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Audience 8.7 - Hard to believe recordings keep turning up so many decades after the fact. Here’s one from Pirates World in Dania, FL. And it sounds pretty good! Frank Zappa 1973 03 03 Pirates World, Dania FL Lineup: FZ, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ian Underwood, Bruce Fowler, Ruth Underwood, George Duke, Tom Fowler, Ralph Humphrey Disc 1 01 intros 02 RDNZL 03 preamble 04 Exercise Four Dog Meat 05 Fifty Fifty 06 Inca Roads 07 Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus 08 preamble 09 Cosmik Debris 10 preamble 11 Be Bop Tango Disc 2 12 preamble 13 Montana 14 Dupree’s Paradise 15 I’m The Slime 16 Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing 17 Mr. Green Genes King Kong Chunga’s Revenge -
Audience 9.4 - I love these tapes that make you feel you are in very small area with the band, like sitting at a little table having a cocktail as the band plays just feet in front of you. That is what this tape feels like, and the separation of instruments is delicious, with your ear hearing this show as if you were right there (meaning there is a stereo separation going on, a real one). So buckle up, because you are going to feel as though your actually at this show, it’s that good.
Frank Zappa Dortmund, Germany 5 May 1988 Disc 1 01. Instruments Check (1:07) 02. Intro (1:08) 03. The Black Page #2 (7:03) 04. Band Introductions (2:00) 05. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (3:08) 06. Alien Orifice (4:23) 07. Who Needs The Peace Corps (2:47) 08. I Left My Heart In San Francisco (0:36) 09. Outside Now (7:10) 10. Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue (7:59) 11. Bamboozled By Love (5:26) 12. Zoot Allures (6:25) 13. Cosmik Debris (4:51) 14. Stolen Moments (10:10) 15. Stick Together (1:54) Disc 2 16. My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama (3:38) 17. Willie The Pimp (2:58) 18. Montana (4:05) 19. City Of Tiny Lights (10:07) 20. Pound For A Brown (11:30) 21. Cruising For Burgers (9:19) 22. Instruments Check (0:25) 23. Dancin' Fool (3:29) 24. Whippin' Post (5:47) 25. I Am The Walrus (3:46) 26. Strictly Genteel (6:25) 27. Watermelon In Easter Hay (5:43)
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Audience 9.1 - Both shows are excellent, Zappa seemed to be in a very good mood, even extending the first night’s show length to accommodate late arrivals. Very cool. I think these are some of the best of the US leg of the ’88 tour. Frank Zappa Bushnell Memorial Hall Hartford, CT. February 16, 1988 Disc 1 1. The Black Page 2. Band Intro 3. Frank Speaks Out 4. Dickie's Such an Asshole 5. When the Lie's So Big 6. Planet of the Baritone Women 7. Any Kind of Pain 8. Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk 9. Trouble Every Day 10. Penguin in Bondage 11. Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel 12. The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley Disc 2 1. Frank Talks 2. What's New in Baltimore 3. Packard Goose Medley 4. Inca Roads 5. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up 6. Happy Birthday to You 7. Who Needs the Peace Corps 8. King Kong 9. Stairway to Heaven 10. I Am the Walrus 11. Sofa 12. Cruising for Burgers Frank Zappa Bushnell Memorial Hall Hartford, CT. February 17, 1988 Disc 3 1. Frank Speaks 2. Stink-Foot 3. Band Intro 4. We're Turning Again 5. Alien Orifice 6. Why Don't You Like Me - Bacon Fat - Stolen Moments 7. Montana 8. City of Tiny Lites 9. A Pound for a Brown on the Bus 10. Cosmik Debris Disc 4 1. Packard Goose Medley 2. I Ain't Got No Heart 3. Love of My Life 4. Any Kind of Pain 5. The Torture Never Stops 6. Joe's Garage 7. Why Does it Hurt When I Pee 8. Watermelon in Easter Hay 9. Peaches en Regalia 10. Eat That Question 11. Black Napkins -
Los Angeles 1984 Soundboard 9.7 - A great one here! Crisp sounding and a beautiful mix especially how the drums sound and all the vocals even backing vocals are clearly audible. Worcester 1984 Audience 8.8 - This is not a bad tape, but it is not recorded close to the mains so it does sound somewhat distant. The music is clear and not muddy but lacks that depth your ears crave. What it does highlight is the vocals which really project, keyboards sound comparatively good too, and the recording does improve somewhat throughout the performance sounding a little fuller as it goes along. Again, not a bad one and worthy of your time but on this 2 show set (From One End To The Other) the LA show is the better by far. Frank Zappa From One End To The Other Disc 1 The Palace Theater Los Angeles, CA July 21st, 1984 1. -Treacherous Cretins 2. -Montana 3. -Easy Meat 4. -Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy 5. -Advance Romance 6. -He's So Gay 7. -Bobby Brown 8. -Keep It Greasey 9. -Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me 10. -Carol You Fool Disc 2 11. -Chana In De Bushwop 12. -Let's Move To Cleveland 13. -Tinseltown Rebellion 14. -Oh No 15. -Son Of Orange County 16. -More Trouble Every Day 17. -Penguin In Bondage 18. -Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel 19. -Jungle Boogie 20. -The Closer You Are - Johnny Darling 21. -No No Cherry Disc 3 E.M. Loew's Theatre Worcester, MA October 25, 1984 Early Show 01 Zoot Allures 02 Tinsel Town Rebellion 03 More Trouble Every Day 04 Penguin In Bondage 05 Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel 06 Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up 07 Bamboozled By Love 08 Cocaine Decisions 09 Nig Biz 10 Outside Now Disc 4 11 Be In My Video 12 I’m The Slime 13 Montana 14 Easy Meat 15 Joe’s Garage 16 Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? 17 Little Girl Of Mine 18 The Closer You Are 19 No No Cherry 20 Cosmik Debris 21 The Illinois Enema Bandit Lineup: Frank Zappa, Ike Willis, Ray White, Scott Thunes, Chad Wackerman, Alan Zavod, Bobby Martin, Napoleon Murphy Brock -
Soundboard 9.1 - All of this material is soundboard but keep in mind these 60's Zappa boards all have a somewhat "dated" sound quality which is not a bad thing because it creates a sonic time capsule that allows you to feel the vibe of the times. I think some of his audience might have been a little bewildered by what they were seeing and hearing because the reactions are sometimes very telling.
Frank Zappa Late 60's LiveDisc 1London, UK. 10-25-19681. Uncle Meat Variations 2. In The Sky 3. Orange County Lumber Truck MedleyToronto, Ont. March 19694. Intro To Pound For A Brown 5. The String Quartet 6. Cruising For Burgers 7. Frank Conducts 8. LohengrinDisc 21. Trouble Every Day 2. Hungry Freaks Daddy 3. Lonely Lonely Nights 4. Little House I Used To Live In 5. Aybe Sea 6. Son Of Mr. Green GenesPortsmouth, UK. 06-05-19697. Intro To Pound For A Brown 8. A Pound For A Brown 9. Sleeping In A Jar 10. JamDisc 31. Transylvania BoogieWarrensville Heights, OH. 08-10-19692. Drum Duet 3. Some Ballet Music 4. Right There 5. Frank Explains 6. A Pound For A Brown 7. Sleeping In A Jar 8. Improvisations 9. In The Sky 10. Improvisations -
Audience 8.8 - A solid recording that may be a semi-professional reel to reel machine. You can tell as the recorder dials in the sound levels at the start of the show. They knew what they were doing and were there to capture this moment. A great line-up on this evening, I wonder what Frank thought of Hawkwind? Frank Zappa/Grand Wazoo The Oval Cricket Ground London 16 September 1972 Disc 1 1. Soundcheck/tuning 2. Big Swifty The Adventures of Gregory Peccary: 3. Intro 4. 1st movement: Gregory wakes up & drives to work 5. 2nd movement: Gregory invents the calendar 6. 3rd movement: Gregory is attacked by the Hunchmen 7. 4th movement: The New Brown Clouds Disc 2 8. Preamble to Think It Over 9. Think It Over 10. Preamble To Dog Meat 11. Dog Meat 12. Preamble To Penis Dimension 13. Penis Dimension 14. Variant Processional March/Regyptian Strut 15. Post-FZ Announcement Jay Migliori; flute, saxophone, clarinet Mike Altschul; piccolo, bass clarinet Ray Reed; saxophone, clarinet Charles Owen; saxophone, clarinet Joanne Caldwell McNab; bassoon Earle Dumler; oboe Jerry Kessler; cello Malcolm McNab; trumpet Sal Marquez; trumpet Tom Malone; tuba Bruce Fowler; trombone Glenn Ferris; trombone Ken Shroyer; trombone Ian Underwood; synthesizer, elec piano Jim Gordon; drums Dave Parlato, bass Tony Duran; slide guitar Tom Raney; percussion Ruth Underwood; percussion Frank Zappa; guitar -
Audience 9.3 - A really clean, punchy recording that has realistic presence, and is river deep and mountain high – I especially found the drums, kick drum, toms, this was a pleasant surprise for an audience tape to deliver almost studio quality dynamics and placement in the stage mix was on point. Amazing to think that this tape remained out of circulation to only just recently, while we did have other shows from this week at the Hollywood Palace in 1984.
Frank Zappa The Palace Los Angeles, CA July 17, 1984 Disc 1 01 Tuning and Dialogue 02 Zoot Allures 03 Band Introductions 04 Tinsel Town Rebellion 05 Oh No (includes Son Of Orange County) 06 More Trouble Every Day 07 Penguin In Bondage 08 Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel 09 Dumb All Over 10 Evil Prince Disc 2 11 Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy 12 Advance Romance 13 He's So Gay 14 Bobby Brown 15 Keep It Greasey 16 Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me? 17 Carol, You Fool 18 Chana In De Bushwop 19 Let's Move To Cleveland 20 Why Don't You Like Me? -
Soundboard 9.5 - This is a compilation of unreleased guitar vehicles and exceptional solo excerpts for fans of the "Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar" and "Guitar" albums. The sound quality is excellent soundboard. Yes, some of us are guilty of skipping over the “vamp” sections in order to get to the shred. This compilation delivers what I feel are some of Frank’s tastiest pieces, and all in superb quality. FRANK ZAPPA "Lost Guitars" 01 Persona Non Grata (1979-03-19 Brest) 02 Carlos Is Back (1980-11-18 St Paul) 03 The Deathless Horsie (1979-03-31 (E) Munich) 04 Ship Ahoy (1976-01-28 Perth) 05 Bavarian Roads (1979-03-31 (E) Munich) 06 Treacherous Cretins (1984-07-21 Los Angeles) 07 The Krieger Variations (1980-11-13 (L) Pittsburgh) 08 Indiscreet Manners (1979-03-19 Brest) 09 Sleeping Witch (1984-11-03 (E) Stony Brook) 10 After Five (1979-02-19 London) 11 Heavy Duty Judy (1980-12-11 (L) Santa Monica) 12 Semi-Catatonic State (1980-10-31 New York City) 13 The Rump Pump (1980-06-21 Geneva) INCLUDED BAND LINEUPS ===================== 1976: FZ — guitar solo André Lewis — keyboards Napoleon Murphy Brock — sax Roy Estrada — bass Terry Bozzio — drums 1979: FZ — guitar solo Ike Willis, Denny Walley, Warren Cuccurullo — guitar Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf — keyboards Ed Mann — percussion Arthur Barrow — bass Vinnie Colaiuta — drums 1980 EUROPE: FZ — guitar solo Ike Willis, Ray White — guitar Tommy Mars — keyboards Arthur Barrow — bass David Logeman — drums 1980 USA: FZ — guitar solo Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai — guitar Tommy Mars — keyboards Bob Harris — keyboards, trumpet Arthur Barrow — bass Vinnie Colaiuta — drums 1984: FZ — guitar solo Ike Willis, Ray White — guitar Napoleon Murphy Brock — sax (Los Angeles only) Bobby Martin — keyboards, sax Allan Zavod — keyboards Scott Thunes — bass Chad Wackerman — drums -
Audience 8.8 - This is a well rounded recording that delivers most of what is required to ensure a show remains worthy of repeat listens. The only real limitations I could discern are a slight “noisiness” somewhere between the upper mid band and the high band frequencies that are more noticeable during cymbal crashes – and even then it’s minimal. Maybe another critical observation is the overall audio mix coming from the stage is not ideal, it’s not bad, but it’s not as guitar/vocal prominent as you might be used to, again even that is being overly critical because it’s also not that bad. This is a good tape that may not satisfy the perfectionists out there but will take care of the rest of us (me included!). Frank Zappa Chapiteau Mulhouse (France) July 1, 1980 Disc 1 01 -Watermelon In Easter Hay 02 -Keep It Greasey 03 -Pick Me, I'm Clean 04 -City Of Tiny Lights 05 -Pound For A Brown (Mo & Herb's Vacation, Sheik Yerbouti Tango Coda, Filthy Habits) 06 -Cosmik Debris 07 -You Didn't Try To Call Me 08 -I Ain't Got No Heart Disc 2 09 -Love Of My Life 10 -You Are What You Is 11 -Easy Meat 12 -Mudd Club 13 -The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 14 -Joe's Garage 15 -Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? 16 -Dancin' Fool 17 -Bobby Brown 18 -Ms. Pinky 19 -In France (incl.La Marseillaise) 20 -In France - Luigi & The Wise Guys 21 -Stick It Out (incl.Looney Tunes) 22 -The Illinois Enema Bandit Line-up: Frank Zappa's Band, March - July 1980 FZ, Ike Willis, Ray White, Arthur Barrow, David Logeman, Tommy Mars -
Audience 9.4 - A real good one this is! Like a sharp dressed man entering a room and commanding attention, this show does the same. Frank sounds great, and I like his guitar tone here. Frank Zappa Cirkus Krone Bau Munich (Muenchen), WG 1984-10-04 Early Show Disc 1 01 -Zoot Allures 02 -Tinsel Town Rebellion 03 -Trouble Every Day 04 -Penguin In Bondage 05 -Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel 06 -The Evil Prince 07 -Cocaine Decisions 08 -Nig Biz 09 -Willie The Pimp 10 -He's So Gay 11 -Bobby Brown Disc 2 12 -Keep It Greasey 13 -Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me? 14 -Carol You Fool 15 -Chana In De Bushwop 16 -Let's Move To Cleveland 17 -Sharleena 18 -Dinah-Moe Humm 19 -Whipping Post Band: Frank Zappa - Vocals, Guitars, Conducting Ike Willis - Vocals, Guitar Ray White - Vocals, Guitar Scott Thunes - Bass Chad Wackerman - Drums Allan Zavod - Keyboards Bobby Martin - Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals -
SDBRD 9.2/Audience 8.8 - Two sources comprise this offering, with the first (and thankfully the bulk of the recording) being very good quality, I would say excellent more precisely. Being a soundboard it does come off a little on the dry side, and by contrast the audience taped portion (the last 1/3 of the show) is very good, and lively, which wakes up certain instruments giving them more accuracy as far as what they actually sounded like coming through the at the show. The guitar in particular has a different attack and dynamic from the audience tape, in a good way. This is almost the perfect example of what kind of differences there are, both positive and negative, between a board and an audience tape source.
Frank Zappa Hemmerleinhalle Neunkirchen am Brand, West Germany 25-Feb 1978, Disc 1 01 The Purple Lagoon 02 Dancin' Fool 03 Peaches En Regalia 04 The Torture Never Stops 05 Tryin' To Grow A Chin 06 City Of Tiny Lights 07 Baby Snakes 08 Pound For A Brown 09 Is That Guy Kidding Or What 10 I Have Been In You Disc 2 11 Flakes 12 Broken Hearts Are For Assholes 13 King Kong (incl White Person, YCDTOSA 6) 14 Wild Love 15 Yo Mama 16 San Berdino 17 Watermelon In Easter Hay 18 Dinah Moe Humm 19 Black Napkins -
Audience 9.4 - I love these open-air recordings that really shine, capturing not just the music but the entire vibe of the event…and so realistically! This to me is what collecting is about, basically it is about reliving a musical event from the past. This one does that in spades. Frank Zappa Maples Pavilion Stanford University Stanford, CA 1980 04 03 Disc 1 1. -Mo 'N Herb's Vacation - Opening solo (Pound For A Brown vamp) 2. -Teenage Wind 3. -Harder Than Your Husband 4. -Bamboozled By Love 5. -Pick Me I'm Clean (q: Mo 'N Herb's Vacation) 6. -Society Pages 7. -I'm A Beautiful Guy 8. -Beauty Knows No Pain 9. -Charlie's Enormous Mouth 10. -Any Downers? 11. -Conehead 12. -Easy Meat (q: Thirteen) 13. -Mudd Club Disc 2 14. -The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 15. -Heavenly Bank Account 16. -Suicide Chump 17. -Jumbo Go Away 18. -If Only She Woulda (q: Mo 'N Herb's Vacation) 19. -I Don't Wanna Get Drafted 20. -Joe's Garage 21. -Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? 22. -Dinah-Moe Humm 23. -Dancin' Fool 24. -Bobby Brown 25. -Black Napkins (q: Mo 'N Herb's Vacation) 26. -Chunga's Revenge (q: The Radio Is Broken) -
Audience 9.6 - A beautiful, lush and atmospheric document. I love the stereo separation here, it’s a sound field that envelopes you in a way that makes you feel you are sitting in the first row staring up at the band. This is a must have without question! Frank Zappa Leroy Theatre Pawtucket, RI 23 October 1977 Early show Disc 1 01 -Intro 02 -Peaches En Regalia 03 -The Torture Never Stops 04 -Tryin' To Grow A Chin 05 -City Of Tiny Lights 06 -A Pound For A Brown 07 -Bobby Brown 08 -Conehead 09 -Flakes 10 -Big Leg Emma 11 -Envelopes 12 -Disco Boy Disc 2 13 -I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth 14 -Wild Love 15 -Titties 'n Beer 16 -The Black Page 17 -Jones Crusher 18 -Broken Hearts Are For Assholes 19 -Punky's Whips 20 -Camarillo Brillo 21 -Muffin Man -
Soundboard 9.4 - Sharp attacking and brilliant. This is how I want to hear my Zappa! Frank Zappa Stadio Comunale Pistoia, Italy 1982 07 08 Disc 1 01 Crowd~Tuning~False Start 02 The Mammy Anthem 03 Band Introductions (I Left My Heart In San Francisco, La Donna E' Mobile) 04 You Are What You Is 05 Mudd Club 06 The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 07 Drowning Witch (Octandre) 08 Envelopes 09 We're Turning Again 10 Alien Orifice 11 Harder Than Your Husband 12 Bamboozled By Love 13 Let's Move To Cleveland Disc 2 14 Tinsel Town Rebellion (Volare) 15 Approximate (Staying Alive) 16 Cosmik Debris (Volare) 17 City Of Tiny Lights (incl. Summertime) 18 A Pound For A Brown 19 It Ain't Necessarily The Saint James Infirmary 20 Tell Me You Love Me 21 Sofa 22 encore break 23 No No Cherry 24 The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou 25 encore break #2 26 Camarillo Brillo 27 Muffin Man 28 The Illinois Enema Bandit Line Up FZ Steve Vai Ray White Scott Thunes Chad Wackerman Ed Mann Tommy Mars Bobby Martin -
Audience 8.8 - A tape that may have been left on the shelf once upon a time but now thanks to modern mastering software has been brought to life.Frank Zappa Palais des Sports St Etienne, France 28-May 1982 Disc 1 01 -Outside Now 02 -Montana 03 -Easy Meat 04 -Dead Girls Of London 05 -Shall We Take Ourselves Seriously? 06 -What's New In Baltimore? 07 -Moggio 08 -City Of Tiny Lights 09 -Pound For A Brown 10 -Joe's Garage 11 -Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? Disc 2 12 -Drowning Witch (incl. St.Etienne-Jazz From Hell) 13 -Envelopes 14 -Harder Than Your Husband 15 -Bamboozled By Love 16 -Let's Move To Cleveland 17 -Tinseltown Rebellion 18 -Approximate 19 -Cosmik Debris 20 -Strictly Genteel 21 -No No Cherry 22 -The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou 23 -The Illinois Enema Bandit The Band FZ Steve Vai Ray White Scott Thunes Tommy Mars Bobby Martin Chad Wackerman Ed Mann
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Audience 8.8 - A good, strong, very clear recording with accompanying audience members who are REALLY getting into it. I found it fun, not annoying at all, because mostly they are quiet while the music plays. The music is great too, and strong performances by everyone. Stick It In / Stick It Out Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria February 3, 1978 Stick It In: 1. Introduction ["The Purple Lagoon" vamp] [01:30] 2. Dancin' Fool [03:29] 3. Peaches en Regalia [02:24] 4. The Torture Never Stops [11:17] 5. Tryin' to Grow a Chin [03:27] 6. City of Tiny Lites [06:46] 7. Baby Snakes [01:55] 8. A Pound for a Brown on the Bus [08:53] 9. I Have Been in You [05:47] 10. Flakes [00:19] [part 1] Stick It Out: 1. Flakes [ 03:58] 2. Broken Hearts Are for Assholes [ 03:39] 3. Wild Love [ 13:53] 4. Yo' Mama [ 09:15] 5. Titties & Beer [ 05:47] 6. The Black Page #2 [ 02:41] 7. Jones Crusher [ 02:49] 8. Little House I used To Live In [ 03:11]