Tag Archives: Robert “Frog” Camarena

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)

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

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention: Bongo Fury

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: Apostrophe

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