Mothermania
is a collection of previously released tunes culled from the first three
Mothers of Invention
albums. So why bother? Well, it's the only early collection actually compiled by
FZ
.
Verve
released a bunch of early compilations without permission, but more importantly, this is the only place you can hear some of these mixes and edits. Many of the tunes from
Freak Out!
appear in different mixes, while "It Can't Happen Here" plays through without the interruptions of the
version. The
We're Only in It for the Money
tracks might be even more interesting. The backwards snippet that closes side one of the original
WOIIFTM
album was a censored verse from "Mother People," and
is the only place you can hear the original uncensored version of the song. The version of "Idiot Bastard Son" has an otherwise unheard instrumental introduction and a VERY different mix, and plays through without the edits and interruptions of the
version.
could hardly be called essential, but it does have some really interesting material that any hardcore fan of
's early years would want to hear. ~ Sean Westergaard