Chunga's Revenge
	Produced by Frank Zappa
	Released on October 23, 1970
	US CHART POSITION #119 . . . UK CHART POSITION #43
	Find it at GEMM
RCD 10511 cover [high resolution scan]

T he first Frank Zappa album to feature Flo & Eddie! Frank retains the usual format here, mixing blistering guitar workouts, quasi-orchestral instrumentals, and demented songs. However, with Flo & Eddie in the band, vocal songs -- once the exception -- were fast becoming the rule. Chunga’s Revenge features five of ‘em. (That’s one half of the album.) They’re good songs, and some have gone on to attain semi-classic status (“Tell Me You Love Me”), but with Frank Zappa you either get philharmoniacal music, fiery fretwork, or funny. I’m not knocking the funny, but with it Frank inevitably slips into auto-cruise. Better by far are instrumentals that show off his skill as an arranger (“Twenty Small Cigars”) or his fret-tacular fingerwork (“Transylvania Boogie,” “Chunga’s Revenge”). The record also marks the first appearance of George Duke and Jeff Simmons alongside Zappa. Despite the talented lineup, Chunga’s Revenge remains Zappa’s show (which would explain why he again chose to drop The Mothers moniker), including FZ unleashing his heretofore hidden percussive fury on “The Clap” (ah, we can’t all be Ruth Underwood). I like Chunga’s Revenge, but I’m as likely to queue up “Rudy Wants To Buy Yez A Drink” and “Sharleena” and be done with it as listen to the whole album. Though a multi-faceted musical artist, I like Frank best when he’s doing one thing and doing it very well. Chunga’s Revenge skips around too much for my tastes; I’m rarely in the mood for serious instrumental music and guitar pyrotechnics and irreverent novelty songs all at the same time. Zappa’s genius condensed to a single disc can come across a little too strong; taken in smaller doses, Chunga’s Revenge is an appreciable effort.

RCD 10511 gatefold sleeve	RCD 10511 back sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. TRANSYLVANIA BOOGIE    5:01
2. ROAD LADIES    4:10
3. TWENTY SMALL CIGARS    2:17
4. THE NANCY & MARY MUSIC    9:27
5. TELL ME YOU LOVE ME    2:33
6. WOULD YOU GO ALL THE WAY?    2:29
7. CHUNGA'S REVENGE    6:15
8. THE CLAP    1:23
9. RUDY WANTS TO BUY YEZ A DRINK    2:44
10. SHARLEENA    4:03
    
    All songs composed and arranged by Frank Zappa

CREDITS

FRANK ZAPPA -- guitar, vocal, harpsichord, Condor, drum set, wood blocks, temple blocks, boo-bams, tom-toms, etc.
GEORGE DUKE -- organ, electric piano, vocal drum imitations, trombone
AYNSLEY DUNBAR -- drums, tambourine
THE PHLORESCENT LEECH & EDDIE -- vocals, rhythm guitar
JEFF SIMMONS -- bass, vocal
IAN UNDERWOOD -- organ, rhythm guitar, piano, electric piano, pipe organ, electric alto sax with wah-wah pedal, grand piano, tenor sax
Max Bennett -- bass
John Guerin -- drums
Sugar Cane Harris -- organ (7)
Dick Kunc -- engineer
Stan Agol -- engineer
Roy Baker -- engineer
Bruce Margolis -- engineer (4)
Bob Stone -- digital remastering (RCD 10511)
Cal Schenkel -- cover design & illustration
Phil Franks -- front cover photo
John Williams -- back cover photo

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