10 Extreme Rock Albums That Will Blow Your Mind
2. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats
Almost any record by Frank Vincent Zappa could have made this list. A highly original, self-taught composer, Zappa shared a tumultuous friendship with another name to be found in this article, Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, who contributes vocals to Hot Rats (on Willie The Pimp).
Whilst Hot Rats isn't as 'way out' as the other records on this list (or indeed the rest of Zappa's discography) the album stands as good entry-point to the world of Zappa, and is remarkable for the assembled talent of its personnel.
A fifteen-year-old Shuggie Otis (whose own album Inspiration Information, remains a classic of psyche-rock) plays bass guitar on this set, and no less a personage than Lowell George (of Little Feat) is present on rhythm guitar. Jazz greats Jean-Luc Ponty (violin) and Ian Underwood (keys, flute, clarinet) lend their skills, as does legendary jazz-fusion drummer John Guerin.
It's cosmic, certainly, it's also down and
dirty, funky and bluesy, but don't overlook Hot Rats' exploratory
elements which, although bubbling under the surface, makes this a
Frank Zappa record through-and-through.