🎧 Band: Frank Zappa
💿 Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
📅 Date 1982
🌍 Country: Europe (Made in Holland)
🏷 Label: CBS 85804
🎛 Original
Features: Lyrics inlay

Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch follows the same satirical line as the previous records.

Point to tracks as "Valley Girl" recorded with his daughter, Moon Zappa, who became a great success on the charts, and another very interesting track from my favourites, "Teen Age Prostitute", a type of opera rock.

This album has a very peculiar mastering, making it have instructions to listen on a normal hi-fi and is referenced by Zappa on the cover:

This album has been engineered to sound correct on JBL 4311 speakers or an equivalent. Best results will be achieved if you set your pre-amp tone controls to the flat position with the loudness control in the off position. Before adding any treble or bass to the sound of the album, it would be advisable to check it out this way first.

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🎧 Band Frank Zappa
💿 You Are What You Is
📅 Date 1981
🌍 Country: Europe (Made in Holland)
🏷 Label: CBS 88560
🎛 Original
Features: Double Album, Gatefold sleeve.

Here is another popular Zappa record. Catchy tracks and sarcastic humour.
At this point, Zappa is disfragmenting his music into different sections.
The tracks published from this point on are sarcastic, fun, easy to listen to, but always in his own way.

The complex, orchestral music is being channelled into different albums, and we will see classic orchestral albums coming out alongside the most popular releases, such as this one.

This is a very good album and one of the most popular in Zappa's career. It will make you smile from start to finish. ;)

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa
💿 Album: Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III
📅 Date: 1979
🌍 Country: UK
🏷 Label: Zappa Records – ZAPPA 20
🎛 reissue 1990
Features: 3 x vinyl Box Set

Here’s a box set that doesn’t need introductions!

Joe’s Garage Act I and the double album Joe’s Garage Acts II & III first came out in 1979 as separate releases; later, the three acts were combined into this fantastic box set edition.

A concept album telling the story of Joe’s frustrations as a guitar player. Amazing storytelling throughout, filled with unforgettable characters and strange humour, all packed together with easy-going tracks, satire, and lots of laughs in between.

Musically, this is one of Zappa’s most polished and ambitious productions, blending rock, jazz fusion, spoken word, and some incredible guitar work. The box set itself really highlights how massive the whole project was intended to feel, almost like a surreal rock opera.

All the tracks are great, but I give particular note to: “Watermelon in Easter Hay”, one of the most emotional guitar solos Zappa ever recorded, and a surprisingly serious piece near the end of the story.

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa
💿 Album: Orchestral Favorites
📅 Date: 1979
🌍 Country: Greece
🏷 Warner Bros. Records – 59212
🎛 Original
Features: Orchestral Album

Oh no, not again! Another change in Zappa's discography. This time we are talking about serious orchestral music! I mean... classical music.
Surprised? dont be... It's a Zappa all time achievement.

He was a big fan of Edgard Varèse from a very young age, and this record is only the beginning of his orchestral classical series.

The cover does not reveal the content... truth!
I have never been a big fan of Zappa's cover designs (sorry Cal Schenkel), but... really? An album of classical music with a cover that looks like a comics magazine?

Some really nice orchestral pieces on this record. I recommend a listen: "Strictly Genteel" from 200 Motels, "Duke Of Prunes" from Absolutely Free, and some other tracks remade from the 200 Motels album/Movie.
A nice piece of orchestral music with no lyrics that touches on the surreal at the edges.

Is this record a tuna sandwich?
(reference to "This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich" track from 200 Motels)
The cover and the content are like that... A Tuna Sandwich, but with some delicious pieces of salad inside! A favoured salad of orchestral tunas!

The 40th-anniversary 3-CD reissue includes much more content and many more standout tracks. I highly recommend it!
Shame the vinyl reissue has exactly the same tracks as the original album.
Original vinyl - 5 Tracks
Reissue vinyl - 5 Tracks
40th Anniversary 3 CDs - 26 Tracks
You Decide!

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa
💿 Album: Sheik Yerbouti
📅 Date: 1979
🌍 Country: Europe
🏷 Label: CBS 88339
🎛 Original
Features: Double Album

The comedy starts here! Not in a theatrical way as Zappa has been playing before, but in your face. This may have been one of the most prolific periods in Zappa's career, as he released four albums and a box set in the same year.

This album shows another turn in Zappa's discography. Easy listen, hilarious, vocal, clean with direct lyrics, straight to the point. Did he offend someone?

Maybe! Not the most indicated record for easily offended people.
Tracks as "I Have Been In You" ", Broken Hearts Are For Assholes", "I'm So Cute ", Bobby Brown" ", Baby Snakes" ", Dancin' Fool", and "Jewish Princess" are exactly it... Offensive and comical at the same time. Not much of the orchestral or complicated arrangements. The tracks talk exactly as the titles sound and the music is directed to... Sheik Yerbouti!

If you want comical, easy-going albums from this genre, "Sheikh Yerbouti", "You Are What You Is"," Joe's Garage","Thig Fish" and "Them Or Us" are just a few other records on his way.

By this time, Zappa was already training new musicians to create what he called "The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life", and he was not too far from the truth!

In my opinion, Zappa was already planning easygoing tracks for the tour. and play the entertainer for the masses while he worked on orchestral projects, not so "musically digestible" like the ones on this album and many others coming next, as I mentioned before.
Then again... Still a good album, sarcastically funny, and good for a laugh.
Does humour belong in music?

#zappa #frankzappa #zappanale #zappaproject #SheikYerbouti #vinyl #vinylcommunity #vinylcollector #records #doublealbum #fediverse #mastodon #nowspinning #ZappaDiscography #myvinylcollection #music #nowlistening

🎧 Band: Zappa/ Beefheart / Mothers
💿 Album: Bongo Fury
📅 Date: 1975
🌍 Country: Germany
🏷 Label: DiscReet – DIS 59 209
🎛 Original

Following the chronological Zappa discography, it's time for Bongo Fury.
A cooperation between Zappa, Captain Beefheart, and the Mothers.

Not one of my favourites, but there are a couple of good tracks. Is just too bluesy to my taste! Bringing two rock stars and their egos onto the same record is not a good formula either!

The album is mainly blues, and Beefheart takes the lead on most tracks. I do like Captain Beefheart, but in small doses. I do have about three of his records in my collection.
I dont think this album has brought something very interesting aside from tracks such as 200 Years Old, Cucamonga and the great track... Muffin Man. Zappa used this track many times to close down his shows, and it is a well deserved ending, especially that guitar solo. ;)

Live and raw, I think this record was produced to bring back memories of Cucamonga school times when Zappa and Beefheart spent their time playing R&B.

Personally, I think the album has more of Beehearth in it than Zappa or Mothers. I did come across some Zappa and Beefheart bootlegs before, but I always go back to my personal point of view... not working!
Not my favourite cup of coffee, but it has a sweet taste at the end, that's why it's on my shelf.

#zappa #frankzappa #zappaproject #captainbeefheart #blues #bluesrock #bongofury #Mothers #vinyl #vinylcollectors #originalvinyl #rockandblues #vinylcommunity #records #recordcollector #myvinylcollection #fediverse #mastodon

🎧 Band: Zappa / Mothers
💿 Album: Roxy & Elsewhere
📅 Date: 1974
🌍 Country: UK
🏷 Label: Zappa Records – ZAPPA 39
🎛 Reissue
Features: Gatefold Sleeve.

Here's my story...
The first time I heard this album, I was around 12/13 years old.
I was at a friend's house, and his dad was listening to this record in the living room. One track struck my ear, "Echidna's Arf (Of You)"

I got into the living room and asked what's playing? Zappa, he told me and showed me the record cover!

I grew up listening to prog rock from my older brother's side. He was involved with local bands and had a great vinyl collection.
On my mother's side, I listened to Brazilian music, Jazz, orchestral music, and all kinds of easy listening in between.
(Story of my music influences)

But.... I have never in my life heard something like Zappa, especially that track... It sounds like an impossible piece of music to play by humans, and on top of that... live?!

I told my brother about Zappa, but he didn't look interested. Since then, I've wanted to listen to more Zappa, so I started asking my brother's friends about Zappa, and some of them actually had Zappa records at home.
That was it! Forty-five years later, where I am writing the story!

Later in 2015, I found out there was a DVD of this concert that had come out and got it.
"Echidna's Arf (Of You)" is an almost impossible piece of music to play. Only music genious could play search music without a mistake!

I have watched the DVD many times, but I almost get out of breath watching the band on stage playing the track. They play a fast, precise and complicated piece of music without a mistake... It's impressive!

Since then, my Zappalogicology dont stop growing, and sometimes I think I have a musicanthropy problem! ;)

So... what was the first Zappa record you listened to?

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa & Mothers
💿 Album: Apostrophe (')
📅 Date: 1976
🌍 Country: UK
🏷 Label: Discreet – LP-S-65-14
🎛 Original

It’s hard to talk about this album without also mentioning Over-Nite Sensation. Without a doubt, both are among Zappa’s most polished and refined recordings, created with one of the strongest line-ups he ever assembled.

Every track here is exceptional, and highlighting favourites feels almost impossible.

I often imagine this period of Zappa’s work as a definitive box set era: Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe (’), One Size Fits All, and completed by the live masterpiece Roxy & Elsewhere.

These albums are deeply connected, not only through their musical brilliance but through the chemistry of the musicians involved.
Every player was a virtuoso.

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa & Mothers
💿 Album: Over-Nite Sensation
📅 Date: 1976
🌍 Country: Portugal
🏷 Label: Discreet – LP-S-65-10
🎛 Reissue
Features: Gatefold Sleeve.

Here is an album I recommend to everyone who has never heard Zappa's music. Groovy Rock and one of, if not the best, band formations Zappa had.

This album and the next one, "apostrophe", should have come out as double vinyl, as both are the most-liked Frank Zappa records for many music lovers, even if they dont like the majority of Zappa's work.

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🎧 Band: Frank Zappa
💿 Album: Grand Wazoo Comic Book Extravaganza
📅 Date: 1984
🌍 Country: Europe
🏷 Label: Mushroom Records Ltd
🎛 Bootleg
Features: Double album, Red & White

Another Wazoo bootleg. Zappa always had audience participation in his shows, but this one is special and unique. First, Zappa gave some of the orchestra musicians comic books. Then he tells the audience to make some comic magazine noises as (Capuuu, Tchapooo, etc) conducted by hand signs during the time when the musicians are reading some random parts of the magazine. Very entertaining and unique audience participation, and a rare one to have! Musicly is a very good one with the petite wazoo band, but the audience participation takes up almost one of the records.

Other audience participation can range from dancing the be-bop tango to all the craziness in between.

Recording at The Grand Wazoo tour, this is a must-have record for any collector. This is only one of the many variations Zappa did during the wazoo tour.

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