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Rating: "Chunga's Revenge" was released in 1970 and is Uncle Frank's tenth album.
This album is the intermediary of the era (in my opinion) most flourishing from the point of view of musical complexity, and not so much from the textual point of view, as in the early albums ("Freak Out!" and "We're only in it for the money", just to clarify). We have already surpassed two of the greatest LPs, namely "Hot Rats" and "Burnt Weeny Sandwich", which represent the musical culmination of the artist, and this album indeed reflects these influences, and at times anticipates the subsequent "Waka/Jawaka" and "The Grand Wazoo".
The cover captures him in an expression halfway between a heart-wrenching scream and a yawn (I honestly lean more towards the latter hypothesis). The album has a total duration of about 40 minutes, and begins with one of the most beautiful tracks of the work: Transylvania Boogie, which gives precedence to Zappa's legendary guitar (for exactly 5 minutes). This is followed by Road Ladies (which deals with the subject of groupies), with a rather bluesy rhythm and Twenty Small Cigars, more jazz. The fourth track is The Nancy & Mary Music, a live piece made mainly of improvisation (also as far as the drums are concerned), with a duration of a good 9 and a half minutes. It continues with Tell me you love me, Would you go all the way? and the title track, always dominated by the guitar solo (6:15). Two brief pieces, The Clap and Rudy wants to buy yez a drink (with an imitation of Elvis Presley), and the conclusion Sharleena (which recalls, by the title, the final track of Burnt... namely Valarie).
In short, we are at the peak of a golden era for Frank, and he will not cease to amaze us, and therefore it is advisable to get, in addition to this album and those mentioned above, all those (better or worse they may be) that surround them, namely "Weasels Ripped My Flesh", "Over-nite sensation", "Apostrophe" and (a bit older) "Uncle meat".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
10 Sharleena (04:04)
Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals)
Ian Underwood (grand piano, tenor saxophone)
George Duke (organ)
Jeff Simmons (bass, vocals)
Aynsley Dunbar (drums)
The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie (vocals)
I'm crying,
I'm crying,
Crying for Sharleena.
Don't you know?
I called up all my baby's friends
and asked them,
where she done went.
But nobody around here seems to know,
Where my Sharleena has been.
Where my Sharleena has been.
I'm crying,
I'm crying,
Crying for Sharleena.
Can't you see?
I called up all my baby's friends
and asked them,
where she done went.
But nobody around here seems to know,
Where my Sharleena has been.
Where my Sharleena has been.
Ten long years I been lovin' her.
Ten long years and I thought deep down in my heart she was mine.
Ten long years I beloved her.
Ten long years and I would call her my baby.
And now, I'm always crying.
Ugh!
Ugh!
I would be so delighted.
I would be so delighted.
If they would just
Send her on home to me.
I would be so delighted.
I would be so delighted.
If they would just
Send her on home to me.
Send my baby home to me!
Send my baby home to me!
Send my baby home.
Send my baby home to me!
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By DanteCruciani
There's no escaping that even Zappa's 'minor' albums contain at least a handful of brilliant ideas.
Everything is at high levels... music is really at home.
