Name: Playground Psychotics by Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention
Brand: Frank Zappa
SKU: 824302388624
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (399 reviews)

ALBUM

Volume 1

Volume 2

First of all, it must be understood that Playground Psychotics is intended for fans only: fans of Frank Zappa, of course, but most of all fans of the Flo & Eddie era of the Mothers of Invention (1970-1971); fans of the man's comedy rock; fans of his obsession with "life on the road" and its chronicling; and, finally, fans of the movie 200 Motels. This two-CD set contains live material and dialogues among band members (recorded with or without their knowledge). The "anthropological field recordings" (as Zappa liked to call them) get most of the attention. Each disc begins with a collage of dressing room and hotel room tapes. Touring can make you crazy and Zappa has proof. The second disc also ends with a sequence titled "The True Story of 200 Motels," where excerpts from the video by the same title are interspersed with previously unavailable tape recordings, all pertaining to the script-reading sessions in preparation for the movie shooting. The live tracks have average sound but present some very good moments, including old Mothers songs of which no live version with this particular lineup (including the vocal prowess of Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) was yet available; "Sleeping in a Jar" and "Mom and Dad" are highlights. An early version of "Wonderful Wino" and a complete alternate rendition of "Billy the Mountain" are also quite enjoyable. Disc one ends with the famous live session featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, here released with a different mix than on Lennon's Sometime in New York City. Aficionados of this particular period will find most of this album amusing; others will get profoundly bored.
© François Couture /TiVo

Playground Psychotics

Product information

Release options

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 1

1. Here Comes The Gear, Lads

2. The Living Garbage Truck

3. A Typical Sound Check

4. This Is Neat

5. The Motel Lobby

6. Getting Stewed

7. The Motel Room

8. Don't Take Me Down

9. The Dressing Room

10. Learning "Penis Dimension"

11. You There, With The Hard On!

12. Zanti Serenade

13. Divan

14. Sleeping In A Jar

15. Don't Eat There

16. Brixton Still Life

17. Super Grease

18. Wonderful Wino

19. Sharleena

20. Cruisin' For Burgers

21. Diptheria Blues

22. Well

23. Say Please

24. Aaawk

25. Scumbag

26. A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono

Volume 2

1. Beer Shampoo

2. Champagne Lecture

3. Childish Perversions

4. Playground Psychotics

5. The Mudshark Interview

6. There's No Lust In Jazz

7. Botulism On The Hoof

8. You Got Your Armies

9. The Spew King

10. I'm Doomed

11. Status Back Baby

12. The London Cab Tape

13. Concentration Moon, Part One

14. The Sanzini Brothers

15. It's A Good Thing We Get Paid To Do This

16. Concentration Moon, Part Two

17. Mom & Dad

18. Intro To Music For Low Budget Orchestra

19. Billy The Mountain

20. He's Watching

21. If You're Not A Professional Actor

22. He's Right

23. Going For The Money

24. Jeff Quits

25. A Bunch Of Adventures

26. Martin Lickert's Story

27. A Great Guy

28. Bad Acting

29. The Worst Reviews

30. A Version Of Himself

31. I Could Be A Star Now

Technical Specifications