ZAPPA, FRANK

Belangrijk is om bij deze uitgave de ondertitel even in de gaten te houden. Waar we de laatste tijd verwend zijn met onuitgebrachte archiefopnames heeft deze uitgave een ander karakter. Het gaat dus om de muziek die hoort bij de overigens prachtige documentairefilm Zappa, waarbij dan gelijk de opmerking gemaakt moet worden dat het hier niet een soort Best Of betreft. Anders zelfs, aangezien we hier niet aleen met de muziek van Frank Zappa zelf te maken hebben. Zo vinden we tussen het vroege Zappa-werk ook een stuk van Ionisation van Edgar Varese, uitgevoerd door Pierre Boulez en het CSO, een muziekstuk dat een sleutelpositie inneemt in het leven van Zappa. Daarnaast is ook een gedeelte van de finale van Stravisky’s De Vuurvogel vertegenwoordigd, maar ook groupieband The GTO’s en Alice Cooper, die beide muziek uitbrachten op de Zappa-labels Straight en Bizarre. Naast deze stukken is er een ook een flink deel ingeruimd voor 26 korte en wat langere stukken van John Frizzell, die special voor de documentaire zijn opgenomen. Allemaal muziek die past bij een soundtrack over ’s mans leven. Maar eerlijk is eerlijk, eigenlijk gaat het mij om de muziek van Zappa zelf en daar valt ook veel te genieten. Twaalf niet eerder uitgebrachte stukken kunnen we verspreid over de drie cd’s of vijf lp’s terugvinden, waaronder het Dancin’ Fool-optreden tijdens Saturday Night Live in 1978, maar bijvoorbeeld ook twee nummers met Flo & Eddie in de Fillmore West in 1970. De andere 25 Zappa-tracks komen uit zijn gehele carrière, variërend van How Could I Be Such A Fool uit 1966 tot G-Spot Tornedo van The Yellow Shark uit 1993. Het geheel is overigens redelijk chronologisch van opzet waarbij de muziek van Frizell aan het eind geplaatst is. Mocht je de documentaire nog niet gezien hebben? Ga dat zeker doen! Deze bijbehorende soundtrack doet bij elk nummer terugdenken aan de beelden die je gezien hebt en eigenlijk had de documentaire toegevoegd moeten zijn aan deze fraaie uitgave. Ik had bij het afsluitende Watermelon In Easter Hay, opgenomen in 1978, een brok in mijn keel. Goh, wat missen we deze man.

5LP
• Showcasing 69 total songs, there are 12 previously unreleased recordings from the Zappa archive along with his 1978 Saturday Night Live performance; 24 additional Zappa songs from his extensive catalog spanning four decades; songs from Zappa’s labels Straight / Bizarre Records like “No Longer Umpire” by Alice Cooper and “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by The GTO’s; 2 classical compositions by Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky; and 26 Original Score cues newly composed by John Frizzell for the documentary – all of which give the universe a sonic exploration into the musical brilliance of Frank Zappa
• With unfettered access to the Zappa Trust and all archival footage, ZAPPA explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Alex Winter’s assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others.
• The soundtrack is a perfect complement to the film available as a 5-LP 180-gram black vinyl set for the Zappa completist. Showcasing 69 total songs, there are 12 previously unreleased recordings from the Zappa archive along with his 1978 Saturday Night Live performance; 24 additional Zappa songs from his extensive catalog spanning four decades; songs from Zappa’s labels Straight / Bizarre Records like “No Longer Umpire” by Alice Cooper and “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by The GTO’s; 2 classical compositions by Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky; and 26 Original Score cues newly composed by John Frizzell for the documentary – all of which give the universe a sonic exploration into the musical brilliance of Frank Zappa.



5LP DELUXE EDITION:

LP1 – SIDE A:

Anyway The Wind Blows (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
Everytime I See You – The Heartbreakers^
Motherly Love (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
You Didn’t Try To Call Me (Basic Tracks) (from The Mofo Project/Object) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
How Could I Be Such A Fool? (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
“The Reason We Have Stayed Together…” – Frank Zappa interview with Warren Duffy / WMEX Boston, MA – January 31, 1969*
LP1 – SIDE B:

Memories Of El Monte (Live from the Whisky 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
Oh! In The Sky (Live from the Whisky 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
The Duke (Live from the Whisky 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
Absolutely Free (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
Agency Man (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
LP 2 – SIDE C:

Black Beauty (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
Oh No (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh) – The Mothers of Invention
Mother People (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite: Finale – Orchestre de l’Opéra Bastille & Myung Whun Chung
“FZ on Varèse” – Frank Zappa interview with Craig Eldon Pinkus – Indiana University Radio-TV Center – April 25, 1974*
Varèse: Ionisation – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Pierre Boulez
LP 2 – SIDE D:

The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes –GTO’s^
No Longer Umpire – Alice Cooper
Road Ladies (from Chunga’s Revenge) – Frank Zappa
Call Any Vegetable (Excerpts) (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
Happy Together (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
Scumbag (Live at Fillmore East, NYC, 1971) (from Playground Psychotics) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
LP 3 – SIDE E:

Your Mouth (from Waka/Jawaka) – Frank Zappa
Cheepnis (Live at the Roxy, 12/10/73, Show 1) (from The Roxy Performances) – Frank Zappa
Apostrophe’ (Live in Los Angeles, Rehearsal Hall – June 21, 1974) – Frank Zappa*
Muffin Man (Live at The Palladium, NYC, 1977) (from Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack) – Frank Zappa
Dancin’ Fool (Live on “Saturday Night Live” – October 21, 1978) – Frank Zappa*
LP 3 – SIDE F:

Mo’s Vacation (Live in Munich 1978) – Frank Zappa*
The Black Page #1 (Piano Version) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
Sofa (1977 Mix, Live) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
Fembot In A Wet T-shirt (from Joe’s Garage – Act I) – Frank Zappa
Valley Girl (from Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch) – Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa
LP 4 – SIDE G:

The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (Live at The Pier, NYC – 1984) – Frank Zappa*
H.R. 2911 (from Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention) – Frank Zappa
Overture (Live in Frankfurt, Germany – September 19, 1992) – Ensemble Modern, Conducted by Frank Zappa
G-Spot Tornado (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa
LP 4 – SIDE H:

Envelopes (1983 Original Vinyl Mix) – Frank Zappa, London Symphony Orchestra^
Get Whitey (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa
Nap Time (from Everything Is Healing Nicely) – Frank Zappa
LP 5 – SIDE I:

Frank’s Library – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Edgewood Arsenal – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank’s Parents – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
The Blackouts – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Greeting Cards – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Studio Z – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank Goes To Jail – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Musically Difficult – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
The Parts Are Complicated – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Murray Roman’s TV Show – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank Put His Foot Down – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Laurel Canyon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
The Manson Family – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Are We Going To Get Paid – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Steve Vai’s Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank Could Be Hardcore – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
LP 5 – SIDE J:

Bruce Bickford’s Zappa Head – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
If I’m Alive – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Keep This Guy Under Check – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank’s Business Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Fake It – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Don’t Have Any Friends – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Hi, I’m Moon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank Addresses Congress – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Turn Off That Zappa Music – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Frank Getting Sick – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
Watermelon In Easter Hay (Live, 1978) (from Frank Zappa Plays The Music of Frank Zappa – A Memorial Tribute) – Frank Zappa