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Rating:
December 1968, the third and final album for that year, sees the release of "Cruising With Ruben And The Jets", a sort of return to the roots for Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention. The group tackles doo-wop music, a genre that was very popular in the '50s, which Frank Zappa and his friend Captain Beefheart often listened to during that time. Doo-wop is a genre born in Italian-American neighborhoods, often sweet and romantic with a characteristic singing style spiced with verses that mimic music.
Our group therefore immerses themselves in this imaginary musical ensemble with a typically '50s name, Ruben & the Jets as noted on the whimsical cover designed by Cal Schenkel and on the back cover, where Zappa is portrayed in a period photo, under the guise of his Italian-American alter ego Ruben Sano, with a parodic biography titled "The Story Of Ruben & The Jets".
More than an actual doo-wop album, in reality, it's a parody (Zappa and parodies? how strange!) but at the same time a tribute to the genre, making it a semi-serious album, more so than the previous ones anyway. The difference between this work and the other masterpieces published by Zappa with the first ensemble of The Mothers of Invention is substantial to say the least: the usual depth of parody is missing, the irreverence in the lyrics and humor is missing, less sharp and politically incorrect than usual. There are no "forbidden" or taboo topics in the eyes of the American public. In short, grasping the humor of this parody may not be the easiest thing on this record.
The songs are all original and written by Zappa (except Deseri, Anything, and Jelly Roll Gum Drop written by the great vocalist Ray Collins), and some are taken from "Freak Out!" (I recall You Didn't Try To Call Me, Anyway The Wind Blows rather than I'm Not Satisfied) and rearranged in a doo-wop key, which makes them nothing short of whiny. Obviously, there's a splash of genius here too: Fountain of Love, where he even mixes in Stravinsky with chord changes and references in the finale to his "Rite of Spring". In 1984, the bass and drum parts were re-recorded, causing quite a bit of criticism, as Zappa was not satisfied with the sound on the original master tapes. Zappa also added many vocal parts and completely remixed the entire album.
The origin of the vocal matrix of the early Zappa and co.'s albums is well-documented in this record, making it a piece of certain interest, at least from this point of view. However, the public did not receive the album with the usual favor, except for a small group of '50s nostalgics (remember Sha Na Na?): a few years later, a band led by a certain Ruben Guevara asked Frank Zappa for permission to call themselves Ruben And The Jets, in honor of the album reviewed here.
Though it is a undoubtedly bold work, I must personally admit that this album didn't appeal to me much; I've always considered it the weak point of The Mothers Of Invention's discography: it is too average to belong to that grand cauldron of ideas typical of Frank Zappa. This album is suitable for those who perhaps adore '50s music, but certainly not for die-hard fans of Frank Zappa and his distinctive style.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Cheap Thrills (02:39)
Darling, darling, please hear my plea
God only knows what your loving does to me
Cheap thrills in the back of my car
Cheap thrills, how fine they are
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine, now
Cheap thrills all over the seat
Cheap thrills, your kind of lovin' can't be beat
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine, now
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills, I can't wait another day
Cheap thrills, you gotta try to sneak away
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills set fire to my soul
Cheap thrills, like a story untold about
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills in the back of my car
Cheap thrills, how fine they are
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine
Cheap thrills all over the seat
Cheap thrills, your kind of lovin' can't be beat
Cheap thrills up and down my spine
I need it, I need it, 'cause it feels so fine
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
Cheap thrills
03 How Could I Be Such a Fool (03:34)
When I won your love, I was very glad
Every happiness in the world belonged to me
Then our love was lost and you went away
Now I shed my tears in lonely misery
I know now that you never ever really loved me
It hurts me now to think you never ever really cared
I sit and ask myself a thousand times to try and find
What really happened to the love that we shared
How could I be such a fool
How could I believe all those lies you told me
How could I be taken in by your sweet face
You spoiled our love, you ruined my life
I'm so tore down, I'm a terrible disgrace
But there will come a time and you'll regret the way
You treated me as if I was a fool and didn't know
The many times you lied about your love for me
Someone else is gonna know that your love was just a show...
How could I be such a fool?
04 Deseri (02:09)
When I'm dancing with Deseri
(Oo-ooo Deseri)
All the boys are jealous of me
(Deseri)
I'm as happy as I can be
Oh, Deseri
I'm as happy as I can be
(Oo-ooo Deseri)
Whenever I'm with Deseri
(Deseri)
She saves her lovin' just for me
Oh Deseri
I will never be untrue
I will never ever make her blue
She'll never sigh, cry, sit and pine
We will share a love divine
Deseri is mine
I'm as happy as I can be
(Oo-ooo Deseri)
Whenever I'm with Deseri
(Deseri)
'Cause she saves her lovin' just for me
Oh Deseri
Deseri . . .
(Deseri oo-ooo)
Deseri, the first day we met
(Deseri oo-ooo)
I'll never forget
(Deseri oo-ooo)
I saw you walking down the street
And my heart skipped a beat
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(Deseri)
I told you of my love for you
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(Deseri)
But theres nothing . . .
(Deseri oo-ooo)
Nothing you would do
(The one for me)
I said, please hear my plea
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(My-y Deseri)
Come dance with me
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(Please, hear my plea)
(Deseri oo-ooo)
Oh Deseri . . .
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(Come along with me)
You came
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(Aa-aah Deseri)
We went to the dance that night
I held you so tight
(Deseri oo-ooo)
(My-y Deseri)
(Deseri oo-ooo)
And I know . . .
(My-y Deseri)
That our love will last . . .
(Deseri oo-ooo)
Thru the years
(Deseri . . .)
For ever, holding each other, for cram & for dorssn.
07 Anything (03:06)
For you, I could do anything
For your love, my heart cries
Take my heart, my love my everything
For so long I've needed your love
Oh, when, when you first came to me
I-I-I-I-I doubted your love
But now you mean everything to me
And each day I love you more
For you, I could do anything
For your love, my heart cries
Take my heart
(Take my heart)
My love, my everything
(Take my love)
For so long
(Take my heart)
I've needed you
(Take my love)
Take my heart
Take my love
Take my heart
Take my love
Take . . .
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