This just in by way of Andrew – from Crossfire Publications:
During 2010, Crossfire rolled out 35 download volumes (a total of 417 tracks) from Paul Buff’s archives of Pal and Original Sound recordings. Many of you wanted lossless files rather than MP3s, so we’ve gone and done it!
So what’s the deal?
We’re offering the entire 35-volume set of recordings as WAV files along with a large, 138-page PDF featuring Greg Russo and Paul Buff’s historical liner notes, photos and credits. The whole thing comes on a flash drive. Of course, all of the tracks that feature Frank Zappa as a performer, writer, producer or engineer are part of this set. Not only that, you also get 56 bonus tracks (two featuring Zappa) that were not part of the series. All of these bonus tracks were discovered and/or remastered after the series was completed, and you have to buy the entire set to get them.
The Collection, a total of 473 tracks, is $350 US for the flash drive (including shipping). Order yours here.
that is a lot a historie and a lot a music i would buy it but 350 at the moment is a bit to much for my wallet ………….how ever very nice to witness how the historie of a composer is writing it self nice development ……………………
Yeah, that’s absolutely a great value for that much recording history. But, like most of you, the economy has put a big damper on that kind of spending. (I can barely afford ZFT releases, but manage to scrimp for those.)
Since I was very, very young, I always had a fascination with tape recorders. My dad bought one of the first readily available “portable” machines in 1963. It was a Wollensak. The tape, the reels, the lights, the motors…everything about it fascinated me.
While digital recording is certainly superior in many ways, it just isn’t the same organic experience for me. So any kind of documentation about people with the same fascination is always something I want.
I assume the PDF has information on the custom 5-Track (I think) machine Buff built?
No samples. $350 on faith? That’s a lot to ask even a completist such as myself. Still, pretty damn hard to resist…Can’t stop…my hand…going for…my wallet…somebody help…please…weasels…ripping…my…flesh
Loadsa samples here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/VariousArtists572
[quote comment=”23764″]Loadsa samples here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/VariousArtists572%5B/quote%5D
Thanks for the link, Andrew. Spent an enjoyable couple of hours listening to all the compiled samples. A unique historical document in and of itself, musically.
Volume 1, track # 17 – ‘Cyclophony’ – appears to be a straightforward copy of the audio track from the TV broadcast featuring Zappa on the Steve Allen Show, originally broadcast on March 14th 1963 (the infamous ‘bicycle’ performance).
[quote comment=”23913″]Volume 1, track # 17 – ‘Cyclophony’ – appears to be a straightforward copy of the audio track from the TV broadcast featuring Zappa on the Steve Allen Show, originally broadcast on March 14th 1963 (the infamous ‘bicycle’ performance).[/quote]
Indeed, but “transferred from the original film, so it is the best quality presentation of this track that has ever been released.” Volume 18 has an edit featuring just the musical performance.