Title:  Hot Rats 
Company: Bizarre 
Catalog: RS-6356
Country/State: Baltimore, Maryland
Year: 1969
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring wear; gatefold sleeve

As you've probably already figured out I own quite a bit of Zappa's catalog, but I'm not a hardcore Zappa fan. That's one of the reason's Zappa's first true (aka non-Mothers of Invention) solo effort, 1969's "Hot Rats" was such a surprise to me. Having disbanded The Mothers (reportedly due to the costs associated with the such a large touring band), musically it stands as one of the closest things he ever did to making a convention rock album. A largely instrumental affair. with assistance from long-time friend Captain Beefheart (who contributed guest vocals to the lone non-instrumental 'Willie the Pimp'), Little Feat guitarist Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty and multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood, material such as 'Peaches en Regale' and 'Son of Mr. Green Genes' offered up a nifty mix of straightforward rock (with some great Zappa guitar) and more adventuresome, extended jazz-rock outings. Still, compared to most of his catalog, the results were highly commercial which may be why many critics considered it one of Zappa's best effort. In terms of sales, it also did okay hitting # 173. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve featuring the late Christine Frka of GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously) fame and then Alice Coopers steady) posing for the cover shot.

"Hot Rats" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Peaches En Regalia (instrumental) (Frank Zappa) - 3:58
2.) Willie the Pimp (Frank Zappa) - 9:25
3.) Son of Mr. Green Genes (instrumental) (Frank Zappa) - 8:58

(side 2)
1.) Little Umbrellas (instrumental) (Frank Zappa) - 3:09
2.) The Gumbo Variations (instrumental) (Frank Zappa) - 12:55
3.) It Must Be a Camel (instrumental) (Frank Zappa) - 5:15