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200 Motels

 
Album Review: 200 Motels

  • Artist: Frank Zappa
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1971 10
  • Total Time: 91:49
  • Type: Soundtrack, Enhanced CD-ROM
  • Genre: Rock

Review

The soundtrack to Frank Zappa's strange early-'70s film 200 Motels was always doomed to be a peripheral entry in his discography. The movie's story was not easy to follow, and neither is the record (not that plot was ever a big focus of the production). It's typically wacky Zappa of the era, with unpredictable sharp turns between crunchy rock bombast, orchestration, and jazz/classical influences, as well as interjections of wacky spoken dialogue. Those who like his late-'60s/early-'70s work -- not as song-oriented as his first albums, in other words, but not as "serious" or as silly as his later records -- will probably like this fine, although it's not up to the level of Uncle Meat. It's funny in spots as well, especially the part where a disgruntled sideman gets tempted away from the band to do his own thing (a libretto that was, apparently, based on real-life incidents concerning Zappa sideman Jeff Simmons, who left during the project). On the other hand, there's a growing tendency to deploy the smutty, cheap humor that would soon dominate much of Zappa's work. Originally released in 1971, this didn't make it onto CD until 1997, in a two-disc package that included a bit of bonus material, although this was merely four promotional radio spots for the film and the single edit of "Magic Fingers." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks



CD 1

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (2:01)
Mystery Roach Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (2:32)
Dance of the Rock & Roll Interviewers Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (:48)
This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue) Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (:55)
Tuna Fish Promenade Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2:29)
Dance of the Just Plain Folks Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (4:40)
This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Reprise) Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (:58)
The Sealed Tuna Bolero Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:40)
Lonesome Cowboy Burt Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (3:54)
Touring Can Make You Crazy Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (2:54)
Would You Like a Snack? Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (1:23)
Redneck Eats Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (3:02)
Centerville Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2:31)
She Painted up Her Face Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:41)
Janet's Big Dance Number Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (1:18)
Half a Dozen Provacative Squats Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:57)
Mysterioso Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (:48)
Shove It Right In Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (2:32)
Lucy's Seduction of a Bored Violinist & Postlude Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (4:01)


CD 2

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
I'm Stealing the Towels Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2:15)
Dental Hygiene Dilemma Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (5:11)
Does This Kind of Life Look Interesting to You? Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (2:59)
Daddy, Daddy, Daddy Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (3:11)
Penis Dimension Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (4:37)
What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (3:29)
A Nun Suit Painted on Some Old Boxes Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:08)
Magic Fingers Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (3:53)
Motorhead's Midnight Ranch Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (1:28)
Dew on the Newts We Got Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:09)
The Lad Searches the Night for His Newts Frank Zappa Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mothers of Invention (:41)
The Girl Wants to Fix Him Some Broth Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:10)
The Girl's Dream Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (:54)
Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Corduroy Ponce Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1:00)
Strictly Genteel (The Finale) Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (11:08)
Coming Soon! [Cut 1][*][Take] Frank Zappa (:56)
The Wide Screen Erupts [Cut 2][*][Take] Frank Zappa (:57)
Coming Soon! [Cut 3][*][Take] Frank Zappa (:31)
Frank Zappa's 200 Motels [Cut 4][*][Take] Frank Zappa (:11)
Magic Fingers [Single Edit][*] Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2:57)

Credits

Howard Kaylan (Vocals), Bob Auger (Engineer), Cal Schenkel (Design), Aynsley Dunbar (Drums), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), Jim Pons (Voices), Patrick Pending (Liner Notes), Mark Volman (Vocals), Barry Keene (Remixing), Mark Volman (Photography), Barry Keene (Overdubs), Frank Zappa (Producer), Jimmy Carl Black (Vocals), David McMacken (Design), Ian Underwood (Keyboards), David McMacken (Illustrations), Frank Zappa (Bass), Frank Zappa (Guitar), George Duke (Trombone), Ruth Underwood (Drums), Ian Underwood (Woodwind), Theodore Bikel (Narrator), George Duke (Keyboards), Frank Zappa (Orchestration)
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Wikipedia: 200 Motels (soundtrack)
Top
200 Motels
Soundtrack by Frank Zappa
Released October 4, 1971
Recorded January 28–February 5, 1971 at Pinewood Studios, UK; Overdubs: April, 1971 at Whitney Studios, Glendale
Genre Experimental rock, progressive rock, comedy rock, hard rock, classical
Length 91:49
Label United Artists
Producer Frank Zappa
Professional reviews
Frank Zappa chronology
Fillmore East - June 1971
(1971)
200 Motels
(1971)
Just Another Band From L.A.
(1972)

The 200 Motels OST is the soundtrack to Frank Zappa's 200 Motels.

Contents

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture" – 2:01
  2. "Mystery Roach" – 2:32
  3. "Dance of the Rock & Roll Interviewers" – 0:48
  4. "This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue)" – 0:55
  5. "Tuna Fish Promenade" – 2:29
  6. "Dance of the Just Plain Folks" – 4:40
  7. "This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Reprise)" – 0:58
  8. "The Sealed Tuna Bolero" – 1:40
  9. "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" – 3:54

Side two

  1. "Touring Can Make You Crazy" – 2:54
  2. "Would You Like a Snack?" – 1:23
  3. "Redneck Eats" – 3:02
  4. "Centerville" – 2:31
  5. "She Painted up Her Face" – 1:41
  6. "Janet's Big Dance Number" – 1:18
  7. "Half a Dozen Provocative Squats" – 1:57
  8. "Mysterioso" – 0:48
  9. "Shove It Right In" – 2:32
  10. "Lucy's Seduction of a Bored Violinist & Postlude" – 4:01

Side three

  1. "I'm Stealing the Towels" – 2:15
  2. "Dental Hygiene Dilemma" – 5:11
  3. "Does This Kind of Life Look Interesting to You?" – 2:59
  4. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" – 3:11
  5. "Penis Dimension" – 4:37
  6. "What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning" – 3:29

Side four

  1. "A Nun Suit Painted on Some Old Boxes" – 1:08
  2. "Magic Fingers" – 3:53
  3. "Motorhead's Midnight Ranch" – 1:28
  4. "Dew on the Newts We Got" – 1:09
  5. "The Lad Searches the Night for His Newts" – 0:41
  6. "The Girl Wants to Fix Him Some Broth" – 1:10
  7. "The Girl's Dream" – 0:54
  8. "Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Corduroy Ponce" – 1:00
  9. "Strictly Genteel (The Finale)" – 11:08

Bonus tracks on CD reissue

200 Motels promotional radio spots

  1. "Coming Soon! [Cut 1]" – 0:56
  2. "The Wide Screen [Cut 2]" – 0:57
  3. "Coming Soon! [Cut 3]" – 0:31
  4. "Frank Zappa's 200 Motels [Cut 4]" – 0:11
  5. "Magic Fingers [Single Edit]" – 2:57
ENHANCED TRACK: Original Theatrical Trailer 3:28

Personnel

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1971 Pop Albums 59[1]

References


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "200 Motels (soundtrack)" Read more

 

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