Zappa Plays Zappa - Dweezil Zappa

Advantages: a brilliant 1974 concert with a top notch Zappa band
Disadvantages: not quite the whole gig and the instrumentals may be a little off putting to newcomers

...Brock's vocal problems and the dominant track here is a 23 minute "Dupree's Paradise" which at times is just mind boggling. They even play a Finnish tango straight from the music score as they'd not had time to rehearse it. The show ends with a great rendition of "Montana" - where they grow dental floss don't you know - but only after Zappa starts the song three times and gets the band to play it super slow on the third attempt as they don't seem to be able to manage the usual brisk tempo. "What happened to you last night? enquires Zappa of the band amid much laughter. An edited "Big Swifty" concludes the disc on a high, pity the whole track wasn't included though. On the whole, it's a marvellous example of complex jazz inflected rock, plus some genuinely funny lyrics, tricky time signatures, complex keyboards and amazing guitar playing... Read review

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Advantages: Amazing musicians with tongues well in cheeks
Disadvantages: You may have to think...

...It's may come as a strong statement, but I would rate disc one of YCDTOSA Vol 3 as the best hour amonst Frank's huge output - just the right mix of musicianship and comedy, and a guest appearance by Dweezil to boot! From the intracacies of 'Drowning Witch' to the humour of 'Bobby Brown goes Down' and 'Ride my face to Chicago'; the album throws up great quotes both musically and lyrically. Anyone who fails to catch the groove of 'Chana in de Bushwap' and 'Joe's Garage' has no timing anyway. As with the rest of the series, the editing together and flow of the selections adds to the whole package. The second disc of the album show much more deep musicality, but would be carried on the strength of 'King Kong' and Terry Bozzio's amazing 'Hands with a Hammer' alone. And the stunning 'Zoot Allures' and 'Cosmic Debris' and you have a quality... Read review

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Advantages: An insight into the great mind that was - Frank Zappa
Disadvantages: May be a little to wild for some people.

...Apostrophe was released in 1974 on the 'Zappa' label. Track One - Don't Eat the Yellow Snow '' Quite a famous track for Zappa, but at 2mins 7secs it doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the album is going to be like. Also, as you probably have already understood, the 'yellow snow' meaning. Track Two - Nanook Rubs It ' Another funny track from Zappa, but once again doesn't really show his great creativity. Track Three - St. Alfonzo's pancake breakfast '' From the title you can probably grasp that this track is going to be quite interesting... and you wouldn't be wrong... Read review

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