Roxy & Elsewhere [2-LP]

by Frank Zappa, Frank Zappa & the Mothers, The Mothers of Invention

Overview

After his affair with jazz fusion (Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, both released in 1972), Frank Zappa came back in late 1973 with an album of simple rock songs, Over-Nite Sensation. But the temptation for more challenging material was not long to resurface and, after a transitional LP (Apostrophe, early 1974), he unleashed a double LP (reissued on one CD) of his most complex music, creating a bridge between his comedy rock stylings and Canterbury-style progressive rock. Three-quarters of the album was recorded live at the Roxy in Hollywood and extensively overdubbed in the studio later. Only three tracks ("Dummy Up," "Son of Orange County," and "More Trouble Every Day"), taken from other concerts, are 100 percent live. The band is comprised of George Duke (keyboards), Tom Fowler (bass), Ruth Underwood (percussion), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Walt Fowler (trumpet), Napoleon Murphy Brock (vocals), and Chester Thompson (drums) -- drummer Ralph Humphrey, keyboardist Don Preston, and guitarist Jeff Simmons appear on the non-Roxy material. The sequence "Echidna's Arf (Of You)"/"Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?" stands as Zappa's most difficult rock music and provides quite a showcase for Underwood. Other highlights include "Penguin in Bondage" and "Cheepnis," a horror movie tribute. All the pieces were premiere recordings, except for "More Trouble Every Day" and "Son of Orange County," a revamped, slowed down "Orange County Lumber Truck"/"Oh No." Compared to the man's previous live recordings (Fillmore East: June 1971, Just Another Band from L.A.), this one sounds fantastic, finally providing an accurate image of the musicians' virtuosity. For fans of Zappa's intricate material like "RDNZL," "The Black Page," or "Inca Roads," this album is a must-have. ~ Francois Couture

Product Details

Release Date:	12/17/2013
Label:	Universal / Zappa Records
UPC:	0824302385210
Rank:	28174

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Preamble
2. Penguin Bondage
3. Pygmy Twylyte
4. Dummy Up
5. Preamble
6. Village of the Sun
7. Echinda's Arf (Of You)
8. Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?

Disc 2

9. Preamble
10. Cheepins
11. Son of Orange County
12. More Trouble Every Day
13. Preamble
14. Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Frank Zappa   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
The Mothers of Invention   Primary Artist
The Mothers   Primary Artist
Frank Zappa & the Mothers   Primary Artist
Chester Thompson   Drums
Jeff Simmons   Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Walt Fowler   Trumpet,Trumpet (Bass)
Ruben Guevara   Vocals (Background)
Ralph Humphrey   Drums
Napoleon Murphy Brock   Flute,Vocals,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
George Duke   Vocals,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Tom Fowler   Bass
Ruth Underwood   Percussion
Don Preston   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Bruce Fowler   Trombone
Froggy   Vocals (Background)
Robert Camarena   Vocals (Background)
Lynn   Vocals (Background)
Debbie Wilson   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Stephen Marcussen   Digital Remastering
Kerry McNabb   Engineer,Remixing
Frank Zappa   Composer,Producer
Jeff Simmons   Composer
Wally Heider   Engineer
Frank Zappa & the Mothers   Performer
Napoleon Murphy Brock   Composer
Bruce Fowler   Dancer
Cal Schenkel   Design,Graphic Design
Coy Featherstone   Photography