Record Reviews
24 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | 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 ~ BONGO FURY
ZAPPA 3854 (Barcode: 824302385425) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion
Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 21st album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1975. The album is a collaboration with another American legend, Blues / Rock vocalist / harmonica player Captain BeefheartFind albums by this artist (born Don VlietFind albums by this artist and later adopted the name Van VlietFind albums by this artist). The album presents nine tracks, seven of which were recorded live in 1975 and two studio tracks, which were recorded in 1974 during the sessions that would be released later as parts of “One Size Fits AllFind albums with this title” and “Studio TanFind albums with this title”. Zappa wrote all the music and Beefheart contributed a couple of spoken work ditties.
The lineup that recorded the music includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, Captain Beefheart on vocals and harmonica, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Denny WalleyFind albums by this artist and drummer Terry BozzioFind albums by this artist (or Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist on the studio tracks). This was the last album recorded by the sublime Fusion oriented lineup, which created earlier the legendary Zappa albums like “Over-Nite SensationFind albums with this title”, “Apostrophe (`)Find albums with this title” and “Roxy & ElsewhereFind albums with this title”.
The album was poorly received both by Zappa and Beefheart fans at the time of its release, as each of these two camps expected something else, but in retrospect the cooperation works wonderfully, being rather more than the sum of its parts. Beefheart’s idiosynchratic vocals are an ideal match to Zappa’s zany music of course and one can only regret that they did not record more together. Beefheart’s Blues tendencies are clearly audible on this album, which of course created no confrontation with Zappa’s music, which often also included Bluesy motifs.
Overall, although over forty-five 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 remains mostly a mystery and his albums prove time after time that there was only one Frank Zappa, with nobody who could follow his path.
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: 29/12/2021 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ BROADWAY THE HARD WAY
ZAPPA 3879 (Barcode: 824302387924) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1988 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 53rd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1988. The album presents seventeen tracks, which include mostly original songs by Zappa, but also some covers including one song by The PoliceFind albums by this artist on which StingFind albums by this artist sings lead vocals. The music was recorded live during Zappa’s 1988 tour, which was sadly his last. It is one of three live albums recorded during this tour, together with “The Best Band You Never Heard In Your LifeFind albums with this title” and “Make A Jazz Noise HereFind albums with this title”.
The lineup that recorded the music includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, guitarists Ike WillisFind albums by this artist and Mike KeneallyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Robert MartinFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ed MannFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Walt FowlerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Paul CarmanFind albums by this artist, Albert WingFind albums by this artist and Kurt McGettrickFind albums by this artist, bassist Scott ThunesFind albums by this artist and drummer Chad WackermanFind albums by this artist. It reflects Zappa’s love of orchestral arrangements, which of course were meticulously conceived and brilliantly executed by this excellent team. The undertones of a Broadway show, which this album presents, are a pinnacle of Zappa’s mastery and a cruel twist.
With passing time, Zappa’s cynicism and radical criticism of American politics, organized religion, show business and general stupidity became more bitter and plain painful at times. His idea to shake his audiences, had sadly little effect, as we can see with the world getting worse and stupider consistently. The absurdity of the beautiful melodic songs crafted by Zappa, which were accompanied by his toxic lyrics is absolutely amazing. However, as we all know, protest songs never managed to make a dent in the way our world is being conducted, especially so in America – Woody GuthrieFind albums by this artist, Pete SeegerFind albums by this artist, Bob DylanFind albums by this artist and eventually Zappa, all failed miserably – a magnificent failure it was indeed!
Overall, although thirty-three 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: 05/12/2021 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ERIE
ZAPPA 20039 (Barcode: 602445394661) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2022
This is the 122nd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2022. The 6CD Box Set presents music recorded live in Erie, PA and surrounding area between 1974 and 1976 and offers over seven hours of previously unreleased (except for one track) performances of music, as usual almost entirely composed by Zappa. The recordings are presented chronologically and offer three complete concerts and bonus material from other performances.
The music was recorded by three lineups, which includes Zappa on guitar and vocals and the following musicians:
George DukeFind albums by this artist on keyboards, synthesizer and vocals, Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist on bass, Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist on guitar and vocals, Don PrestonFind albums by this artist on synthesizer, Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist on trombone and vocals, Walt FowlerFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist on saxophone, flute and lead vocals, Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist on drums and percussion and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist on drums and percussion, who play on CD1 and CD2 and the first two tracks of CD3.
George Duke on keyboards, synthesizer and vocals, Tom Fowler on bass, Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist on percussion, Napoleon Murphy Brock on saxophone, flute and lead vocals and Chester Thompson on drums and percussion, who play on the rest of CD3 and CD4.
Bianca OdinFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Lady BiancaFind albums by this artist, who played with Zappa for just one month, which makes this a rare appearance) on keyboards and vocals, Ray WhiteFind albums by this artist on guitar and vocals, Eddie JobsonFind albums by this artist and keyboards and violin, Patrick O`HearnFind albums by this artist on bass and vocals and Terry BozzioFind albums by this artist on drums and vocals, who play on CD5 and CD6.
It is truly amazing to discover the depth of the Zappa Family Trust vault and the fact that so much previously unreleased material is still available. Zappa’s Genius is revealed in every piece of recorded music he left behind, and the passing time makes us realize how pioneering and groundbreaking his work was at the time and in many respects continues to be so also today.
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 is a valuable addition to Zappa’s incredible recorded legacy and is an absolute must for his many followers, who are always delighted to hear some previously unreleased material.
| | Updated: 19/12/2022Posted: 18/12/2022 | CD 6 Digibook Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ HALLOWEEN 73
ZAPPA 20031 (Barcode: 824302003121) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2019
This is the 114th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2019. The live album was recorded during the Zappa Halloween shows at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago on October 31, 1973. There are two versions of this album: A Box Set version with 4 CDs, which includes the entire two shows played that day and collection of rehearsal tracks recorded on October 20 and 21, 1973, a total of fifty tracks, and various paraphernalia (a mask and gloves), and a single CD version with highlights from the Box Set version, with seventeen tracks, called the Z version.
The lineup that recorded this music includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind 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.
| | Updated: 29/07/2023Posted: 29/07/2023 | CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ HALLOWEEN 73 (HIGHLIGHTS)
ZAPPA 20031Z (Barcode: 824302003152) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2019
This is the 114th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2019. The live album was recorded during the Zappa Halloween shows at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago on October 31, 1973. There are two versions of this album, a Box Set version with 4 CDs and various paraphernalia and this, the single CD version with highlights from the Box Set version, called the Z version.
The lineup that recorded this music includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen tracks, taken from both shows played on that date.
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: 18/08/2022Posted: 18/08/2022 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ IMAGINARY DISEASES
ZAPPA 20001 (Barcode: 824302000120) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2005
This is the 76th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2005. The album was prepared for release by Zappa before his death from material recorded during the 1972 “Petit Wazoo” tour. The album presents seven original compositions, five of which are lengthy pieces between ten and sixteen minutes in duration, all by Zappa.
The music was recorded by a ten-piece band that included Zappa on guitar and vocals, who also conducted the band’s performances, trumpeters Malcolm McNabbFind albums by this artist and Gary BaroneFind albums by this artist, tuba player Tom MaloneFind albums by this artist, woodwinds player Earl DumlerFind albums by this artist, trombonists Glen FerrisFind albums by this artist and Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, slide guitarist Tony DuranFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave ParlatoFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim GordonFind albums by this artist.
The music reflects Zappa’s interest in Jazz oriented Big Band / Orchestral music, which he recorded for “The Grand WazooFind albums with this title” and other albums at that period. This instrumental music is complex, multi-layered and light-years ahead of its time musically. Since there are no lyrics, the element of satire and social critique are absent on this album, but for enthusiasts of Zappa’s incredible guitar playing there are plenty of delights here.
Overall, although five decades 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 early 1970s Jazz / Fusion oriented explorations remain as one of his absolute peak achievements.
| | Updated: 23/05/2022Posted: 23/05/2022 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ LITTLE DOTS
ZAPPA 20026 (Barcode: 824302002629) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2016
This is the 109th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2016. The album was prepared for release by Zappa before his death from material recorded during the 1972 “Petit Wazoo” tour and is the second album originating from the same material, following the “Imaginary DiseasesFind albums with this title” album from 2005. The album presents five original compositions, which are lengthy pieces between six and twenty-four minutes in duration, all by Zappa.
The music was recorded by a ten-piece band that included Zappa on guitar and vocals, who also conducted the band’s performances, trumpeters Malcolm McNabbFind albums by this artist and Gary BaroneFind albums by this artist, tuba player Tom MaloneFind albums by this artist, woodwinds player Earl DumlerFind albums by this artist, trombonists Glen FerrisFind albums by this artist and Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, slide guitarist Tony DuranFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave ParlatoFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim GordonFind albums by this artist.
The music reflects Zappa’s interest in Jazz oriented Big Band / Orchestral music, which he recorded for “The Grand WazooFind albums with this title” and other albums at that period. This instrumental music is complex, multi-layered and light-years ahead of its time musically. Since there are no lyrics, the element of satire and social critique are absent on this album, but for enthusiasts of Zappa’s incredible guitar playing there are plenty of delights here.
Overall, although five decades 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 early 1970s Jazz / Fusion oriented explorations remain as one of his absolute peak achievements.
| | Updated: 16/06/2022Posted: 16/06/2022 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ MAKE A JAZZ NOISE HERE
ZAPPA 3883 (Barcode: 824302388327) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1988 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 57th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1991. The 2CD album presents twenty-five tracks, which include mostly original songs by Zappa, except for a couple of arrangements of Classical Music pieces by Igor StravinskyFind albums by this artist and Bela BartokFind albums by this artist, which is relatively a rare event on Zappa’s albums. The music was recorded live during Zappa’s 1988 tour, which was sadly his last. It is one of four live albums recorded during this tour, together with “Broadway The Hard WayFind albums with this title”, “The Best Band You Never Heard In Your LifeFind albums with this title” and “Zappa `88: The Last U.S. ShowFind albums with this title”.
The lineup that recorded the music includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, guitarists Ike WillisFind albums by this artist and Mike KeneallyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Robert MartinFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ed MannFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Walt FowlerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Paul CarmanFind albums by this artist, Albert WingFind albums by this artist and Kurt McGettrickFind albums by this artist, bassist Scott ThunesFind albums by this artist and drummer Chad WackermanFind albums by this artist. It reflects Zappa’s love of orchestral arrangements, which of course were meticulously conceived and brilliantly executed by this excellent team. The undertones of a Broadway show, which this album presents, are a pinnacle of Zappa’s mastery and a cruel twist.
With passing time, Zappa’s cynicism and radical criticism of American politics, organized religion, show business and general stupidity became more bitter and plain painful at times. His idea to shake his audiences, had sadly little effect, as we can see with the world getting worse and stupider consistently. The absurdity of the beautiful melodic songs crafted by Zappa, which were accompanied by his toxic lyrics is absolutely amazing. However, as we all know, protest songs never managed to make a dent in the way our world is being conducted, especially so in America – Woody GuthrieFind albums by this artist, Pete SeegerFind albums by this artist, Bob DylanFind albums by this artist and eventually Zappa, all failed miserably – a magnificent failure it was indeed!
Overall, although over thirty 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: 13/03/2022 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ OVER-NITE SENSATION
ZAPPA 3850 (Barcode: 824302385029) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 17th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1973. The sessions that produced this album also produced the 1974 album “Apostrophe (`)Find albums with this title”, which was Zappa’s next album. The album presents seven original songs, all by Zappa.
Zappa assembled an absolutely brilliant lineup of musicians to record the album, which included French violinist Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist. The vocals were performed mostly by Zappa with a little help from several singers, including the uncredited appearance by Tina TurnerFind albums by this artist and the IkettesFind albums by this artist. The unique and exemplary guitar parts are of course his.
This album marks a new approach in Zappa’s convoluted musical path and marks his passionate affair with Jazz-Rock Fusion, which has its sources some years earlier in "The Hot Rats SessionsFind albums with this title", but came into full bloom starting with album and dominated his 1970s output. He managed to combine a very complex music, both harmonically and rhythmically, with a seemingly Rock or even Pop glam, to expand his audiences, without losing an iota of his musical integrity.
In retrospect the music on this album sounds a bit pale in comparison to the numerous live recordings of the same material, which was often expanded into lengthy improvisations and offered an explosion of energy and spontaneity. Nevertheless, these are the original versions of that gorgeous material, and have not only a nostalgic tinge, but are true Classics in every respect.
Overall, although almost 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: 20/11/2021 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ OVER-NITE SENSATION (50TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION)
ZAPPA 20044 (Barcode: 602455648563) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2023
This is the 127th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2023. As the title suggests, it compiles all the material connected with the iconic “Over-Nite SensationFind albums with this title” album, originally released in 1973, as well as concert recordings from that period. The music was recorded almost entirely at the Bolic Sound and Whitney Studio in 1973, with a few exceptions recorded earlier. The 4CD Box Set offers a total of fifty-four tracks, with over five hours of music. The bonus BD disc offers the original album in various alternate audio formats.
The recordings feature the following lineup: Zappa on guitar and vocals, violinist Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist. Several vocalists appear on selected tracks.
CD1 presents the original album (7 tracks), bonus session masters (6 tracks) and bonus vault sensations (3 tracks).
CD2 presents more bonus vault sensations (10 tracks) and the first part of the Hollywood Palladium March 23, 1973 concert (3 tracks).
CD3 presents the rest of the Hollywood Palladium concert (9 tracks).
CD4 presents the Cobo Hall May 12, 1973 concert (16 tracks).
The “Over-Nite Sensation” album is one the peaks of Zappa’s career, summarizing his Jazz-Rock Fusion spiced with zany humor period. The instrumental parts are all sensational, with constant twists and turns both harmonically and rhythmically, which characterized Zappa’s approach, reflecting his “out of the box” forward thinking and pioneering / experimental nature, all of which sets him far above most of his contemporaries, and remains absolutely relevant today.
This Box Set offers a wealth of material 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: 30/05/2024Posted: 30/05/2024 | 4CD+BD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Audiophile Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ PIQUANTIQUE
ESSENTIAL / FOO-EEE 963 (Barcode: 5017615516326) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 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 eighth album of the set.
The album presents five tracks, four of which were recorded in Stockholm on August 21, 1973 and one tracks was recorded about a month earlier in Sydney. The lineup of the Mothers Of Invention includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, violinist Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist. The music is some of the most advanced Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion ever played.
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: 04/03/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ROAD TAPES VENUE #2
VAULTERNATIVE 20131 (Barcode: 824302013120) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2013
This is the 96th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2013. This 2CD album was released on the VaulternativeFind albums on this label label and is the second 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 Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland on August 23 & 24, 1973. The album presents nineteen tracks, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup includes, in addition to Zappa, who plays guitar and sings, violinist Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummer Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist. This live material reflects the highly experimental / improvisational character of the music, played by one of the most Jazz oriented lineups of the Mothers. Not surprisingly, most of the music is instrumental.
Six of the tracks on this album last for well over ten minutes, and one even over twenty minutes, which emphasizes the role of improvisation in Zappa’s music, which this superb collection of performers was able to execute with a staggering precision and unlimited imagination. This is also the most extensive document of Luc-Ponty’s live performances with Zappa, which of course is sensational.
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: 04/11/2022Posted: 04/11/2022 | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ROXY & ELSEWHERE
ZAPPA 3852 (Barcode: 824302385227) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 19th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally as a double LP in 1974. The music was recorded live in concert mostly at the Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, on 8, 9 & 10 December 1973 by Zappa and the Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist. It is a companion release to the albums “Roxy By ProxyFind albums with this title”, “Roxy: The MovieFind albums with this title” and finally “The Roxy PerformancesFind albums with this title”. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup of the Mothers includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, saxophonists Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, keyboardists George DukeFind albums by this artist and Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist.
Despite the fact that the music recorded at the Roxy appears on several albums, each and every track on these albums is completely unique, either being a different version or different mix or overdub. Considering that this lineup of the Mothers was one of the greatest, as was the material, every last note of these recordings is worth its weight in gold.
The music is one of the most Jazz oriented Zappa projects, which this team manages to perform brilliantly. As usual with Jazz oriented music, the instrumental improvisations are very diverse on each version of the same tune played during the different shows, and they are always delightfully brilliant.
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: 22/09/2022Posted: 01/03/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ROXY BY PROXY
ZAPPA 20017 (Barcode: 824302001721) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2014
This is the 99th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2014. The music was recorded live in concert at the Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, on 9 & 10 December 1973 by Zappa and the Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist. It is a companion release to the albums “Roxy & ElsewhereFind albums with this title”, “Roxy: The MovieFind albums with this title” and finally “The Roxy PerformancesFind albums with this title”. The album presents thirteen tracks, all composed by Zappa. The accompanying booklet includes a lengthy article by Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, describing the circumstances and the music included on the album.
The lineup of the Mothers includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, saxophonists Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth Underwood, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist.
Despite the fact that the music recorded at the Roxy appears on several albums, each and every track on these albums is completely unique, either being a different version or different mix or overdub. Considering that this lineup of the Mothers was one of the greatest, as was the material, every last note of these recordings is worth its weight in gold.
The music is one of the most Jazz oriented Zappa projects, which this team manages to perform brilliantly. As usual with Jazz oriented music, the instrumental improvisations are very diverse on each version of the same tune played during the different shows, and they are always delightfully brilliant.
Although most of this music is instrumental, Zappa’s introductions / commentary between the tracks is as zany as always and bitterly sarcastic, and includes one of my favorites: “Perverts help to make normal people look good”.
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: 23/01/2022Posted: 23/01/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ROXY: THE MOVIE / ROXY: THE SOUNDTRACK
EAGLE VISION 307279 (Barcode: 801213072798) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2015
This is the 102nd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2015. It includes the DVD with the movie called “Roxy: The Movie” and the CD with the music from that movie, called “Roxy: The Soundtrack”, which was not sold separately. The movie and the music were captured live in concert at the Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, on 9 & 10 December 1973 by Zappa and the Mothers Of InventionFind albums by this artist. It is a companion release to the albums “Roxy & ElsewhereFind albums with this title”, “Roxy By ProxyFind albums with this title” and finally “The Roxy PerformancesFind albums with this title”. The DVD presents seventeen tracks (and three “hidden” bonus tracks), and the CD twelve tracks (due to time limitation), all composed by Zappa.
The lineup of the Mothers includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, saxophonists Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist.
Despite the fact that the music recorded at the Roxy appears on several albums, each and every track on these albums is completely unique, either being a different version or different mix or overdub. Considering that this lineup of the Mothers was one of the greatest, as was the material, every last note of these recordings is worth its weight in gold.
The music is one of the most Jazz oriented Zappa projects, which this team manages to perform brilliantly. As usual with Jazz oriented music, the instrumental improvisations are very diverse on each version of the same tune played during the different shows, and they are always delightfully brilliant.
Although most of this music is instrumental, Zappa’s introductions / commentary between the tracks is as zany as always and bitterly sarcastic, and includes one of my favorites: “Perverts help to make normal people look good”.
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: 21/10/2022Posted: 21/10/2022 | DVD+CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ SLEEP DIRT
ZAPPA 3858 (Barcode: 824302385821) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 25th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1979. The music was recorded in 1974 and 1976 and its release was delayed by legal battles between record companies. It represents Zappa’s exploration of the Jazz influenced Big Band / Orchestral music, which was light-years ahead of its time. The album presents seven lengthy tracks, all completely instrumental and all composed by Zappa.
The lineup that Zappa put together in the studio to record this music includes, in addition to him playing guitar and keyboards, mostly Jazz oriented players, like keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Patrick O`HearnFind albums by this artist, James YoumanFind albums by this artist and Dave ParlatoFind albums by this artist, drummers Terry BozzioFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist. Although recorded by smaller ensembles, it manages beautifully to create a Big Band / Orchestral sound, as if recorded by a much larger group of musicians.
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), “Waka / JawakaFind albums with this title” (1972) and “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 almost 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: 13/01/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ STUDIO TAN
ZAPPA 3857 (Barcode: 824302385722) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1976 Released: 2012
This is a remaster / reissue of the 24th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1978. The music was recorded mostly in the studio between 1974 and 1976, except for one track originating from as far back as 1969. The album presents four tracks, all composed by Zappa.
The lineup that recorded most of the of tracks includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals, keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist and drummer Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist and bassist James YoumanFind albums by this artist play on one track and a large orchestra plays on another. The opening track lasts for almost twenty-one minutes and is one of the pinnacles of Zappa’s composing flow and conceptual attitude, which were light-years ahead of their time.
Musically, the material is mostly Jazz-Rock Fusion oriented, with his passion for Jazz Big Band music evident on the orchestral track. Supported by some of the finest Jazz musicians out there, this album is gem from start to finish.
Overall, although this music is now 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: 13/04/2024Posted: 13/04/2024 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE
ZAPPA 3881 (Barcode: 824302388129) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1988 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 55th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1991. The 2CD album presents twenty-eight tracks, which include mostly original songs by Zappa, but also several covers of classic Rock songs, including “Stairway To Heaven” (Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist), “Purple Haze” (Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist), “Sunshine of Your Life” (CreamFind albums by this artist) and others, which is relatively a rare event on Zappa’s albums. The music was recorded live during Zappa’s 1988 tour, which was sadly his last. It is one of three live albums recorded during this tour, together with “Broadway The Hard WayFind albums with this title” and “Make A Jazz Noise HereFind albums with this title”.
The lineup that recorded the music includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, guitarists Ike WillisFind albums by this artist and Mike KeneallyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Robert MartinFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ed MannFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Walt FowlerFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Paul CarmanFind albums by this artist, Albert WingFind albums by this artist and Kurt McGettrickFind albums by this artist, bassist Scott ThunesFind albums by this artist and drummer Chad WackermanFind albums by this artist. It reflects Zappa’s love of orchestral arrangements, which of course were meticulously conceived and brilliantly executed by this excellent team. The undertones of a Broadway show, which this album presents, are a pinnacle of Zappa’s mastery and a cruel twist.
With passing time, Zappa’s cynicism and radical criticism of American politics, organized religion, show business and general stupidity became more bitter and plain painful at times. His idea to shake his audiences, had sadly little effect, as we can see with the world getting worse and stupider consistently. The absurdity of the beautiful melodic songs crafted by Zappa, which were accompanied by his toxic lyrics is absolutely amazing. However, as we all know, protest songs never managed to make a dent in the way our world is being conducted, especially so in America – Woody GuthrieFind albums by this artist, Pete SeegerFind albums by this artist, Bob DylanFind albums by this artist and eventually Zappa, all failed miserably – a magnificent failure it was indeed!
Overall, although thirty-three 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: 10/12/2021 | CD 2 Remastered 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 ROXY PERFORMANCES
ZAPPA 20028 (Barcode: 824302002827) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2018
This incredible Box Set presents all the music recorded by Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist and his group MothersFind albums by this artist between December 8th and December 12th 1973, which includes the four shows at the Roxy Theater on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood on December 9th and 10th (two shows daily), the Roxy Theater rehearsals on December 8th and 12th, the Bolic Sound studio recording from December 12th and one previously unreleased track, altogether about eight hours of pure unadulterated Zappa Genius. Parts of these recordings were released, some of them overdubbed, on the "Roxy & ElsewhereFind albums with this title" double LP album and later on the "You Can`t Do That On Stage AnymoreFind albums with this title" series of albums and the "Roxy By ProxyFind albums with this title" album, but this Box Set is the only compilation of the entire proceedings in their original form.
The Mothers featured on these tracks were: keyboardist George DukeFind albums by this artist, bassist Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist and drummers Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist; a hyper talented, highly experienced and superbly collegial bunch of musicians, who under Zappa´s leadership were practically capable of playing anything, including the most unearthly and bizarre inventions that Zappa managed to come up with.
The music, or rather the phenomenon, which these recordings document, is beyond any classification and spans such diverse genres as Jazz, Fusion, Rock, Classical Music, Cabaret, Vaudeville, Circus Music, Pop and basically every form of music known to man, all this thanks to Zappa´s completely original approach to music creating, which a priori avoided any classifications or limitations and led to Cultural cross-pollination never before or after achieved in music by anybody else. Although the Mothers present herein were quite Jazz oriented, with excellent improvisational skills, the music pushed them well beyond the Jazz tradition, employing a plethora of compositional tools, which were mostly Zappa´s inventions.
Of all American composers / musicians Zappa always was the most non-American one, with aesthetics much closer to the European music spheres, which exploded with new ideas right about the time when American Jazz froze following the Free Jazz / Improvised Music apogee, which terminated with the death of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Zappa, who was quite aware of the developments in American Jazz, did not follow the Free path, in fact he chose the complete opposite direction and his music, which became in time ever more complex, was in fact ever more organized and composed. Zappa found his expression of Freedom in the complexity of his music, parallel to his outspoken anti-American views about political / social / cultural hypocrisy, which he loved to mock, criticize and hate.
Although this Box Set includes several versions of the same tunes, the comparison of these tunes is a highly educational exercise, which proves the amount of spontaneity, inventiveness and instant composition that goes on during these performances. Not only are the individual solos different, bit often the entire approach to the music changes on the fly, which of course was one of the Zappa trademarks. As a result the eight hours of music do not become repetitious or tiresome at any time and often the listener might have the impression of listening to several different albums one after another.
As time passes by and the date this music was made goes further back in time (almost 45 years before these words are being written), it becomes painfully obvious that music of that intensity, artistry and sophistication is not being made any more, which is actually pretty depressing. Zappa was surely the last great Artist to come up from the decaying American Culture (is there any Culture left there any more?) and his contributions, which this Box Set superbly represents, are all Cultural Treasures, which some people still cherish, even in the US of A.
An interesting question that arises as a result of this beautiful trip back in time is how much if at all Zappa and his music influenced future generations? I have been often wandering about that and I hope someone, who truly understands music, writes a thesis about this. Personally I think that Zappa was simply living and making music way ahead of his time and most of the mankind has not arrived yet at a time frame when his music can be properly understood, and perhaps never will? One thing is sure, like all music Geniuses, Zappa was definitely an Alien.
So if you really love music, take a day off, put theses seven CDs on one after another and have a Zappa Day!
| | Updated: 23/01/2022Posted: 19/05/2018 | CD 7 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ UNMITIGATED AUDACITY
RHINO / FOO-EEE 70540 (Barcode: 081227054021) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1974 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 fourth album of the set.
The album presents thirteen tracks, which were recorded at Notre Dame University on May 12, 1974. The lineup of the Mothers Of Invention includes Zappa on guitar and vocals, George DukeFind albums by this artist, Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist, Tom FowlerFind albums by this artist, Ralph HumphreyFind albums by this artist, Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, Don PrestonFind albums by this artist, Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist, Walt FowlerFind albums by this artist and Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist. The music is a typical selection of Zappa’s advanced Jazz-Rock Fusion and political / social satire.
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: 31/03/2023Posted: 30/03/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ ZOOT ALLURES
ZAPPA 3855 (Barcode: 824302385524) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Rock
Recorded: 1973 - 1976 Released: 2012
This is a reissue / remaster of the 22nd album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released originally in 1976. The music was recorded mostly in the studio in 1976 except for a couple of tracks originating from earlier sessions and one track was recorded live. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Zappa except one co-composed with Jeff SimmonsFind albums by this artist.
The lineup that recorded most of the of tracks includes, in addition to Zappa on guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals, drummer Terry BozzioFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ruth UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Roy EstradaFind albums by this artist and harmonica player Captain BeefheartFind albums by this artist. The live track features also keyboardist Andre LewisFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist. The two earlier tracks feature brass players: saxophonist Ian UnderwoodFind albums by this artist, trombonist Bruce FowlerFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Sal MarquezFind albums by this artist.
The album includes several tracks, which would become Zappa’s signature pieces in the following years. Some of the music recorded during the sessions for this album and not included on it were about to resurface of the “Sleep DirtFind albums with this title” album.
Stylistically the album is significantly different from the series of Jazz-Rock Fusion albums that preceded it, and presents a caricature of such diverse musical styles as Heavy Metal and Disco, which dominated the scene at the time. The sarcastic lyrics are sharp and cynical as usual, with a tendency towards absurd and ridicule.
Overall, although this music is now over forty-five 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: 04/03/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
|
