FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE TO SAVE A DROWNING WITCH (1982)
320 KBPS

Released in May 1982, Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch marks Frank Zappa's entrance into the 1980s. From this point on, his rock records would focus on single, simple rock songs (the previous year's You Are What You Is had them organized in interconnecting suites) with occasionally more complex instrumental numbers. The recipe would be extended to The Man From Utopia (1983) and Them or Us (1984). Side one features three studio songs that would never be performed on stage. By 1981, Zappa had become a master at manipulating vocal tracks, a technique featured in each of them, but most successfully in "Valley Girl," where daughter Moon Unit (aged 14 at the time) pastiches rich girls from the San Fernando Valley. Released as a single, it became a novelty hit, climbing into the Top 40 in the U.S., a rare (and not necessarily sought-after) experience for Zappa. Side two presents three live tracks, two of which are difficult rock instrumentals. "Drowning Witch" may be one of his hardest pieces to perform. This album clearly lacks ambition and tends to get lost among the man's humongous discography, but it should not be overlooked. It contains a few good songs ("No Not Now" is quite entertaining), strong guitar work from Zappa and Steve Vai, and it is not defaced by the cold 1980s sound of subsequent albums.

1. No, Not Now
2. Valley Girl
3. I Come from Nowhere
4. Drowning Witch
5. Envelopes
6. Teen-Age Prostitute

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
AND THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION
BURNT WEENY SANDWICH (1970)
320 KBPS

Burnt Weeny Sandwich is the first of two albums by the Mothers of Invention that Frank Zappa released in 1970, after he had disbanded the original lineup. While Weasels Ripped My Flesh focuses on complex material and improvised stage madness, this collection of studio and live recordings summarizes the leader's various interests and influences at the time. It opens and closes on '50s pop covers, "WPLJ" and "Valarie." "Aybe Sea" is a Zappafied sea shanty, while "Igor's Boogie" is named after composer Igor Stravinsky, the closest thing to a hero Zappa ever worshipped. But the best material is represented by "Holiday in Berlin," a theme that would become central to the music of 200 Motels, and "The Little House I Used to Live In," including a virtuoso piano solo by Ian Underwood. Presented as an extended set of theme and variations, the latter does not reach the same heights as "King Kong." In many places, and with the two aforementioned exceptions in mind, Burnt Weeny Sandwich sounds like a set of outtakes from Uncle Meat, which already summarized to an extent the adventures of the early Mothers.

1. WPLJ
2. Igor's Boogie, Phase One
3. Overture to a Holiday in Berlin
4. Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich
5. Igor's Boogie, Full-Blown
6. Aybe Sea
7. The Little House I Used To Live In
8. Valarie

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE (1991)
REMASTER
320 KBPS

Yes, this is the one with "Stairway to Heaven" on it. It's the second release from the '88 tour, a double live CD originally released in 91. Also heard on MAKE A JAZZ NOISE HERE and BROADWAY THE HARD WAY, this band featured a five-piece horn section and was perhaps the most versatile and technically accomplished touring band that FZ ever had. This is demonstrated in the boggling range of material heard on this album.
The recordings are from performances and soundchecks, and feature old favorites and premiere recordings. Along with the deranged version of "Stairway" (FZ claimed he'd never heard the original version!), there's an equally deconstructed "Ring of Fire" and a live cover of "Bolero" -- yes, the Ravel one. There's also a "Jimmy Swaggart medley" including "Lonesome Cowboy Burt," "More Trouble Every Day" and "Penguin In Bondage;" with new lyrics inspired by Swaggart's sexual misadventures.

Disc 1
1. Heavy Duty Judy
2. Ring of Fire
3. Cosmik Debris
4. Find Her Finer
5. Who Needs the Peace Corps?
6. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
7. Zomby Woof
8. Zoot Allures
9. Mr. Green Genes
10. Florentine Pogen
11. Andy
12. Inca Roads
13. Sofa No. 1
Bonus track

(not on European versions)
14. Bolero

Disc 2
1. Purple Haze
2. Sunshine of Your Love
3. Let's Move to Cleveland
4. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
5. "Godfather Part II" Theme
6. Few Moments With Brother A. West
7. Torture Never Stops, Pt. 1
8. Theme from "Bonanza"
9. Lonesome Cowboy Burt [Swaggart Version]
10. Torture Never Stops, Pt. 2
11. More Trouble Every Day [Swaggart Version]
12. Penguin in Bondage [Swaggart Version]
13. Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue
14. Stairway to Heaven

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
APOSTROPHE' (1974)
320 KBPS

Thanks to the surprise radio airplay of "Don't Eat that Yellow Snow," Apostrophe introduced a whole new audience to the music of Frank Zappa in the early '70s. Like its companion set, Over-Nite Sensation, this album found Zappa producing highly polished jazz-rock, mixing tales of absurd characters with musical showmanship and snarling guitar work. The first half of the album is a sort of mini-concept album, relating the adventures of an Eskimo named Nanook, and the second half features such Zappa classics as "Cosmik Debris" and "Stink-Foot."

1. Don't Eat the Yellow Snow
2. Nanook Rubs It
3. St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast
4. Father O'Blivion
5. Cosmik Debris
6. Excentrifugal Forz
7. Apostrophe'
8. Uncle Remus
9. Stink-Foot

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
HOT RATS (1970)
320 KBPS

Frank Zappa's first solo album, Hot Rats is a far-cry from the da-da adventures and audio collages of the original Mothers of Invention. Mostly instrumental and filled with long jams between Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty and Ian Underwood, this slickly-produced album--one of the first 16 track recordings made--is filled with hummable tunes. The opening track, "Peaches en Regalia," is one of Zappa's most enduring songs and the album's only vocal track, "Willie the Pimp," is by Zappa's long-time friend Don Van Vliet, a.k.a. Captain Beefheart.

1. Peaches en Regalia
2. Willie the Pimp
3. Son of Mr. Green Genes
4. Little Umbrellas
5. The Gumbo Variations
6. It Must Be a Camel

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
SHEIK YERBOUTI (1979)
320 KBPS

In order to finance his artier excursions, which increasingly required more expensive technology, Frank Zappa recorded several collections of guitar- and song-oriented material in the late '70s and early '80s, which generally concentrated on the bawdy lyrical themes many fans had come to expect and enjoy in concert. Sheik Yerbouti (two LPs, one CD) was one of the first and most successful of these albums, garnering attention for such tracks as the Grammy-nominated disco satire "Dancin' Fool," the controversial "Jewish Princess," and the equally controversial "Bobby Brown Goes Down," a song about gay S&M that became a substantial hit in European clubs. While Zappa's attitude on the latter two tracks was even more politically incorrect than usual for him, it didn't stop the album from becoming his second-highest charting ever. Social satire, leering sexual preoccupations, and tight, melodic songs dominated the rest of the record as well, as Zappa stuck to what had been commercially successful for him in the past. The "dumb entertainment" (as Zappa liked to describe this style) on Sheik Yerbouti was some of his dumbest, for better or worse, and the music was undeniably good — easily some of his best since Apostrophe, and certainly the most accessible. Even if it sometimes drifts a bit, fans of Zappa's '70s work will find Sheik Yerbouti on nearly an equal level with Apostrophe and Over-Nite Sensation, both in terms of humor and musical quality.

1. I Have Been in You
2. Flakes
3. Broken Hearts Are for Assholes
4. I'm So Cute
5. Jones Crusher
6. What Ever Happened to All the Fun in the World
7. Rat Tomago
8. Wait a Minute
9. Bobby Brown Goes Down
10. Rubber Shirt
11. The Sheik Yerbouti Tango
12. Baby Snakes
13. Trying' to Grow a Chin
14. City of Tiny Lites
15. Dancin' Fool
16. Jewish Princess
17. Wild Love
18. Yo' Mama

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
WAKA/JAWAKA (1972)
REMASTER
320 KBPS

One of two sets recorded with a mini-big band in the early seventies, Waka/Jawaka is one of the most eclectic releases of Frank Zappa's hyper-eclectic career. The album's dual showpieces, the opening "Big Swifty" and the title track, combine dynamic horn arrangements and free-form improvisational experimentation (Think Miles Davis circa 1973), and the album's other two tracks, "Your Mouth" and "It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal" blend elements of electric blues and country music. Perhaps the cover image of a sink refers to the kitchen variety. Recorded while Zappa was confined to a wheel chair following an onstage attack, this stew of diverse musical elements is best for the diehard fan and anyone with a taste for the unusual.

1. Big Swifty
2. Your Mouth
3. It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal
4. Waka/Jawaka

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
ROXY & ELSEWHERE (1975)
REMASTER
320 KBPS

This mostly live set features Zappa performing with the popular Mothers of Invention line-up of the early 70's--including jazz-funk meister George Duke, Napolean Murphy Brock on saxophone, and Ruth Underwood on percussion. Highlights include the souped-up funk of "Pygmy Twylyte," burning renditions of favorites "Penguin in Bondage" and "More Trouble Every Day," and the hilarious monster movie tribute "Cheepnis." Duke steals the show on several tracks, and Zappa's guitar work and "master of ceremonies" showmanship is in top form.

1. Penguin In Bondage
2. Pygmy Twylyte
3. Dummy Up
4. Village Of The Sun
5. Echidna's Arf (Of You)
6. Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?
7. Cheepnis
8. Son Of Orange County
9. More Trouble Every Day
10. Bebop Tango (Of The Old Jazzmen's Church)

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
JOE'S GARAGE
ACTS I & II (1979)
320 KBPS

The Central Scrutinizer is out to protect you from the harmful effects of that horrible force called music. Such is the premise of Joe's Garage, Frank Zappa's three-act concept album which explores the world of groupies, governments, sex toys, and Catholic school girls. As always, Zappa's aim is true and his scope wide, following Joe (voiced by his long-time co-conspirator, Ike Willis) as he starts a band, loses his girl, falls in love with a robot, and tries to find his true place in society. Filled with catchy classics ("Catholic Girls" "Crew Slut") and blazing guitar work ("Keep it Greasy," "Watermleon in Easter Hay"), this is the sort of schmorgasbord of imagination and artistry that only Zappa could produce.

Disc: 1
1. The Central Scrutinizer
2. Joe's Garage
3. Catholic Girls
4. Crew Slut
5. Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt
6. On The Bus
7. Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?
8. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
9. Scrutinizer Of Postlude
10. A Token Of My Extreme
See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2
1. Dong Work For Yuda
2. Keep It Greasy
3. Outside Now
4. He Used To Cut The Grass
5. Packard Goose
6. Watermelon In East Hay
7. A Little Green Rosetta

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
ZAPPA IN NEW YORK (1978)
320 KBPS

A double-CD set, recorded live in New York City at the end of 1976. Heavy on, well, "freewheeling" lyrical content, with "Titties & Beer" and "The Illinois Enema Bandit" (the latter featuring "sophisticated narration" by Don Pardo) being special favorites with young males of a certain age. Also here is the song that gets most peoples' vote for the best title ever to grace a Zappa instrumental, "I Promise Not to Come In Your Mouth."
When Zappa first released this album in '78, Warner Brothers was especially nervous about a little tune called "Punky's Whips." The tune concerned drummer Terry Bozzio's lurid sexual fantasies about one Punky Meadows, guitarist for the band Angel. Since Angel was then regarded as an important player in the music industry (yeah, right), Warners sat on the album for a long while and then deleted the track altogether. With this CD reissue "Punky's Whips" is back in all its glory, along with four other songs not on the original vinyl.

Personnel
Frank Zappa - conductor, lead guitar, vocals
Ray White - rhythm guitar, vocals
Don Pardo - sophisticaded narration
David Samuels - timpani, vibes
Eddie Jobson - keyboards, violin, vocals
Patrick O’Hearn - bass, vocals
Randy Brecker - trumpet
Mike Brecker - tenor sax, flute
Lou Marini - alto sax, flute
Terry Bozzio - drums, vocals
Ruth Underwood - percussion, synthesizer, and various humanly impossible overdubs
Ronnie Cuber - baritone sax, clarinet
Tome Malone - trombone, trumpet, piccolo
John Bergamo - percussion, percussion overdubs
Ed Mann - percussion overdubs

CD 1
1. Titties & Beer 7:36
2. Cruisin For Burgers 9:12
3. I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth 3:32
4. Punky's Whips 10:50
5. Honey Don't Ya Want A Man Like Me? 4:12
6. The Illinois Enema Bandit 12:41

CD 2
1. I'm The Slime 4:23
2. Pound For A Brown 3:42
3. Manx Needs Women 1:50
4. The Black Page Drum Solo/Black Page #1 3:51
5. Big Leg Emma 2:17
6. Sofa 2:56
7. Black Page #2 5:36
8. The Torture Never Stops 12:35
9. The Purple Lagoon/Approximate 16:40

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA
ZOOT ALLURES (1976)
320 KBPS

How do you steer someone curious about Frank Zappa to a good place to start exploring his amazing career? Possibly the most prolific modern artist of all time, Zappa wore so many shoes it boggles the imagination.
Unlike some other classic Zappa albums that truly take getting used to, like "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" or "One Size Fits All", this CD rocks more than most anything else he did, with a minimal (in number, not ability) band to back him up. And, befitting his underappreciated guitar mastery, which easily is on a par with Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix for originality and overall excellence, "Zoot Allures" features plenty of Zappa guitar work, erasing any doubt to his brilliance.
Like all his material except for his instrumental works, Zappa was sarcastic, misanthropic and sometimes downright juvenile in his attacks on society in general. That acidic commentary is present here, but the real gem is the title track, "Zoot Allures", without question one of the most breathtakingly beautiful guitar instrumentals ever. It is indeed shocking to hear such elegance and sublety from a man not known for his restraint.
After this CD, one can leap virtually anywhere in the immense Zappa catalogue, but this reviewer recommends "Hot Rats" as his next stop and then perhaps "Shiek Yerbouti" or the "Joe's Garage" series. Zappa was a genius, and deserves more attention.

Personnel
Frank Zappa - guitar, bass, synth, lead-vocal
Terry Bozzio - drums
Davey Moire - vocals on "Wind up…" and "Disco Boy"
Andre Lewis - organ, vocals on "Black Napkins" and "Disco Boy"
Roy Estrada - bass, vocals on "Black Napkins", "Ms.Pinky", "Find Her Finer", "Disco Boy"
Napoleon Murphy Brock - sax, vocalson "Black Napkins"
Ruth Underwood - synth on "Ms. Pinky", marimba & synth on "Friendly Little Finger" and "Zoot Allures"
Donnie Vliet - harmonica on "Find Her Finer"
Ruben Ladron de Guevara - background vocal on "Find Her Finer"
Dave Parlato - bass on "Zoot Allures"
Lu Ann Neil - harp on "Zoot Allures"
Sharkie Barker - background vocal on "Disco Boy"

1. Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station 2:29
2. Black Napkins 4:15
3. The Torture Never Stops 9:45
4. Ms. Pinky 3:40
5. Find Her Finer 4:07
6. Friendly Little Finger 4:17
7. Wonderful Wino 3:38
8. Zoot Allures 4:12
9. Disco Boy 5:09