Those Zappa Re-releases...

George Grand

The "new" re-release of Hot Rats (by the Zappa Family Trust I guess?) is in fact the real deal. The original lp version before he dicked it up while converting it to cd. This alone, to me, is something to be very happy about. So I'm happy about it.

Another "new" re-release that restores the album to its ORIGINAL lp magnificence is "We're Only In It For The Money". Gone is the ridiculous bass and drums he added during this one's original conversion to cd way back when. It also restores lyrics that were omitted even on re-releases of the vinyl. I guess this is something to be happy about also, but this was never one of my favorite early Mothers albums, so, I'm so-so about it.

A big letdown is the "new" re-release of "Reuben & The Jets" (which was secretly a VERY IMPORTANT early Mothers offering). He ruined this beauty with added drums and bass during original conversion to cd, and they are still there. Bummer. Apparently, the only way to ever have the unadulterated version is to have the original vinyl.

I can't see myself buying any more "new" re-releases of the old Mothers stuff. All the other early Mothers cd's are pretty true to form, just the three discussed above were not (not even close actually). I kind of tuned him out after that 1976 or so Zoot Allures thing which I thought was pretty shabby, and all the social commentary which was turning more and more towards a pretty sophomoric audience. You're always fronting the hottest band around, you get music in your head from places nobody else gets music from, and you want me to sit and listen to you TALK about a misguided **** freak from Illinois? Eat me Frank.

The big orchestral albums are pretty hot too.

TroyD

George,

Are they re-releasing Apostrophe, do you know? I haven't been paying much attention to anything other than TLW and hamburgers, lately.

BDT

George Grand

I can't see why not. That was one of his "smash" hits. At the very beginning, Rykodisc offered Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation on one disc. It was the very first cd I ever bought, and I got it for two songs from OS, Montana and Fify-Fifty.

sda2mike

George Grand wrote: »

You're always fronting the hottest band around, you get music in your head from places nobody else gets music from, and you want me to sit and listen to you TALK about a misguided **** freak from Illinois? Eat me Frank.

great as always george! fz just wanted to piss everybody off...even those who thought they were 'on the same level' as he..early 80s is when i jumped off..new stuff that is...i do like some moments on yellow shark, tho

hochpt21

Heard of Zappa, but never heard Zappa...that is until today. I was in my local spin shack. I kinda know the lady who runs it, and she says she got some good stuff in. Picked a "Traffic" and a "Frijid Pink" which I thought was a pretty good haul, because here in WI we normally don't get much at these shops. (All the Chicago and Neil Diamond albums you could dream of, however:rolleyes:)

When I go to check out, she was cleaning one and asked if I liked Zappa. I said I knew of him, but never heard before. She threw "The Mothers Of Invention...Burnt Weeny Sandwich" on her TT. We sat and listened to most of the album. Anyways I walked out with it (probably overpaid). It is in mint condition, with an almost perfect cover, original sleeve and original poster. Maybe this was a common album back in the day, but I've been picking for about three years now and havn't seen a Mothers, or Zappa or anything.

Anyways, I'll stop rambling...but I really like the album as I am listening to it again.

Can anyone recommend more Zappa that I should check out?

Thanks,
Paul

sda2mike

start from freak out!, till you can't stand it no mo!

George Grand

The Yellow Shark is awesome material.

He really bares his soul quite a bit on Freak Out. Some of those songs were important enough to him to re-do on Reuben & The Jets.

Burnt Weeny Sandwich is a keeper for sure. A "burnt weeny sandwich" was a hot dog cooked on a fork over the gas stove in the kitchen and wrapped in Wonder bread. One of the things he could make himself if he was in the basement all night and got hungry.

How about Holiday in Berlin and Holiday in Berlin Full Blown?

Uncle Meat, Hot Rats, One Size Fits All, Waka Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Live at The Roxy, are all pretty good to have.

rromeo923

Not sure why but "You are what you is" is by far my favorite Zappa Album. I can listen from start to finish and then do it again.