1973's "Over-nite Sensation" by Frank Zappa features some nifty tunes, slick production and inspired playing of his unique style of jazz-fusion by the guitar guru himself and his talented band. One of Zappa's more commercially successful efforts, it contains some lyrics that while hilarious, may be offensive to some tastes.

Sandwiched between two of Zappa's popular tunes, "Camarillo Brillo" and "Montana" are some more adventurous excursions by the band, replete with Zappa's unique musical inventions. Slap the headphones on and listen to Frank go gonzo in his solo on "Zombie Wolf", or Jean-Luc Ponty sawing his electric violin on "Fifty-Fifty". Among the other band members, George Duke works the keyboards, Ian Underwood and Sal Marquez play the woodwins and brass, while Ruth Underwood mans the vibes. These peeps can play!

A satisfying tour of improvisation and composition, this disk is highly recommended to Zappa fans and serious music listeners. Its difficult to compare this album to anything but other Zappa discs because his music is quite unique. However, if you are into pop, this will not be your cup of java.



Recommended: Yes