Tag Archives: Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa: The Man From Utopia

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The_Man_From_Utopia

On March 28, 1983, “Barking Pumpkin” label release “The Man from Utopia”, thirty-sixth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded October 1980 – October 1982, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, drum machine, ARP 2600
  • Steve Vai – acoustic amd electric guitar
  • Ray White – vocals, guitar
  • Roy Estrada– vocals
  • Bob Harris – boy soprano
  • Ike Willis – vocals
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards, saxophone
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Arthur Barrow– keyboards, bass, micro bass, rhythm guitar
  • Craig Twister Steward – harmonica
  • Dick Fegy – mandolin
  • Marty Krystall – saxophone
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Cocaine Decisions
  2. The Dangerous Kitchen
  3. Tink Walks Amok
  4. The Radio is Broken
  5. Mōggio
  6. The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou – Donald and Doris Woods,  Obie Jessie
  7. Stick Together
  8. SEX
  9. The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
  10. We Are Not Alone

 

Frank Zappa: Apostrophe

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Apostrophe_

On March 22, 1974, “DiscReet” label released “Apostrophe”, the eighteenth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1969 – 1974, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City; “Bolic” in Inglewood and “Paramount Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album was released in stereo and quadraphonic formats.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, bass, bouzouki
  • Tony Duran– rhythm guitar
  • George Duke– keyboards, backing vocals
  • Tom Fowler– bass guitar
  • Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass guitar
  • Jack Bruce– bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar– drums
  • Ralph Humphrey – drums
  • Johnny Guerin– drums
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Ruth Underwood– percussion
  • Ian Underwood– saxophone
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock– saxophone, backing vocals
  • Sal Marquez –trumpet
  • Bruce Fowler– trombone
  • Don “Sugarcane” Harris– violin
  • Jean-Luc Ponty– violin
  • Lynn – vocals, backing vocals
  • Robert “Frog” Camarena, Ruben Ladron de Guevara, Debbie – vocals, backing vocals
  • Ray Collins– backing vocals
  • Sue Glover – backing vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – backing vocals, engineer, remixing
  • Barry Keene – engineer
  • Steve Desper – engineer
  • Terry Dunavan – engineer
  • Bob Hughes – engineer
  • Cal Schenkel– artwork, design
  • Ferenc Dobronyi – design
  • Bob Ludwig, Paul Hof, Oscar Kergaives, Brian Krokus, Mark Aalyson – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow
  2. Nanook Rubs It
  3. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast
  4. Father O’Blivion
  5. Excentrifugal Forz
  6. Apostrophe – Frank Zappa, Jim Gordon, Jack Bruce
  7. Uncle Remus – Frank Zappa, George Duke
  8. Stink-Foot

Mothers of Invention: We’re Only in for the Money

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We're in it

On March 4, 1968, “Verve” label released “We’re Only in It for the Money”, the third Mothers of Invention studio album. It was recorded from March to October 1967, at “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles; “Mayfair and Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – lead vocals, guitar, piano, weirdness, editing
  • Jimmy Carl Black –vocals, Indian of the group, drums, trumpet
  • Roy Estrada – vocals, electric bass, asthma
  • Billy Mundi – vocals, drums, yak & black lace underwear
  • Don Preston– retired
  • Bunk Gardner – all woodwinds, mumbled weirdness
  • Ian Underwood – piano, woodwinds, wholesome
  • Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood – baritone and soprano saxophone, all purpose weirdness & teen appeal
  • Suzy Creamcheese(Pamela Zarubica) – telephone voice
  • Pamela Zarubica – vocals
  • Dick Barber – snorks
  • Eric Clapton– male speaking part
  • Gary Kellgren– “the one doing all the creepy whispering”
  • Spider Barbour – vocals
  • Dick Kunc – “cheerful interruptions” vocal
  • Vicki Kellgren – additional telephone vocals
  • Ronnie Williams – backwards voice
  • Sid Sharp – conductor

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa

  1. Are You Hung Up
  2. Who Needs the Peace Corps
  3. Concentration Moon
  4. Mom & Dad
  5. Bow tie Daddy
  6. Harry, You’re a Beast
  7. What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?
  8. Absolutely Free
  9. Flower Punk
  10. Hot Poop
  11. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
  12. Let’s Make the Water Turn Black
  13. The Idiot Bastard Son
  14. It’s His Voice on the Radio
  15. Take Your Clothes off When You Dance
  16. What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body (reprise)
  17. Mother People
  18. The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny

The Fall: Cerebral Caustic

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Cerebral caustic

On February 27, 1995, “Permanent Records” released “Cerebral Caustic”, the seventeenth Fall (The) album. It was recorded in 1994, and was produced by Mike Bennett and Mark E. Smith.

Personnel:

  • Mark E. Smith– vocals, tapes, guitar
  • Brix E. Smith– guitar, vocals
  • Craig Scanlon– guitar
  • Steve Hanley– bass guitar
  • Simon Wolstencroft– drums, programming
  • Karl Burns– guitar, drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Dave Bush – keyboards, programming
  • Lucy Rimmer – backing vocals
  • Pascal Le Gras– cover art

Track listing:

  1. The Joke – Mark E. Smith, Brix E. Smith
  2. Don’t Call Me Darling – Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon
  3. Rainmaster – Mark Smith, Brix E. Smith
  4. Feeling Numb – Mark Smith, Brix E.Smith
  5. Pearl City – Mark Smith, Karl Burns, Mike Bennett
  6. Life Just Bounces – Mark E.Smith, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon
  7. I’m Not Satisfied – Frank Zappa
  8. The Aphid – Mark Smith, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon, Simon Wolstencroft, Brix E.Smith
  9. Bonkers In Phoenix – Mark E.Smith, Brix E. Smith
  10. One Day – Mark Smith, Dave Bush
  11. North West Fashion Show – Mark E. Smith, Karl Burns
  12. Pine Leaves – Mark E. Smith, Karl Burns, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon

 

Mothers Of Invention: Burnt Weeny Sandwich

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Frank_Zappa_-_Burnt_Weeny_Sandwich

On February 9, 1970, “Bizarre” label released “Burnt Weeny Sandwich”, the ninth, Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded in August 1967 and July 1969, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, organ, guitar, arranger
  • Lowell George – vocals, guitar
  • Jim Sherwood – vocals, guitar, wind
  • Ian Underwood– guitar, piano, keyboards, wind
  • John Balkin – bass, string bass
  • Don Preston– bass, piano, keyboards
  • Billy Mundi– drums
  • Art Tripp– drums, percussion
  • Jimmy Carl Black– percussion, drums
  • Roy Estrada– bass, backing vocals, Pachuco rap
  • Janet Ferguson – backing vocals
  • Bunk Gardner– horn, wind
  • Buzz Gardner- trumpet
  • Don “Sugarcane” Harris– violin
  • Cal Schenkel – cover art
  • John Williams – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa except where noted.

  1. WPLJ (The Four Deuces)
  2. Igor’s Boogie, Phase One
  3. Overture to a Holiday in Berlin
  4. Theme from Burnt Weeny Sandwich
  5. Igor’s Boogie, Phase Two
  6. Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown
  7. Aybe Sea
  8. The Little House I Used to Live in

Frank Zappa: Sleep Dirt

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Frank Zappa_sleep_dirt

On January 19, 1979, “DiscReet Records” label released “Sleep Dirt”, the 25th Frank Zappa album . It  was recorded in December 1974 and in 1976, at the “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and “Caribou Studios” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – guitar, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer
  • George Duke– keyboards, vocals
  • James “Bird Legs” Youman – bass guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Patrick O’Hearn– bass guitar
  • Dave Parlato – bass guitar
  • Chester Thompson– drums
  • Terry Bozzio– drums
  • Ruth Underwood– percussion, keyboards
  • Bruce Fowler– brass
  • Stephen Marcussen –mastering, equalization
  • Bob Stone – mastering, remastering, equalization
  • Gary Panter – art director

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Filthy Habits
  2. Flambay
  3. Spider of Destiny
  4. Regyptian Strut
  5. Time is Money
  6. Sleep Dirt
  7. The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution

Captain Beefheart

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On December 17, 2010, Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart died aged 69. He was singer, songwriter, musician (harmonica, saxophone, wind instruments) and producer, best known as a leader and frontman of the ensemble called “Magic Band”. Don Van Vliet was friend and collaborator with Frank Zappa. His 1969 album “Trout Mask Replica”, was ranked 58th in the “Rolling Stone” magazine’s 2003 list of the “500 greatest albums of all time”. Captain Beefheart was regarded as “one of modern music’s true innovators”.

Frank Zappa

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On December 4, 1993, Frank Vincent Zappa died aged 52.  He was musician (guitar, various instruments), composer, bandleader, producer, actor and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than 30 years, with The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist, Zappa released  more than 60 albums, working most of the time as an independent artist. His work gained critical acclaim worldwide; magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at No. 71 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and in 2011 at No. 22 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1995, Zappa was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and in 1997 he was posthumously awarded with the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Mothers Of Invention: Cruising With Ruben & The Jets

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Frank_Zappa_-_Cruising_With_Ruben_&_the_Jets

On December 2, 1968, “Bizarre”  and “Verve” labels released “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets”, the fourth Mothers of Invention studio album. It is part of Mothers project named “No Commercial potential” which featured three albums: “Uncle Meat”, We’re in it Only for the Money” and “Lumpy Gravy”. The album was recorded December 1967 – February 1968, at the “Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– low grumbles, oo-wah and lead guitar, bass, piano, drums
  • Ray Collins– lead vocals
  • Roy Estrada– high weazlings, dwaedy-doop and electric bass
  • Jimmy Carl Blackand/or Arthur Dyer Tripp III – lewd pulsating rhythm
  • Ian Underwoodor and Don Preston – redundant piano triplets
  • Motorhead Sherwood– baritone sax, tambourine
  • Bunk Gardner, Ian Underwood – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Cal Schenkel – artwork, cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Cheap Thrills
  2. Love of My Life – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
  3. How Could I Be Such a Fool
  4. Deseri – Ray Collins and Paul Buff
  5. I’m Not Satisfied
  6. Jerry Roll Gum Drop
  7. Anything – Ray Collins
  8. Later That Night
  9. You Didn’t Try to Call Me
  10. Fountain of Love – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
  11. No. No.
  12. Anyway the Wind Blows
  13. Stuff Up the Cracks

Frank Zappa: The Yellow Shark

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Frank_Zappa,_Yellow_Shark

On November 2, 1993, “Barking Pumpkin Records” label released “The Yellow Shark”, the sixty second Frank Zappa’ album. “The Yellow Shark” features live recordings from the “Ensemble Modern’s” 1992 performances of Zappa’s orchestral music, and was produced by  Frank Zappa.  This was Zappa’s  last album released before his death one month later.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – conductor, performer
  • Detlef Tewes – mandolin
  • Jürgen Ruck – banjo, guitar
  • Andreas Böttger – percussion
  • Dietmar Wiesner – flute
  • Catherine Milliken – oboe, English horn, bass oboe, didjeridu
  • Roland Diry – clarinet
  • Wolfgang Stryi – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, contrabass clarinet
  • Veit Scholz – bassoon, contrabassoon
  • Franck Ollu, Stefan Dohr – French horn
  • William Formann, Michael Gross – cornet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, trumpet
  • Uwe Dierksen – trombone, soprano trombone
  • Michael Svoboda – trombone, euphonium, didjeridu, alphorn
  • Daryl Smith – tuba
  • Hermann Kretzschmar – celeste, harpsichord, voices, piano
  • Ueli Wiget – celeste, harpsichord, harp, piano
  • Rumi Ogawa-Helferich – cymbalom, percussion
  • Ensemble Modern
  • Peter Rundel – violin, conductor
  • Ellen Wegner – harp
  • Mathias Tacke, Claudia Sack – violin
  • Hilary Sturt – violin, voices
  • Friedemann Dähn – violoncello
  • Thomas Fichter- contrabass, Fichter electric upright bass

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Intro
  2. Dog Breath Variations
  3. Uncle Meat
  4. Outrage at Valdez
  5. Times Beach It
  6. III Revised
  7. The Girl in the magnesium Dress
  8. Be Bop Tango
  9. Ruth is Sleeping
  10. None of the Above
  11. Pentagon Afternoon
  12. Questi Cazzi Di Piccione
  13. Times Beach III
  14. Food Gathering in Post Industrial America 1992
  15. Welcome to the United States
  16. Pound for a Brown
  17. Exercise #4
  18. Get Whitey
  19. G-Spot Tornado