A crucial turning point in Motherdom, this started as the soundtrack to the movie that was completed decades later. Just when Zappa's fans had digested the vicious satire of WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY and the doo-wop homages of RUBEN & THE JETS, he gave them a mostly-instrumental album that highlighted the jazz-rock leanings and increasing virtuosity of the early Mothers. The album's finale, the adventurous but appealing instrumental suite “King Kong,” convinced a few skeptical ears that Zappa wasn't so scary after all.
As a whole, UNCLE MEAT illustrates FZ's masterful production techniques, and his ability to appropriate all sorts of popular music and have his way with it as well. Doo-wop rears its head on “Cruisin' For Burgers” and “Electric Aunt Jemima;” and the groupies-turned recording artists the GTO's make their debut on “Our Bizarre Relationship.” And of course, it wouldn't be a serious, jazz-influenced Mothers album without a little “Louie Louie.”
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