Strictly Genteel

By 1981, Frank Zappa’s Halloween shows in New York were already legendary – a rock and roll bacchanalia of jaw-dropping musicianship, costume-clad revelry, spontaneous theatrical hijinks and of course a heavy dose of Zappa’s signature virtuosic guitar workouts. Eagerly anticipated every year, fans never knew exactly what was in store but knew it would be of epic proportions and one-of-a-kind experience that only Zappa and his skilled group of musicians could provide. When Zappa returned to The Palladium in NYC in 1981 for a five-show four-night run from October 29 to November 1, the nearly-annual tradition was even more anticipated than usual as the 1980 concerts were cut short due to Zappa falling ill. Curiously there was no fall tour the previous year and thus no Halloween shows.

Frank Zappa - Orchestral Favorites (2019) {3CD Set, 40th Anniversary Edition}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Official Digital Download -> 942 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 368 Mb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 2019 Zappa Records
Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock / Modern Composition

Three-disc deluxe edition includes original album remastered from master tapes plus recording of previously unreleased two-hour concert, extensive liner notes and newly created cover art. When Frank Zappa’s Orchestral Favorites was eventually released in 1979 as part of fulfilling his contract with his contentious former label, the album was dumped into the world along with several other titles without the legendary musician’s permission or quality control. It did not include liner notes or credits and the artwork and audio wasn’t approved by Zappa who publicly criticized it as not being up to his standards. As a result of not receiving any promotion, it was quickly relegated to the bargain bin shortly after its release.

Frank Zappa - Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2019) {3CD Set, Zappa Records ‎ZR20030 rec 1975}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 942 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 370 Mb
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© 1975, 2019 Zappa Records / UMe | ‎ZR20030
Rock / Experimental Rock / Classical / Jazz Rock / Modern Composition

Three-disc deluxe edition includes original album remastered from master tapes plus recording of previously unreleased two-hour concert, extensive liner notes and newly created cover art.

Frank Zappa - Chicago '78 (2016) {2CD Set Zappa Records ZR 20025}
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© 1978, 2016 Zappa Records / Vaulternative Records / ZFT / Universal | ZR 20025
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

Official Release #108. Original recordings produced by Frank Zappa. In September of 1978, Frank Zappa took the stage with his rockin' teenage combo (Ike Willis, Denny Walley, Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf, Arthur Barrow, Ed Mann, and the great Vinnie Colaiuta) at the Uptown Theater in Chicago. This album is the entire show and fans are going to love it. The leadoff track is a cool unheard guitar instrumental called "Twenty-One." Played in a 21-beat rhythm, it seems related to "Thirteen" from around the same time period (on YCDTOA, Vol. 6). "Easy Meat" features an earlier arrangement and a nasty guitar solo, while "Village of the Sun" adds a weird interlude with some additional lyrics that sets up the vamp for another fantastic guitar solo.

Frank Zappa - ZAPPAtite - Frank Zappa’s Tastiest Tracks (2016) {Zappa Records ZR 20023}
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© 2016 Zappa Records / ZFT / Universal | ZR 20023
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Jazz Rock

Official Release #106. In his trailblazing and incredibly prolific career, artist, composer and all-around musical pioneer Frank Zappa released more than 60 albums in his lifetime, as a solo artist and with his bands the Mothers of Invention and the Mothers. Coupled with more than 40 posthumous releases since his death in 1993 at 52, figuring out where to start in Zappa’s vast, genre-leaping catalog can be daunting. ZAPPAtite – Frank Zappa’s Tastiest Tracks, out now on Zappa Records/UMe, collects some of Zappa’s best known and beloved compositions, from his early psychedelic rock beginnings to his avant-garde experimentation, jazz-rock explorations, symphonic suites and satirical send-ups, compiling them into one easily digestible collection and offering key entryways into the many musical worlds of the visionary musician.

Frank Zappa - 200 Motels - The Suites - Los Angeles Philharmonic (2015) {2CD Zappa Records ZR0019}
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© 1971, 2015 Zappa Records / The Zappa Family Trust / Universal | ZR 20019 / 00824302001929
Classical / Rock / Experimental / Suite

Official Release #101. On the evening of October 23, 2013, Walt Disney Concert Hall was the place to be in Los Angeles, as Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale in a spectacular, sold-out orchestral performance of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (The Suites). Recorded for posterity, the acclaimed, one-night-only 13-suite performance of Zappa's 1971 masterwork will be released worldwide on November 20 by Zappa Records/UMe. This 2CD release's expertly recorded audio brings the listener back to Walt Disney Concert Hall to experience the exciting 200 Motels (The Suites) spectacle, complemented by photos from the evening and essays by the show and recording's producers, Gail Zappa and Frank Filipetti, the evening's director James Darrah, 'Scoremeister' Kurt Morgan, and performers including Diva Zappa, Michael Des Barres, special guest 'Rock' rhythm section drummer Joe Travers, and former Zappa band member Scott Thunes. Essays by some notable members of the audience, including Steve Vai and Peter Asher, are also included.

Frank Zappa - Halloween 81 (2020) {6CD Set, Zappa Records ZR 20034}
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© 1981, 2020 Zappa Records / UMe | ZR 20034
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

By 1981, Frank Zappa’s Halloween shows in New York were already legendary – a rock and roll bacchanalia of jaw-dropping musicianship, costume-clad revelry, spontaneous theatrical hijinks and of course a heavy dose of Zappa’s signature virtuosic guitar workouts. Eagerly anticipated every year, fans never knew exactly what was in store but knew it would be of epic proportions and one-of-a-kind experience that only Zappa and his skilled group of musicians could provide. When Zappa returned to The Palladium in NYC in 1981 for a five-show four-night run from October 29 to November 1, the nearly-annual tradition was even more anticipated than usual as the 1980 concerts were cut short due to Zappa falling ill. Curiously there was no fall tour the previous year and thus no Halloween shows.

Frank Zappa - Puttin' On The Ritz (2014) {2CD Goldfish Records GOLF009 rec 1981}
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© 1981, 2014 Goldfish Records | GOLF009
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

By the closing months of 1981 Frank Zappa had already released five albums during that productive year. Three of these records were his instrumental guitar collections - Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More, and The Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar - initially sold via mail order but later released through CBS. There was also the live double Tinseltown Rebellion and the 2-LP studio set You Are What You Is, released in September. Zappa also hit the road in September 81, performing a largely domestic tour that criss-crossed the US and took in a couple of shows in Canada between September and Christmas. On board for the tour were Frank s latest touring band, comprising Chad Wackerman on drums, Ed Mann on percussion, Tommy Mars on keyboards, Scott Thunes on bass, with Steve Vai and Ray White on guitar.

Frank Zappa - Zoot Alors! (2017) {4CD Set Coda Publishing CPLCD248 rec 1975-1981}
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© 1975-81, 2017 Coda Publishing / Stormbird | CPLCD248
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

This powerful four disc anthology is a wonderful illustration of the genius that was the late, great Frank Zappa in performance and broadcasting live to air. Zappa always defies categorisation. He blended humor, satire, virtuoso guitar, challenging lyrics, bawdy tales, brilliant compositions, and inspired improvisation and somehow managed to make those diverse elements work together in a unique, musical form which defies categorisation, and is known to posterity by the term "Zappa".