Frank Zappa

[footstep]

A genius.
Gone because of his "favourite vegetables"!
Yellow shark is still crying.
First album I bought was one size feats all!
Incredible musician.

[pierrelm]

Long time but selective Zappa fan: I love the 'Roxy & Elsewhere' and In New York albums, the original pre digital remastering Hot Rats is wonderful - the first remaster an unmitigated disaster (it turns a beautiful, 'warm' sounding analogue recording into a shrill digital horror show, and extends all the tracks).
I love the live recordings - the 1978 european tour which resulted in the Sheik Yerbouti release is a particular favourite. I saw him only once, at Knebworth.
My favourite recordings are the above mentioned live albums, the Poughskeepsie official bootleg and 'The Best Band You never Heard'. The world is a duller place without him x

[Decadence]

Originally Posted by melvin

Saw him back in 1988 on his last tour ever. I still have a bootleg tape of this concert ...

Any chance this bootleg made its way to an .mp3 format or similar?

Originally Posted by ballyhoo

I think the warning label was issued for having the word "Hell" in the
album title, and it probably had something to do with the song G-Spot Tornado.

Well.. lyrics now = song titles... good thing they didn't actually listen to "Dynamo Hum".

Originally Posted by Dvder

They're certainly better quality-wise than late '80s video I have from his Steve Vai (Black Napkins) period.

I recall "Black Napkins" was a great instrumental track on 1976's "Zoot Allures" (along with "The Torture Never Stops ).. I never knew Steve Vai was a part of that line-up. Please expand on what you mean by "Black Napkins period".

Originally Posted by Dvder

... and yet I recall an interview in which he said he and Gail were open to most things but didn't use appliances (I think that's the term he used).

It could be a fine line.. the things he wrote about ( e.g. L. Ron Hoover, the Church of Appliantology from Joe's Garage Act I) and their implications does give one pause...

[Dvder]

Originally Posted by Decadence

I recall "Black Napkins" was a great instrumental track on 1976's "Zoot Allures" (along with "The Torture Never Stops ).. I never knew Steve Vai was a part of that line-up. Please expand on what you mean by "Black Napkins period".

My introduction to the track was via a Youtube live clip from 1981 when Steve was in the band. Never having heard it before, and it being quite a guitar-centric tune, I assumed it was written for that particular band. While not the clip I have on a disc somewhere, this show must be roughly contemporary with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZohsi0nXc

Not being familiar with ZA, I'll check it out after your pointer to it. I'll add that in somewhat the same vein as an only slightliy earlier era's John Mayall, Frank knew how to pick his collaborators.

Originally Posted by Decadence

It could be a fine line.. the things he wrote about ( e.g. L. Ron Hoover, the Church of Appliantology from Joe's Garage Act I) and their implications does give one pause...

True, but then it should also be remembered that the Zappa family never upped sticks and moved to Montana either.

[ballyhoo]

Originally Posted by Decadence

...I recall "Black Napkins" was a great instrumental track on 1976's "Zoot Allures" (along with "The Torture Never Stops...

and don't forget the instrumental Zoot Allures, one of my favorites.

Originally Posted by Dvder

...from 1981 when Steve was in the band. Never having heard it before, and it being quite a guitar-centric tune, I assumed it was written for that particular band...Not being familiar with ZA, I'll check it out after your pointer to it...

yes, check out ZA. it's probably the most straight forward rock album FZ ever made.

btw, Steve Vai didn't join the band until 1980-ish.

[melvin]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Any chance this bootleg made its way to an .mp3 format or similar?

If i can figure out how to digitalize MC´s, you may have luck
Btw, this a private recording made with a Walkman, so don´t except Hi-Fi Quality ...

[blondifan]

Originally Posted by Decadence

...
Well.. lyrics now = song titles... good thing they didn't actually listen to "Dynamo Hum".

I was somewhat surprised that Tina Turner appears on this and other tracks from 'Over-Nite Sensation', although uncredited.
I guess Ike needed the money, or prestige.

[melvin]

It still amazes me, that one of Zappa´s most explicit song was such a big hit. At least in Europe. I guess no one listened to the words. Or was it because of the words ?
However, at the time this song came out, i had no idea what this man was singing about.
"I could take about an hour on the tower of power. As long as i get a little golden shower"

[Dvder]

I always wondered if Polymer Records' Artie Fufkin might have been inspired by Bobby.

[Baresfan]

Watch out where the Huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLIppgE45wM