitarist, Frank Zappa (1940–1993). Their albums combined a broad span of genres and utilised diverse instrumentation. Their lyrics were generally humorous, with frequent style-parodies of contemporary Pop music (with doo-wop love ballads endlessly lampooned), bountiful surreal imagery, cartoonish vocals and oblique, satirical protest songs. Their diversity and insincerity makes their classification difficult, but Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde compositions towards the end of the 1960s share many features of Free Jazz and 20th Century Classical music. The group's output, particularly Absolutely Free, also proved enormously influential on the then-nascent genre of progressive rock.

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)

The Orange County Lumber Truck
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics

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Line by Line Meaning

Motorhead's love...guillotine
The brutality of Motorhead's love is akin to the sharp and deadly nature of a guillotine

Motorhead's love...guillotine
The brutality of Motorhead's love is like that of a guillotine - swift and unyielding

L.S.D...instant...orange...juice
LSD (a drug known for its hallucinogenic effects) causes an immediate and intense reaction in the mind, like that of drinking a refreshing and invigorating glass of orange juice

L.S.D...instant...orange...juice
Taking LSD creates an instant and powerful reaction within the mind, similar to the way that orange juice provides an immediate burst of energy and acceleration

Men's room...still...shorter...line
The line for the men's restroom is still typically shorter than the line for the women's restroom, suggesting that men have an easier time with certain bodily functions

Men's room...still...shorter...line
When it comes to public restrooms, the line for the men's bathroom is generally shorter than that of the women's - implying that men have a certain ease in this regard

Everybody's...play...Pyong...Yang
Everyone is playing games and having a good time, despite the ongoing tensions and conflict between the United States and North Korea

Everybody's...play...Pyong...Yang
Despite the political turmoil between the US and North Korea, people worldwide are still able to enjoy and have fun playing games

Put the...friendly bear...Jamboree
Bring a friendly bear to a gathering of people, such as a Jamboree, as a way to bring joy and amusement to those around you

Put the...friendly bear...Jamboree
Adding a friendly bear to a social event like a Jamboree can add an element of serendipity and laughter for everyone present

Turn me on...dead man
Activate me or excite me in some way, even if that requires drastic measures like death

Turn me on...dead man
This phrase implies an intense desire or craving, likening it to the concept of being brought back to life

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Zappa

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