You name it, this KUR mix has it all: keyboard solos, synth solos, drum solos, sax solos, bass solos, trumpet and trombone solos, and, of course, lots of guitar solos – those hypnotically esoteric air sculptures of Frank Zappa‘s which so often levitated his listener into altered states of audio consciousness (albeit all too briefly so) that only a handful of his contemporaries could accomplish to any degree.
Don’t dare skip a single track in Part One of what I call the ‘Immaculate Voodoo Butter Mix‘, 121 various soundboard recordings between the years of 1975 and 1984. Part One will remain posted until April 15, 2010.
Now, let’s put on our headphones-to-oblivion boys and girls and prepare to sniff…
Click here to listen to the mix.
It’s come to this…
…after years of speculating what type of music would become the MUZAK played to soothe the masses of “my generation” as we while away our last days in nursing homes, I was delighted by a recent experience. I was enjoying a pina colada flavored pudding cup at a Florida retirement community tiki bar and grooving to the tunes of a rather eclectic mix in the background. Hungry Freaks, Daddy! There it was in all its kazoo band splender. A little nostalgia for the old folks.
And yes, kids, I am truly an old fuck, but I did not spill my pudding cup. Shelley would be proud…
That’s kind of awesome…if it’s a true story.
Nice mix. Really diggin the 75 band, there’s not enough of that lineup out there
Hmm . . . this mix looks very scenty! I think, headphones & a neckbrace are in order for this one.
Let me try out the Wipe Out panties first before I get . . . J-E-S-U-S, my neck. Ouch!
This mix should have a warning label! Ha.
These mixes are excellent!
ONLY on KUR.
Barry,
Afew liitle heard morsels worth a look are the early to mid 70s Who are the brain police & any downers solos. Hope you might search them out for the mext edition of this mix series
[quote comment=”9799″]…if it’s a true story.[/quote]
of course it’s true, professor. Well, except for the part about not spilling.
I did.
Not pretty.
Sorry Shelley…
Does the whole 1980 Frankfurt show have this energy level like the CR opener? Wow!
Th.
[quote comment=”9816″]Does the whole 1980 Frankfurt show have this energy level like the CR opener? Wow!
Th.[/quote]
Yes, Thinman. The entire “Festhalle, Frankfurt, West Germany, 2 Jul 1980” show has the same energy level as the “Chunga’s Revenge” opener. In fact, all the shows in Part One do, which is why I chose them (a reminder of why I love Frank’s music so much: it’s high energy). While the audio quality may vary from track to track, the high energy does not waver, and neither does the audience’s enthusiasm…
Great to hear the raw version of ‘Drowning Witch’ from the Ritz show. That first guitar solo, most of which was used on the album, is just fucking KILLER. A favorite. As Frank said, ‘music can get you pretty fucked up’. That solo makes me a little high.
Is Al di Meola playing on the tracks from the Ritz?
This is an excellent mix, with some particularly amazing cuts from the Ritz in 1981. The Thunes/Wackerman rhythm section never sounded better (or even as good again). I checked FZshows, and Naurin says that Al di Meola was a guest at this show, but apparently not during the selections presented here.
[quote comment=”9865″]Is Al di Meola playing on the tracks from the Ritz?[/quote]
[quote comment=”9866″]This is an excellent mix, with some particularly amazing cuts from the Ritz in 1981. The Thunes/Wackerman rhythm section never sounded better (or even as good again). I checked FZshows, and Naurin says that Al di Meola was a guest at this show, but apparently not during the selections presented here.[/quote]
Dark Clothes, Al di Meola came onstage for the second encore of the “The Ritz, NYC, 17 Nov 1981” show after “Strictly Genteel” to perform the world premiere of “Clownz On Velvet” followed by Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like The Wind” (both tracks, and others, will appear in the final installment of this mix – so watch out). As amplifiers were in short supply, FZ had to unplug his guitar so that Al di Meola could plug his in.
[quote comment=”9865″]Is Al di Meola playing on the tracks from the Ritz?[/quote]Another great Italian, AL DIMEOLA!
If you’d like to see some pics I took of that show, check out Tom & Nadine’s great site The Circular Motion:
http://www.igelity.de/fzmaps/main.php?mode=zappateers
Just search the ’81 tour & look for the pic icon under 1981 11 17!
Check out Al’s python boots, maybe he wanted to play ‘Stink Foot’?
[quote comment=”9867″]… Al di Meola came onstage for the second encore of the “The Ritz, NYC, 17 Nov 1981” show after “Strictly Genteel” to perform the world premiere of “Clownz On Velvet” [/quote]
Hasn’t a recording of just this performance been actually used on Thingfish?
Th.
begin – @@@inappropriate post alert@@@
truly great photos!
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Thanks Bob! I get a cheap thrill whenever UrbanG includes a show I’ve attended in one of his most excellent mixes. The Ritz was one of the best & I love sharing those shots. Wish I had more.
UrbanG, check out ‘If Only She Woulda’ 1980 04 27 Bethlehem, PA. My first FZ show! I can still picture Tommy Mars & Arthur Barrow (on Keys/Bass Pedal, ala Ray Manzarek) doing a ‘Doors’ vamp while Frank brakes out a 10 minute guitar solo!
Maybe Immaculate Voodoo Butter Mix Part 2 worthy?
[quote post=”3290″]If you’d like to see some pics I took of that show, check out Tom & Nadine’s great site The Circular Motion:
http://www.igelity.de/fzmaps/main.php?mode=zappateers
Just search the ‘81 tour & look for the pic icon under 1981 11 17![/quote]
Very cool pics, and they ooze the atmosphere of the show. Frank has nice hair, although somewhat receding at this point… His sneakers are close to this poster’s definition of python boots, by the way.
[quote comment=”9870″][quote comment=”9867″]… Al di Meola came onstage for the second encore of the “The Ritz, NYC, 17 Nov 1981” show after “Strictly Genteel” to perform the world premiere of “Clownz On Velvet” [/quote]
Hasn’t a recording of just this performance been actually used on Thingfish?
Th.[/quote]
If you look closely to the recording of “Clownz On Velvet” on Thingfish, Thinman, you’ll notice that it is a basic track lasting 1:51 while the complete Ritz version is 6:11. Also, you’ll notice that Al di Meola is no where to be heard on the Thingfish version. Obviously, his guitar work has been edited out, leaving only the basic track. Makes one wonder since Al di Meola went to all the trouble of learning the song in the first place. Besides this field recording, this track never appeared anywhere else – at least officially. Unlike the duo between Sting and Zappa which Sting later released on a collection of individual duets, Duetos.
[quote comment=”9878″]His sneakers are close to this poster’s definition of python boots, by the way.[/quote]Ha! Very true!
In fact, standing toe to toe for about 3 hours and packed in like sardines . . . there was more Stink Foot from Us than Them!:)
[quote comment=”9879″]Also, you’ll notice that Al di Meola is no where to be heard on the Thingfish version. Obviously, his guitar work has been edited out, leaving only the basic track. Makes one wonder since Al di Meola went to all the trouble of learning the song in the first place. Besides this field recording, this track never appeared anywhere else – at least officially.[/quote]Why diss another great Italian, Frank?
Did anything from the Ritz appear on a official release?
[quote comment=”9839″]Great to hear the raw version of ‘Drowning Witch’ from the Ritz show. That first guitar solo, most of which was used on the album, is just fucking KILLER.[/quote]Fuck, I just caught this . . . time to sleep!
Well, that answers one of my questions.
And now . . . . ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
[quote comment=”9879″] Makes one wonder since Al di Meola went to all the trouble of learning the song in the first place.[/quote]
I found this old quote from pbuzby on zappateers (and I thought it was Frank’s fault):
[quote]According to FZ he wanted to release the live version of “Clowns On Velvet” with DiMeola’s solo, but DiMeola wouldn’t allow it.[/quote]Did Al give Frank the Joe Pesci Goodfellas business?
Al D: Hey Frank, what’s so fuckin’ funny? Am I here to amuse you? Like some fuckin’ velvet clown?
Balded-Headed John: I’m coming, Boss!
Very funny, Hugh!
Having listened to quite a bit of Al di Meola’s work, the one distinct difference between him and FZ is the use of live material and the central feature of improvisation which is so much a part of FZ’s music.
great tracks! Ill be bumping them for the next week.
This really is a treasure trove… Frank’s comments about all the band members’ hair towards the end of Treacherous Cretins at The Palace Theater is the funniest thing I’ve heard from 1984 (“some serious 80’s hair – Scott Thunes!”) – and then a beautiful Persona Non Grata to finish off an amazing impossible concert. Spot on, UG!
[quote comment=”9929″]Al Di Meola was not satified wit hhis performance and did not allow frank to play it.
In an interview (if some one finds it please post link) he metnions having heard it again years later and regretted pulling it. Goes to show.[/quote]
After listening to a lot of Al Di Meola over the years – I have more than two dozen of his recordings – I’ve come to the conclusion that, while also musically brilliant on the guitar, he sometimes comes off as too perfect, too technically proficient on his instrument (is that possible?), and his overall approach. Zappa’s creative process, it seemed, always allowed for the serendipity of chance to occur. I hear this again and again, show after show – and it’s precisely this serendipity of chance which emerges as instances of pure magic. Does Al Di Meola achieve this? Of course he does, but just not as often as Zappa. In order to reach those heights FZ reached, one must first be willing to flounder and fail as well. FZ did both in equal measure.