The Yellow Shark/Ensemble Modern (Barking Pumpkin Records R2~1600 )

 

Tracklist:

 

1. Uncle Meat: Main title theme   from Uncle Meat  2. Regyptian strut  from Sleep Dirt  3. Pedro's dowry  from Orchestral Favorites  4. Outrage at Valdez  from The Yellow Shark  5. Little umbrellas  from Hot Rats  6. Run home slow theme  from The Lost Episodes  7. Dwarf nebula processional march & Dwarf nebula  from Weasels Ripped My Flesh  8. Dupree's paradise  from Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger  9. Opus 1, No. 3, 2nd Movement, PRESTO  from Francesco Zappa

10. Duke of prunes  from Orchestral Favorites  11. Aybe sea  from Burnt Weeny Sandwich  12. Naval aviation in art?  from Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger  13. G-spot tornado  from Jazz From Hell  14. Bob in Dacron, First Movement  from London Symphony Orchestra Vol I & II  15. Opus 1, No. 4, 2nd Movement, ALLEGRO  from Francesco Zappa  16. Dog breath variations  from The Yellow Shark  17. Uncle Meat  from The Yellow Shark  18. Strictly genteel  from London Symphony Orchestra Vol I & II

 

Rating: ** 1/2
 
I guess in order to review this compact disc we have to consider what it's purpose is.  As a compilation it's primary purpose would seem to be to introduce the unitiated to the 'serious music' of Frank Zappa.  You can tell this is serious music because there is a gilt-edged photo of Frank in evening wear against a background of musical scores on the cover.  So let's get serious now...
 
On second thought, let's not...
 
If you are a dedicated Zappa fan with most of the catalog and a commitment to obtaining the rest of it, a compilation is fairly pointless unless maybe it included a collection of truly extraordinary works organized in some clever and original fashion.  Well, that leaves out Strictly Genteel.  There are several items on this disc that could safely have been left off (the cuts from LSO and Francesco come to mind) to make room for other, more deserving performances.  How about the live version of Strictly genteel from volume 6 of YCDTOSA¹ or the original from 200 Motels instead of the verson from LSO², possibly the worst performance on that 2 CD set plagued by indifferent performances.
 
I could probably turn this into a long list of offenses but all I would accompllish is to let you know that I don't agree with whoever came up with the program for this compact disc.  But you know that.
 
As a product directed at the consumer who may be mostly unfamiliar with this side of Zappa's work, the disc is somewhat more successful.  There isn't anything really awful on Strictly Genteel (with the possible exception of the title cut) and most of the music is pleasant to listen to, even the Francesco stuff.  It is also nice that the superb Yellow Shark disc is so generously represented with 3 cuts (though I might have replaced the JFH³ version of G-spot tornado with the one from The Yellow Shark-sorry, I did it again).  All in all, it isn't an extraordinary introduction for newcomers but it isn't bad either.
 
You know, I think I'm just mad because Frank Zappa is dead and it looks like we're going to just have to deal with one lame compilation after another.  Unfortunately, Strictly Genteel might be as good as it gets.

 

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NOTES:
1.  You can't do that on stage anymore
2.  London Symphony Orchestra, vol I & II
3.  Jazz From Hell