POP/ROCK: Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, "Carnegie Hall" (Vaulternative)

This never-before-released 1971 event (two shows, one October night) at the venerated classical music hall featured what is arguably Zappa's finest, if not weirdest, assemblage of adventuresome musicians and vocalists to have embraced Motherhood. A British session giant (drummer Aynsley Dunbar), an improvisational woodwind/keyboard player (Ian Underwood), the jazziest of original Mothers (keyboardist Don Preston) and two pop-singing Turtles (Flo & Eddie) aided Zappa in some of his most cleverly complex compositions of the period.

Although these Mothers cover Zappa's most impish psychedelic tracks ("Call Any Vegetable"), oddball doo-wop numbers ("Any Way the Wind Blows"), linear instrumental workouts ("Peaches en Regalia") and avant-classical epics ("King Kong"), it's the childishly comic mini-opera "Billy the Mountain" and its blues-inspired brother, "The Mud Shark," that are the highlights. As with every Zappa concert recording, it's his magnetically adroit guitar playing (truly rivaling Hendrix, Beck and Page) and dippy dramaturgy that you'll remember most.

  • A.D. AMOROSI, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Kentucky HeadHunters, "Dixie Lullabies" (Red Dirt)

It's been 22 years since the Kentucky HeadHunters raised a little ruckus with their entertaining debut, "Pickin' on Nashville," and since then they haven't changed all that much. In other words, the "lullabies" of the title is a bit of a joke. The HeadHunters are long-haired Southern rockers who like it raw and loud. The group is still getting plenty of mileage out of the same formula -- in fact, this is one of the quartet's stronger, more sharp-witted sets. Riff-heavy rockers and boogies still dominate, but even when they slow it down and turn earnest, they never get mushy. And with numbers such as "Tumblin' Roses," they show they possess more than a little bit of soul.

  • NICK CRISTIANO, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

CHILDREN'S: The Chickadees, "The Froggy Hop" (Y&T)

Fronted by Mary Karlzen, this all-female Milwaukee quartet aims to educate with lessons that will especially resonate with environment-mindful parents. Of course it's all for nothing if the Chickadees don't also entertain, and that's where Karlzen, an established singer/songwriter apart from children's music, and her gang succeed.

The Chickadees' 11 tracks employ variations and combinations of indie-pop, folk and country, even swinging through a bit of jazz. They use tricks to distinguish each song (a crucial factor for children's music), ranging from periodic cartoonish spoken voices; a call-and-response chorus and oompah-esque arrangement on "The Hiking Song"; and campy radio theatrics on "Reduce, Recycle & Reuse." Listeners of all ages might drift away from time to time -- some of the hooks are a little soft, and the songs average a longish four minutes in length. But "Froggy Hop's" uplifting spirit and valuable lessons ultimately win out.

  • CHUCK CAMPBELL, SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE