Frank Zappa plays the music of Frank Zappa (Barking Pumpkin 02)

 

 

Tracklist

 

1. Black napkins  (Live recording: Ljubljana, Yugoslavia     2. Black napkins  (Album version)     3. Zoot allures  (Live recording: Tokyo, Japan)     4. Merely a blues in A  (Live recording: Paris, France)

5. Zoot allures  (Album version)     6. Watermelon in easter hay  (Live recording: Venue unknown)     7. Watermelon in easter hay  (Album version)

 

Rating: ****
 
At $40 a pop and available only through Barfko-Swill (check out The Real Frank Zappa page for details), this album will likely not be accessible (practically, financially, and maybe artistically) to those new to Frankophilia let alone those unfamiliar with his work.  Unfortunately the inclusion of three previously released tracks has led to this album to be dismissed by many afficianados as a rip-off.
 
Marion says: 'Well, pshaw and piss on you, Jack' to the nay-sayers.  Most of this album is characterized by original performaces by a master of improvisation.  The unreleased material included on this album is as good as anything in the Zappa catalog.  Is it possible to hear 'Watermelon in Easter Hay' too often?  Can you imagine Frank playing 'Merely a blues in A' wearing a straight jacket?
 
Anyway, this is good stuff if you recover from the sticker shock.