How To Buy...Frank Zappa (Part Four Albums #61 - #80)

 How To Buy...Frank Zappa (Part Four Albums #61 - #80) by Rob H.

#61 "Ahead Of Their Time" The Mothers Of Invention

A recording from 2 1968 shows at the Royal Festival Hall and featuring members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The first part of this album is an improvised play which loses a little from not having the visuals but there is some great music with the band and orchestra even if you can't quite work out the story to go along with it.

The second half of the album is where things really take off starting with "King Kong" and proceeding through "Transylvanian Boogie" , "Pound For A Brown", "Sleeping In A Jar" as well as instrumental versions of "Let's Make The Water Turn Black" and "Harry, You're A Beast". The concert ends with the "Orange County Lumber Truck" with "Oh No" inserted in the middle. The only track that seems out of place is "Help, I'm A Rock" which nevertheless is great to hear live but it disrupts the flow of a fantastic instrumental set from a classic Mothers of Invention line up.

 #62 "The Yellow Shark" Zappa / Ensemble Modern

In my opinion this is the finest of Franks classical releases. The Ensemble Modern were a chamber orchestra based in Frankfurt who performed a series of 8 concerts in 1992 from which this album is compiled from. As Frank by then was in poor health he only attended 2 of the concerts in person which means we at least get his introduction which is a bonus, "The Yellow Shark" would be the last album released within his lifetime coming out just a month before his passing at the end of 1993.

The warmth of these recordings is remarkable and for possibly the first time you had an Orchestra truly engaged and wanting to perform the music before them.

They wanted to be challenged and so the final track on the album is their take on "G-Spot Tornado" previously only performed on synclavier due to it's complexity.

Early works such as "Dog Breath Variations", "Uncle Meat" and "Pound For A Brown" transcend from the Mothers of Invention classics into the classical realm with ease and there are also new pieces here to enjoy such as " Pentagon Afternoon" in which toy ray guns are added and "Welcome To The United States". This is a narration of the nonimmigrant visa waiver declaration form and is something that you could easily imagine the early Mothers playing, it even has a snippet of "Louie Louie" thrown in!

If you only buy or stream one of Franks classical works then make it this one!

 

#63 "Civilization, Phaze III" Frank Zappa

During Franks illness in his final years he worked continuously on new projects and archive releases and this was his first posthumous release. "Civilization, Phaze III" is viewed as a continuation of "Lumpy Gravy" and features further recordings of the "piano people" taken from the 1967 sessions as well as newer recordings from 1991.

Musically it is predominantly synclavier but also has some appearances from the Ensemble Modern. It is also worth noting that the synclavier pieces now sound much warmer and less mechanical. The actual concept of this was to have it performed as a pantomime opera but the funding never worked to achieve this.

Unlike "Lumpy Gravy" there are no fast cuts and different musical styles coming thick and fast and it is much more expansive with the voices offered as standalone segments between tracks making them easier to hear. Because of it's content and style this is one that is likely to baffle newcomers but once you know what to expect then there are some wonderful moments to discover.

 #64 "The Lost Episodes" Frank Zappa

This is a rarities album that is worth cherry picking from. There are a few firsts captured here including Captain Beefhearts first recording "Lost In A Whirlpool" (he features on multiple tracks on this collection as well as narrating "I'm A Band Leader" & "The Grand Wazoo").

The earliest recorded version of "Take your Clothes Off When You Dance", presented in a bossa nova style, is preceded by the stomach churning story from brothers Ronnie & Kenny Williams which explains the lyric to "Let's Make The Water Turn Black" that you might have known for years without realising the subject matter was a true story!

More alternate early versions such as "RDNZL" with Jean-Luc Ponty, an instrumental version of "Inca Roads", a blistering take on "Wonderful Wino" and a slower take of "I Don't Want To Get Drafted". One absolute gem is the almost 12 minute album closer "Sharleena" with lead vocal and solo from Sugarcane Harris which is just amazing to hear.

Some early oddities won't appeal to everyone (do we really need to hear the Police warning of noise complaints in "Cops & Buns"?) but there are many must hear moments for the avid fan.

 #65 "Läther" Frank Zappa

Throughout Frank's career there were many albums and sets that were rumoured, mentioned or compiled that never saw the light of day. Some like "The History & Collected Improvisations of the Mothers of Invention" and "Warts and All" would find partial release on other albums but one of the most talked about and bootlegged was "Läther" (pronounced leather).

"Läther" came about amidst troubles with Zappa's relationship with his record label of the time Warner Brothers. To complete his contractual obligations Frank still owed 4 albums which he elected to deliver simultaneously - these were "Zappa In New York", "Studio Tan", "Sleep Dirt" and "Orchestral Favorites". Warners were then contractually obligated to release all within a set time period which is something they did not resulting in legal action for this and miscalculated royalties on past releases.

During this time Frank compiled the material on these 4 unreleased albums, re-sequenced the running order, used some alternate versions and added other songs with the intention of releasing a multi disc set via a new record company. Contracts were drawn up with Capitol which fell through on the day they were do to be signed due to shared business connections with Warner Brothers.

A frustrated Zappa took to the radio and played the entire "Läther" set on air encouraging fans to record it resulting with it being oft bootlegged over the years. Some songs would appear on subsequent albums but in very different versions such as "Broken Hearts Are For Assholes" which would appear on "Sheik Yerbouti" and "For The Young Sophisticate" on "Tinsel Town Rebellion".

Listening to "Läther" is a very different experience than listening to the 4 albums that Warners would eventually release and sounds like a very different entity despite it's familiarity. It's a great addition to the Zappa catalogue and it's a shame it took so long to officially see the light of day.

Fun fact : Upon release the original intended cover concept which was a photo of Frank after having a pie shoved in his face was changed to a picture of a cow with the Zappa trademarked moustache on his face and a map of Italy on his side. When the album was re-released after the RYKO deal had ended and rights reverted back to Zappa Records the original cover was reinstated.

#66 "Frank Zappa Plays The Music of Frank Zappa : A Memorial Tribute" Frank Zappa

A Dweezil compiled tribute featuring his fathers three signature guitar pieces "Zoot Allures", "Black Napkins" and "Watermelon In Easter Hay". The concept here is simple; each track is represented by the originally released version as well as an earlier previously unreleased live performance.

Needless to say all the unreleased versions are significantly different to the ones that were released and are superb (they are after all the signature tracks for a reason!) and it's nice to have the later versions for comparison although there would be an argument to have another unreleased version instead. There is also the lure of the blues jam "Merely A Blues In A" if you weren't already sold on the concept and wanted to hear something new.

Fun Fact! The lettering on the albums cover was done by Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and lifelong Zappa fan!

#67 "Have I Offended Someone?" Frank Zappa

This is a compilation of songs that may cause offence to various people or groups which was overseen by Frank before his passing. At first glance long term fans may think that this is aimed at casual or newer fans but the majority of the songs on here have been remixed or contain edits that will make it worthwhile for the die hards too!

There are 2 previously unreleased live versions of "Dumb All Over" and "Tinsel Town Rebellion" although the latter had appeared on the video release of "Does Humor Belong In Music" this is the first time it was available on album.

To note 2 tracks that have significant edits for those wanting to dip into the album and check the differences then there is a shorter edit of "Titties And Beer" which removes much of the dialogue between Frank and The Devil streamlining it into a more traditional song structure. The other edit of real note is the extended "Dinah-Moe Humm which now has about a minutes worth of lyrics referencing "Montana".

Don't dismiss this one as it is more than it seems! 

#68 "Mystery Disc" Frank Zappa

When Zappa released the first two "Old Masters" vinyl box sets he included a "Mystery Disc" of rarities (he didn't include one with the third "Old Masters" set). This is a collection of both mystery discs but without the early single "Big Leg Emma" and "Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?" which had already been released as bonus tracks on the "Absolutely Free" CD.

Some of these songs appear on "The Lost Episodes" and "Ahead Of Their Time" sometimes with different edits or takes and sometimes as is.

Like any rarities album there is material you will crave and others that you could live without and for me the gems to be had on "Mystery Disc" include a live version of "Plastic People", an early "How Could I Be Such A Fool?", more from the soundtrack of "Run Home Slow" and tracks from the rock opera "I Was A Teenage Malt-Shop".

This is one for the completists. 

#69 "Everything Is Healing Nicely" Frank Zappa

This was an archive find which no one knew was there! "Everything Is Healing Nicely" is recordings of Frank rehearsing the Ensemble Modern prior to the "Yellow Shark" performances, rehearsing in the same way a rock band would, working on musical cues that could be inserted into the main body of a track on a whim as well as the main programme.

Whilst nowhere near as essential or as cohesive as "The Yellow Shark" it is an interesting insight and does provide additional Ensemble Modern recordings for those that craved more. Shankar also appears on violin on a few tracks but the real draw has to be Frank soloing on "Roland's Big event - Strat Vindaloo" but "Master Ringo" needs a special mention for the heavily German accented deadpan narration of readers letters about genital piercing from an on hand piercing magazine.

 

#70 "FZ:OZ" Frank Zappa

A live recording from Sydney, Australia 1976 with some material spliced in for when the reels were being switched mid song - these are mostly taken from a show in Japan with one exception when an audience source bootleg recording had to be used in "Kaiser Rolls". A rehearsal version of this track is added as a bonus at the end of the album so you can hear it in better clarity.

It's a nice set which while not exactly ground breaking has some fine moments such as a 13 minute take on "Zoot Allures" and a version of "Chunga's Revenge" which Napoleon Murphy Brock is all over until Zappa closes it with a fine solo.

There's an early version of "The Illinois Enema Bandit" which isn't as joyous as the version that would appear on "Zappa In New York" just 2 years later and an interesting pseudo reggae flavoured "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" not heard elsewhere. Vocals are mainly shared between Zappa and Napoleon Murphy Brock which can highlight the limits to Brock's range especially during the run of ""How Can I Be Such A Fool", "I Ain't Got No Heart" & "I'm Not Satisfied" but mostly he is on form.

While it's always nice to hear complete concerts rather than the cut and paste of other releases there is little to entice the casual fan here but as with all things Zappa there's an awful lot that the aficionado will pick over and enjoy! 

#71 "Halloween" Frank Zappa

Frank's Halloween shows were renowned for great shows and merriment and this album is culled from 4 of the run of 6 New York Halloween shows in 1978. It may have been a sign of the times that we only get a very edited down version of what was a long show and subsequent Halloween releases (1973,1977 & the 1981 shows) have all been released as elaborate multi disc sets.

Violinist L.Shankar again guests and delivers a fine solo in "Conehead" as well as a duet with Zappa in an extended "Black Napkins - Deathless Horsie". Frank also delivers a fantastic solo in "Easy Meat" which runs for half of the track followed by a tight version of "Magic Fingers".

The fun is all here as you would expect in tracks such us "Dancin' Fool", "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", "Stinkfoot", "Dinah-Moe Humm" and "Camarillo Brillo" some with added audience participation.

There are a couple of bonus tracks with the Saturday Night Live performance of "Dancin' Fool" and a Denny Whalley vocal on "Suicide Chump".

It's a shame that we don't have a fuller set as the other Halloween releases are all vastly superior to this one. 

#72 "Joe's Corsage" Frank Zappa

Since Frank's passing Joe Travers had been placed as "Vaultmeister" cataloguing and sorting the huge collection of recordings and finding interesting "nuggets" for release. This is the first of what has become known as the "Joe's Corsaga" series which now features five titles all based around puns on the Joe's Garage name. The full series is "Joe's Corsage", "Joe's Domage", "Joe's Xmasage", "Joe's Menage" and finally "Joe's Camouflage".

Each volume is different and this is a great start to the series with it focusing on recordings from late 1965 & early 1966 which formed demos for the "Freak Out" album. There are short insightful interview snippets relating to the name and how Frank came to join and also cover versions of The Righteous Brothers "My Babe" & Marvin Gaye's "Hitch Hike".

The Zappa/Mothers of Invention originals are all in very different forms and contain alternative lyrics or arrangements which is very noticeable in opener "Motherly Love" as well as the version of "Plastic People" done to the tune of "Louie Louie".

This series to me is more cohesive than both "Mystery Disc" and "The Lost Episodes" and is recommended.

 

#73 "Joe's Domage" Frank Zappa

This is one for the real hardcore fan, it's rehearsals from 1972 just prior to the recording of "The Grand Wazoo" & "Waka/Jawaka" albums.

It's stop/start with plenty of studio chat/direction from Zappa which is interesting to a point but it won't be to all. What is interesting is that "New Brown Clouds" was rehearsed which would become part of "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" that would be released on "Studio Tan" a few years later.

Just a word of warning to be careful about the song titles on here thinking that there are lots of new tracks that haven't been released as many are well known songs. Examples of this are that "Frog Song" is actually "It Might Be A One-Shot Deal" and "Think It Over" became "The Grand Wazoo". 

#74 "QuAUDIOPHILIAc" Frank Zappa

An album of quadrophonic mixes featuring different edits of previously released material as well as some unreleased tracks. This was only released on DVD-A and contained 3 different versions of the audio (DVD-Audio Surround, DTS digital surround and stereo).

Played on the right set up these sound rich and the layers are much more pronounced, just check out the vocals on "Wild Love" for an example of this. Highlights include a fierce guitar solo on "Rollo" and the earliest released version of "Chunga's Revenge" presented here as the 12 minute "Chunga's Basement". There is also a spoken word track with Frank discussing the conservative nature of record companies in the wonderfully titled "Drooling Midrange Accountants On Easter Hay". 

#75 "Joe's Xmasage" Frank Zappa

A pre-Mothers of Invention collection of sound recordings and music from the early 60's which should really be viewed as for hardcore collectors only.

There are some things you'll want to hear for example the early version of "Why Don'tCha Do Me Right?", "Mr Clean (Alternate Mix)" and the live recording of "The Muthers/Power Trio" but for each of these you have something that you probably won't such as nearly 12 minutes of "The Purse" which is someone going through the contents of a girls purse narrating what is in there!

"The Uncle Frankie Show" that closes the disc is a radio appearance where Zappa talks about his ongoing plans with "I Was A Teenage Malt Shop" which also has a brief rendition of "Charva" which is interesting enough but overall this is probably an album to avoid!

#76 "Imaginary Diseases" Frank Zappa

Recorded live on the 1972 Petit Wazoo tour across various venues. This is brass heavy and entirely instrumental apart from a few announcements and contains some absolute gems.

Stand out moments include a brass and woodwind version of "Rollo", a 16 minute "Farther O'Blivian" and "D.C.Boogie" so named as Frank asks the audience how they would like the track to end and the majority went for with a boogie!

Despite it being brass heavy there are plenty of guitar moments to keep you happy especially on the title track which features some great soloing from Frank.

 

#77 & #78 "The MOFO Project/Object" Frank Zappa

The Making Of Freak Out An FZ Audio Documentary - released as a 4 disc set (#77) and a 2 disc highlights edition (#78). The first disc on both releases is the original stereo mix of the album from 1966.

The 4 disc set gives you a lot of basic tracks, vocal overdubs, incomplete takes etc all of which the completist will paw over for hours noting differences and comparing to the released versions. There is an unreleased song in "Groupie Bang Bang" which is set to the Bo Diddly beat as well as a short opening set from when the Mothers of Invention opened for comedian Lenny Bruce as well as a whole host of interview snippets all of which are pretty interesting.

The 2 disc version has ten tracks from the 4 disc version as well as 7 tracks that are not. 

#79 "Trance-Fusion" Frank Zappa

Another release of guitar solos lifted out from their respective songs and presented as their own entity much like the "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar" series and the simply named "Guitar" album.

The album opens and closes with guest spots from Dweezil with "Chunga's Revenge" opening and rousing duet of "Bavarian Sunset" bringing the album to a close.

Most of "Trance-Fusion" was recorded on the 1984 & 1988 tours with a couple of 70's recordings also included. Again it will be a Marmite release but is a wonderful album showing the diversity in Franks soloing. 

#80 "Buffalo" Frank Zappa

A live set from Buffalo (kind of obvious that!) 1980 and for those Steve Vai fans out there yes he is in the band for this one!

Opening with "Chunga's Revenge", the only instrumental, the set list is excellent especially for those that love the "Joe's Garage", "Sheik Yerbouti" and "You Are What You Is" material. Highlights include a short version of "Drowning Witch", minus the normal instrumental and soloing outro, leading in to a version of "Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me" in which Zappa repeatedly gets the lyrics wrong then straight in to a solo laden "Pick Me, I'm Clean".

"The Torture Never Stops" clocks in at a whopping 23 minutes including guitar, keyboard and drum solos. "Andy" lacks any real subtlety but is dominated by an intense solo by Zappa and ends with a much shorter but no less intense solo by Vai leading to a wonderfully laid back version of "Joe's Garage". As "Dancin' Fool" ends but the band continue the riff as Frank recounts the 9 minute spoken word segment "The "Real World" Thematic Extrapolations" which is a crowd pleaser.

Just like "FZ:OZ" it's great to have a full concert and to be able to hear the flow of the set and performances of that one band. It's a fantastic document to have!

Steve Ignorant with Matthew Worley - "The Story Continues" Book Review

 Steve Ignorant with Matthew Worley - "The Story Continues" Book Review by Rob H.

"The Story Continues" is, as the title suggests, the second autobiography from vocalist Steve Ignorant following on from the excellent "The Rest Is Propaganda" which if you haven't yet read I'd very much recommend.

Whereas the first volume covered Steve's childhood through to co-founding C.R.A.S.S., their demise, his time with Conflict (which caused a temporary rift between him and Colin Jerwood which has since been mended) and beyond, the second volume starts in 2010 when Steve was on his C.R.A.S.S. themed "The Last Supper" Tour.

A large part of the book talks about the formation of the band Slice of Life following the conclusion of that tour and Steve's desire to strip everything down and do a spoken word acoustic thing that still had the power to inspire in the way that punk had. Over the ten year or so period that the book covers not only do we get Slice of Life but his work with Irish punk band Paranoid Visions, being a  Lifeboat Crew volunteer, his own mental health, discord within the former members of C.R.A.S.S. and more.

The book isn't the longest and the writing style makes it very readable, more like you're having a chat with Steve over a pint and that's probably how things worked with Steve chatting to Matthew Worley who then formed it into a manuscript. Either way Steve, as you'd expect, comes across as an incredibly down to earth likeable person who has his own struggles and self doubts and questions now he has turned 60 how much longer he can continue touring, although as I write this I'm pleased to say that Slice of Life will play the 100 Club in London in a few days time and that further Steve Ignorant Band performing C.R.A.S.S. songs dates have been announced throughout this year.

The book concludes with a record of tour dates supported by a variety of flyers and a discography of the period covered in the book. There are also a host of photos throughout which are nice to see as they are mostly glimpses into times and places and people rather than being endless on stage shots.

The final line of the book is "The one thing I do know is...This is not The End." and that is very good to hear as you feel that Steve still has a lot to say and to do and Slice of Life certainly deserve wider recognition and dare I say a new album! 

"The Story Continues" is available from Steve's website priced at £10 https://www.steveignorant.com/product/the-story-continues-by-steve-ignorant-with-matthew-worley/

How To Buy...Frank Zappa (Part Three Albums #41 - #60)

 How To Buy...Frank Zappa (Part Three Albums #41 - #60) by Rob H. For Part One click HERE! and for Part Two click HERE!

#41 "Thing Fish" Frank Zappa (Original Cast Recording)

Firstly do NOT buy this if you are easily offended!

"Thing Fish" was conceived as a Broadway musical about an Evil Prince creating a disease to wipe out all "highly rhythmic individuals and sissy boys". I kid you not. Unfortunately the funding amount was not raised so it never did get to Broadway but we do have this amazing document (including full libretto and stage directions) to imagine what could have been!

To make sure the disease works they arrange to test it on the inmates in San Quentin as they had already tested them with syphilis but something goes wrong and the inmates mutate in to Mammy Nuns, potato headed with duck bills who wear Catholic clothing and are rendered incontinent. Lots of previously released songs are given fresh makeovers to fit in to the story line ("The Torchum Never Stops", "You Are What You Is", "Mudd Club", The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing", "No Not Now" and more) as well as dialogue and audience interaction. Add in to the mix the husband and wife theatre goers Harry & Rhonda (played by Terry and Dale Bozzio) who are get more than they bargained for. The whole story takes a massive lurch into the sexual realm with Harry embracing his repressed gay leanings and Rhonda pleasuring herself with her business briefcase (during which Frank even manages to get a dig in at Warner Brothers!)

There's lots of serious parallels with the AIDS crisis and genetic engineering and Ike Willis is absolutely fantastic in the title role. It seems that Whoppi Goldberg had expressed an interest in making a film adaptation but that came to nothing with Franks passing.

This really is like nothing else in the Zappa catalogue, yes you need to approach with caution and an extremely open mind but it's worth it!

 

#42 "Francesco Zappa" Frank Zappa

This is the first solely synclavier album and is "performed" by the Barking Pumpking Digital Gratification Consort. It is also the only Zappa album not to feature any of Frank's music.

Francesco Zappa was an eighteenth century Italian composer and cellist that Frank's wife Gail discovered when looking up something about her husband. The entire album is some of his work "played" by the synclavier and is 100% entirely dispensable unless you want to listen to some fairly obscure eighteenth century chamber music but as a Frank Zappa album it's one you don't need!

Fun Fact 1 - This was the third album cover to feature Patricia the dog as painted by Donald Roller Wilson, the others were "Boulez Conducts Zappa - The Perfect Stranger" and "Them Or Us".

Fun Fact 2 - "Francesco Zappa was released on the same day as "Thing Fish"

 

#43 "The Old Masters, Box One" Frank Zappa

A vinyl only re-release of the early albums which at the time were out of print and hard to find. Alongside "Freak Out", "Absolutely Free", "We're Only In It For The Money", "Lumpy Gravy" and "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" buyers also received a "Mystery Disc" of rarities. Rather than review that here I'll wait and review the eventual separate release which was made up of tracks from both mystery discs (the other was in "The Old Masters, Box Two").

 

#44 "Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention" Frank Zappa

This actually was two different albums which have now been merged in the digital age, it's part synclavier and part band. The title relates to the proposed bill in America that would make bands have to display warning stickers on their albums in a huge censorship battle with the so called Washington Wives lead by Tipper Gore on one side and Frank on the other with notable musicians such as John Denver and Dee Snider on the other, not to mention Jello Biafra who was prosecuted in a test case for including a poster of HR Giger's artwork "Penis Landscape" in the Dead Kennedys "Frankenchrist" album.

Zappa appeared at the senate hearing (you can hear more on the "Congress Shall Make No Law" album) and parts of this were sampled in the track "Porn Wars" along with other non sympathetic participants. Other tracks relate to connected issues such as "H.R. 2911" which was the bill that promised a tax levy on blank tapes that would be given to record companies in exchange for them backing the labelling bill. Because Frank thought these themes would not be of interest outside of America he released a version removing the political tracks and replacing them with alternative songs.

Vocal wise you have Ike Willis on "Yo Cats" and a shared vocal with Frank on "We're Turning Again" which name checks high profile characters from the 60's music scene such as Hendrix, Cass Elliot, Keith Moon and Jim Morrison and those fans that adored them. Johnny "Guitar" Watson returns for another guest spot on "I Don't Even Care" but for me the real stand outs are two of the instrumentals. "Alien Orifice" with it's complex percussion patterns and the guitar solo throughout "What's New In Baltimore".

Not an essential release but it's worth dipping into to hear some of the tracks listed above.

 

#45 "Does Humor Belong In Music?" Frank Zappa

This is a great live album that despite it's title and cover art is not the soundtrack to the video/dvd of the same name.

With so many live albums in the Zappa catalogue it's got to be special to stand out and that's something "Does Humor Belong In Music?" doesn't do. You have some interesting takes on old tracks including a faster version of "Tinsel Town Rebellion", "Trouble Every Day" with lyric change critical of MTV, or rather the music on it, a vocal version (of sorts) of "What's New In Baltimore" and a "Whippin' Post" complete with guest solo from Dweezil.

Probably the most interesting track is the solo heavy "Let's Move To Cleveland" which clocks in at just under 17 minutes without ever over staying it's welcome. Special mention also to "Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel" which again dispenses with a "comedy" lyric quickly before leading into a fantastic guitar and band work out.

It's definitely a contender for an extended collection addition but it shouldn't be high on your list when starting out.

 

#46 "The Old Masters, Box Two" Frank Zappa

The second of the three vinyl only reissues of the early out of print albums and the last one to feature a bonus "Mystery Disc". Albums included in this box are "Uncle Meat", "Hot Rats", "Burnt Weeny Sandwich", "Weasels Ripped My Flesh", "Chunga's Revenge", "Fillmore East, June 1971", "Just Another Band From L.A." and the aforementioned "Mystery Disc".

The two mystery discs would be combined as official release #68 minus a couple of songs but I'll get to that in due course!

#47 "Jazz From Hell" Frank Zappa

Almost entirely an instrumental synclavier album with the exception of the live track "St.Etienne". Frank embraced the synclavier as it allowed him to achieve things that real musicians would struggle to and there are some wonderful compositions here that demonstrate that appeal. To me though the synclavier just lacks "warmth" and sounds alien and by the time "St.Etienne" appears you realise that you miss that.

Zappa would finally find an ensemble that could interpret this level of complexity shortly before his passing and comparing "G-Spot Tornado" on "The Yellow Shark" played by the Ensemble Modern to the version on "Jazz From Hell" will have you wishing he had found them earlier.

For fans of the synclavier and in a much more extended collection. 

#48 "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol II" Frank Zappa/ London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Kent Nagano

More from the LSO recordings and available now with both volumes combined with a rearranged running order. Originally "Vol II" featured just 3 tracks, an extended version of "Bogus Pomp" (a whole nine minutes extra compared to the "Orchestral Favorites" version), "Bob In Dacron" and "Strictly Genteel". It's a great example of the larger orchestra arrangements but this side of Frank's work doesn't appeal to everyone, if you love it then go for it but if you want to dip your toe in the water of the classical works then I'd suggest "The Yellow Shark" instead.

 

#49 "The Old Masters, Box Three" Frank Zappa

The last of the vinyl only set collecting together the early albums that were out of print at the time. This was the only one of the Old Masters releases not to contain a "Mystery Disc". The albums included were "Waka/Jawaka", "The Grand Wazoo", "Over-Nite Sensation", "Apostrophe(')", "Roxy & Elsewhere", "One Size Fits All", "Bongo Fury" and "Zoot Allures".

 #50 "Guitar" Frank Zappa

Not content with already having released 3 albums of his guitar solos with the "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar" series Zappa returned to the format in 1988 with the double album "Guitar".

32 guitar solos taken from various songs and various shows across various years. For the musos amongst you some of these solos were played on a sunburst Stratocaster that had belonged to Jimi Hendrix who had burnt it on stage.

This is another marmite release, you either love the diversity and improvisation in Franks playing and the little musical nods in them as well as the titles given to the solos such as "In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky" and "It Ain't Necessarily The Saint James Infirmary" or you prefer to hear them as complete songs.

Fun fact - this wouldn't be the last guitar solo release as official release #79 "Trance-Fusion" delivers even more of Franks playing!

 

#51 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 1" Frank Zappa

The first of six double CD's that were compiled to highlight various different line ups and interesting versions of songs performed across the years. Sometimes the song was as performed and sometimes it's an edited hybrid of various different bands performing the same song.

The series is fantastic and has many standouts on each volume. Highlights on Vol 1 include the Mark Volman intro to "Sofa #1" "Once Upon A Time", a 20 minute "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" suite from 1979 and some excellent soloing on "The Torture Never Stops". Each volume has it's own distinct character as well as great sleeve notes on the first four releases.

A definitive essential for extended collections but best enjoyed when you are familiar with the source material and can appreciate the nuances and differences.

 

#52 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 : The Helsinki Concert" Frank Zappa

This one is something special! The only one of the YCDTOSA series that is the same band and although it is culled from a couple of dates it is presented as a complete gig. The band is George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Tom Fowler, Chester Thompson, Napoleon Murphy Brock and of course Frank himself.

There's lots of interplay between the band, secret words and in jokes. This is also the concert where someone shouts out for the band to play "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band something that Frank would do many years later on the "Them Or Us" album. Instead of the requested song on this occasion the band play "Montana (Whipping Floss)" with altered lyrics and several false starts.

There's fantastic versions of "Cheepnis", "Stinkfoot", "Inca Roads" , "Village Of The Sun" and the pure brilliance of this band can really be heard in the instrumentals especially on "Uncle Meat", "Dupree's Paradise" and an incredible stop start version of "Approximate".

This line up is one of the classic ones and is fondly remembered so having this document is an amazing thing and one you'll want!

 

#53 "Broadway The Hard Way" Frank Zappa

The 1988 tour would produce a total of three live albums starting with this one (the others being "Make A Jazz Noise Here" & "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life".)

This is possibly Frank's most overtly political album featuring many songs concerning politicians and religious figures such as Jimmy Swaggert and Jesse Jackson. After saying that this is far from preachy and both main American parties are challenged with equal disdain, on the American tour each concert featured voter registration opportunities which explains the lyrical themes on much of this album. The religious element also stretches to a cover of "Murder By Numbers" by The Police with vocals by Sting who denounces Jimmy Swaggert in his introduction. The televangelists Jim & Tammy Bakker amongst others come under fire in album closer "Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk" which points out the many self serving contradictions in their beliefs and links to prominent politicians.

There are of course a couple of older tracks included with "Outside Now","Dickie's Such An Asshole" and "Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel" all featuring as well as "Tell Me You Love Me" radically reworked into the barbed Michael Jackson themed "Why Don't You Like Me?".

As an album it's more focused on vocal tracks but the band still shines with lots of changing musical "cues" to be discovered throughout most tracks. Overall it works well and offers something different from the tours two subsequent releases.

 

#54 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 3" Frank Zappa

This will always be my go to Volume of the YCDTOSA series. Not only is it a lot of fun with the band inserting random "secret word" phrases enough to make Frank abandon the song they are playing as he is laughing so much but you have some great historic gems too.

Things kick off with a Dweezil guest spot on "Sharleena" before a uptempo version of "Bamboozled By Love" which includes Frank soloing around the "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" riff by Yes. "Joe's Garage" is very well represented on this set with "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up", "Keep It Greasey", "Joe's Garage" & "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?" all featured.

The "Secret word" based around the Lone Ranger routine of Lenny Bruce is just joyous in "Bobby Brown Goes Down" with Ike Willis randomly inserting shouts of "Hi Ho Silver", Frank initially plays along adjusting lyrics as he goes but his laughter gets to the stage that they have to start the next song early! It doesn't help much as Willis continues the theme and you can hear Zappa let out a stifled "Oh, God" as he tries to compose himself!

We get a fantastic hybrid version of "Drowning Witch" from the '82 & '84 touring bands doing their best to nail the tracks complexity. "Cocaine Decisions" and "Nig Biz" are both from the infamous Palermo show in Italy from 1982 where the Army and Police started firing tear gas in to the crowd, indeed you hear the shots during "Cocaine Decisions", Zappa brings the band down while an interpreter tries to restore calm before Frank makes an appeal himself. After the appeals the band launch into "Nig Biz" with Ray White singing while having his eyes wiped with a wet towel as tear gas drifts across the stage!

Another multiple era track of note is a 24 minute "King Kong" that includes parts recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London in 1971 shortly before Frank was pushed off stage that resulted in him being wheel chair bound for the best part of a year!

There is much of note on this volume and deserves your attention so you can discover all the wonderful moments for yourself! If you want to dip in to the YCDTOSA series then this is the one to start with!

 

#55 The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life" Frank Zappa

The second of the 1988 tour releases with the title relating to how the band imploded before the end of the tour forcing Zappa to cancel the remaining dates. Long time bassist Scott Thunes had been tasked with rehearsing the band prior to the tour which lead to some animosity which escalated on the tour leading to the band airing their displeasure to Frank. Some random acts of pettiness grew so Zappa asked each member of the band if they could complete the tour with Scott, all except guitarist/keyboardist Mike Keneally said that they could not. With the vast repertoire that was rehearsed and a different set each night the cost and time to replace Thunes was unfeasible so the band was dismissed and the remaining dates cancelled. Only Thunes and Keneally remained on the payroll. This explains the odd wording of the albums title, the best band you NEVER heard in your life....and what a band they were!

There's a lot on this album and the musicianship is faultless throughout, the seventies era is well featured with "Cosmik Debris", "Find Her Finer", "Zomby Woof", "Zoot Allures", "Andy", "Inca Roads", "Sofa #1 & "The Torture Never Stops" all present. The political/religious slant of the previous album is here to a lesser degree with the tongue in cheek spoken word voter registration piece "A Few Moments With Brother A. West" and Jimmy Swaggert themed versions of "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" & "More Trouble Every Day".

What will strike a lot of people is the shear amount of cover versions included on the album. A reggae style cover of the Johnny Cash classic "Ring Of Fire" (Cash had been due to guest but his wife was ill), "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", soundcheck versions of "Purple Haze" and"Sunshine Of Your Love", "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "Godfather Part 2 Theme" and even the "Theme From Bonaza". The unlikely inclusion of Ravel's "Bolero" would cause issues with his estate for years to come with it having to be removed from some releases in certain countries, it is now public domain and is thankfully available again. The album closes with "Stairway To Heaven" which may annoy Zeppelin purists but to hear the entire brass section play Page's guitar solo note for note is truly something else!

This was to be Franks last tour and it produced some amazing music, it's a shame it ended as it did and you can't help but wonder what might have been if it hadn't.

If you would like to read more about the tour then pick up the book "Zappa The Hard Way" by Andrew Greenaway.

 

#56 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 4" Frank Zappa

More of a mixed bag than previous volumes but with some interesting moments including a fantastic "The Torture Never Stops" with a Captain Beefheart vocal and for Jazz fans Artie Shepp can be found guesting on "Let's Move To Cleveland solos".

There are some great folklore moments leading to "Stevies's Spanking" complete with solos by Steve Vai and FZ but the stranger tales are to be had in the George Duke lead "Smell My Beard" and "The Booger Man". It's also good to hear some of the "Thing Fish" tracks in a live setting with "Brown Moses" and "Evil Prince" both present although out of context of the main story I wonder what audiences thought of them!

There is less here to enthuse about than previous volumes but a worthy addition to the YCDTOSA series.

 

#57 "Make A Jazz Noise Here" Frank Zappa

The third and final album to come from the 1988 "Broadway The Hard Way" tour. Unlike the previous releases "Make A Jazz Noise Here" features predominantly instrumentals allowing you to enjoy and marvel at the musicianship of the band.

There are some new tracks such as the soundcheck solos improvisation "When Yuppies Go To Hell" and "Star Wars Won't Work" alongside early material like the medley of "Let's Make The Water Turn Black", "Harry, You're A Beast", "The Orange County Lumber Truck", "Oh No" and "Theme From Lumpy Gravy". The version of "Black Napkins" is absolutely sublime with the brass section replacing the normal guitar parts and for guitar lovers there is plenty to shout about, check out the solo in "Alien Orifice" for example!

There are many well known tracks from throughout Zappa's career here, "King Kong", "Dupree's Paradise", "Strictly Genteel", "Eat That Question", "Big Swifty" and a new age version of "Black Page" but as with all of Frank's releases each band bought something different and with a band this accomplished it's wonderful to hear.

There are some vocal tracks including "Stinkfoot", "City Of Tiny Lights", "Stevie's Spanking" and "Advance Romance" but this album is one that you will come to for the instrumentals.

 

#58 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol.5" Frank Zappa

The penultimate volume in the YCDTOSA series was actually released simultaneously with Vol.6 both in a reinforced case designed to house the complete series.

This is a bit of an oddity as disc one is devoted to the early Mothers of Invention and disc two focuses on the 1982 band. The Mothers material is interesting for the completest featuring unreleased tracks such as "The Downtown Talent Scout" which is in the same vein as "Trouble Every Day" and also a couple of tracks from the Zappa composed film soundtrack "Run Home Slow" which are nice to hear in a live setting. Another interesting rarity is a drum duet between Zappa and Jimmy Carl Black imaginatively called "FZ/JCB Drum Duet".

The 1982 disc is solid enough with the highlight being "Dead Girls Of London" a track written by Frank that appeared on the Shankar "Touch Me There" album which Zappa produced. The closer "Geneva Farewell" hears Frank bringing a concert to an early end after fans insisted on repeatedly throwing things on to the stage.

You can live without this volume but of course the deeper you get into Zappa the more you will want this and the more you will get out of it!

 

#59 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6" Frank Zappa

The final volume in the live YCDTOSA series, the first disc has a lose theme of sex and the second a bit more variety.

Like any volume in the series it has it's gems: "The M.O.I. Anti-Smut Loyalty Oath" was in response to Jim Morrison being charged with lewd behaviour on stage, "The Poodle Lecture" , played over the vamp to "Stinkfoot", gives good insight in to "Dirty Love" which it leads into & "Is That Guy Kidding Or What" explains the reasoning behind "I Have Been In You" although oddly that track appears later on the same disc and not the more logical flow of straight after.

There are some live events captured that will be of limited appeal such as "The Madison Panty-Sniffing Festival" and "Make A Sex Noise Here" which you can both live without.

There are a few appearances from violinist L.Shankar most notably on "Thirteen" which is half him soloing and half Frank soloing. Lisa Popeil who did the operatic vocal on the "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch" track "Teenage Prostitute" tells us more about her life switching from spoken to faux operatic style in "Lisa's Life Story". "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" gets a reworked hybrid version with "Lonesome Cowboy Nando" with the lyric change reflecting a marine biologist naming a newly discovered species of jellyfish after Zappa. The mid section switches back to the traditional Jimmy Carl Black vocal seventies version but it would have been nice to have a complete version of the marine biologist lyric as the band are having a lot of fun with the theme and are running with it.

The whole run on this six volume 12 disc set were fantastic for the established Zappa-ite until you consider yourself one you will probably be best served dipping in to the series with volumes 2 & 3 but after that you'll spend hours listen to these discs enjoying the seamless edits between different bands and decades!

 

#60 "Playground Psychotics" Frank Zappa / Mothers Of Invention

An archive release consisting of "field recordings" of the Mothers of Invention on tour in 1970 & 1971 as well as live recordings from concerts that had spawned the "Fillmore East, June 1971" & "Just Another Band From L.A." albums as well as from the infamous show where Frank was pushed from the stage at the Rainbow in London.

Frank and other band members had portable tape recorders with them on tour so all manner of road life was documented anything from booking into a hotel, preparing for a photo shoot, rehearsing lines for the filming of "200 Motels" to dressing room jams. Of particular note are the interview with the front office manager at the Edgewater Inn in Seattle which would provide the basis for "The Mud Shark" and Jeff Simmons quitting the band during the rehearsals of "200 Motels". These recordings will be of interest to some and not to others and are pretty short but do account for approximately a third of the album.

Musically what appeals the most are a 30 minute "Billy The Mountain", a full 6 minutes longer than the version on "Just Another Band From L.A.", and the John Lennon & Yoko Ono guest spot during the encore at the Fillmore east. Lennon had released these years earlier as part of his "Sometime In New York City" album but the mix here is far superior and some tracks have been re titled so "Au" is now "A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono".