Released soon after the live
Roxy & Elsewhere
,
One Size Fits All
contained more of the material premiered during the 1973-1974 tour, but this time largely re-recorded in the studio. The band remains the same:
George Duke
Napoleon Murphy Brock
Chester Thompson
Tom Fowler
, and
Ruth Underwood
.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
overdubbed some vocals and
Captain Beefheart
(credited as
Bloodshot Rollin' Red
) played some harmonica ("when present," state the liner notes). The previous album focused on complex music suites. This one is more song-oriented, alternating goofy
rock
songs with more challenging numbers in an attempt to find a juste milieu between
Over-Nite Sensation
and
"Inca Roads,"
"Florentine Pogen,"
"Andy,"
"Sofa"
all became classic tracks and live favorites. These are as close to
progressive rock
(a demented, clownish kind)
Zappa
ever got. The obscurity of their subjects, especially the flying saucer topic of
seem to spoof
prog rock
cliches. The high-flying compositions are offset by
"Can't Afford No Shoes,"
"Po-Jama People,"
"San Ber'dino,"
more down-to-earth songs. Together with
Zoot Allures
can be considered as one of the easiest points of entry into
's discography. The album artwork features a big maroon sofa, a conceptual continuity clue arching back to a then-undocumented live suite (from which
was salvaged) and a sky map with dozens of bogus stars and constellations labeled with inside jokes in place of names. An essential third-period
album. ~ Francois Couture