Frank Zappa—Lumpy Gravy (1967 version)

Frank Zappa—Lumpy Gravy (original 1967 release)

Lumpy Gravy—The canon of Frank Zappa is immense. Among his works, there exist pieces that are perhaps more important than others in the grand scheme of things. Many of his recordings originally stemmed from older compositions and took on lives of their own. One of these such compositions is the symphonic performance Lumpy Gravy. It is important to note that there are two discrete versions of the album. The most well-known incarnation today is the 1968 release, which is constructed in a similar manner to the preceding We're Only in It for the Money (1967), but with a more experimental bent. It is a mix of varied instrumentals and edited parts of the "piano-dweller" sound bites:

"One day I decided to stuff a pair of U-87's in the piano, cover it with a heavy drape, put a sand bag on the sustain pedal and invite anybody in the vicinity to stick their head inside and ramble incoherently about the various topics I would suggest to them via the studio talk-back system [...] what emerged from the texts was a vague plot regarding pigs and ponies, threatening the lives of characters who inhabit a large piano." —Frank Zappa, liner notes of Civilization Phaze III

The other Lumpy Gravy is an orchestral work that was composed and conducted by Zappa under the Capitol label after the release of Absolutely Free (1967), but quickly pulled after a lawsuit from Zappa's regular label, MGM. This article pertains to the original Lumpy Gravy. Though they each contain much of the same music, they are distinct works with differing intentions. Lumpy Gravy is tracked with nine movements totaling a brisk 22:37. It stands as its own article, but it can also be thought of historically as the focal point of three Frank Zappa works: the soundtrack to the film The World's Greatest Sinner, "Oh No," and "King Kong."

"Oh No" is a song that exists all over Zappa's discography in various forms both vocal and instrumental. It appears here in its earliest recordings, quoted and played throughout the album. During the same time period, the Fraternity of Man released the first vocal version on their debut LP. The World's Greatest Sinner was a 1962 film for which Zappa composed the score; parts of it are played here by the "Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra," a rag-tag group of musicians commissioned for the album, some of who would later play on Orchestral Favorites (1975). "King Kong" is heard here as part of "Foamy Soaky" along with a variation on "A Pound for a Brown on the Bus." Both of these would appear in their most essential forms on Uncle Meat (1969), which itself was conceived as the soundtrack to a movie of the same name. The Uncle Meat movie would not be released until 1987.

The Lumpy Gravy of 1967 is very different than the rest of Zappa's output during that period. It is likely that Zappa was enthusiastic about the opportunity, as he was known to have been composing since age 14 under the influence of Stravinsky and Varèse. It is a compelling performance, especially for a first effort, although Zappa himself did not play in it. The 1968 Lumpy Gravy may have more relevance to the overall progression of popular music and to Zappa's own oeuvre, the original work is equally a joy to hear.

This once-rare original recording of Lumpy Gravy can be heard as an 8-track tape or as part of The Lumpy Money Project/Object (2009).