Frank Zappa - Zappa in New York
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Free Music Notes for Zappa in New York
Free Music Review: One of Zappa's ten best albums...
Hit: 5 Stars
This is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite Zappa albums. I am playing the living tar out of it. I never got the original LP, and I'm glad, as this CD version has to be far superior to it. It has 5 bonus tracks, all of which really enhance the album. It's bursting with some great original material (Ti$$ies and Beer, the sensitively titled I Promise Not to Come in Your Mouth, the epic The Purple Lagoon/Approximate, and the hilarious tracks The Illinois Enema Bandit and Punky's Whips), and it has great live versions of classic Zappa. I usually don't like Zappa's "comedy" songs, but Punky's Whips and Illinois Enema Bandit are really funny. Cruisin' for Burgers runs an epic 9 1/2 minutes, with a great guitar solo. It's better than the short version from Uncle Meat. I'm the Slime has a very enthusiastic Don Pardo (from SNL) announcing, and The Torture Never Stops has a much more looser feel to it than on the studio version (and it makes it better). The band is incredibly tight as usual, and the SNL horn section really seems to be enjoying themselves (Zappa got the best out of his musicians). Warner Brothers deleting Punky's Whips for fear of offending Punky Meadows is hilarious (even though it did appear on Baby Snakes shortly after this album). One of Zappa's most brilliant albums....Free Music Review: "he's more fluid then Jeff Beck"
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of Zappa's best albums. Yes, the lyrics are great on the first disc, but that's not why I think you should buy the album. The music by itself is worth every penny!
Terry Bozio is one of the few drummers I look to for inspiration, and you'll see why. In Punky's Whips, he not only sings lead vocals, but is flipping through the sheet music all while playing amazingly! Zappa's solos are brilliant...and then there's Don Pardo, ex-Jeopardy! voice, who sings on I'm the Slime (and yes, he is the slime).
Now I could go on about Ray White, Eddie Jobson, Patrick O'Hearn, and the rest of the gang, but that would take all the fun out of listening to the album for the first time (and many times after!) and being simply amazed, now wouldn't it?
If you're a Zappa freak this is a great one to add to the collection. Even if you own the albums some these songs are from, you should know that every time the song is played, it's different in one form or another.
If you're a Zappa virgin, then this is a perfect album to buy. Not only do you get a taste of Zappa's humor and improvisation, but you get a mouthful of his musical genius!
Don't think about it, get it. The only reason to not like it, is not having heard it.
Free Music Review: Purple Lagoon
Hit: 5 Stars
I was fortunate enough to have seen Zappa in live performances (3)... and actually saw this tour although not in NYC. The first time I saw him live I remember how strange it felt to be digging the music but laughing at the same time as the group went through their performance.. totally cool experience. I still listen to this album a lot..like many Zappa fan's I go throught phases of listening to different pieces of his work.. they're all so good and entertainging. I was a little supprised that the previous reviewers had not touched on one the most incredible tenor sax solo's to ever be recorded. Michael Brecker absolutely blows you away with this piece (purple lagoon). If this tune does not produce chills down your spine.. there may be no hope for you.
Very nice guitar piece on "pound for a brown" and the "easy teenage New York eversion of the Black Page". At one point in my life I almost exclusively listened to Zappa.. but I'm learning to get a life.
Buy this album and enjoy.
Free Music Review: I Loved This Concert!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great thing to have at home if you like FZ's stuff.This was the first FZ album I ever listened to. My father owned a copy of this album on cassette, and I really liked it. That's why, when I heard there are even more funky Zappa tunes and better quality on the CD, I baught it.
The good thing about the 2 CD set, is that one is mainly lyrical songs, and the other instrumental songs. The 1st CD is good for a laugh, and a glance at Zappa's sick, twisted and beautiful humor through his lyrics, mixed with those awsome guitar sounds!
The 2ed CD is good for when you are on the road, or in the mood for some music and need something in the background.
If you are looking for something more solid, go with Apostrophe or Overnite Sensation, two more of my favs.
Bottom line is that I loved this 2 CD set, and I think others will too. Two great CDs. Buy it, try it, listen to FZ!
Frank puts on a great show, and I am sure he would love knowing that people out there are still listening to his music.
Free Music Review: good on LP, great on CD
Hit: 5 Stars
I've owned this one for 25 years or so, originally on LP. On LP this one was merely very good. The sound on the LP was very thin. The CD has much improved sound quality, and it has several tracks not on the LP. The infamous "Punky's Whips" was censored off the original LP. "Cruising for Burgers" and "Pound for a Brown" are very different from the Uncle Meat versions and great. "I Am the Slime" has Zappa doing half the vocals over vampire movie type music and then Don Pardo, the announcer from the original Saturday Night Live, hollering the other half. The added tracks and improved sound make all the difference!
This album and "Roxy and Elsewhere" are great examples of his "Big Band" sound. The band includes Ray White, one of FZ's best vocalists, and Randy Becker on trumpet and Michael Brecker on tenor tax. They do great solos on "Purple Lagoon", although FZ somehow found it necessary to mess up the trumpet solo with sound treatments. Overall very good.