Before I send my own personal, private pair of Zircon Encrusted Tweezers into the shop for some serious re-encrusting — I have one last installment of the Son of Tweezer Glint series, the finale, to present. Among the alternative edits, proto versions, and various live versions are particular titles of note (in my opinion):
“Easy Meat” performed at the Fillmore West in 1970.
“Wonderful Wino” performed at Picnic Piknik, in Uddel, Netherlands in 1970 includes a rare vocal performance by Jeff Simmons.
A rare performance of “Magdalena” in Montreux, Switzerland in 1971 at the Montreux Casino. The Montreux performance (and this mixtape) also includes the complete “Sofa Suite” which includes proto versions of “Sofa #2” and “Stick It Out” in German.
A pre-200 Motels version of “Penis Dimension” performed at the University of Maine at Gorham in 1970. “King Kong Medley” at the same concert, complete with extended solos.
Click here to listen to the mixtape.
As the former “Uncle Meat” in Frank’s The Mothers of Invention, here’s the latest YT posting of Essra Mohawk.
Song is called “I Have Been Here Before” and was a fave of David Crosby’s who’d ask her to play it for him all the time. Thing is, it sounds remarkably similar to his “Deja Vu” that he next released. That’s nto fair…but judge for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1YkmhQytPQ
“I Have Been Here Before” is from Essra’s PRIMORDIAL LOVERS that that received a 5 star review in DwonBeat.
The Magdalena version is fantastic! And now, having listened to this “Shut Up…” version I discover that Barrow’s bass sound actually has much more body and texture than the official release reveals.
Thanks!
Barrow’s probably my favorite Zappa bassist.
I like the roughness of the ’88 rehearsal recordings and performance vs. the official concert recordings. FZ seems to be absent here.
The ’88 tour over the years has suffered in my perception because of:
– overperfection (the perfection should serve the music, but here the music serves for showcasing the perfection)
– 80s sample gimmicks
– Ike’s vocal abilities on this tour (and his constant laughing when the boss makes a joke)
– Chad’s drum sound
– Scott’s flanged/phased/chorused bass sound (though the playing seems to be his most inventive)
– FZ’s guitar sound and style on this tour (plinky-planky)
– the circus-style arrangements
The ’88 tour once used to be the best possible setting one could imagine but now it has become one of my least favourite tours that I rarely listen to.
Th.
I’m partly with Thinman on this – my problem with the ’88 band is mostly the tracklist and order of the CDs. I’d TRULY enjoy a full show.
(BTW Thinman: I’d be really curious about your opinion on the sound of the Halloween DVD. You can read my comment there in the discography section – I’d welcome yours!)
I feel basically the same as Thinman and Balint here – the ’88 stuff just doesn’t do it for me. I know Frank loved it, and Barry and others do too, but it just always sounded kind of bloodless to me. There are individual tunes I like, but overall, I have a hard time getting into this band (except for the new material, ie ‘Broadway’). Oh well, everybody has their own tastes.
BTW, I really like Arthur Barrow too – great sound and great notes. I like Thunes’ ideas, but also don’t like that flanged sound so much – it sounds hollow.
Where did the horn part for Bacon Fat come from? I had only heard the Zappa version’s so I checked out some samples (Taj Mahal & the Band) and they don’t play it. Did Zappa write it? It sure is a cool line, I just printed it out for my 10 year old alto player. Time for some blue notes!
I love the I am the Walrus but it makes my voice hurt. I wonder why they didn’t let Bobby sing that night? I like how he tries to cover on the high notes.
FZ-produced/mastered releases really do not capture the bass well – any bass. I also didn’t care for Thunes bass sound – until I heard Trance-Fusion.
Sorry, the message got fucked up. This is what I actually meant to say:
FZ-produced/mastered releases really do not capture the bass well – any bass. I also didn’t care for Thunes bass sound – until I heard Trance-Fusion.
That is a lot of capturing, none of them are up to your standards D.D.?
BTW, Wendl is a great name for a dog.
Anyone know what Flo and Eddie sounded like with Frank in 88? This 71 stuff is amazing!
[quote comment=”8149″]Where did the horn part for Bacon Fat come from? I had only heard the Zappa version’s so I checked out some samples (Taj Mahal & the Band) and they don’t play it. Did Zappa write it? It sure is a cool line, I just printed it out for my 10 year old alto player. Time for some blue notes!
I love the I am the Walrus but it makes my voice hurt. I wonder why they didn’t let Bobby sing that night? I like how he tries to cover on the high notes.[/quote]
Besides being one of my all time favorite field recordings, Plooker, my guess is that the horn section of “Bacon Fat” as well as “The Mother’s Blow – Behind The Sun” are largely blues improvisations. I believe this is the last time that Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood, Buzz Gardner and Ian Underwood would be recorded together live.
These unofficial recordings (and all of them, in general) are extremely valuable. Not only that they might show unknown or rare versions of this and that tune, but sometimes these are REALLY powerful, really strong in sound, in spite of the not-exactly-hifi recording quality. The power of the Shut Up… solos: just amazing. Yes: the bass of Arthur Barrow. I simply adore the official version but these ones give some bonus value to it – who would dream of it after hearing and loving the CD?
(BTW, where are these solos from? Cut-outs from the shows or part of some not-really-official solo collection, or?…)
(one more thing: is this series over? Hm, whole shows next time, maybe?…)
no idea where to post this but i thought anyone who liked star wars and comics would dig this article about frank and jack kirby.
who knew FZ turned down the offer to write the soundtrack to Star Wars?
http://royalflushmagazine.com/2009/10/13/zappa_meets_kirby/
Very cool, Hipbone!
[quote post=”2699″]who knew FZ turned down the offer to write the soundtrack to Star Wars?[/quote]
Star Wars Won’t Work…Star Wars Won’t Work…!!!!!
It’s a fuckin piece of shit.
so who wants to synch up the opening credits to “Peaches en Regalia”? “Sinister Footwear” as Darth Vader’s theme?
[quote comment=”8159″]http://royalflushmagazine.com/2009/10/13/zappa_meets_kirby/[/quote]
This article contains probably the best and concised elevator-pitch-style version of “Who is Frank Zappa?”. Thanks a lot, Hipbone!
[quote comment=”8157″]These unofficial recordings (and all of them, in general) are extremely valuable. Not only that they might show unknown or rare versions of this and that tune, but sometimes these are REALLY powerful, really strong in sound, in spite of the not-exactly-hifi recording quality. The power of the Shut Up… solos: just amazing. Yes: the bass of Arthur Barrow. I simply adore the official version but these ones give some bonus value to it – who would dream of it after hearing and loving the CD?
(BTW, where are these solos from? Cut-outs from the shows or part of some not-really-official solo collection, or?…)[/quote]
I completely agree, Balint. Although not always uniformly equal in sound quality, these tracks do offer the fan education and insight into the development of each of Frank’s bands, their individual talents at a given period, and the development of songs over time. As a compiler of these mixtapes, I am constantly surprised by what I hear.
BTW, “Shut Up & Play Yer Guitar [longer edit]” and “Shut Up & Play Yer Guitar Some More [longer edit]” are both from 20 Years of Frank Zappa: Warts & All I (1979) and Warts & All II (1979).
[quote comment=”8158″](one more thing: is this series over? Hm, whole shows next time, maybe?…)[/quote]
Is the Tweezer Glint series over?
Nope.
I am presently researching the third (and last) in the Tweezer Glint series (all good things come in three’s, don’t they?).
Until then, I’ve got another surprise in store.
[quote comment=”8159″]no idea where to post this but i thought anyone who liked star wars and comics would dig this article about frank and jack kirby.
who knew FZ turned down the offer to write the soundtrack to Star Wars?
http://royalflushmagazine.com/2009/10/13/zappa_meets_kirby/%5B/quote%5D
Just imagine Star Wars a la FZ… Darth Vader’s Such An Asshole (with the facial features of Richard Nixon).
Luke wrestles with the Jedi sword: “I’m holding it, I’m holding it!” The possibilities are endless really 😀
Son of Tweezer Glint – Part 3B Finale was yet another excellent installment. Thank you, UrbanG! I felt very much part of this Tweezer, since I attended three of the shows you included! Good Times.
MAY THE FROMAGE BE WITH YOU! . . . NA-NU! NA-NU!