Tag Archives: Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa: Thing-Fish

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thing-fish

On December 21, 1984, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Thing-Fish”,  triple album box set by Frank Zappa. It was recorded 1976, 1980 -1983,  and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – book, arrangements
  • Ike Willis— Thing-Fish
  • Terry Bozzio— Harry
  • Dale Bozzio— Rhonda
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock— The Evil Prince
  • Bob Harris — Harry-As-A-Boy
  • Johnny “Guitar” Watson— Brown Moses
  • Ray White, Owl Gonkwin-Jane Cowhoon
  • Mark Pinske, Bob Stone – engineer
  • Mark Pinske – mixing
  • Ladi Von Jansky – cover photo

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Prologue
  2. The Mammy Nuns
  3. Harry & Rhonda
  4. Galoot Up-Date
  5. The ‘Torchum’ Never Stops
  6. That Evil Prince
  7. You Are What You Is
  8. Mudd Club
  9. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
  10. Clowns on Velvet
  11. Harry-As-a-Boy
  12. He’s So Gay
  13. The Massive Improve’lence
  14. Artificial Rhonda
  15. The Crab-Grass Baby
  16. The White Boy Troubles
  17. No Not Now
  18. Briefcase Boogie
  19. Brown Moses
  20. Wistful Wit a Fist-Full
  21. Drop Dead
  22. Won Ton On

Frank Zappa: Meets The Mothers Of Invention

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On November 21, 1985, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention”, the 44th Frank Zappa album. It was recorded November 1981–September 1985, at “UMRK”, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, Synclavier
  • Johnny “Guitar” Watson – vocals, guitar
  • Ike Willis– vocals, guitar
  • Ray White– vocals, guitar
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards
  • Steve Vai– guitar
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann – percussion
  • Moon Zappa– vocals
  • Dweezil Zappa– vocals
  • John Danforth– voice excerpts
  • Ernest Hollings– voice excerpts
  • Paul S. Trible, Jr.– voice excerpts
  • Paula Hawkins– voice excerpts
  • James Exon– voice excerpts
  • Al Gore– voice excerpts
  • Tipper Gore– voice excerpts
  • Bob Stone – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. We’re Turning Again
  2. Alien Orifice
  3. Yo Cats – Frank Zappa, Tommy Mars
  4. What’s New in Baltimore?
  5. Little Beige Sambo
  6. Porn Wars
  7. Aerobics in Bondage

Frank Zappa: Francesco Zappa

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frank_zappa_francesco_zappa

On November 21, 1984, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Francesco Zappa”, the 42nd Frank Zappa album. It was recorded February – April 1984, at “UMRK”, and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album features features chamber music by the Italian  composer  Francesco Zappa, who composed between 1763 and 1788.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – orchestrated, conductor
  • Performed by The Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort
  • David Ocker – Synclavier document encryption
  • Bob Stone, Mark Pinske – engineer
  • Donald Roller Wilson – cover painting
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – collage
  • New Age Art – graphics

Track listing:

All tracks by Francesco Zappa

  1. Opus I: No. 1 First Movement: Andante
  2. Opus I: No. 1 2nd Movement: Allegro con brio
  3. Opus I: No. 2 1st Movement: Andantino
  4. Opus I: No. 2 2nd Movement: Minuetto grazioso
  5. Opus I: No. 3 1st Movement: Andantino
  6. Opus I: No. 3 2nd Movement: Presto
  7. Opus I: No. 4 1st Movement: Andante
  8. Opus I: No. 4 1st Movement: Andante
  9. Opus I: No. 4 2nd Movement: Allegro
  10. Opus I: No. 5 2nd Movement: Minuetto grazioso
  11. Opus I: No. 6 1st Movement: Largo
  12. Opus I: No. 6 2nd Movement: Minuet
  13. Opus IV: No. 1 1st Movement: Andantino
  14. Opus IV: No. 1 2nd Movement: Allegro assai
  15. Opus IV: No. 2 2nd Movement: Allegro assai
  16. Opus IV: No. 3 1st Movement: Andante
  17. Opus IV: No. 3 2nd Movement: Tempo di minuetto
  18. Opus IV: No. 4 1st Movement: Minuetto

The Animals: Animalism

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the-animals-animalism

On November 21, 1966, “MGM” label released “Animalism”, the fourth Animals album. It was recorded July 1966, at “Lansdowne Recording Studio” in London, and “T.T.G” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tom Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Eric Burdon– vocals
  • Chas Chandler– bass guitar, linear notes
  • Dave Rowberry– keyboards, arranger
  • Hilton Valentine– guitar
  • Barry Jenkins– drums
  • John Steel- drums
  • Frank Zappa – guitar, bass, arrangements
  • William Roberts— guitar, harmonica
  • Larry Knechtel— organ
  • Don Randi- piano
  • Carol Kaye— guitar, bass
  • John Guerin— drums
  • Mack Emerman, David Greene, Ami Hadani, Adrian Kerridge, Val Valentin – engineer

Track listing:

  1. All Night Long – Frank Zappa
  2. Shake – Sam Cooke
  3. The Other Side of This Life – Fred Neil
  4. Rock Me Baby – B. King, Joe Josea
  5. Lucille – Al Collins, Richard Penniman
  6. Smokestack Lightning – Chester Burnett
  7. Hey Gyp – Donovan Leitch
  8. Hit the Road, Jack – Percy Mayfield
  9. Outcast – Ernie Johnson, Edgar Campbell
  10. Louisiana Blues – McKinley Morganfield
  11. That’s All I Am to You – Blackwell, Scott
  12. Going Down Slow – Jimmy Oden

Frank Zappa: Jazz From Hell

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jazz_from_hell

On November 15, 1986, “Barking Pumpkin Records” label released “Jazz from Hell”, the forty-seventh Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1985–1986, at “UMRK”; “Palais des Sports” in St. Etienne, France, and was produced by Frank Zappa. “Jazz from Hell” was Zappa’s final studio album released in his lifetime. In 1988, Frank Zappa won “Grammy Award” for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– lead guitar, Synclavier, keyboards
  • Steve Vai– rhythm guitar
  • Ray White– rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Mars– keyboards
  • Bobby Martin – keyboards
  • Scott Thunes– bass guitar
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Bob Stone – engineer
  • Greg Gorman – cover photography
  • Bob Rice – computer assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Night School
  2. The Beltway Bandits
  3. While You Were Art II
  4. Jazz from Hell
  5. G-Spot Tornado
  6. Damp Ankles
  7. Etienne
  8. Massaggio Galore

 

Frank Zappa: Zoot Allures

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zoot_allures

On October 20, 1976, “Warner Bros” label released “Zoot Allures”, the twenty-second Frank Zappa album. It was recorded May–June, 1976, at “Record Plant Studios” in Los Angeles, and live in Osaka, Japan, February 3, 1976, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– lead vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, keyboards, director of recreational activities
  • Terry Bozzio– drums , backing vocals
  • Davey Moiré – lead and backing vocals, engineer
  • Andre Lewis– lead and backing vocals, organ
  • Roy Estrada– lead and backing vocals, bass, drone bass
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock– vocals
  • Ruth Underwood– synthesizer, marimba
  • Captain Beefheart– harmonica (credited as “Donnie Vliet”)
  • Ruben Ladron de Guevara – backing vocals
  • Ian Underwood– saxophone
  • Bruce Fowler– trombone
  • Sal Marquez – trumpet
  • Dave Parlato – bass
  • Lu Ann Neil –harp
  • Sparky Parker – backing vocals
  • Michael Braunstein – engineer
  • Arnie Acosta – mastering
  • Amy Bernstein – layout, design
  • Cal Schenkel– design
  • Gary Heery – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Wind Up Workin’ in a Gas Station
  2. Black Napkins
  3. The Torture Never Stops
  4. Pinky
  5. Find Her Finer
  6. Friendly Little Finger
  7. Wonderful Wino – Simmons, Frank Zappa
  8. Zoot Allures
  9. Disco Boy

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention: Bongo Fury

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bongo_fury

On October 2, 1975, “DiscReet” label released “Bongo Fury” the twenty first Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album. The live parts were recorded on May 20 and 21, 1975, at the “Armadillo World Headquarters”  in Austin, Texas, and studio tracks were recorded in January 1975. “Bongo Fury” was the last original Frank Zappa album on which the band name “The Mothers of Invention was used.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, lead guitar
  • Captain Beefheart – vocals, harp, shopping bags
  • Denny Walley – vocals, slide guitar
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards
  • Tom Fowler– bass
  • Terry Bozzio– drums, moisture
  • Chester Thompson– drums
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock – vocals, saxophone
  • Bruce Fowler– trombone
  • Robert “Frog” Camarena– vocals
  • Michael Braunstein – engineer
  • Frank Hubach – engineer
  • Kelly Kotera – engineer
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Davey Moire – engineer
  • Bob Stone – engineer
  • Mike Stone– engineer
  • Cal Schenkel– design
  • John Williams – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Debra Kadabra
  2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
  3. Sam with the Showing Scalp Flat Top – Don Van Vliet
  4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
  5. 200 Years Old
  6. Cucamonga
  7. Advance Romance
  8. Man with the Woman Head – Don Van Vliet
  9. Muffin Man

Frank Zappa: Joe’s Damage

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joes_domage

On October 1, 2004, “Vaulternative” label released “Joe’s Domage”, album featuring music by Frank Zappa, posthumously released.  It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Joe Travers.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar
  • Tony Duran– vocals, guitar
  • Alex Dmochowski (aka Erroneous) – vocals, bass guitar
  • Aynsley Dunbar– drums
  • Ian Underwood– organ
  • Tony Ortega – baritone saxophone
  • Sal Marquez – trumpet
  • Malcolm McNab– trumpet
  • Ken Shroyer – trombone

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. When It’s Perfect..
  2. The New Brown Clouds
  3. Frog Song
  4. It Just Might Be a One Shot Deal
  5. The Ending Line..
  6. Blessed Relief/The New Brown Clouds
  7. It Ain’t Real So What’s the Deal
  8. Think It Over (some)/Think It Over (some more)
  9. Another Whole Melodic Section
  10. When It Feels Natural…

Frank Zappa: You Are What You Is

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you_are_what_you_is

On September 23, 1981, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “You Are  What You Is”, the thirty-fourth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded July – September 1980, at “UMRK” and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocal, guitar, arrangements
  • Steve Vai– guitars
  • Denny Walley – vocals, slide guitar
  • Ray White – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Ike Willis– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Mars – vocals, keyboards
  • Craig “Twister” Stewart – harmonica
  • Arthur Barrow– bass guitar
  • David Logeman – drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Mark Pinske – vocals
  • Jimmy Carl Black– vocals
  • Motorhead Sherwood – vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Bob Harris – vocals, Boy Soprano, trumpet
  • David Ocker – bass clarinet, clarinet
  • Ahmet Zappa– vocals
  • Moon Unit Zappa– vocals
  • Mark Pinske – chief engineer
  • Allen Sides – engineer
  • Dennis Sager – digital engineer
  • George Douglas – engineer assistant
  • Bob Stone – remixing, digital remastering
  • Jo Hansch – mastering
  • Amy Bernstein – artwork
  • John Vince – artwork, design
  • John Livzey – photography
  • Thomas Nordegg – Franks personnel assistant
  • Santi Rubio – studio secretary

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Teen-Age Wind
  2. Harder Than Your Husband
  3. Doreen
  4. Goblin Girl
  5. Theme from the 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear
  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. You Are What You Is
  13. Mudd Club
  14. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
  15. Dumb All Over
  16. Heavenly Bank Account
  17. Suicide Chump
  18. Jumbo Go Away
  19. If Only She Woulda
  20. Drafted Again

Frank Zappa: Joe’s Garage

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joes_garage

On September 17, 1979, “Zappa Records” label released “Joe’s Garage”, 28th and 29th, Frank Zappa albums. The First Zappa’s rock opera was originally released as two separate studio albums, and in 1987, remastered and reissued as a triple album box set, “Joe’s Garage, Acts I, II & III”. It was recorded March — June 1979, at “Village Recorders B” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, lead guitar
  • Warren Cuccurullo – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Denny Walley – vocals, slide guitar
  • Ike Willis– lead vocals
  • Peter Wolf– keyboards
  • Tommy Mars– keyboards
  • Craig Steward – harmonica
  • Arthur Barrow– vocals, bass, guitar
  • Patrick O’Hearn– bass
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums, combustible vapors, optometric abandon
  • Ed Mann– vocals, percussion
  • Jeff Hollie – tenor sax
  • Marginal Chagrin (Earle Dumler) – baritone sax
  • Stumuk (Bill Nugent) – bass sax
  • Dale Bozzio– vocals
  • Al Malkin – vocals
  • Joe Chiccarelli – engineer, mixing, recording
  • Steve Nye– remix
  • Mick Glossop – remix
  • Stan Ricker – mastering
  • Jack Hunt – mastering
  • Thomas Nordegg – assistant
  • Tom Cummings – assistant
  • John Williams – artwork
  • Ferenc Dobronyi – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

Act I

  1. The Central Scrutinizer
  2. Joe’s Garage
  3. Catholic Girls
  4. Crew Slut
  5. Wet T-Shirt Nite
  6. Toad-O Line
  7. Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?
  8. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
  9. Scrutinizer Postlude

Act II

  1. A Token of My Extreme
  2. Stick It Out
  3. Sy Borg
  4. Dong Work for Yuda
  5. Keep it Greasy
  6. Outside Now

Act III

  1. He Used to Cut the Grass
  2. Packard Goose
  3. Watermelon in Easter Hay
  4. A Little Green Rosetta