Zappa Lumpy Gravy

Aside from the experimental side project Lumpy Gravy, Hot Rats was the first album Frank Zappa recorded as a solo artist sans the Mothers, though he continued to employ previous musical collaborators, most notably multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood. Other than another side project – the doo wop tribute Cruising With Ruben and the Jets – Hot Rats was also the first time Zappa focused his efforts in one general area, namely jazz-rock…

A fascinating collection of mostly instrumental live and studio material recorded by the original Mothers of Invention, complete with horn section, from 1967-1969, Weasels Ripped My Flesh segues unpredictably between arty experimentation and traditional song structures…

The Persuasions - Frankly A cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (2000) {EarthBeat!-Rhino R279832} (Zappa-related)
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© 2000 EarthBeat! Records / Rhino Records | R279832
A cappella / Soul / Doo-Wop / R&B

Frank Zappa gave the vocal group the Persuasions their first chance by signing them to his record label, Straight, in 1969. In 2000, the six-piece a cappella formation recorded a heartfelt tribute to the composer by recording doo wop renditions of a cross section of his songs. Some choices were inevitable, like "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing," which the group had already performed on the project Zappa's Universe, and the already doo woppy "Any Way the Wind Blows" and "Love of My Life." But by adding obscure numbers like "Electric Aunt Jemima" and "Harder Than Your Husband," the Persuasions clearly intended to surprise the fans – and it works.

Frank Zappa - Apocrypha: Thirty Years of Frank Zappa (1994) {4CD Set Great Dane Records GDR 9405/ABCD}
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© 1994 Great Dane Records | GDR 9405/ABCD
Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock / Modern Composition

The box contains a 40 page color booklet which includes the Interview by Bob Marshall. Liner notes appear on the far right on every right-hand page - in the style of the YCDTOSA series. This is a very popular bootleg box with luxurious packaging: a book-style box with a leather appearance (although not at all made of leather). The front has a photo of Zappa's moustache, and says "APOCRYPHA", "FZ" and "Thirty Years Of Frank Zappa". The back cover shows Zappa walking down the street with his UHER portable tape recorder, wearing a bulbous derby (from the same session as the inside photo in the Strictly Commercial package).

Frank Zappa - Orchestral Favorites (2019) {3CD Set, 40th Anniversary Edition}
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© 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 - Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991) {2CD Rykodisc RCD 10555/56 rel 1995}
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© 1991, 1995 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust | RCD 10555/56
Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock / Art Rock

Official Release #57. The third and final live album put together from recordings of Frank Zappa's 1988 concerts, the two-CD set Make a Jazz Noise Here focuses on the composer's instrumental pieces – which are not necessarily jazzy, by the way. As for the three vocal tracks included ("Stinkfoot," "Stevie's Spanking," and "Advance Romance"), they all feature interesting solos. The set presents old favorites, like the medley "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"/"Harry, You're a Beast," "King Kong," and "The Black Page." They are well-performed, but considering the number of versions of each of them available on other recordings, they hardly constitute the main interest of this album.

The Ed Palermo Big Band - Oh No! Not Jazz!! (2014) {2CD Set Cuneiform Records} (Frank Zappa related)
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© 2014 Cuneiform Records / Ed Palermo | Rune 380/81
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Modern Big Band / Jazz Rock

The Ed Palermo Big Band is led by alto saxist and arranger Ed Palermo; he has had this big band with much of the same personnel for over 30 years, which is an impressive feat in itself, and has had his band performing the music of Frank Zappa for 20 years. There are a number of ensembles performing the music of Frank Zappa, who is now recognized as one of the great 20th century American composers, but no one does it with this ease, skill and originality! The band is a 18 piece ensemble of five woodwind players, four trumpeters, three trombonists, two keyboardists, guitar, violin, bass and drum. All of these musicians are NYC professionals, and they have been playing this music for years with Ed, because, like Ed, they recognize and appreciate the genius inherent in the huge body of Zappa's work, and they want to keep this great music alive and in front of the public. OH NO! NOT JAZZ!! consists of two discs: The first disc further explores Ed's distinctive, big band interpretations of the music of Frank Zappa, while the second disc features Ed's own, colorful compositions.

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.