Customer Reviews

Lather

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Zappa the composer! Zappa the improviser! Zappa the humorist! Zappa the experimentalist! Zappa the guitarist! Zappa the provoker! Zappa the bandleader! Zappa the inventor! Zappa the ironic! Zappa the arena rocker! Zappa the conseptualist! Zappa the parodic! Zappa the romatic!
More than any of his albums, "Lather" reveals every aspect of Zappa's genius. The record company's veto of releasing it as it was back in 1977, and it's fate as a series of conceptually much less interesting "genre albums", is one of rock history's true tragedies. After such an illtreat, most artists would have given up even the thought of making more music.
But not Zappa. The reason, I think, is that Zappa didn't just make music. He WAS music. Like Picasso, Fassbinder and Miles Davis, Zappa is one of the very few artists who's art is impossible to separate from the man and vice versa. Nothing in this world could ever stop this man from making music. If he had been blown out to outer space or separated from the world on a desolated island, he would still have been making music. Should you have any doubt about that, listen to the "Lather" album. It's creative waterfall of inventiveness, ecclectism and stunning performances stands unsurpassed in the history of rock music.
You then may wonder why I don't rate "Lather" a five star album. Maybe I should, but in my opinion (don't shoot me!) Zappa never made a five star album. For that, his music is simply too diverse. I don't even think he ever sat out to make a masterpiece as such, his music is just one continuous, unstoppable flow of creativity. And even how much I will recommend this fabulous recording, I can't think there is anyone, no matter how ecclecting and accepting in musical taste, who can possibly like everything here.
Still, this momentous masterpiece belongs in every representative rock album collection.

Call your friends at saturday and tell them that your are very sick. Buy a good whisky, choose your best place in the house and listen all the album with a good sound level. You will see the light!

I just listened to this in the vehicle for the last week and believe it is quintessential Zappa that fuses all of the Zappa elements from may eras, Stravinsky, Varese, Joe's Garage, You Are What You Is, (maybe missing Flo and Eddie...mercifully at times), Greggary Peccary is worth the price of admission alone!

Finally a legitimate release on one of uncle Frank's most adventurous projects. Lather (pronounced Leather) was the
famous 4 LP set that Frank's former label at the time Warner Bros. refused to release in '77. Well as we all know the rest is history.
Frank brought LP's to a Pasadena radio station and told the audience to get their tape recorders ready and tape the records!
Well, lawsuits went back and forth and eventually snippets of the original 4 LP set turned up on later FZ records Zappa In
New York, Sleep Dirt, Studio Tan & Orchestral Favorites from '78 & '79. now we have the entire 4 LP set on a snazzy
little 3 CD set including 4 recently unearthed tracks from over the years related to the original LP project. These 4 oddities
"Regyptian Strut ('93)," Leather Goods," Revenge Of The Knick Knack People" & Time Is Money" are the bonus cuts that
close out the set bringing the total playing experience to 3 hours! Exceptional separate liner notes by both Gail Zappa and
Simon Prentis document the history of this missing masterpiece with articulate insight. Digitally overhauled for another excellent
sonic blowout!

As good as Uncle Meat, and perhaps even more varied-- if such is pssible. Check out Regyption Strut.

Ever wondered what a classical orchestra sounds like when accompanied by a blistering electric guitar solo? Find out on this Lather cd its beautiful music.

Until the arrival of this CD, the only way to get Lather in it's entirety was to search far and wide for the LP box set that currently goes for 800 bucks, or try to find a copy from someone that had taped the radio broadcast back in the 70's. Frank's legal battles with Warner Brothers were legendary, but so was his tenacity and focus.

It may have taken around 20 years, but Lather is now a commercial reality and although I don't want to say that it was worth the wait (I didn't - I searched out a vinyl copy) it is great that it's now available. This is perhaps Frank's most fully realized work, adequately accessible, diverse and yet fully netted together as a complete package. Certainly qualified as essential Zappa.

The story behind the creation of this collection is almost as legendary as the man who created it. Suffice to say, it was originally intended as a 4-disc vinyl release, ran into some complications, and was delayed by a mere 20 years. These complications resulted in Frank Zappa's suing a VERY LARGE RECORD COMPANY for about 3 million, the material being released across about 5 albums (three of them against his wishes), and, in an act of revolt, Frank's broadcasting of the album in its entirety on LA's KROQ, during which he actually encouraged listeners to record it.

Until RYCODISC's CD version came out around '96, the only way a person could hear the album as Frank had intended was if one could get ahold of the recording of this famous broadcast. Had it been released when it was supposed to, Läther would have qualified as the ultimate work of this sorely-missed musical innovator. Zappa's wildly diverse compositional capabilities are represented more comprehensively here than on any release; from live rock performances to symphonic and chamber works, from dialogue snippets to tape-manipulated musique concrete, this is the full spectrum of pre-digital FZ at the peak of his powers. Nobody could touch this man in the 70s.

As many of the songs were a bit new and rough at the time of these recordings, Frank produced more polished and extended versions in the later albums "Zappa in New York" and "Sheik Yerbouti", so his reticence to release this collection during his lifetime is certainly understandable. However, if you have not yet heard "Studio Tan", "Sleep Dirt" and/or "Orchestral Favorites", you can get them all in one tidy remastered package (without the annoying vocals that were added on "Sleep Dirt") and enjoy them in one seriously eclectic listening.

I'm a firm believer in cheating with Desert Island Picks, by choosing box sets. If I had the choice of one Zappa release to sustain me in isolation, I would not have to think for very long, because Läther has it all. The ultimate FZ representation, hands down.

Greetings. As the subject mentions, I feel this is the perfect introduction to the world of Frank Zappa. A little bit of his orchestral compositions, some amazing guitar work (heck, some amazing instrumental work all around), a healthy dose of sarcasm and irreverence, and that little "something" that made Frank's work so wonderful. Some of my favorites include: the entire first disc, the gloriously overcooked rendition of "Punky's Whips," "The Purple Lagoon," the twenty-minute eccentricity of "Greggery Peckary," and...well, the entire thing! Don't let the price turn you off. This album's the real deal.

Regarding the claim that Ryko screwed up the second disc track listing, this is most likely untrue. There's been some debate, but I believe that Spencer Chrislu (or somebody else in the Zappa camp) claimed when he opened the box for the third record's master tapes, he found what went onto the CD. Apparently, Frank either mislabeled the box or had another version of the album in mind at one point. In any event, this is what Frank played on a radio station many years ago when Warner Bros. stopped its release, so I think it's safe to assume this is the "ultimate" version of the album. Dig in!

there is much to say. sgt. pepper, electric ladyland, the wall, and lather. zappa being not as commercial could never be in the same category but the genius is not only comparible but surpassing in this and most other albums. in otherwords this in my opinion is the greatest album ever released. ever!