Shorn of their iconic status with the clipping of Mark Farner's locks, GFR is sensibly concentrating on making more technically polished albums. Todd Rundgren froze GFR's triumphal populism with just the right balance of naiveté and formality; Jimmy Ienner emphasized their potential as a singles band, culminating in the magnificent "Bad Time." Unlike his predecessors, producer Frank Zappa brings out their rough humor, in addition to what little offbeat musical sophistication he can get. "Just Couldn't Wait" is a good, basic rock single on the order of "Bad Time," but not as sweet. "Can You Do It" reprises the rallying spirit of "The Loco-Motion."

Elsewhere, Zappa allows his experimental dada instincts to influence the proceedings. "Crossfire" sets incantatory, deliberately off-harmony group vocals to a simple but effective cross-rhythm. And who else but Zappa would begin side two of a GFR album with a 30-second false start called "Big Buns"? Who else would also let two Mark Farner Bicentennial songs—"1976" and "Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun"—stand as such cruel (intentional?) self-parodies? Finally, what other producer would steal the album musically from the band he was producing by using them as backup for his own guitar work ("Out to Get You") in a display of virtuosity that extends far beyond GFR's very limited abilities? (RS 223)

STEPHEN HOLDEN