Frank Zappa: the 75th anniversary album by album thread

Terry Bozzio was the only one in both bands.

 

That's right, you heard right. Two different touring bands.

From January to March:
FZ—guitar, vocals
André Lewis—keyboards, vocals
Napoleon Murphy Brock—sax, vocals
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Terry Bozzio—drums, vocals

From October to November:
FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray White—guitar, vocals
Bianca—keyboards, vocals
Eddie Jobson—keyboards, violin
Patrick O'Hearn—bass
Terry Bozzio—drums, vocals

And during the last week of 1976, he gave the famous "Zappa in New York" shows:
FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray White—guitar, vocals
Eddie Jobson—keyboards, violin
Randy Brecker—trumpet
Tom Malone—trombone
Michael Brecker—tenor sax
Ronnie Cuber—baritone sax
Lou Marini—alto sax
Ruth Underwood—percussion
Dave Samuels—percussion
Patrick O'Hearn—bass
Terry Bozzio—drums, vocals

 

I really like this one. It's good to have this fine, short-lived line up documented. Zappa's guitar is excellent, and since the actual album was recorded with different musicians the Zoot Allures songs sound quite different here compared to the final album. Also it's very nice to have a good Zappa concert as it actually happened, instead of what Zappa decided to edit and overdub in the studio.

 

I couldn't bring myself to pay the silly price they used to charge for this, so I finally heard part of this album on Spotify today.

Some of the four-track "road tapes" they used for this set aren't running at the right speed, but it's a nice prequel to Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar.

 

This, plus I never bought the "Joe's __age" series. So I get to hear those for the first time. It's always cool to hear new FZ music.

 

They even put that 'cassette-rehearsal' one up on Spotify?

 

I think so. Actually I'm on napster so I'm not sure. Napster has two full unofficial shows too-the 1975 Bongo/Beefheart show and the 1981 Ritz show.

 

Yes, Joe's Domage is there.

 

Just heard this for the first time. Wow! Two black napkins, two Zoots, and two Watermelons. That's the guitar trifecta overdose. I love it! Essential release.

 

HALLOWEEN

Released: February 4 2003
Recorded: October 27-31 1978, Palladium, New York City
Label: Vaulternative
Producer: Dweezil Zappa

Musicians:
Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
Denny Walley: Guitar, Vocals
Tommy Mars: Keyboards
Peter Wolf: Keyboards
Arthur Barrow: Bass Guitar
Patrick O'Hearn: Bass Guitar
Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums
Ed Mann: Percussion
L. Shankar: Violin



All songs by Frank Zappa, except where noted

1.NYC Audience (1:17)
2.Ancient Armaments (8:23)
3.Dancin' Fool (4:35)
4.Easy Meat (6:03)
5.Magic Fingers (2:33)
6.Don't Eat the Yellow Snow (2:24)
7.Conehead (4:02)
8.Zeets (Vinnie Colaiuta) (2:58)
9.Stink-Foot (8:51)
10.Dinah-Moe Humm (5:27)
11.Camarillo Brillo (3:14)
12.Muffin Man (3:32)
13.Black Napkins (The Deathless Horsie) (16:56)

 

What can I say about this but...

THIS.....
To this DAY, I'm still quite shocked that during this time, the vault wasn't fully investigated, labelled, and 'restored'!
Dweezil was THERE!
What were they DOING with that vault between this release and the 'Kickstarter' campaign????
....speechless.

 

Great band, but most selections presented here can already be found in great live versions elsewhere and these versions don't particularly stand out among the rest. Therefore a solid and enjoyable release, but not particularly necessary. The standout track here is a 17 minute "Black Napkins" featuring Shankar on violin.

 

"Ancient Armaments" and "Black Napkins" are excellent. The rest is "meh" for me.

 

Shankar and Vinnie tear it up on "Conehead" too.

 

Excellent lineup but aside from "Napkins" nothing essential on the setlist.

 

The treat on Halloween was the 9 minute video of Suicide Chump from 10/13/78 from Passaic.

 

I didn't think so at first. Don't want to slag Denny Walley, but as he went through his fairly long solo, I was tuning out. It seemed pretty perfunctory blues-boogie stuff. I was even questioning the overall worth of the song which I'd previously liked.

Then Frank stepped up. Boy howdy.

I'm surprised the video didn't magically transform to color like Wizard Of Oz.

Yet another solo for the ages. From who-even-knows-what-long-forgotten show. Just incredible.

No one plays guitar like Frank Zappa.

 

The Passaic show has been famous among Zappa tape collectors for some time. A few years ago a black and white video of the whole show surfaced.

 

Even those who don't like him must admit it. His sound is unique.

 

He has a "fire" in his playing I don't hear from anyone else.

And his riffs are non traditional.
He doesn't play the "boxes"
He's all over the place!

 

JOE'S CORSAGE

Released: May 30 2004
Recorded: 1964-1965
Label: Vaulternative
Producer: Joe Travers

Musicians:
Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
Ray Collins: Vocals, Harmonica, Tambourine
Henry Vestine: Guitar
Roy Estrada: Bass Guitar
Jimmy Carl Black: Drums


All songs by Frank Zappa, except where noted

1.Pretty Pat (0:33)
2.Motherly Love (2:21)
3.Plastic People (Richard Berry, Zappa) (3:05)
4.Anyway the Wind Blows (2:55)
5.I Ain't Got No Heart (3:50)
6.The Phone Call/My Babe (Bobby Hatfield, Bill Medley) (4:06)
7.Wedding Dress Song/Handsome Cabin Boy (Trad.) (1:02)
8.Hitch Hike (William "Mickey" Stevenson, Clarence Paul, Marvin Gaye) (2:54)
9.I'm So Happy I Could Cry (2:43)
10.Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder (Zappa, Ray Collins) (3:29)
11.How Could I Be Such a Fool? (3:00)
12.We Made Our Reputation Doing It That Way... (5:34)

 

I'm waiting for my copy of this release to arrive

 

You mean you don't OWN THIS????

 

That's right, you heard right!

 

A nice release, if a little short, the material would've fitted nicely on MOFO