Tag Archives: Frank Zappa

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

Frank Zappa: Lumpy Gravy

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Lumpy Gravy

On August 7, 1967, “Capitol” label released “Lumpy Gravy”, the debut Frank Zappa album. It was recorded in February 1967, and was produced by Nick Venet. “Lumpy Gravy” is an album of orchestral, electric and concrete sound, performed by a group of session players Zappa dubbed the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – conductor
  • Glenn Phillips – vocals
  • Tommy Tedesco – guitar
  • Al Viola – guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Jimmy “Senyah” Haynes – guitar
  • Tony Rizzi – guitar
  • Michael Lang – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Lincoln Mayorga – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Paul Smith – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Pete Jolly – piano, celeste, harpsichord
  • Bob West – bass
  • Jimmy Bond– bass
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass
  • Roy Estrada– bass, chorus
  • Frank Capp – drums
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Shelly Manne – drums
  • Alan Estes – percussion, drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion, drums
  • John Rotella – percussion, woodwind
  • Emil Richards – percussion
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Jimmy Zito – trumpet
  • Kenny Shroyer – trombone
  • Richard Parissi – French horn
  • Vincent DeRosa– French horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn
  • Arnold Belnick – strings
  • Harold Bemko – strings
  • Joseph DiFiore – strings
  • Jesse Ehrlich – strings
  • Ray Kelly – strings
  • Jerome Kessler – strings
  • Alexander Koltun – strings
  • Bernard Kundell – strings
  • William Kurasch – strings
  • Harry Hyams – strings
  • Leonard Malarsky – strings
  • Jerome Reisler – strings
  • Joseph Saxon – strings
  • Ralph Schaeffer – strings
  • Leonard Selic – strings
  • Tibor Zelig – strings
  • James Getzoff – strings
  • Philip Goldberg – strings
  • Bunk Gardner – woodwind
  • Jules Jacob – woodwind
  • Ted Nash – woodwind
  • Donald Christlieb – woodwind
  • Gene Cipriano – woodwind
  • Harold Kelling – vocals
  • Larry Fanoga (Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood) – vocals, chorus
  • Jimmy Carl Black– chorus
  • Monica Boscia – chorus
  • Louis “Louie the Turkey” Cuneo – chorus
  • Bruce Hampton – chorus
  • Cal Schenkel – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Sink Trap
  2. Gum Joy
  3. Up and Down
  4. Local Butcher
  5. Gypsy Airs
  6. Hunchy Punchy
  7. Foamy Soaky
  8. Let’s Eat Out
  9. Teenage Grand Finale

Frank Zappa: Waka /Jawaka

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Waka-Jawaka

On July 5, 1972, “Bizarre / Reprise” labels released “Waka/Jawaka”, the fourth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded April – May 1972, at “Paramount Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitars, percussion, electric bed springs, mastering
  • Jeff Simmons – vocals, Hawaiian guitar
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow– pedal steel guitar solo
  • Tony Duran – vocals, slide guitat
  • George Duke– ring – modulated and echoplexed electric piano, tack piano
  • Kris Peterson – vocals
  • Janet Ferguson – vocals
  • Don Preston– piano, Minimoog
  • Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – vocals, electric bass, fuzzbass
  • Aynsley Dunbar– drums, washboard, tambourine
  • Sal Marquez – vocals, trumpets, chimes, flugelhorn
  • Mike Altschul – baritone saxophone, piccolo, bass flute, bass clarinet, tenor sax
  • Joel Peskin – tenor sax
  • Bill Byers – trombone, baritone horn
  • Ken Shroyer – trombone, baritone horn
  • Marshall Brevitz, Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Marshall Brevitz – supervisor
  • Sal Marquez – concept
  • Cal Schenkel – design, packanging
  • Marvin Mattelson – illustrations
  • Philip Schartz – back cover, photography
  • Ferenc Dobronyi – re-packaging

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

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

The Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!

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Freak Out!

On June 27, 1966, “Verve” label released “Freak Out!” the debut Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded in March 1996, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tom Wilson. In 1999, “Freak Out” was honored with the “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 246 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, orchestration, arrangements, conductor, musical director
  • Elliot Ingber– alternate lead and rhythm guitar
  • Carol Kaye– 12-string guitar
  • Neil Le Vang– guitar
  • Ray Collins– vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin, weezers
  • Eugene Di Novi – piano
  • Mac Rebennack– piano
  • Les McCann– piano
  • Roy Estrada– bass, guitarron, boy soprano
  • Jimmy Carl Black– vocals, percussion, drums
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba
  • John Rotella – clarinet, sax
  • Kim Fowley– hypophone
  • Kurt Reher – cello
  • Raymond Kelley– cello
  • Paul Bergstrom – cello
  • Emmet Sargeant – cello
  • Joseph Saxon – cello
  • Edwin V. Beach – cello
  • Motorhead Sherwood– noises
  • Paul Butterfield– vocals
  • Jeannie Vassoir– the voice of Cheese
  • Val Valentin – engineer
  • Ami, Tom – engineer
  • Eugene Dinovi, Neil Levang, Vito, Ken Watson – engineer assistant
  • Jack Anesh – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
  2. I Ain’t Got No Heart
  3. Who Are the Brain Police?
  4. Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder – Frank Zappa, Ray Collins
  5. Motherly Love
  6. How Could I Be Such a Fool
  7. Wowie Zowie
  8. You Didn’t Try to Call Me
  9. Anyway, the Wind Blows
  10. I’m Not Satisfied
  11. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here
  12. Trouble Every Day
  13. Help, I’m a Rock (Suite in Three Movements)
  • Okay to Tap Dance
  • In Memoriam, Edgard Varèse
  • It Can’t Happen Here
  1. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet in Two Tableaux)
  • Ritual Dance of the Child-Killer
  • Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)

Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica

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Captain_Beefheart_And_His_Magic_Band_-_Trout_Mask_Replica

On June 16, 1969, “Straight” label released “Trout Mask Replica”, the third Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band album. It was recorded August 1968 – March 1969, at “Sunset Sound Recorders” and “Whitney Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album is highly regarded as one of the most influential albums in the history of the 20th century. ”Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Trout Mask Replica” at number 60 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel

  • Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) – vocals, bass clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Frank Zappa – speakin voice
  • Zoot Horn Rollo – guitar, flute
  • Antennae Jimmy Semens – lead vocals, guitar
  • Doug Moon – acoustic guitar
  • Don Preston – piano
  • Rockette Morton – narration, bass guitar
  • Cal Schenkel – bass guitar, narrator, design, photography
  • Roy Estrada – bass guitar
  • Gary Marker – bass guitar
  • Drumbo (John French) – speaking voice, drums, percussion
  • Arthur Tripp III – drums
  • Ian Underwood – alto saxophone
  • Bunk Gardner – tenor saxophone
  • Buzz Gardner – trumpet
  • The Mascara Snake – vocals, bass clarinet
  • Dick Kunc – effects, engineer
  • Ed Caraeff – photography

Track listing

All tracks by Don Van Vliet

  1. Frownland
  2. The Dust Blows Forward’n the Dust Blows Back
  3. Dachau Blues
  4. Ella Guru
  5. Hair pie: Bake 1
  6. Moonlight on Vermont
  7. Pachuco Cadaver
  8. Bills Corpse
  9. Sweet Sweet Bulbs
  10. Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish
  11. China Pig
  12. My Human Gets Me Blues
  13. Dali’s Car
  14. Hair Pie: Bake 2
  15. Pena
  16. Well
  17. When Big Joan Sets Up
  18. Fallin Ditch
  19. Sugar’n’Spikes
  20. Ant Man Bee
  21. Orange Claw Hammer
  22. Wild life
  23. She’s Too Much for My Mirror
  24. Hobo Chang Ba
  25. The Blimp
  26. Steal Softly Thru Snow
  27. Old Fart at Play
  28. Veteran’s Day Poppy

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band: Some Time In New York City

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Some time in New York City

On June 12, 1972, “Apple” label released “Some Time in New York City”, album by John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band. The double album features studio recordings and the live album “Live Jam”. “Some Time in New York City” is Lennon’s third post-Beatles solo album and fifth one with Yoko Ono. It was recorded on:

  • Studio – December 1971 – 20 March 1972
  • Live – 15 December 1969, at “Lyceum Ballroom” in London, and 6 June 1971, at “Fillmore East” in New York City

The album was produced by Phil Spector, Yoko Ono and John Lennon.

Personnel:

  • John Lennon – vocals, guitars
  • Yoko Ono– vocals
  • Jim Keltner– drums, percussion
  • Elephant’s Memory:
    • Stan Bronstein – saxophone, flute
    • Wayne ‘Tex’ Gabriel – guitar
    • Adam Ippolito – piano, organ
    • John La Boosca – piano
    • Gary Van Scyoc – bass guitar
    • Richard Frank Jr. – drums, percussion

Live Jam

15 December 1969

  • John Lennon – vocal, guitar
  • Yoko Ono – vocal, bag

For everyone except himself and Ono, Lennon made up pseudonyms:

  • Eric Clapton (Derek Claptoe) – guitar
  • George Harrison (George Harrisong) – guitar
  • Delaney & Bonnie (Bilanie & Donnie) – guitar, percussion
  • Nicky Hopkins (Sticky Topkins) – electric piano
  • Billy Preston (Billy Presstud) – organ
  • Klaus Voormann (Raus Doorman) – bass
  • Jim Gordon (Jim Bordom) – drums
  • Keith Moon (Kief Spoon) – drums
  • Alan White (Dallas White) – drums
  • Bobby Keyes (Robbie Knees) – sax

Uncredited:

  • Jim Price– trumpet

6 June 1971

  • John Lennon – vocals, guitar
  • Yoko Ono – vocals, bag
  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar
  • Ian Underwood– vocals, keyboard, woodwinds
  • Bob Harris – vocals, keyboards
  • Don Preston– Mini-Moog
  • Jim Pons– vocals, bass guitar
  • Klaus Voormann– vocals, bass guitar
  • Aynsley Dunbar– drums
  • Howard Kaylan– vocals
  • Mark Volman– vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, except where noted.

Side one

  1. Woman Is the Nigger of the World
  2. Sisters, O Sisters – Yoko Ono
  3. Attica State
  4. Born in a Prison – Yoko Ono
  5. New York City – John Lennon

Side two

  1. Sunday Bloody Sunday
  2. The Luck of the Irish
  3. John Sinclair – John Lennon
  4. Angela
  5. We’re All Water – Yoko Ono

Side three

Performed live at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, England on 15 December 1969, for a UNICEF charity concert

  1. Cold Turkey – John Lennon
  2. Don’t Worry Kyoko – Yoko Ono

Side four

Recorded live at the Fillmore East in New York City with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention on 6 June 1971

  1. Well (Baby Please Don’t Go) – Walter Ward
  2. Jamrag
  3. Scumbag – John Lennon / Yoko Ono / Frank Zappa
  4. Au

Frank Zappa: London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I

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London_Symphony_Orchestr

On June 9, 1983, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I” the thirty-eight  Frank Zappa album. It was recorded in January 1983, at “Twickenham Film Studios” in London,and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album features the London Symphony Orchestra’s renditions of four of Zappa’s compositions.

Personnel:

  • The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano
  • David Ocker –clarinet
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Mark Pinske – recording
  • John Vince – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Sad Jane
  2. Pedro’s Dowry
  3. Envelopes
  4. Mo ‘n Herb’s Vacation
  • First Movement
  • Second Movement
  • Third Movement

 

The Mothers Of Invention: Absolutely Free

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Frank Zappa-Absolutely Free

On May 26, 1967, “Verve” label released “Absolutely Free”, the second Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded November 15–18, 1966, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG”, and was produced by Tom Wilson and Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, conductor
  • Jimmy Carl Black– drums, vocals
  • Ray Collins– vocals, tambourine
  • Roy Estrada– bass, vocals
  • Billy Mundi– drums, percussion
  • Don Preston– keyboards
  • Jim Fielder– guitar, piano
  • Bunk Gardner– woodwinds
  • Suzy Creamcheese (Lisa Cohen) – vocals
  • John Balkin – bass
  • Jim Getzoff – violin
  • Marshall Sosson – violin
  • Alvin Dinkin – viola
  • Armand Kaproff – cello
  • Don Ellis– trumpet
  • John Rotella– contrabass clarinet
  • Herb Cohen– cash register machine sounds
  • Terry Gilliam, girlfriend and others – voices

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Plastic People
  2. The Duke of Prunes
  3. Amnesia Vivace
  4. The Duke Regains His Chops
  5. Call Any Vegetable
  6. Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin
  7. Soft-Sell Conclusion
  8. America Drinks
  9. Status Back Baby
  10. Uncle Bernie’s Farm
  11. Son of Suzy Creamcheese
  12. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
  13. America Drinks & Goes Home

Ambrose Slade: Beginnings

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Beginlp

On May 9, 1969, “Fontana” label released “Beginnings”, the debut Ambrose Slade album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Ambrose Slade and Roger Wake.

Personnel:

  • Noddy Holder- lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Dave Hill- lead guitar
  • Jim Lea- bass guitar
  • Don Powell- drums
  • Roger Wake- engineer
  • Linda Glover- artwork
  • Richard Stirlin- photography

Track listing:

  1. Genesis – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill, Don Powell
  2. Everybody’s Next One – John Kay, Gabriel Mekler
  3. Knocking Nails into My House – Jeff Lynne
  4. Roach Daddy – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill, Don Powell
  5. Ain’t Got No Heart – Frank Zappa
  6. Pity the Mother – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
  7. Mad Dog Cole – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill, Don Powell
  8. Fly Me High – Justin Hayward
  9. If This World Were Mine – Marvin Gaye
  10. Martha My Dear – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  11. Born to Be Wild – Mars Bonfire
  12. Journey to the Centre of Your Mind – Ted Nugent, Steve Farmer