Similar Albums:
- Artist: Frank Zappa
- Rating:
- 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 GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(2:01) |
| Mystery Roach | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(2:32) |
| Dance of the Rock & Roll Interviewers | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(:48) |
| This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue) | Frank Zappa | (:55) | |
| Tuna Fish Promenade | Frank Zappa | (2:29) | |
| Dance of the Just Plain Folks | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(4:40) |
| This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Reprise) | Frank Zappa | (:58) | |
| The Sealed Tuna Bolero | Frank Zappa | (1:40) | |
| Lonesome Cowboy Burt | Frank Zappa | (3:54) | |
| Touring Can Make You Crazy | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(2:54) |
| Would You Like a Snack? | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(1:23) |
| Redneck Eats | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(3:02) |
| Centerville | Frank Zappa | (2:31) | |
| She Painted up Her Face | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | (1:41) |
| Janet's Big Dance Number | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(1:18) |
| Half a Dozen Provacative Squats | Frank Zappa | (1:57) | |
| Mysterioso | Frank Zappa | (:48) | |
| Shove It Right In | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(2:32) |
| Lucy's Seduction of a Bored Violinist & Postlude | Frank Zappa | (4:01) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| I'm Stealing the Towels | Frank Zappa | (2:15) | |
| Dental Hygiene Dilemma | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(5:11) |
| Does This Kind of Life Look Interesting to You? | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(2:59) |
| Daddy, Daddy, Daddy | Frank Zappa | (3:11) | |
| Penis Dimension | Frank Zappa | (4:37) | |
| What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(3:29) |
| A Nun Suit Painted on Some Old Boxes | Frank Zappa | (1:08) | |
| Magic Fingers | Frank Zappa | (3:53) | |
| Motorhead's Midnight Ranch | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(1:28) |
| Dew on the Newts We Got | Frank Zappa | (1:09) | |
| The Lad Searches the Night for His Newts | Frank Zappa | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, |
(:41) |
| The Girl Wants to Fix Him Some Broth | Frank Zappa | (1:10) | |
| The Girl's Dream | Frank Zappa | (:54) | |
| Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Corduroy Ponce | Frank Zappa | (1:00) | |
| Strictly Genteel (The Finale) | Frank Zappa | (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 | (2:57) |
