On this day in music history: October 10, 1969 - Hot Rats, the second solo album by Frank Zappa is released. Produced by Frank Zappa, it is recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, CA, and Whitney Studios in Glendale, CA from July 18 - August 30, 1969. His first album since disbanding The Mothers Of Invention, it will consist of largely instrumental jazz influenced material and feature guest musicians Shuggie Otis, Max Bennett, Don Sugarcane Harris, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Captain Beefheart. Technologically more advanced than his previous works, it is Zappas first to be recorded on a 16-track multitrack recorder, which he will utilize to the fullest, overdubbing numerous keyboard and horn parts (played by musician Ian Underwood) as well as using techniques like varispeed to change the texture and sound of instruments. The album will go on to be one of Zappas most popular and acclaimed recordings. When the album is reissued on CD in 1987, Zappa will extensively remix and edit tracks, making them longer than the first LP issue. Eventually, the original 1969 mixes will be reissued on vinyl in 2009 and on CD in 2012. Hot Rats will peak at number one hundred seventy three on the Billboard Top 200.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 21:00:58 +0000