Record Reviews
27 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | AYNSLEY DUNBAR ~ BLUE WHALE
SPALAX 14814 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Aynsley Dunbar was one of the most respected drummers in the 1960`s & and 1970`s and played with such giants as John Mayall, Frank Zappa and even the late versions of Jefferson Airplane. He was also a band leader and recorded a series of brilliant albums, which combined the elements of blues, jazz and Prog very successfully. This album from 1970 with a stellar line-up is a great example of his abilities. An unknown treasure!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | AYNSLEY DUNBAR RETALIATION ~ TO MUM FROM AYNSLEY AND THE BOYS / REMAINS TO BE HEARD
BLUE LABEL 97912 (Barcode: 693723979120) ~ UK ~ Blues
Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2006
3rd and 4th albums by brilliant UK Blues group Aynsley Dunbar RetaliationFind albums by this artist, led by legendary drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and including some of the greatest musicians of the period, like Victor BroxFind albums by this artist (vocals, guitar & keyboards), Jon MorsheadFind albums by this artist (guitar), Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist (bass) and Tommy EyreFind albums by this artist (keyboards). Following the release of the first two albums, the group asked John MayallFind albums by this artist to produce their 3rd release and the resulting album is one of the greatest British Blues masterpieces of all times. The extraordinary vocals by Brox (deep throaty baritone), superb guitar and keyboards solos and fantastic rhythm section, combined with excellent songwriting just all come together to create a stunning album, which strangely enough us relatively unknown to most British Blues fans. Unfortunately by the time the 3rd album was released, the group was already falling apart, with Dunbar moving ahead to create his (also short-lived) "Blue WhaleFind albums with this title" project. The 4th album was a contractual commitment and was recorded partly after Dunbar left, with Brox assuming the leadership for a while. The resulting album is not as strong as its predecessor, but considering the abilities and talent of the musicians involved, it is still (in retrospect) quite good, certainly better that many other efforts recorded at the time. This is essential document of British Blues, an absolute must to any fan of the genre.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MAYALL ~ PLAYS JOHN MAYALL (EXPANDED EDITION)
DECCA 984177 (Barcode: 602498417799) ~ UK ~ Blues
Recorded: 1964 - 1965 Released: 2006
1st album by the hero of my youth and to this date one of my very favorite musicians of all times. John MayallFind albums by this artist is the absolute Godfather of British blues. Since the early 1960s he’s led a streak of blues groups, called The BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, which were a breeding ground for entire generations of future blues and rock superstars. If the names of Peter GreenFind albums by this artist, Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist, John McVieFind albums by this artist and Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist (to mention just a very few of his alumni) mean anything to you than you can understand his importance. But Mayall is far more than a bandleader. He plays many instruments and writes superb melodies, some of which are amongst the best blues songs ever written. And of course he sings the blues like nobody else. Mayall not only deeply loves the blues, but he understands it probably more than anybody else, which made it possible for him to expand the art of blues way beyond its original form. Thank God he keeps doing it now for over 50 years – a truly remarkable man and an unprecedented career. This album is a live recording at the London’s Klooks Kleek club (a famous meeting place for UK blues musicians). Mayall and his Bluesbreakers perform a brilliant set of songs, composed all by Mayall and this is one of the best examples of how the British blues revival crystallized around that period. Although this music was recorded over 40 years ago, it sounds remarkably fresh and up-to-date, losing nothing of its charm and beauty. Every John Mayall album is an absolute must for any blues fan, this one especially so for its added historical value.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | TOMORROW ~ TOMORROW (EXPANDED EDITION)
EMI 724349881921 (Barcode: 724349881921) ~ UK ~ Psychedelic Pop & Rock
Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 1999
This is the remastered and expanded reissue of the only album by short-lived British Psychedelic Pop / Rock band TomorrowFind albums by this artist, which comprised of vocalist Keith WestFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve HoweFind albums by this artist, bassist John WoodsFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. JuniorFind albums by this artist) and drummer John AlderFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. TwinkFind albums by this artist). The album´s producer Mark WirtzFind albums by this artist played keyboards on the album. This expanded edition also features solo material by West, which was recorded with Howe, bassist Ronnie WoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and tracks recorded by The Aquarian Age sidekick band which was Twink and Junior
Although quite charming and innovative at the time, in retrospect Tomorrow were not much different from hundreds of other Psychedelic bands that were popping up on the British scene in the late 1960s. The album was quickly deleted from the Parlophone catalog, only to be elevated to a "lost gem" status a few years later when Howe became the guitar hero for Yes and the hype hit the fan.
The band moved in the same circles as other early Psychedelic bands, like Soft MachineFind albums by this artist, John`s ChildrenFind albums by this artist, Arthur BrownFind albums by this artist and many others and their material sounds similar, but alas less impressive than the songs written by these bands. West was not a very impressive vocalist and an uneven songwriter (he authored almost all the songs appearing here). Howe played some nice guitar licks on this album and to be honest his playing did not improve much after this.
Overall this is a nice document of an era, accurately preserving the carefree atmosphere of the time and the spirit of searching and experimentation, which existed in Pop and Rock as much as in other music genres and of course other Arts. This is definitely worth checking out by Psychedelia lovers.
| | Updated: 12/01/2016Posted: 12/01/2016 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | LESLIE WEST ~ BLUE ME
PROVOGUE 7191 (Barcode: 8712725719120) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006
2nd recent album by legendary guitarist Leslie WestFind albums by this artist, dedicated to the exploration of his blues roots. Similar to its predecessor (Got BloozeFind albums with this title), the album includes a mixture of blues and rock classics brilliantly performed by West and his cohorts, again including drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist (see John MayallFind albums by this artist, Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist). West lost none of his magic touch, which made MountainFind albums by this artist one of the most distinctive and pioneering groups of the late 1960s. There are no great discoveries here, no groundbreaking pyrotechnics, just perfect blues-rock performances that sound right time after time. If you love Mountain, you’ll love this. If you love the blues, you’ll love this too. Just listen to West’s version of George GershwinFind albums by this artist’s “Summertime” and bliss will take over. So what else can one ask for?
Visitors' Comments
Dr. Rafael Augusto Lara Palmeros
A superb albumn!!!. Leslie West and a group of excellent musicians – Aynsley Dunbar, Tim Fahey, Kevin Curry, Art Groom, Todd Wolfe and Brian Michell - recorded this marvelous music with covers from Leroy Carr, Ida Cox, The Great Muddy Waters, Sonny Thompson and others. The music is a mixture of Blues-Rock and some Bayou sound (´Green River´). West still sings with a gear-shredding roar and guitar lines sound heavier than thunder on this set of blues-rockers. ´Hit the road Jack´ is relatively sleek and elegant (remember Ray Charles version!!), ´Four day creep´ is a Blues-Rock as old times (West, Bruce and Laing), ´Standing around crying´ is a real good Blues. Gershwin´s ´Summertime´, that closes the albumn is plenity moody, with West´s guitar weeping and a exceptional Brian Mitchell playing piano. A must for a real Blues-Rock fan!!. 4.5 stars.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | LESLIE WEST ~ GOT BLOOZE
PROVOGUE 7155 (Barcode: 8712725715528) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005
Legendary guitarist Leslie WestFind albums by this artist is best known as the leader of MountainFind albums by this artist, America’s answer to the UK power trio CreamFind albums by this artist. Mountain recorded a series of excellent albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were loud and powerful (often being quoted as one of the forefathers of Heavy Rock), but also quite sophisticated. West’s unique tone and approach to the guitar, heavily based in the blues tradition, stays to this very day as one of the icons of the formative years of electric guitar. A famous anecdote tells that if one places West in a room with another 99 guitar players, just one note played by him will be immediately recognizable. Since the mid-1970s West recorded sporadically, with none of the albums leaving any significant impact on the scene, but his 2000s output marks a revival of his powers. West returned to what he does best – playing the blues in his unique manner, which has but a few competitors. West formed an excellent group with two formidable blues / rock veterans: Tim BogertFind albums by this artist (Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist, CactusFind albums by this artist, Beck, Bogert & AppiceFind albums by this artist) – one of rock’s most respected bass players and Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist (John MayallFind albums by this artist, Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist) – one of blues-rock most respected drummers. Together they storm through a program, which includes many blues standards, but sounds fresh and vital like never before. West also pays tribute to his ex-partner Jack BruceFind albums by this artist by including his superb composition “Politician” on this album. For blues-rock fans this is an absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ 200 MOTELS (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
ZAPPA 20037 (Barcode: 602438384136) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2021
This Box Set is the 120th official release by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2021. It presents an expanded reissue / remaster of the material recorded originally in 1971 with his group The Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist and The Royal Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Elgar HowarthFind albums by this artist. The Box Set contains the soundtrack of the film “200 Motels” (thirty-four tracks) originally released as a 2LP album in 1971, as well as over 4 CDs worth of additional material: demos, outtakes, dialogues and a plethora of bonus tracks, all worth their value in gold. All the material was composed by Zappa. The Box Set is a lavishly packaged Super Deluxe (LP sized) edition, which is up to the usual ZappaFind albums on this label Records standard.
The Mothers, who recorded this music included, in addition to Zappa who played guitar and sung, vocalists Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist, Jimmy Carl BlackFind albums by this artist and Jim PonsFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist (who also plays woodwinds), bassist Martin LickertFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
The music is an incredibly complex amalgam of Classical Music, Pop, Rock, comedy and satire. Although not the very first album to feature Rock and Symphony Orchestra, it is by far the most advanced, revolutionary and complex of all such attempts to this very day. Zappa included in this music his modern 20th Century Classical Music influences from Edgar VareseFind albums by this artist, Igor StravinskyFind albums by this artist and others.
Zappa shows on this album that he is able to write music, which amalgamates anything between Avant-Garde Pop and Rock, Jazz, including Free Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion and contemporary orchestral Classical Music. He appears as the first “total musician” on the Pop / Rock scene, a status he was able to hold till the day he died. From day one his extravagant personality and brilliant intelligence marked him as an outsider, a fate shared by most geniuses.
This album is often regarded as “peripheral” in his overall output, which is of course completely nonsensical and absurd. The whole concept of Zappa’s music was the complete disregard of genres and a firm belief that “music is one”, regardless how someone might wish to categorize it. In retrospect, this album is definitely one of his absolute Artistic apogees, although he never recorded anything which could be considered less important than anything else.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
| | Updated: 18/06/2022Posted: 18/06/2022 | CD 6 Digibook Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ 200 MOTELS (SOUNDTRACK)
ZAPPA 3846 (Barcode: 602438287055) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2021
This is a reissue / remaster of the 13th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, his group The Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist and The Royal Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Elgar HowarthFind albums by this artist, originally released as a 2LP album in 1971. The album contains the soundtrack of the film “200 MotelsFind albums with this title” and presents thirty-four tracks, all composed by Zappa. This is the only album by Zappa, which was not reissued / remastered as part of the 2012 reissue program, and was eventually released as part of the 50th Anniversary reissue in 2021, finally closing the gap.
The Mothers, who recorded this music included, in addition to Zappa who played guitar and sung, vocalists Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist, Jimmy Carl BlackFind albums by this artist and Jim PonsFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist (who also plays woodwinds), bassist Martin LickertFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
The music is an incredibly complex amalgam of Classical Music, Pop, Rock, comedy and satire. Although not the very first album to feature Rock and Symphony Orchestra, it is by far the most advanced, revolutionary and complex of all such attempts to this very day. Zappa included in this music his modern 20th Century Classical Music influences from Edgar VareseFind albums by this artist, Igor StravinskyFind albums by this artist and others.
Zappa shows on this album that he is able to write music, which amalgamates anything between Avant-Garde Pop and Rock, Jazz, including Free Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion and contemporary orchestral Classical Music. He appears as the first “total musician” on the Pop / Rock scene, a status he was able to hold till the day he died. From day one his extravagant personality and brilliant intelligence marked him as an outsider, a fate shared by most geniuses.
This album is often regarded as “peripheral” in his overall output, which is of course completely nonsensical and absurd. The whole concept of Zappa’s music was the complete disregard of genres and a firm belief that “music is one”, regardless how someone might wish to categorize it. In retrospect, this album is definitely one of his absolute Artistic apogees, although he never recorded anything which could be considered less important than anything else.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 15/05/2022Posted: 15/05/2022 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ APOSTROPHE (`)
ZAPPA 3851 (Barcode: 824302385128) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1974 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 18th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1974. The music was recorded in the studio, mostly in 1973 during the sessions that produced the “Over-Nite SensationFind albums with this title” album and in early 1974, but some back material is taken from the 1969 “The Hot Rats SessionsFind albums with this title”. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Zappa, except the instrumental title track, where Jack BruceFind albums by this artist and Jim GordonFind albums by this artist are co-credited and another track, where George DukeFind albums by this artist is co-credited. This was Zappa’s most commercially successful album in the US.
The lineup, in addition to Zappa on guitar, bass and vocals, includes violinists Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and Don Sugarcane HarrisFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George Duke, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassists Jack Bruce, Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist and Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Jim Gordon, John GuerinFind albums by this artist, Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist.
The album presents an eclectic amalgam of Jazz-Rock Fusion and Rock and Pop songs, with sarcastic / satirical lyrics dealing with subject matter about many social issues. It is somehow absurd that Zappa’s music became so popular at the time, despite the fact that his bitter criticism of the American society and politics became more and more intense in time, and was never really shared by wide circles of American audiences. One can assume that his lyrics were simply too clever for most people to be understood.
Overall, although this music is now almost fifty years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 08/12/2024Posted: 25/02/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ APOSTROPHE (`) (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
ZAPPA 20046 (Barcode: 602465639902) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1974 Released: 2024
This is the 129th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2024. As the title suggests, it compiles all the material connected with the iconic “Apostrophe (`)Find albums with this title” album, originally released in 1974, as well as concert recordings from that period. The 5CD Box Set offers a total of sixty-six tracks, with over five hours of music. The bonus BD disc offers the original album in various alternate audio formats.
The music of the original album was recorded in the studio, mostly in 1973 during the sessions that produced the “Over-Nite SensationFind albums with this title” album and in early 1974, but some back material is taken from the 1969 “The Hot Rats SessionsFind albums with this title”. The original album presents nine tracks, all composed by Zappa, except the instrumental title track, where Jack Bruce and Jim Gordon are co-credited and another track, where George Duke is co-credited. This was Zappa’s most commercially successful album in the US.
The lineup, in addition to Zappa on guitar, bass and vocals, includes violinists Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and Don Sugarcane HarrisFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassists Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist and Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Jim GordonFind albums by this artist, John GuerinFind albums by this artist, Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist, as well as various backup vocalists.
CD1 presents the newly remastered original album (9 tracks) and album session bonus tracks (9 tracks), seven of which were previously released on “The Crux Of The BiscuitFind albums with this title” album in 2016.
CD2 presents first part of the Colorado Springs, Colorado concert captured on March 21, 1974 (12 tracks).
CD3 presents the rest of the Colorado Springs, Colorado concert (10 tracks).
CD4 presents a live version of “Inca Roads” captured on March 18, 1974 (1 track) and the first part of the Dayton, Ohio concert captured on November 20, 1974 (11 tracks).
CD5 presents the rest of the Dayton, Ohio concert (9 tracks) and various bonus ditties (5 tracks).
The album presents an eclectic amalgam of Jazz-Rock Fusion and Rock and Pop songs, with sarcastic / satirical lyrics dealing with subject matter about many social issues. It is somehow absurd that Zappa’s music became so popular at the time, despite the fact that his bitter criticism of the American society and politics became more and more intense in time, and was never really shared by wide circles of American audiences. One can assume that his lyrics were simply too clever for most people to be understood.
Overall, although this music is now almost fifty years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
| | Updated: 08/12/2024Posted: 08/12/2024 | 5CD+BD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ CARNEGIE HALL
VAULTERNATIVE 20111B (Barcode: 824302010181) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2020
This is an archival album of live recordings by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, recorded on October 11, 1971 at NY Carnegie Hall, the only concert played by Zappa and his Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist at this prestigious venue. The 3CD album includes all the music played during the two shows that night, lasting together for over three hours, all of which was previously unreleased. The album was released in 2011 as one of the series of complete live concerts, which also includes “FZ:OZFind albums with this title”, “BuffaloFind albums with this title”, “WazooFind albums with this title”, “Philly `76Find albums with this title” and “Hammersmith OdeonFind albums with this title”. This is the 2020 version of the album, which omits the support act (The PersuasionsFind albums by this artist) CD from the original 4CD 2011 version. All the music (except for two tracks which were co-composed) was composed by Zappa.
The lineup of the musicians playing in the band, which played these concerts consists, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals of course, of vocalist / percussionist Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist, vocalist Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist (both ex-TurtlesFind albums by this artist collectively known as Flo & EddieFind albums by this artist), keyboardist / saxophonist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jim PonsFind albums by this artist and British drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist. The repertoire covers past favorites going as far back as the debut album “Freak Out!Find albums with this title” and up to “King KongFind albums with this title” (which gets an improvised 30 minutes long treatment), “Hot RatsFind albums with this title”, “Chunga`s RevengeFind albums with this title” and “200 MotelsFind albums with this title”.
The music, as I have already stated repeatedly, is beyond categorization, being first and foremost the idiosyncratic creation of Zappa’s musical Genius. Of course every new piece of reissued vault material by Zappa expands the portrait of one of the paramount musical Geniuses of the 20th Century. I still label it as Jazz-Rock Fusion, as it embraces the wide perspective of these two genres. After all it is no less than three hours of the best music money can buy, brilliantly recorded and carefully put together for you listening pleasure.
Overall, this a superb and highly detailed document of the way Zappa created his masterpieces, and of course a testimony to his musical out of the box thinking and creativity. As far as concert recordings, this is an extraordinary example of Zappa’s ability to run a tight ship, perhaps tighter than any other. Despite the complexity of the material, Swiss watchmakers are using this music to synchronize their watches by.
| | Updated: 11/08/2022Posted: 29/10/2021 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ CHUNGA`S REVENGE
ZAPPA 3844 (Barcode: 824302384428) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 11th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1970. The music was recorded in the studio and live in 1969 and 1970. The album presents ten tracks, four of which are instrumentals, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup, in addition to Zappa on guitar, vocals and other instruments including even drums, includes for the first time the two ex-TurtlesFind albums by this artist vocalists Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist and Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Flo & EddieFind albums by this artist), multi-instrumentalist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassists Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist and Max BennettFind albums by this artist, drummers Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and John GuerinFind albums by this artist and violinist Don Sugarcane HarrisFind albums by this artist playing organ on one track.
The album presents an eclectic amalgam of Jazz improvisations, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Blues, Rock and Pop songs, with sarcastic lyrics dealing with subject matter about Rock Culture, sex and other social issues. It is one of the most seemingly incoherent Zappa’s musical constructs, but of course it does make perfect sense as far as showing the diversity of his musical interests and his ability as a composer.
Overall, although this music is now over fifty years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 22/09/2022Posted: 23/02/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ FILLMORE EAST - JUNE 1971
ZAPPA 3845 (Barcode: 824302384527) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 12th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1971. The music was recorded live at the legendary NYC Fillmore East venue in 1971. The album presents twelve tracks, all (except one) composed by Zappa.
The lineup, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, includes members of the then current version of Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist, which comprises of lead vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Flo & EddieFind albums by this artist), multi-instrumentalist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Bob HarrisFind albums by this artist, bassist Jim PonsFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist. Keyboardist Don PrestonFind albums by this artist appears on one track, which was probably recorded at other live concert.
The album presents a comic / bitterly satirical concept “story”, which depicts the “behind the scenes” of the music business and Rock groups touring / concerts, with all its absurdity and deviation, which sadly was for many years a part of the scene, before it spread into the general public and created the insane “celeb” scene omnipresent in today’s non-culture.
Musically the album is somewhat less Jazz-Rock Fusion oriented, but still offers lengthy instrumental improvisations and some of the best-ever guitar soloing by Zappa. The only track not composed by Zappa is a parody of the song “Happy Together”, which was a mega hit for the TurtlesFind albums by this artist, the group Volman and Kaylan originate from.
Overall, although this music is now over fifty years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 22/09/2022Posted: 12/02/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ FREAKS & MOTHERFU*#@%!
ESSENTIAL / FOO-EEE 958 (Barcode: 5017615515824) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1970 Released: 1991
This is a bootleg album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released officially by Zappa in 1991 as part of the "Beat The Boots!Find albums with this title" Box Set, which included eight bootlegs. The LPs in this Box Set (edition of 600 copies) were not available individually, but the CD versions were made available individually on the Rhino / Foo-eeeFind albums on this label label as catalog numbers 70537 to 70544. In the UK these CDs were released on the Essential / Foo-eeeFind albums on this label label as catalog numbers 956 to 963. This is the third album of the set.
The music was recorded at the Fillmore East on November 13, 1970 and presents ten tracks. The lineup of the Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
The sound quality is quite reasonable in view of the illegal circumstances surrounding the recording process, often done on inferior equipment. It is of course an invaluable historic document of Zappa’s Genius. It is also valuable not only for its musical content, but also as an authentic document of the Music Industry bootlegging phenomenon and the attempts to fight it. Zappa pioneered (as he did in many areas) the idea of releasing the bootlegs on his own label, following the “if you can’t beat them, use them” formula, which later on became known as “The Official Bootleg” phenomenon still popular today.
| | Updated: 13/03/2023Posted: 18/02/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ FUNKY NOTHINGNESS
ZAPPA 20043 (Barcode: 602455270504) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1967 - 1970 Released: 2023
This is the 126th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2023. It is called the “lost album” sequel to the "Hot RatsFind albums with this title" album and it presents mostly unreleased compositions and jams, recorded almost entirely at the Record Plant studio in 1970, with a few exceptions recorded earlier in 1967. The 3CD album offers a total of twenty-five tracks.
The Record Plant recordings feature the following lineup: Zappa on guitar and vocals, violinist / vocalist Don Sugarcane HarrisFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / saxophonist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist Max BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
The music has a distinct jam session feel, with extensive instrumental improvisations, especially those by Harris, which are definitely some of his finest work ever caught on tape, great keyboard parts by Underwood and featuring some blood-curdling Zappa guitar solos. The rhythm section is Funky all the way through and offers perfect support to the soloists.
The quality of the recording and sound are perfect and absolutely nothing stands between the music and the listener to enjoy a fury and orgy of the Zappa phenomenon. As usual, every note played by Zappa and his ensemble is perfectly unique and these tracks are an integral part of his heritage.
Overall, this is an absolutely essential piece of the Frank Zappa legacy and a fitting tribute to his brilliance. These early Jazz-Rock Fusion recordings are a perfect example of the emerging idiom and are brilliantly executed by the ensemble. Considering that all this happened over fifty years ago clearly proves that Zappa was a visionary / prophetic Genius.
| | Updated: 24/07/2023Posted: 24/07/2023 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ JOE`S DOMAGE
VAULTERNATIVE 20042 (Barcode: 824302004227) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2004
This is the 73rd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2004. This album is the 2nd release in the series of albums compiled by Zappa’s vaultmeister Joe TraversFind albums by this artist, which also includes “Joe`s CorsageFind albums with this title” (2004), “Joe`s XMASageFind albums with this title” (2005), “Joe`s MenageFind albums with this title” (2008) and "Joe`s Camouflage"Find albums with this title (2014), all released on the VaulternativeFind albums on this label label.
The lineup that Zappa put together in the studio to record this music is an absolute dream team of superb instrumentalists, mostly Jazz oriented players, which includes keyboardist Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, bassist Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tony OrtegaFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist and Malcolm McNabbFind albums by this artist, trombonist Ken ShroyerFind albums by this artist and others.
The material included on this album was never intended to be heard by “regular” listeners, and is a reflection of Zappa’s documenting passion, which prompted him to record every second of his performances in the studio and on stage. It does, however, offer an incredible glimpse into the inner makings of music under Zappa’s guidance and shows the meticulous process involved in creating the music, starting with very basic ideas and developed slowly during these rehearsals. As such it shows Zappa’s genius at work and explains the ability of his musicians to perform the unspeakably tricky parts on stage later on.
Overall, although presenting only sketchy outlines of his brilliant compositions, now half a Century old, this album is a treasure of ingenuity and historical documentation of the process of music making by the greatest musical mind of the 20th Century, and as such certainly worth being listened to and perhaps learning something about the process of creating music from the Master himself.
| | Updated: 13/03/2023Posted: 23/03/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM L.A.
ZAPPA 3847 (Barcode: 824302384725) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2012
This is the reissue / remaster of the 14th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1972. The album was recorded live on August 7, 1971 and includes a rare live recording of “Billy The Mountain”, lasting over twenty-four minutes. All the music, except for one track, was composed by Zappa.
The musicians participating on this album include, in addition to Zappa who played guitar and sung, also vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, woodwinds and keyboards player Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jim PonsFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
By the time this album was recorded Zappa and his Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist were a perfectly synchronized music machine able to play just about anything. Zappa’s sense of humor knew already no limits, as the “Billy The Mountain” track shows, being a hilarious pastiche of the Rock Opera genre, which thrived at the time. They produced some of the finest Pop / Rock oriented material, which was heavily spiced with hysteric and often outrageous satire and ridicule of American politics, religious radicals, sex, drugs, corruption and many other issues, which in Zappa’s opinion were eating the American society from within. As accurate as his view of the situation was, it did not have any impact on the state of matters, which obviously continuously worsened, effectively disintegrating the so called “American Way of Life”. Framed within brilliant music and some of his greatest guitar playing, this album is often considered as a great summary of the early Zappa period. Obviously, they were anything but just another band from LA.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 22/09/2022Posted: 15/09/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ PLAYGROUND PSYCHOTICS
ZAPPA 3886 (Barcode: 824302388624) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1970 - 1971 Released: 2012
This is the reissue / remaster of the 60th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally as a 2CD album in 1992, less than a year before Zappa’s demise. The album was recorded between late 1970 and late 1971 and includes another rare live recording of “Billy The Mountain”, lasting over thirty minutes. It includes numerous dialog fragments capturing the members of The Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist on tour and during the recording of the “200 MotelsFind albums with this title” soundtrack. It also offers alternative mixes of the live encounter between the Mothers and John LennonFind albums by this artist and Yoko OnoFind albums by this artist on the Fillmore East stage. The staggering fifty-seven tracks are and incredible testimony of the greatest Rock band ever, carefully assembled by Zappa, in a form he wanted the band to be remembered. Almost all the music was composed by Zappa.
The musicians participating on this album include, in addition to Zappa who played guitar and sung, also vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, woodwinds and keyboards player Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, George DukeFind albums by this artist and Bob HarrisFind albums by this artist, bassists Jim PonsFind albums by this artist, Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist and Martin LickertFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
By the time this album was recorded Zappa and his Mothers Of Invention were a perfectly synchronized music machine able to play just about anything. Zappa’s sense of humor knew already no limits, as the “Billy The Mountain” track shows, being a hilarious pastiche of the Rock Opera genre, which thrived at the time. They produced some of the finest Pop / Rock oriented material, which was heavily spiced with hysteric and often outrageous satire and ridicule of American politics, religious radicals, sex, drugs, corruption and many other issues, which in Zappa’s opinion were eating the American society from within. As accurate as his view of the situation was, it did not have any impact on the state of matters, which obviously continuously worsened, effectively disintegrating the so called “American Way of Life”. Framed within brilliant music and some of his greatest guitar playing, this album is often considered as a great summary of the early Zappa period.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 24/09/2022Posted: 24/09/2022 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ROAD TAPES VENUE #3
VAULTERNATIVE 20161 (Barcode: 824302016121) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2016
This is the 103rd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2016. This 2CD album was released on the VaulternativeFind albums on this label label and is the last of three “Road Tapes” releases, which document entire live performances by Zappa and The Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist. This performance was captured at Tyrone Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN, USA on July 5, 1970. The album presents twenty-six tracks, all composed by Zappa, except one track by Igor StravinskyFind albums by this artist.
The lineup includes, in addition to Zappa, who plays guitar and sings, vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist. This recordings capture one of the first of the (then) new lineup of the Mothers. None of the material included here is included on the “The Mothers 1970Find albums with this title” Box Set released in 2020.
The live material reflects the highly experimental / improvisational character of the music, as well as the Avant-Garde approach to composition and Free Form improvisation, which characterized Jazz, but was unheard of in Rock music at the time.
Comparison between the live versions on this album, which are up to twenty minutes in duration, with the studio albums, prove how unique every concert by Zappa and his groups was and how important it is for all that material to be available on records, which of course is possible only due to Zappa’s passion and dedication to document his performances.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
| | Updated: 03/10/2022Posted: 30/09/2022 | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ THE CRUX OF THE BISCUIT
ZAPPA 20020 (Barcode: 824302002025) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2016
This is the 104th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2016, This album is also the 4th release in the Project/Object Audio Documentary series, which reexamines / expands original Zappa albums with previously unreleased material, in this case the “Apostrophe (`)Find albums with this title” album originally released in 1974. The Project/Object series also includes the following albums: “MOFOFind albums with this title” (2006), “The Lumpy MoneyFind albums with this title” (2009), “Greasy Love SongsFind albums with this title” (2010) and “Meat LightFind albums with this title” (2016).
The lineup that recorded this music between May of 1972 and June 1973 includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, violinists Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and Don Sugarcane HarrisFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassists Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist and Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Jim GordonFind albums by this artist, John GuerinFind albums by this artist, Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist and Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen tracks, which are alternate takes, outtakes, mix outtakes and other previously unreleased gems from these sessions.
The album presents an eclectic amalgam of Jazz-Rock Fusion and Rock and Pop songs, with sarcastic / satirical lyrics dealing with subject matter about many social issues. It is somehow absurd that Zappa’s music became so popular at the time, despite the fact that his bitter criticism of the American society and politics became more and more intense in time, and was never really shared by wide circles of American audiences. One can assume that his lyrics were simply too clever for most people to be understood.
Overall, although this music is now almost fifty years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
| | Updated: 03/10/2022Posted: 16/08/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ THE GRAND WAZOO
ZAPPA 3849 (Barcode: 824302384923) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 16th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1972. Together with its predecessor “Waka / JawakaFind albums with this title” it represents Zappa’s exploration of the Jazz influenced Big Band / Orchestral music, which was light-years ahead of its time. The album presents five lengthy tracks, almost completely instrumental, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup that Zappa put together in the studio to record this music is an absolute dream team of about twenty superb instrumentalists, mostly Jazz oriented players, which includes keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist, woodwinds players Mike AltschulFind albums by this artist and Fred JacksonFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist and Malcolm McNabFind albums by this artist, trombonist Billy ByersFind albums by this artist and many others.
The album is a logical succession to Zappa’s growing interest in composing and arranging music for big ensembles, exploring multi-layered approach and incorporating Jazz oriented soloing. It is another step in the period that started with the recording of “Hot RatsFind albums with this title” (1969) and was followed by “Burnt Weeny SandwichFind albums with this title” (1970) and the a.m. “Waka / Jawaka” (1972), which explored similar tendencies.
Since this is instrumental music, it lacks Zappa’s ironic / satirical lyrics about the issues that were in the center of his social awareness, and concentrates on his strictly musical vision, which appears here in its full glory. Zappa was a completely unique composer / arranger and the concept of using big orchestral arrangements outside of the Jazz Big Band idiom appeared only in Brass Rock, which he expanded into Fusion, pioneering that specific stylistic approach.
Overall, although this music is now half a Century old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 22/09/2022Posted: 09/01/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ THE MOTHERS 1970
ZAPPA 20033 (Barcode: 824302003329) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2020
This is a wonderful archival Box Set, which collects the recordings by the short lived lineup of the MothersFind albums by this artist, led by Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist between May and December of 1970 and celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The material includes studio and concert recordings from the Zappa vault and most of the material is previously unreleased.
This particular lineup of the Mothers included the two ex-TurtlesFind albums by this artist vocalists Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist and Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Flo & EddieFind albums by this artist), Jazz keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, who arrived via Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and the brilliant “King KongFind albums with this title” album from 1969, multi-instrumentalist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist (the only original Mother), bassist Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist and British drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist. Shortly before Zappa disbanded the original Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist, he released the seminal solo album “Hot RatsFind albums with this title”, was involved in cross-genre meeting with Zubin MehtaFind albums by this artist and in parallel started to produce the “Uncle MeatFind albums with this title” movie, a typical Zappa mayhem, emphasizing his feverish creativity.
The music is, as always, completely Zappaesque, with brilliant melodic contents, weird polyrhythmic approach, which was always his forte, a Rock oriented rhythm section and Jazz oriented instrumental layers, topped with superb vocal harmonies and Zappa’s angelic / devilish guitar work, which remains unparalleled.
As the time moves on and Zappa’s music is now well into its sixth decade, it becomes more and more apparent that he was an absolute singularity on the 20th Century music scene. No other musician managed to create such a vast body of music so diverse and aesthetically perfect as Zappa. He was also one of the very few musicians with an outlook on the world politics and the sickness of American society, and surely the only one that was not afraid to publicly mock it. His sharp sense of humor cut deeply like a surgeon’s scalpel, but the political establishment managed to present him to the public as a weirdo rather than a sage.
One of the few things that I regret in the course of my musical adventures is the fact that I met Frank only a couple of times over the years, as I’d love to have talked with him in depth. It was not to be and his premature death closed the window of opportunity forever.
For the many Zappa fans this Box Set is of course a must, as everything else that emerges from his vault. It is absolutely blissful that his vault is so well looked after and new material emerges from it periodically and continuously, especially in times were new music is hardly worth any attention. Pass the word and enjoy!
| | Updated: 19/01/2022Posted: 30/05/2021 | CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ THE MOTHERS 1971
ZAPPA 20038 (Barcode: 602438403455) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2022
This Box Set is the 121st official release by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2022. It presents an expanded reissue / remaster of the live material recorded originally in 1971 with his group The Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist, including the complete Fillmore East concerts on June 5, 1971 and June 6, 1971 (two full shows each day), including the encore which features John LennonFind albums by this artist and Yoko OnoFind albums by this artist on the last show, which of course were partially released as the “Fillmore East - June 1971Find albums with this title” album in 1971. Also included are two partially recorded shows recorded a few days before the Fillmore East shows, as well as the December 10, 1971 concert recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London; altogether 8 CDs full of brilliant music The Box Set is a lavishly packaged Super Deluxe (CD sized) edition, which is up to the usual ZappaFind albums on this label Records standard.
The Mothers, who recorded this music included, in addition to Zappa who played guitar and sung, vocalists Howard KaylanFind albums by this artist and Mark VolmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Jim PonsFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist (who also plays woodwinds), Don PrestonFind albums by this artist and Bob HarrisFind albums by this artist (who does not play on the London show) and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist.
This Box Set offers a great opportunity to compare four full live shows and see how flexible and varied these performances were, how much improvisation was involved and how brilliant the members of the Mothers were. The rapport and interplay are absolutely amazing and easily equal that displayed by Jazz musicians.
Musically the album is somewhat less Jazz-Rock Fusion oriented, but still offers lengthy instrumental improvisations and some of the best-ever guitar soloing by Zappa. The parody of the song “Happy Together”, which was a mega hit for the TurtlesFind albums by this artist, the group Volman and Kaylan originate from, is a great example of the sense of humor that underlines the proceedings at all times.
Overall, although over fifty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
| | Updated: 18/06/2022Posted: 18/06/2022 | CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ WAKA / JAWAKA
ZAPPA 3848 (Barcode: 824302384824) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 15th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, recorded and originally released in 1972. It represents Zappa’s exploration of the Jazz influenced Big Band / Orchestral music, which was light-years ahead of its time. The album presents four tracks, two lengthy instrumentals and two shorter pieces with vocals, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup that Zappa put together in the studio to record this music is an absolute dream team of superb instrumentalists, mostly Jazz oriented players, which includes keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, bassist Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist, woodwinds players Mike AltschulFind albums by this artist and Joel PeskinFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, trombonist Billy ByersFind albums by this artist and Ken ShroyerFind albums by this artist and others.
The album is a logical succession to Zappa’s growing interest in composing and arranging music for big ensembles, exploring multi-layered approach and incorporating Jazz oriented soloing. It is another step in the period that started with the recording of “Hot RatsFind albums with this title” (1969) and was followed by “Burnt Weeny SandwichFind albums with this title” (1970) and continued by “The Grand WazooFind albums with this title” (1972), which explored similar tendencies.
Since this is instrumental music, it lacks Zappa’s ironic / satirical lyrics about the issues that were in the center of his social awareness, and concentrates on his strictly musical vision, which appears here in its full glory. Zappa was a completely unique composer / arranger and the concept of using big orchestral arrangements outside of the Jazz Big Band idiom appeared only in Brass Rock, which he expanded into Fusion, pioneering that specific stylistic approach.
Overall, although this music is now half a Century old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since.
Side Note
Frank Zappa created a vast recorded legacy during his lifetime, which is continuously being expanded using music recorded and stored in his extensive vault. The albums officially released and approved by Zappa are numbered sequentially in the "Official Release" series, from #001 to the last release so far #126. The albums between #001 to #062 were released during Zappa's lifetime and all the others were released posthumously. There are countless unofficial / bootleg releases on the market as well.
Zappa's catalogue was remastered for CD release twice: in 1995 for the RykodiscFind albums on this label releases and again in 2012 for the ZappaFind albums on this label Records / UniversalFind albums on this label releases. The Zappa / Universal program includes 60 releases, which cover the entire catalog released during his lifetime (62 releases, except #013 "200 Motels" and the three Box Sets #043, #046 and #049 called "The Old Masters vol.I / II / III"), and 6 posthumous releases (#064, #065, #067, #068, #093 and #094), which were also included.
| | Updated: 22/09/2022Posted: 19/03/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ WAKA / WAZOO
ZAPPA 20041 (Barcode: 602448169594) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2022
This is the 124th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2022. The album presents music recorded during the April / May 1972 recording sessions at the Paramount Studios, which produced the iconic “Waka / JawakaFind albums with this title” and “The Grand WazooFind albums with this title” albums and celebrates the 50th Anniversary of these sessions. The Box Set includes 4 CDs and 1 Blu-ray Audio disc.
The music was recorded by two lineups, the ten piece (called Petit Wazoo) and the twenty-piece (called Grand Wazoo) ensembles / orchestras, which epitomize Zappa’s fascination with Jazz music and Orchestral music, offering some of the most intricate performances Zappa and his ensembles ever recorded. The two ensembles had a common core / rhythm section, with in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, included also slide guitarist Tony DuranFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, bassist Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist (the last two were of course British). A long list of brass and woodwinds players, some famous from their Jazz careers, played in both ensembles.
CD1 and CD2 present outtakes and alternate versions of the material recorded during the sessions, which were not used on the final version of the two albums.
CD3 presents a series of demos Zappa and Duke recorded for a potential album by Duke, which produced four demos and three outtakes of music written by Duke (in one case co-written with Zappa). The 8th track presents a live appearance of the Grand Wazoo band live in Boston, edited in studio and previously unreleased. The entire Boston show was released in 2007 as the “WazooFind albums with this title” album. The last two tracks on this CD present the first part of the Petit Wazoo band live at the Winterland Ballroom in SF.
CD4 presents five additional tracks from the Winterland Ballroom concert
Blu-ray Audio presents new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound and PCM Stereo versions of the “Waka / Jawaka” and “The Grand Wazoo” albums, which I personally regard as completely redundant.
Overall, this is an absolutely essential piece of the Frank Zappa legacy and a fitting tribute to his brilliance. The intricacy and multi-layered arrangements, brilliantly executed by his ensembles, are amongst the most interesting American recordings ever and considering that all this happened fifty years ago clearly proves that Zappa was a visionary / prophetic Genius.
| | Updated: 14/01/2023Posted: 14/01/2023 | 4CD+BD 5 Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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