My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama (song)
Encyclopedia
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" is a song written by Frank Zappa
and originally recorded by The Mothers of Invention
in 1969. The song was included on 1970's Weasels Ripped My Flesh
, a compilation LP
of sorts that included various recordings by the band from 1967 to 1969. It was also released as a single on the Bizarre
and Reprise
labels as "My Guitar." Despite the more conventional naming, "My Guitar" did not chart.
The single version of the song was recorded in June 1969 and differs from the Weasels Ripped My Flesh recording. The album version features a longer break before the second verse is reprised, and is roughly half a minute longer. A shorter edit of the single version has been released on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
.
An a capella version of the song is included on The Persuasions' 2000 Frank Zappa tribute album, "Frankly A Capella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa."
The song was also covered by Joe Satriani
, Steve Vai
, and Eric Johnson
on the 1996 G3 tour.
"The Central Scrutinizer," the spoken-word track that opens Act I of Joe's Garage
, began as an updated version of "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama." The two songs' chord progressions are identical.
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
and originally recorded by The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
in 1969. The song was included on 1970's Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Weasels Ripped My Flesh is an album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1970.Given Zappa's already stated penchant for expressing his music in "phases"—We're Only in It for the Money was written up as "phase one of Lumpy Gravy"—conceptually, Zappa fans occasionally label this...
, a compilation LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
of sorts that included various recordings by the band from 1967 to 1969. It was also released as a single on the Bizarre
Bizarre Records
Bizarre Records was a record label formed for artists discovered by rock musician Frank Zappa and his business partner/manager Herb Cohen.Bizarre was originally formed as a production company...
and Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
labels as "My Guitar." Despite the more conventional naming, "My Guitar" did not chart.
The single version of the song was recorded in June 1969 and differs from the Weasels Ripped My Flesh recording. The album version features a longer break before the second verse is reprised, and is roughly half a minute longer. A shorter edit of the single version has been released on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 is a double compact disc collection of live recordings by Frank Zappa. Disc one comprises performances by the Mothers of Invention spanning the period from 1966 to 1969. "My Guitar" had been previously released as a single in 1969...
.
An a capella version of the song is included on The Persuasions' 2000 Frank Zappa tribute album, "Frankly A Capella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa."
The song was also covered by Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, and Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
on the 1996 G3 tour.
"The Central Scrutinizer," the spoken-word track that opens Act I of Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage is a 1979 rock opera by Frank Zappa. Zappa stated that along with Lumpy Gravy, this album was one of his finest achievements. It was originally released as two separate albums, the first comprising Act I, and the second part as a double-album which made up Acts II & III. All three...
, began as an updated version of "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama." The two songs' chord progressions are identical.