Released: 1972
Tracks: The Grand Wazoo; For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-hikers); Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus; Eat That Question; Blessed Relief
Best track: Blessed Relief, with Wazoo and Question right behind it
Track to skip: none
OK, I have to hear Blessed Relief again. Ahhhhh. I love this song; very cool stuff. My friend Kory recommended this album to me and so far, everything he’s suggested I get has been excellent. I think this is what Waka/Jawaka should’ve sounded like. But hey, I can’t complain since we get both of them. W/J wasn’t too hot and this is the exact opposite. More Big Band stuff on this one, but the solos are lessened a bit and Zappa is more concerned with the compositions. Every song on here is good.
Like I said before, this was recorded at the same session as W/J, but it’s astounding how much better this is. It’s focused and the playing is extremely tight and passionate. The non-solo parts of the title track are pretty jaw dropping; oh yeah, the solos are too. Eat That Question has a very cool keyboard intro and George Duke is all over this one. Question is his track. For Calvin is the only vocal on the album and it concerns a time when Calvin Shenkel (artist for many of Zappa’s albums, including this one) picked up two hitch-hikers and their actions. Even though all four other tracks are great, Blessed Relief is amazing. It’s a very chilled out jazz track that always puts me in a good mood. I love listening to it.
Grand Wazoo picks the energy level back up after the disappointing Waka/Jawaka and starts off the streak of some consistently excellent Zappa albums that would last 3 or 4 years. I love this album and it’s something all Zappa fans should pick up quickly. The rest of you should consider this as well; there aren’t any offensive lyrics here at all, just good music.
Rating: 95
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