'Hot Rats' is a record that I've lived with for 45 years now and I still rate it as a must have (or must hear) album. In late 69 Zappa had disbanded the original Mothers of Invention line up and set about recording his second solo album. His first solo album 'Lumpy Gravy', had failed to set the world alight, so his second solo effort had to do better. Zappa retained multi instumentalist Ian Underwood from the original Mothers and set about recording what was to be his most commercially successful album.
'Hot Rats' is a remarkable record, "a movie for the ears" claimed Zappa on the sleeve notes, mixing rock and jazz in equal measure. Zappa invited long time friend Captain Beefheart to provide Howlin' Wolf like vocal on the only track on the album to contain a lyric, 'Willie The Pimp'. Zappa's guitar playing is superb throughout. Sharp and considered with much use of the wah-wah pedal. Ian Underwood supply's one of the best sax solo's ever recorded on 'The Gumbo Variations', which also includes a virtuoso violin performance from Don 'Sugarcane' Harris. Elsewhere Jean Luc Ponty plays the violin intro to 'Willie The Pimp' and Zappa, with Underwood play such diverse instruments as Organus Maximus and octave bass.
Other musicians credited on 'Hot Rats' are Max Bennett-bass on all but 'Peaches En Regalia', Shuggy Otis-bass on 'Peaches En Regalia', Paul Humphry, Ron Selico and John Guerin-drums and Lowell George on uncredited rhythm guitar.
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