Playground Psychotics by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (Album, Field Recordings): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music
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Playground Psychotics
By Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
......
ArtistFrank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
TypeAlbum
Released27 October 1992
RecordedSeptember 1970 - 10 December 1971
RYM Rating 2.79 / 5.00.5 from 360 ratings
Ranked#2,759 for live, #1,035 for archival
Genres
Descriptors
humorous, male vocalist
Language English
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Previous in discography: 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly
'Tis the Season to Be Jelly
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Issues

6 Issues

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6 Issues

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Credits

Credits

15 Reviews

Page 1 2 >>
paveman123 Jan 16 2011 3.50 stars
Billy the Mountain is good Christian fun.
Published
SeriesGuy_811 Jun 21 2022 0.50 stars
An album that presents a strangely unflattering image of the artist behind it.
Over the last few months I've been going through Frank Zappa's discography for the first time in a pretty much random order, and after seeing that this album included an extended version of "Billy the Mountain," a track I quite enjoyed from Just Another Band From L.A. I decided to listen to this one next. In the buildup to that monumental half-hour track placed near the end of the over two hour album, I was met with a mixed bag of tracks whose unenjoyable moments far outweighed the enjoyable ones.

The album opens with about 10 minutes of band chatter and light background tune-ups that were frankly just kind of boring to listen to; no one really said or played anything interesting. Then it gets into a decently lengthy segment of live music starting with track 12 and ending with track 26 that I would consider the 'good' portion of the album; if this section was released by itself I probably would consider it another decent live album to add to Zappa's catalogue.

However, starting with disc two the album sort of takes a nosedive. We're back to the spoken word stuff again except this time instead of the forgettable chatter of before the listener is presented with recordings of the rest of the band tearing into Frank Zappa's songwriting and leadership style. I have to say, I've never listened to an album before that has made me think less of the artist who released it, and it's not a particularly pleasant listening experience. It starts off humorously enough on tracks like "Beer Shampoo" but once you get to tracks like "The London Cab Tape," in which Ian Underwood describes Zappa recording their conversations and then later exploiting it for material without crediting them, which he literally does on said track (none of the spoken word bits list credit the people speaking in them as writers, by the way, they're all credited to Zappa, which I find kind of odd considering there are a number of actual songs on the album that do credit multiple writers) and "It's a Good Thing We Get Paid to Do This" which has a pretty self-explanatory title, you start to wonder why Frank Zappa would compile and release this material in a way that presents him as something that I kind of already gleaned from reading little bits of song backgrounds around the internet and in some of his snippier song lyrics: that is, as a jerk.

The album's single saving grace the aforementioned disc one live material, particularly track 18, which I personally prefer to its studio counterpart on Zoot Allures, and tracks 22-26, which originate from a live jam with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. You would think a collaboration between Frank Zappa and John Lennon would be slightly more interesting musically, considering how strong their songwriting is separately, but as it is it's still enjoyable to listen to.

And that extended version of "Billy the Mountain" I was looking forward to? I mean, it isn't bad or anything, but it isn't better than the original release either. Most of the additional time comes from an instrumental jam towards the end of the song. I was sort of hoping for some more lyrics or a different musical section or something. I found the other the live material on disc two generally inferior to their studio counterparts/original releases as well. There are some more spoken word bits after "Billy the Mountain" that close the album but by then I was pretty much done in terms of formulating my opinion.

This album didn't totally destroy my perception of Frank Zappa or anything, and I'm certainly not going to stop listening to his music; like I said, I kind of already gleaned and put all this information together. It's just sort of strange and mildly uncomfortable to hear it assembled and put together in one place (alongside some decent enough live material) by the artist himself.
Published
MrLackMeier Feb 07 2018 ▼ 5.00 stars
  • 5.00 stars 1.1 Here Comes the Gear, Lads
  • 5.00 stars 1.2 The Living Garbage Truck
  • 5.00 stars 1.3 A Typical Soundcheck
  • 5.00 stars 1.4 "This Is Neat"
  • 5.00 stars 1.5 The Motel Lobby
  • 5.00 stars 1.6 Getting Stewed
  • 5.00 stars 1.7 The Motel Room
  • 5.00 stars 1.8 "Don't Take Me Down"
  • 5.00 stars 1.9 The Dressing Room
  • 5.00 stars 1.10 Learning: "Penis Dimension"
  • 5.00 stars 1.11 "You There, With the Hard On!"
  • 5.00 stars 1.12 Zanti Serenade
  • 5.00 stars 1.13 Divan
  • 5.00 stars 1.14 Sleeping in a Jar
  • 5.00 stars 1.15 "Don't Eat There"
  • 5.00 stars 1.16 Brixton Still Life
  • 5.00 stars 1.17 Super Grease
  • 5.00 stars 1.18 Wonderful Wino
  • 5.00 stars 1.19 Sharleena
  • 5.00 stars 1.20 Cruisin' for Burgers
  • 5.00 stars 1.21 Diphteria Blues
  • 5.00 stars 1.22 Well
  • 5.00 stars 1.23 Say Please
  • 5.00 stars 1.24 Aaawk
  • 5.00 stars 1.25 Scumbag
  • 5.00 stars 1.26 A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono
  • 5.00 stars 2.1 Beer Shampoo
  • 5.00 stars 2.2 Champagne Lecture
  • 5.00 stars 2.3 Childish Perversions
  • 5.00 stars 2.4 Playground Psychotics
  • 5.00 stars 2.5 The Mudshark Interview
  • 5.00 stars 2.6 "There's No Lust in Jazz"
  • 5.00 stars 2.7 Botulism on the Roof
  • 5.00 stars 2.8 You Got Your Armies
  • 5.00 stars 2.9 The Spew King
  • 5.00 stars 2.10 I'm Doomed
  • 5.00 stars 2.11 Status Back Baby
  • 5.00 stars 2.12 The London Cab Tape
  • 5.00 stars 2.13 Concentration Moon, Part One
  • 5.00 stars 2.14 The Sanzini Brothers
  • 5.00 stars 2.15 "It's a Good Thing We Get Paid to do This"
  • 5.00 stars 2.16 Concentration Moon, Part Two
  • 5.00 stars 2.17 Mom & Dad
  • 5.00 stars 2.18 Intro to Music for Low Budget Orchestra
  • 5.00 stars 2.19 Billy the Mountain
  • 5.00 stars 2.20 He's Watching
  • 5.00 stars 2.21 If You're Not a Professional Actor
  • 5.00 stars 2.22 He's Right
  • 5.00 stars 2.23 Going for the Money
  • 5.00 stars 2.24 Jeff Quits
  • 5.00 stars 2.25 A Bunch of Adventures
  • 5.00 stars 2.26 Martin Lickert's Story
  • 5.00 stars 2.27 A Great Guy
  • 5.00 stars 2.28 Bad Acting
  • 5.00 stars 2.29 The Worst Reviews
  • 5.00 stars 2.30 A Version of Himself
  • 5.00 stars 2.31 I Could Be a Star Now
'Playground Psychotics' is by far the best album Zappa released from the 'Flo & Eddie'-era.
It is a document of the life on the road as a Rock musician, filled with conversations, dumb little jokes, live performances, improvisations and rehearsals.
The live performances are fantastic, especially the one they had with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and I even liked this version of 'Billy the Mountain'.
All in all, this was a really creative way to do this rather unloved era of Zappa's career justice by showing the band from a more personal side.

5 stars
Published
keresaspa Sep 19 2014 ▼ 3.50 stars
  • 3.00 stars 1.1 Here Comes the Gear, Lads
  • 3.00 stars 1.2 The Living Garbage Truck
  • 3.00 stars 1.3 A Typical Soundcheck
  • 3.00 stars 1.4 "This Is Neat"
  • 3.00 stars 1.5 The Motel Lobby
  • 3.00 stars 1.6 Getting Stewed
  • 3.50 stars 1.7 The Motel Room
  • 3.00 stars 1.8 "Don't Take Me Down"
  • 3.00 stars 1.9 The Dressing Room
  • 2.50 stars 1.10 Learning: "Penis Dimension"
  • 3.00 stars 1.11 "You There, With the Hard On!"
  • 3.00 stars 1.12 Zanti Serenade
  • 3.50 stars 1.13 Divan
  • 3.50 stars 1.14 Sleeping in a Jar
  • 3.00 stars 1.15 "Don't Eat There"
  • 3.50 stars 1.16 Brixton Still Life
  • 3.00 stars 1.17 Super Grease
  • 4.00 stars 1.18 Wonderful Wino
  • 3.50 stars 1.19 Sharleena
  • 3.50 stars 1.20 Cruisin' for Burgers
  • 3.50 stars 1.21 Diphteria Blues
  • 3.50 stars 1.22 Well
  • 2.00 stars 1.23 Say Please
  • 2.50 stars 1.24 Aaawk
  • 3.50 stars 1.25 Scumbag
  • 3.00 stars 1.26 A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono
  • 3.00 stars 2.1 Beer Shampoo
  • 3.00 stars 2.2 Champagne Lecture
  • 2.50 stars 2.3 Childish Perversions
  • 2.00 stars 2.4 Playground Psychotics
  • 3.00 stars 2.5 The Mudshark Interview
  • 3.00 stars 2.6 "There's No Lust in Jazz"
  • 3.00 stars 2.7 Botulism on the Roof
  • 3.00 stars 2.8 You Got Your Armies
  • 1.00 stars 2.9 The Spew King
  • 3.00 stars 2.10 I'm Doomed
  • 3.50 stars 2.11 Status Back Baby
  • 3.00 stars 2.12 The London Cab Tape
  • 4.00 stars 2.13 Concentration Moon, Part One
  • 3.00 stars 2.14 The Sanzini Brothers
  • 2.50 stars 2.15 "It's a Good Thing We Get Paid to Do This"
  • 3.50 stars 2.16 Concentration Moon, Part Two
  • 4.00 stars 2.17 Mom & Dad
  • 3.50 stars 2.18 Intro to Music for Low Budget Orchestra
  • 4.00 stars 2.19 Billy the Mountain
  • 3.00 stars 2.20 He's Watching
  • 3.00 stars 2.21 If You're Not a Professional Actor
  • 3.00 stars 2.22 He's Right
  • 2.00 stars 2.23 Going for the Money
  • 3.00 stars 2.24 Jeff Quits
  • 3.00 stars 2.25 A Bunch of Adventures
  • 3.00 stars 2.26 Martin Lickert's Story
  • 3.00 stars 2.27 A Great Guy
  • 3.00 stars 2.28 Bad Acting
  • 3.00 stars 2.29 The Worst Reviews
  • 3.00 stars 2.30 A Version of Himself
  • 3.00 stars 2.31 I Could Be a Star Now
The backstage talking bits are vaguely interesting, although they do drag a bit in places, whilst the concert recordings are pretty good generally and "Billy the Mountain" is an at-times inspired piece of Zappa lunacy. Had they dumped most of the jaw-jaw and released this as a single CD concert album I probably would have given it four stars but even as it stands it's a solid three and a half.
Published
Tovan Jun 12 2011 2.00 stars
Mostly gags and outtakes. Only for the hardcore enthusiasts.
Published
zappor Jun 03 2011 1.50 stars
Psycho chaotics
Published
alxz Jul 07 2009 0.50 stars
No music, no comment.
Published
Page 1 2 >>
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Catalog

Ratings: 360
Cataloged: 324
Track rating sets:Track ratings: 14
Rating distribution
Rating trend
Page 1 2 .. 4 .. 7 .. 9 .. 12 .. 14 .. 16 .. 19 .. 21 .. 24 >>
27 Jan 2024
Violet_Leaf  2.00 stars
14 Jan 2024
Gonsalito32  4.00 stars ñomñomñom
15 Dec 2023
KathyAckerFan  3.00 stars
9 Dec 2023
tur1smo64  2.50 stars
6 Dec 2023
jrdaon  3.00 stars ok, or needs a relisten for better/worse
14 Nov 2023
ResidentsFangirl CD3.00 stars
12 Nov 2023
TheGrove0fC3dar  3.00 stars OK
12 Nov 2023
TheGhostWriter Owned3.00 stars B: Bronze
3 Nov 2023
MysteryRoach  2.50 stars
25 Oct 2023
Birdery Used to Own1.00 stars
22 Oct 2023
Baitulos  2.50 stars
22 Sep 2023
StrawberryDeluxe  0.50 stars 4 non blondes - "what's up"
30 Aug 2023
SandesMista69  3.50 stars
3 Jul 2023
gbeggig  3.00 stars
27 Jun 2023
CatatonicDruid  ▼5.00 stars Flawless masterpiece, unique, innovative
  • 5.00 stars 1.1 Here Comes the Gear, Lads
  • 5.00 stars 1.2 The Living Garbage Truck
  • 5.00 stars 1.3 A Typical Soundcheck
  • 5.00 stars 1.4 "This Is Neat"
  • 5.00 stars 1.5 The Motel Lobby
  • 5.00 stars 1.6 Getting Stewed
  • 5.00 stars 1.7 The Motel Room
  • 5.00 stars 1.8 "Don't Take Me Down"
  • 5.00 stars 1.9 The Dressing Room
  • 5.00 stars 1.10 Learning: "Penis Dimension"
  • 5.00 stars 1.11 "You There, With the Hard On!"
  • 5.00 stars 1.12 Zanti Serenade
  • 5.00 stars 1.13 Divan
  •   1.14 Sleeping in a Jar
  • 5.00 stars 1.15 "Don't Eat There"
  • 5.00 stars 1.16 Brixton Still Life
  • 5.00 stars 1.17 Super Grease
  •   1.18 Wonderful Wino
  •   1.19 Sharleena
  •   1.20 Cruisin' for Burgers
  • 4.50 stars 1.21 Diphteria Blues
  • 5.00 stars 1.22 Well
  • 5.00 stars 1.23 Say Please
  • 5.00 stars 1.24 Aaawk
  • 5.00 stars 1.25 Scumbag
  • 5.00 stars 1.26 A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono
  • 5.00 stars 2.1 Beer Shampoo
  • 5.00 stars 2.2 Champagne Lecture
  • 5.00 stars 2.3 Childish Perversions
  • 5.00 stars 2.4 Playground Psychotics
  • 5.00 stars 2.5 The Mudshark Interview
  • 5.00 stars 2.6 "There's No Lust in Jazz"
  • 5.00 stars 2.7 Botulism on the Roof
  • 5.00 stars 2.8 You Got Your Armies
  • 5.00 stars 2.9 The Spew King
  • 5.00 stars 2.10 I'm Doomed
  •   2.11 Status Back Baby
  • 5.00 stars 2.12 The London Cab Tape
  •   2.13 Concentration Moon, Part One
  • 5.00 stars 2.14 The Sanzini Brothers
  • 5.00 stars 2.15 "It's a Good Thing We Get Paid to Do This"
  •   2.16 Concentration Moon, Part Two
  •   2.17 Mom & Dad
  •   2.18 Intro to Music for Low Budget Orchestra
  •   2.19 Billy the Mountain
  • 5.00 stars 2.20 He's Watching
  • 5.00 stars 2.21 If You're Not a Professional Actor
  • 5.00 stars 2.22 He's Right
  • 5.00 stars 2.23 Going for the Money
  • 5.00 stars 2.24 Jeff Quits
  • 5.00 stars 2.25 A Bunch of Adventures
  • 5.00 stars 2.26 Martin Lickert's Story
  • 5.00 stars 2.27 A Great Guy
  • 5.00 stars 2.28 Bad Acting
  • 5.00 stars 2.29 The Worst Reviews
  • 5.00 stars 2.30 A Version of Himself
  • 5.00 stars 2.31 I Could Be a Star Now
Cover art for Playground Psychotics by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
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Previous
Next
Previous in discography: 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly
'Tis the Season to Be Jelly
Ahead of Their Time
Next in discography: 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly

Track listing

Credits

40 Lists

Contributions

Contributors to this release: JohnnyCrash, snellius, schaman, destroyhead, lordevilvenom, Oddball464, danburnette, Jany, googoogjoob42, Joren, General_1, cincerus
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