Tag Archives: Frank Zappa

Robby Krieger: The Ritual Begins At Sundown

On August 14, 2020, “The Players Club” label released “The Ritual Begins at Sundown”, the eight Robby Krieger album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, at “Horse Latitude” and “Lotek Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Robby Krieger, Arthur Barrow and Michael Dumas.

Personnel:

  • Robby Krieger – guitar, painting
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Arthur Barrow – bass, guitar, synth
  • Chad Wackeman – drums
  • Joel Taylor – drums
  • Brad Dutz – percussion
  • Chuck Manning – saxophone
  • Vince Denham – saxophone
  • Jock Ellis – trombone
  • Adrian Byrns – flute
  • Aeb Byrne – flute
  • Shayna Adler – engineer
  • Michael Dumas – mixing
  • Bob Rice – mastering
  • Roy Koch – layout

Track listing:

  1. What Was That? – Arthur Barrow, Larry Klimas, Robby Krieger, Tom Brechtlein, Tommy Mars
  2. Side Home – Arthur Barrow, Robby Krieger
  3. The Drift – Arthur Barrow, Larry Klimas, Robby Krieger, Tommy Mars
  4. Chunga’s Revenge – Frank Zappa
  5. Hot Head – Arthur Barrow, Larry Klimas, Robby Krieger, Tom Brechtlein, Tommy Mars
  6. Yes, the River Knows – Robby Krieger
  7. The Hitch – Arthur Barrow, Joel Taylor, Robby Krieger, Tommy Mars, Vince Denham
  8. Dr Noir – Arthur Barrow, Joel Taylor, Robby Krieger, Tommy Mars, Vince Denham
  9. Bianca’s Dream – Vince Denham
  10. Screen Junkie – Arthur Barrow, Larry Klimas, Robby Krieger, Tom Brechtlein, Tommy Mars

The Mothers Of Invention: Ahead Of Their Time

On March 23, 1993, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Ahead of Their Time”, the 19th Mothers of Invention (The) album. It was recorded in October 1968, at the “Royal Festival Hall” in London, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Ian Underwood – alto saxophone, piano
  • Bunk Gardner – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood – baritone saxophone, tambourine
  • Don Preston – electric piano, odd noises (homemade oscillation boxes)
  • Roy Estrada – vocals, bass guitar
  • Jimmy Carl Black – vocals, drums
  • Arthur Dyer Tripp III – drums, percussion
  • Members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

Progress?

  1. Prologue
  2. Progress?
  3. Like It or Not
  4. The Jimmy Carl Black Philosophy Lesson
  5. Holding the Group Back
  6. Holiday in Berlin
  7. The Rejected Mexican Pope Leaves the Stage
  8. Undaunted, the Band Plays On
  9. Agency Man
  10. Epilogue

1968 performance

  1. King Kong
  2. Help, I’m a Rock
  3. Transylvania Boogie
  4. Pound for a Brown
  5. Sleeping in a Jar
  6. Let’s Make the Water Turn Back
  7. Harry, You’re a Beast
  8. The Orange County Lumber Truck (Part I)
  9. Oh No
  10. The Orange County Lumber Truck (Part II)

Frank Zappa: EIHN

On December 21, 1999, “UMRK” label released “EIHN (Everything Is Healing Nicely)”, an album by Frank Zappa, posthumously released through the Zappa Family Trust. The album features recordings made with the Ensemble Modern in preparation for “The Yellow Shark” in1993, and were produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, arrangements, mixing
  • L. Shankar – vocal, violin
  • The Ensemble Modern – orchestra – Andreas Böttger, Catherine Milliken, Daryl Smith, Detlef Tewes, Dietmar Wiesner, Franck Ollu, Friedemann Dähn, Hermann Kretzschmar, Hilary Sturt, Jürgen Ruck, Mathias Tacke, Michael Gross, Michael Svoboda, Peter Rundel, Rainer Römer, Roland Diry, Rumi Ogawa-Helferich, Stefan Dohr, Thomas Fichter, Ueli Wiget, Uwe Dierksen, Veit Scholz, William Formann, Wolfgang Stryi
  • Marqueson Coy – recording
  • Todd Yvega – recording, liner notes
  • David Dondorf – recording
  • Spencer Chrislu – mixing, technician
  • Gail Zappa – art direction, liner notes
  • Christopher Mark Brennan – cover art
  • Tracy Veal Design – design
  • Antony Neely – design
  • Van Carlson – photography
  • Ali N. Askin – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Library Card
  2. This Is a Test
  3. Jolly Good Fellow
  4. Roland’s Big Event/Strat Vindaloo
  5. Master Ringo
  6. T’Mershi Duween
  7. Nap Time
  8. 9/8 Objects
  9. Naked City
  10. Whitey (Prototype)
  11. Amerika Goes Home
  12. None of the Above (Revisited & Previsited)
  13. Wonderful Tattoo  

The Mothers: The Grand Wazoo

On November 27, 1972, “Bizarre” and “Reprise” label released “The Grand Wazoo”, the eleventh Mothers (The) album. It was recorded April – May 1972, at “Paramount Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, percussion, arrangements, art direction
  • Tony Duran – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards
  • Don Preston – Mini Moog
  • Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums
  • Bob Zimmitti – percussion
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Lee Clement – gong
  • Mike Altschul – woodwind
  • Joel Peskins – woodwind
  • Joanna Caldwell – woodwind
  • Johnny Rotella – woodwind
  • Earl Dumler – woodwind
  • Fred Jackson – woodwind
  • Tony “Bat Man” Ortega – woodwind
  • Ernie Watts – C Melody Saxophone
  • Sal Marquez – vocals, trumpet , brass
  • Ken Shroyer – trombones
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Malcolm McNab – brass
  • Ken Shroyer – brass
  • Ernie Tack – brass
  • Sal Marquez – brass
  • Janet Neville-Ferguson – vocals
  •  “Chunky” (Lauren Wood) – vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Cal Schenkel – cover illustration
  • Ed Caraeff, Tony Esparza, Barry Feinstein – photography
  • Paul Hof – special assistance, contractor
  • Kenny Shroyer – spiritual advisor

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
  2. The Grand Wazoo
  3. Cletus Awreetus – Awrightus
  4. Eat That Question
  5. Blessed Relief

Frank Zappa And The Mothers: Roxy & Elsewhere

On September 10, 1974, “DiscReet” label released “Roxy & Elsewhere”, album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers (the 19th Frank Zappa album overall). It was recorded in December 1973, at “The Roxy Theater” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, lead guitar
  • Jeff Simmons – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer
  • Don Preston – synthesizer
  • Tom Fowler – bass guitar
  • Ralph Humphrey – drums
  • Chester Thompson – drums
  • Ruth Underwood – percussion
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock – vocals, flute, tenor saxophone
  • Walt Fowler – trumpet, bass trumpet
  • Bruce Fowler – trombone, dancer
  • Robert “Frog” Camarena – backing vocals
  • Debbie Wilson – backing vocals
  • Linda “Lynn” Sims – backing vocals
  • Ruben Ladron de Guevara – backing vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer, remix
  • Wally Heider – engineer
  • Cal Schenkel – design
  • Coy Featherston, Steve Magedoff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Penguin in Bondage
  2. Pygmy Twylyte
  3. Dummy Up – Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jeff Simmons, Frank Zappa
  4. Village of the Sun
  5. Echidna’s Arf (of You)
  6. Cheepnis
  7. Son of Orange County
  8. More Trouble Every Day
  9. Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen’s Church)

The Mothers: Filmore East – June 1971

On August 2, 1971, “Bizarre” label released “Fillmore East – June 1971”, the tenth Mothers (The) album. It was recorded in June 1971, at “Filmore East” in New York City, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, dialogue, guitar
  • Ian Underwood – vocals, woodwinds, keyboards
  • Bob Harris – vocals, keyboards
  • Jim Pons – vocals, dialogue, bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums
  • Howard Kaylan – lead vocals, dialogue
  • Mark Volman – lead vocals, dialogue
  • Don Preston – Mini-Moog
  • Barry Keene – engineer
  • Toby Foster – mixing, mastering
  • Cal Schenkel – artwork, design
  • Ferenc Dobronyi – repackaging

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Little House I Used to Live In
  2. The Mud Shark
  3. What Kind of Girl Do You Think We Are?
  4. Bwana Dik
  5. Latex Solar Beel
  6. Willie the Pimp, Part One
  7. Willie the Pimp, Part Two
  8. Do You Like My New Car?
  9. Happy Together
  10. Lonesome Electric Turkey
  11. Peaches en Regalia
  12. Tears Began to Fall

Ruben And The Jets: For Real!

In March 1973, “Mercury” label released “For Real!”, the debut Ruben and the Jets (the debut Rubén Guevara Jr.’s new lineup, after the group name had previously been used as an alias of The Mothers of Invention in 1968.) It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Rubén Guevara Jr. – vocals, tambourine, keyboards
  • Tony Duran – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Robert “Frog” Camarena – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • John Martinez – vocals, Hammond organ
  • Bill Wild – bass guitar, tenor vocals
  • Bob Zamora – drums
  • Frank Zappa – guitar
  • Robert “Buffalo” Roberts – tenor saxophone
  • Jim Sherwood – baritone saxophone, tambourine

Track listing:

  1. If I Could Only Be Your Love Again – Frank Zappa
  2. Dedicated to the One I Love – Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass
  3. Show Me the Way to Your Heart – Tony Duran, Leonard Duran
  4. Sparkie – Tony Duran, Ruben Guevara
  5. Wedding Bells – Robert “Frog” Camarena
  6. Almost Grown – Chuck Berry
  7. Charlena – Manuel Chavez, H. Chaney
  8. Mah Man Flash – Ruben Guevara
  9. Santa Kari – Ruben Guevara
  10. Spider Woman – Paul Hof, Lonnie Scott, Tony Duran, Ruben Guevara
  11. All Night Long – John Gray

Jean-Lyc Ponty: King Kong: Jean-Lyc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa

On May 25, 1970, “World Pacific” and “Liberty” labels released “King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa”, the sixth Jean-Luc Ponty album. It was recorded in October 1969, at “Whitney Studios” in Glendale, California, and was produced by Richard Bock. 

Personnel:

  • Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin, baritone violectra
  • Frank Zappa – electric guitar, arrangements, conductor
  • George Duke – acoustic and electric piano
  • Buell Neidlinger – double bass 
  • Wilton Felder – Fender Precision electric bass 
  • John Guerin – drums 
  • Arthur Dyer Tripp III – drums 
  • Gene Estes – vibraphone, percussion
  • Ernie Watts – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Ian Underwood – tenor saxophone, orchestra conductor
  • Gene Cipriano – oboe, English horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba 
  • Vincent DeRosa – descant recorder, French horn, descant 
  • Jonathan Meyer – flute
  • Donald Christlieb – bassoon
  • Milton Thomas – viola
  • Harold Bemko – cello
  • Gerald Wilson – conductor
  • Ian Underwood – conductor
  • Dick Kunc – engineer
  • Ron Wolin – art direction, design
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. King Kong
  2. Idiot Bastard Son
  3. Twenty Small Cigars
  4. How Would You Like to Have a Head Like That – Jean-Luc Ponty
  5. Music for Electric Violin and Low-Budget Orchestra
  6. America Drinks and Goes Home

Jeffrey Deon Estus

On October 11, 2021, Jeffery Deon Estus died aged 65. He was musician (bass), singer and songwriter, member of collective Boogie Box High and band Switch, but was best known as the bass player of Wham. He recorded and performed with Marvin Gaye, George Michael, Elton John, Aaron Neville, Tina Turner, Frank Zappa, Annie Lennox, Edgar Winter and George Clinton. As leader Estus released one album.

Michael Lang

On August 5, 2022, Michael Anthony Lang died aged 80. He was musician (piano, keyboards, organ, synthesizer) and composer, recorded more than 2500 film scores, and worked with some of the biggest names of modern music such as Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Vince Gill, Milt Jackson, Lee Konitz, Diana Krall, Arturo Sandoval, Josh Groban, Frank Zappa, Lee Ritenour, Oliver Nelson, Bud Shank, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Peggy Lee, Vanessa Williams, Jose Feliciano, Bette Midler, Russell Watson, Michael Bolton, Don Ellis, Robbie Williams, Paul Anka, Sarah Vaughan, Amy Grant, Willie Nelson, Natalie Cole, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Manchester, Neil Diamond, Shelly Manne and Stan Kenton.