Record Reviews

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