Second solo album from pioneering classic rock musician Frank Zappa. Hot Rats was originally recorded in 1969 and is a predominantly instrumental album that Zappa described as "a movie for your ears." The sound is largely jazz fusion based with extensive soloing, eschewing the satirical vocal performances and musique concrète of earlier Zappa releases. There are many notable musicians featured on the album, including drummers John Guerin, Paul Humphrey and Ron Selico, a teenage Shuggie Otis on bass, electric violinists Don "Sugarcane" Harris and Jean-Luc Ponty, and bassist Max Bennett. Includes the songs: "Peaches en Regalia," "Willie the Pimp" with a short vocal performance from Captain Beefheart, and "Son of Mr. Green Genes."

• 180g vinyl pressing
• music label: Zappa Records 2016

reviewed by Grumpy Uncle 09/2016