Just seen this at www.analogplanet.com. Looking forward to more. Freak out & Over-Nite Sensation coming.
Red vinyl "Help I'm A Rock" b/w "It Can't Happen Here" & "Who Are The Brain Police" 12" single just announced by ZFT. http://www.zappa.com/whatsnew/
My question is what are the sources going to be? I know Over-Nite Sensation was remastered from the original analog tapes, so an analog source, or even hi-rez source would be possible & excellent. The recent remaster of Freak Out is from the '87 1630 digital master, which is 16/44.1 (I believe). That would be not so cool on vinyl.
'It Can't Happen Here' is just the last half of 'Help, I'm A Rock' (it was one eight-minute song on the original LP) - splitting it over two sides of a 12" slab is adding another layer of pointlessness over issuing this thing in the first place. The ZFT's release priorities are/now/forever will be strange and alienating to us mere mortals. This might well be the original vinyl mix (as found on disc one of 'The MOFO Project/Object'), which would address the concerns of those annoyed that the current CD was, for the third time, the digital remix.
Finer Moments has already been released, how does it sound? I own no Zappa on vinyl except for the RSD "I'm The Slime" single. All my Zappa listening has been on various Ryko CD's and the new ones with a few ZFT's.
I am cautiously optimistic about these but it will depend on the source. I hope they are not the versions that FZ modified by adding modern drums and bass, etc. I listened to Finer Moments earlier today. The pressings are flat and clean with no surface noise. SQ is really good considering the various sources used. I have not compared it with other versions but FM is a nice set. Very pleased.
The "Finer Moments" vinyl is great. Sides 2 & 4 have been getting mucho play here recently. I would like the ZFT to rerelease the "Hot Rats" vinyl. Since it was already done for the Classic release a few years ago it should be fairly easy to get more in stores. I assume they can do so as last year's CD used the same sources (according to the Trust's typically cryptic liner notes). I think "Hot Rats" would sell pretty well. I've already preordered the titles coming in June. Despite the odd choice of songs, I will probably get the forthcoming 12" single as well (why "Help I'm a Rock"? Why not the disco mix of "Dancin' Fool" or "I Don't Want To get Drafted"? Something that was a 12" single).
Good. I know he tweaked some of the early stuff (eg, Cruisin' and We're Only In It For The Money) but wasn't sure if these two had also been "updated."
This info on Elusivedisc.com: Freak Out: http://www.elusivedisc.com/FRANK-ZA...VENTION-FREAK-OUT-2LP/productinfo/UNILP23834/ Features:• 180g Vinyl • Re-mastered From Digital Transfer by FZ/Bob Stone of the Original 1966 1/4" Analog Stereo Tape Master • Re-mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering • Pressed at Furnace Over-nite Sensation: http://www.elusivedisc.com/FRANK-ZAPPA-OVER-NITE-SENSATION-180g-LP/productinfo/UNILP23850/ Features:• 180g Vinyl • Re-Mastered From Original 1973 1/4" Stereo Analog Tape Master • Re-Mastered By Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering • Pressed at Furnace So what does it tell us that Freak Out was "Re-mastered From Digital Transfer by FZ/Bob Stone of the Original 1966 1/4" Analog Stereo Tape Master"? Is this the same source as what came out on MOFO? If this is from Digital Transfer by Frank and Bob Stone, is this 16-bit sourced and does it have the potential to sound great? How is the quality of Furnace pressings?
I'll probably pick up "Over Nite Sensation" since it appears to be sourced from the analog master. I already own very clean original mono and stereo pressings on Verve of "Freak Out!". So unless this reissue gets glowing reviews I'll pass. Sounds like it could be from the same source as the MOFO project. Digitally transfered doesn't sound too promising. But I guess if you don't already own FO on vinyl, it's an affordable option to get a clean playing copy.
The only ones that actually had new 80s vintage recordings added were Money, Lumpy Gravy, Ruben & Sleep Dirt. (and LG wasn't issued (apart from a short excerpt on a promotional sampler) until the Project/Object set.
Thing-Fish also has some previously released songs from Zoot Allures, Tinseltown Rebellion and You Are What You Is with new drum tracks. A few others have also surfaced on the Have I Offended Someone? compilation and the birthday bundles. But yes, those are the only albums that were rereleased with new rhythm tracks.
MOFO has the following information: "Original 1966 Stereo Mix Of Freak Out!" "REMASTERED 2006 BY DOUG SAX WITH SANGWOOK "SUNNY" NAM IN OJAI, CALIFORNIA." "Thanks & Hot Damn!/Design FX for the archive assist with the tranference of FZ's 1987 digital transfer of the original stereo mix of Freak Out! into a format we could work with." He was working with Bob Stone in 1987. So, while there is nothing definitive here, deductive reasoning would suggest that the same source is being used, but it is being remastered yet again.
" • Re-mastered From Digital Transfer by FZ/Bob Stone of the Original 1966 1/4" Analog Stereo Tape Master" Bob Stone left UMRK around 1991, so this a pretty old transfer! I suspect that we are effectively getting a reissue of the Old Masters Volume 1 Freak Out albeit cut by Chris Bellman rather than Stephen Marcussen.
I own the original Verve mono and two stereo(with and without map blurb covers) pressings of FO in excellent shape. I'm good to go and will pass on a new digital transfer of an old digital transfer!
That is unfortunate. Guess I also need to look for an original version. I wonder if the old digital to new digital is due to the condition of the original master tape.
Here it is on amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...=B00CA4S3QW&linkCode=as2&tag=umusiccatalog-21 Any-one ordered yet?