Vile Foamy Ectoplasm (1993)
60s/70s Vault Tapes From
The Ex-Mother of Invention
A rare solo release from former Mothers of Invention keyboardist, Don Preston. Released in 1993, but featuring recordings from 1967-81, Vile Foamy Ectoplasm boasts plenty of Mothers alumni; Jimmy Carl Black, three Fowler brothers, Roy Estrada, Arthur Barrow and Bunk Gardner (Motorhead Sherwood, Howard Kaylan and Miss Lucy even show up for a short vocal track). There’s some Zappa-esque weirdness to be found alongside the more traditional “jazz” stylings in Preston’s repertoire. For “Eternal Question,” Preston and Black sing about everyone’s must-know question about Frank Zappa, “… did he really shit on the stage?” The 15 minute “Death Lights” will surely find favor with those who enjoy Preston’s Mothers-era avant/noise musings.
Moon Unit (Recorded: 1981)
Lady Queen Bee (Recorded: 1981)
The Street Urchins
Bannon Call (Recorded: 1975)
Sweet 15 (Recorded: 1973)
Construction in Slow Motion With Sharp Interludes (Recorded: 1976)
Andrea (Recorded: 1975)
The Street Urchins 2
The Eternal Question (Recorded: 1981)
Palmer Park (Recorded: 1975)
Voices from the Past
Death Lights (Recorded: 1967-68)
9 Comments
Good stuff, thanks!
(though i must add that the Zappaesque instrumentals like "Sweet 15" are just a little bit too 'smooth' sounding and lack the FZ 'edge' (probably due to the somewhat restrained [i.e. boring] drumming, and the lack of Zappa's edgey guitar solos, obviously!)
I wonder if "Moon Unit" is about you-know-who…?
Hmmm… there are so many Moon Units it's hard to say.
What a magnificent collection/album by Don.
I always wanted to know what his playing sounded like and how he contributed to the sound of my fave Zappa period and this cd makes it perfectly clear.
Great insight, great playing.
Don is also an amazing musician chosen to play with a genius. HIs talent is overshadowed but never diminished by the master's ghostly hand.
Thank you for revealing this artist to me.
Cheers
Funkish Bass
I have heard Sweet 15 before. I think its great, and was called 'Eye of Agamato' I heard it off the Grandmothers LP that was about in 1981 (on Rhino records)
Didn't know that. Thanks for the details.
Find Don Preston HERE.
is this the same Don Preston of “Bluse” (SP 4155 A&M) fame?
Different guy. Your guy has a long resume and was part of Leon Russell’s Shelter crew. This Preston remained mainly in Frank Zappa’s orbit before branching out some into avant jazz. Don’t know what he’s up to today.