History Music / HotRats

''Hot Rats'' is widely praised as one of Zappa's best albums and is generally his most well beloved record for people who aren't really fans of his work. The total absence of many of Zappa's trademarks (political and social {{satire}}, comedy, bawdy jokes, sudden experimental interruptions,...) may well explain its popularity. There's only one track with lyrics, "Willie The Pimp", sang by Music/CaptainBeefheart, and even his voice disappears after the first two minutes. [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Back then it flopped in the USA, but it was a top ten hit record in England and the Netherlands]]. Musically ''Hot Rats'' is sometimes categorized as {{jazz}} and indeed has elements of this genre. Its most popular track is "Peaches En Regalia", which became a regular concert favorite.

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion / ReCut: Like all of Zappa's albums, ''Hot Rats'' received remixing and digital effects for its original CD release. In ''Hot Rats''[='=] case, the entire album was drastically changed, including new organ and woodwind sections that were mixed out, as well as four additional minutes on "The Gumbo Variations", bringing it to 16:55. The guitar solo of "Willie the Pimp" was even re-edited to include different material. The original vinyl mix wouldn't see the light of day until its 2009 reissue on vinyl, and its 2012 reissue on CD. Unfortunately, if you prefer the remixed version, the only way to get it now [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes isn't technically legal...]]

* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The album cover was designed by Cal Schenkel and John Williams [[note]] No, not the film composer of Spielberg fame.[[/note]]

-> ''The very idea! [[{{Instrumental}} An all-instrumental album]], except for one vocal cut — and that had to feature Music/CaptainBeefheart! He's no singer! Why are you wasting America's precious time with this, you asshole!''

-> '''Music/FrankZappa''', sarcastically looking back at the bad reception of "Hot Rats" at the time in the USA, in his autobiography ''Literature/TheRealFrankZappaBook (1989)''

'''Tracklist'''

'''Personnel'''

* RefrainFromAssuming: That's not Zappa on the album cover. It's Christine Frrka, a groupie from the GTO's standing in the empty swimming pool in Zappa's house. She used to baby-sit for Zappa's children.

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion / ReCut: Like all of Zappa's albums, ''Hot Rats'' received remixing and digital effects for its original CD release. In ''Hot Rats''[='=] case, the entire album was drastically changed, including new organ and woodwind sections that were mixed out, as well as four additional minutes on "The Gumbo Variations", bringing it to 16:55. The guitar solo of "Willie the Pimp" was even re-edited to include different material. The original vinyl mix wouldn't see the light of day until its 2009 reissue on vinyl, and its 2012 reissue on CD. Unfortunately, if you prefer the remixed version, the only way to get it now [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes isn't technically legal...]]]

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion / ReCut: Like all of Zappa's albums, ''Hot Rats'' received remixing and digital effects for its original CD release. In ''Hot Rats''[='=] case, the entire album was drastically changed, including new organ and woodwind sections that were mixed out, as well as four additional minutes on "The Gumbo Variations", bringing it to 16:55. The guitar solo of "Willie the Pimp" was even re-edited to include different material. The original vinyl mix wouldn't see the light of day until its 2009 reissue on vinyl, and its 2012 reissue on CD. Unfortunately, if you prefer the '87 version, the only way to get it now [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes isn't technically legal...]]]

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion / ReCut: Like all of Zappa's albums, ''Hot Rats'' received remixing and digital effects for its original CD release. In ''Hot Rats''[='=] case, the entire album was drastically changed, including new organ and woodwind sections that were mixed out, as well as four additional minutes on "The Gumbo Variations", bringing it to 16:55. The guitar solo of "Willie the Pimp" was even re-edited to include different material. The original vinyl mix wouldn't see the light of day until its 2009 reissue on vinyl, and its 2012 reissue on CD.

** A man in a suit with a "bow-tie neck" is described in "Willie The Pimp". Bow-tie imagery appeared earlier on ''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'' (1967) in the song "Bow-Tie Daddy".

'''Hot Rats''' (1969) is a mostly instrumental music album by Music/FrankZappa. It was Zappa's second ''official'' solo album after ''Music/LumpyGravy'' (1968) and was the first to be released after disbanding his original Mothers of Invention band. Ian Underwood was the only former member of the Mothers to appear on this album. The inclusion of Music/CaptainBeefheart was a guest spot happening around the same time when Zappa produced Beefheart's album ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'' (1969).

''''
!! Tracklist
# "Peaches en Regalia" - 3:38
# "Willie the Pimp" - 9:21
# "Son of Mr. Green Genes" - 8:58
# "Little Umbrellas" - 3:06
# "The Gumbo Variations" - 12:53[[note]]16:55 on the 1986-1995 CD pressings[[/note]]
# "It Must Be a Camel" - 5:15
!!

* ContinuityNod:

* {{Dedication}}: The album is dedicated to Zappa's then new born son Dweezil.

* MinimalisticCoverArt: Christine Frrka peering over the edge of an empty swimming pool.

* SonOfTropeDaughterOfIndex: "Son of Mr. Green Genes".

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''The Grand Wazoo'' (1972) and ''Waka Jawaka'' (1973).

** "Little Umbrellas" was sampled by the Belgian rock group Music/{{DEUS}} on the track "W.C.'s First Draft" from their album ''Music/WorstCaseScenario'' (1994).

** "Little Umbrellas" was sampled by the Belgian rock group dEUS on the track "W.C.'s First Draft" from their album ''Worst Case Scenario'' (1994).

!! Hot Tropes:
* AlbumTitleDrop: "HOT MEAT HOT RATS HOT ZITZ HOT WRISTS HOT RITZ HOT ROOTS HOT SOOTS" in "Willie The Pimp".

# "Peaches En Regalia"
# "Willie The Pimp"
# "Son Of Mr. Green Genes"
# "The Gumbo Variations"
# "It Must Be A Camel"

* AlbumTitleDrop: "Hot meat, hot rats, hot cats, hot ritz, hot soots,..." in "Willie The Pimp".

** "Son of Mr. Green Genes" is a CallBack to the track "Mr. Green Genes" on ''Music/UncleMeat'' (1969).

* EpicRocking: "Willie the Pimp" (9:25 minutes!), "Son of Mr. Green Genes" (8:58 minutes) and "The Gumbo Variations" (12:55).

* {{Jazz}}: Stylistically it sounds mostly like this.

* NewSoundAlbum: Zappa did all kinds of bizarre instrumental overdubbings, giving the album its colourful, smooth sound.

* StudioChatter: Zappa's band instructions at the beginning of "The Gumbo Variations".

''Hot Rats'' (1969) is a mostly instrumental music album by Music/FrankZappa. It was Zappa's second ''official'' solo album after ''Music/LumpyGravy'' (1968) and was the first to be released after disbanding his original Mothers of Invention band. Ian Underwood was the only former member of the Mothers to appear on this album. The inclusion of Music/CaptainBeefheart was a guest spot happening around the same time when Zappa produced Beefheart's album ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'' (1969).

''Hot Rats'' is widely praised as one of Zappa's best and is generally his most well beloved record for people who aren't really fans of his work. The total absence of many of Zappa's trademarks (political and social {{satire}}, comedy, bawdy jokes, sudden experimental interruptions,...) may well explain its popularity. There's only one track with lyrics, ''Willie The Pimp'', sang by Music/CaptainBeefheart, and even his voice disappears after the first two minutes. [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Back then it flopped in the USA, but it was a top ten hit record in England and the Netherlands]]. Musically ''Hot Rats'' is sometimes categorized as {{jazz}} and indeed has elements of this genre. Its most popular track is ''Peaches En Regalia'', which became a regular concert favorite.

* [[AlbumCoverDesigners Album Cover Designer]]: Creator/CalSchenkel.

** Captain Beefheart appears in the sleeve notes holding a vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaner imagery would return on ''Chunga's Revenge'' (1970), ''Film/TwoHundredMotels'' (1971) and ''One Size Fits All'' (1975).

** A man in a suit with a ''bow-tie neck'' is described in "Willie The Pimp". Bow-tie imagery appeared earlier on ''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'' (1967) in the song "Bow-Tie Daddy".

** "Son of Mr. Green Genes" is a CallBack to the track "Mr. Green Genes" on ''Uncle Meat'' (1969).

** "Son of Mr. Green Genes" is a shout-out to the character Mr. Green Jeans from the children's TV series ''Series/CaptainKangaroo''. The "Son of" part of the title refers to an earlier vocal version of the song, "Mr. Green Genes", which appeared on the album ''Uncle Meat''. Despite this, the full title of this song led to the UrbanLegend that Zappa was really the son of the actor who played this character.

* YourLittleDismissiveDiminutive: "Little Umbrellas".

''Hot Rats'' is widely praised as one of Zappa's best and is generally his most well beloved record for people who aren't really fans of his work. The total absence of many of Zappa's trademarks (political and social {{satire}}, comedy, bawdy jokes, sudden experimental interruptions,...) may well explain its popularity. There's only track with lyrics, ''Willie The Pimp'', sang by Music/CaptainBeefheart, and even his voice is only present for about the first two minutes of an Epic rockout. Musically the albums is sometimes categorized as {{jazz}} and indeed has elements of this genre. Its most popular track is ''Peaches En Regalia'', which became a regular concert favorite.

* FakeOutFadeOut: "It Must Be Camel" seems to end after a few minutes, then comes back and goes full phase again. When the ending melodies return for the second time the track is over for real.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The album was a top ten hit record in England and the Netherlands.

* RefrainFromAssuming: That's not Zappa peering on the album cover. It's Christine Frrka, a groupie from the GTO's standing in the empty swimming pool in Zappa's house. She used to baby-sit for Zappa's children.

* AlbumTitleDrop: ''Hot meat, hot rats, hot cats, hot ritz, hot soots,...'' in ''Willie The Pimp''.

** ''Hot Rats'' is one of the stars in the sky on the album cover of ''Music/OneSizeFitsAll''.
** A man in a suit with a ''bow-tie neck'' is described in ''Willie The Pimp''. Bow-tie imagery appeared earlier on ''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'' (1967) in the song ''Bow-Tie Daddy''.
*** Beefheart sings ''"wanna buy a grunt with a third party check"'' in ''Willie The Pimp''. The musician thanks his name to an aborted film project by Zappa named ''Captain Beefheart vs. The Grunt People''.
** ''Son Of Mr. Green Genes'' is a CallBack to the track ''Mr. Green Genes'' on ''Uncle Meat'' (1969).

* EpicRocking: ''Willie The Pimp'' (9:25 minutes!), ''Son Of Mr. Green Genes'' (8:58 minutes) and ''The Gumbo Variations'' (12:55).
* FakeOutFadeOut: ''It Must Be Camel'' seems to end after a few minutes, then comes back and goes full phase again. When the ending melodies return for the second time the track is over for real.

* {{Instrumentals}}: Most tracks are instrumental in nature. Only ''Willie The Pimp'' has some vocals by Captain Beefheart at the start and ''The Gumbo Variations'' has some StudioChatter at the beginning.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: ''Willie The Pimp'' was inspired by a real life incident, explained during ''The Story Of Willie The Pimp'' on Zappa's ''Mystery Disc''.

** ''Son Of Mr. Green Genes'' is a shout-out to the character Mr. Green Jeans from the children's TV series ''Series/CaptainKangaroo''. This lead to the UrbanLegend that Zappa was really the son of the actor who played this character.
** ''Willie The Pimp'' was covered by Alex Harvey on his album ''The Joker Is Wild'' (1972).
** ''Little Umbrellas'' was sampled by the Belgian rock group dEUS on the track ''W.C.'s First Draft'' from their album ''Worst Case Scenario'' (1994).
** Former Music/{{Supergrass}} members Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey named their side-project band ''The Hotrats'' after this album.
* SonOfTropeDaughterOfIndex: ''Son Of Mr. Green Genes''.
* SpecialGuest: Music/CaptainBeefheart on vocals during ''Willie The Pimp''.

* StudioChatter: Zappa's band instructions at the beginning of ''The Gumbo Variations''.
* UnusualEuphemism: Zappa describes the album in the liner notes as ''a movie for your ears''.
* YourLittleDismissiveDiminutive: ''Little Umbrellas''.

''Hot Rats'' (1969) is a mostly instrumental music album by Music/FrankZappa. It was Zappa's second ''official'' solo album after ''Lumpy Gravy'' (1968) and was the first to be released after disbanding his original Mothers of Invention band. Ian Underwood was the only former member of the Mothers to appear on this album. The inclusion of Music/CaptainBeefheart was a guest spot happening around the same time when Zappa produced Beefheart's album ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'' (1969).

** Captain Beefheart appears in the sleave notes holding a vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaner imagery would return on ''Chunga's Revenge'' (1970), ''Film/TwoHundredMotels'' (1971) and ''One Size Fits All'' (1975).

''Hot Rats'' is widely praised as one of Zappa's best and is generally his most well beloved record for people who aren't really fans of his work. The total absence of many of Zappa's trademarks (political and social {{satire}}, comedy, bawdy jokes, sudden experimental interruptions,...) may well explain its popularity. There's only track with lyrics, ''Willie The Pimp'', sang by Music/CaptainBeefheart, and even his voice is only present for about the first two minutes of an Epic rockout. Musically the albums is sometimes categorized as jazz and indeed has elements of this genre. Its most popular track is ''Peaches En Regalia'', which became a regular concert favorite.

* FadeOutFakeOut: ''It Must Be Camel'' seems to end after a few minutes, then comes back and goes full phase again. When the ending melodies return for the second time the track is over for real.

*** Beefheart sings ''wanna buy a grunt with a third party check'' in ''Willie The Pimp''. The musician thanks his named to an aborted film project by Zappa named ''Captain Beefheart vs. The Grunt People''.

* FadeFakeOut: ''It Must Be Camel'' seems to end after a few minutes, then comes back and goes full phase.

''Hot Rats'' (1969) is a mostly instrumental music album by Music/FrankZappa. It's widely praised as one of Zappa's best and is generally his most well beloved record for people who aren't really fans of his work. The total absence of many of Zappa's trademarks (political and social satire, comedy, bawdy jokes, sudden experimental interruptions,...) may well explain its popularity. There's only track with lyrics, ''Willie The Pimp'', sang by Music/CaptainBeefheart, and even his voice is only present for about the first two minutes of an Epic rockout. Musically the albums is sometimes categorized as jazz and indeed has elements of this genre. Its most popular track is

* RefrainFromAssuming: That's not Zappa peering on the album cover. It's Christine Frrka, a groupie from the GTO's standing in the empty swimming pool in Zappa's house.

* SpokenWordInMusic: Zappa's band instructions at the beginning of ''The Gumbo Variations''.
* UnusualEuphemism: Zappa describes the album in the liner notes as ''a movie for your ears''.