Zappa Bootleg

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Beat The Boots, Vol II (1992) {Rhino R2 71017~023 rec 1968-1978}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.07 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 899 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 312 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968-78, 1992 Rhino / FOO-EEE | R2 71017~023
Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

This is the second (and final) bootleg-gone-legit box that was actually sanctioned by Frank Zappa. But rather than go to the expense and time to use better sources – which the artist presumably had access to – he simply ripped off the illicit recordings that had been doing the same to him for decades. And voila, Beat the Boots was born. Zappa enlisted Rhino Records to manufacture and distribute the anthologies – which were packaged to appear as if the contents were being sold in a low budget cardboard box. However once inside Beat the Boots!, Vol. 2 (1992), consumers were treated to a full LP jacket-sized 40-page memorabilia scrapbook, a black felt beret and a red pin/badge bearing the hammer-in-fist artwork emblazoned on it.

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Beat The Boots, Vol I (1991) {Rhino R2 70537~44 rec 1967-1982}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.54 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.03 Gb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 186 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1967-82, 1991 Rhino / FOO-EEE | R2 70537~44
Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

Beat the Boots is a collection of bootleg recordings by Frank Zappa which were originally distributed illegally but were released officially by Rhino Entertainment in 1991. The recordings were available as individual CDs and as an LP or cassette box set. The eight discs span a fifteen-year period from September 30, 1967 ('Tis the Season to Be Jelly) to May 21, 1982 (two tracks on As an Am).

Frank Zappa - A Token Of His Extreme - Soundtrack (2013) {Zappa Records ZR 20015 rec 1974}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 543 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 183 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 218 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1974, 2013 Zappa Records / ZFT | ZR 20015
Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

Official Release #97. Frank Zappa produced a television program aired by KCET in Los Angeles in 1974, featuring a sextet that included keyboardist George Duke and the zany saxophonist and singer Napoleon Murphy Brock. This bootleg opens with a blistering medley of "The Dog Breath Variations" and "Uncle Meat," followed by a rather overly long "Florentine Pogen." Zappa offhandedly ends "Stink-Foot" with the comment of "Oh, that's enough of that," before launching into one of his best pieces of the 1970s, "Inca Roads"; this version contains a particularly potent Zappa guitar solo and Duke's excellent keyboard work, too, but it is also contains a sudden fadeout near its conclusion.

Frank Zappa - Road Tapes, Venue #3 (2016) {2CD Vaulternative Records VR 2016-1 rec 1970}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 961 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 345 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 264 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1970, 2016 Vaulternative Records / ZFT | VR 2016-1
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

Official Release #103. Performed/Arranged/Conducted by Frank Zappa. Road Tapes, Venue #3 features two complete shows from Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The July '70 Mothers line-up featured Flo & Eddie, George Duke, Ian Underwood, Aynsley Dunbar & Jeff Simmons. FZ's vast Vault does not contain many full shows from this time period, so that alone makes this release a special one. The tapes were recorded to stereo reel-to-reel, but not without problems. Due to their historical relevance, we felt it was worth it, warts 'n all! Venue #3 does not disappoint.

Frank Zappa - Where The Shark Bubbles Blow (2018) {5CD Set Sandoz Digital Download rec 1968-1975}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44kHz - Official Digital Download (deezer.com) -> 1.79 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 766 Mb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 1968-75, 2018 Sandoz | SNZCD2009
Rock / Jazz Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

There have recently been a number of legitimate releases of radio shows, most of which have been available only as bootlegs. Some of these have been been poor audience recordings not intended for radio and so I bought this set with some trepidation. I was pleased to find that the sets seem to be genuine radio shows. The first (Wollman Ice Rink 1968) was quite hissy on bootleg recordings and the fourth (Vancouver 1975) criticised for very poor sound and fractured recordings. These recordings on the Sandoz label are curiously labelled as 'mastered at Studio J' and the sound quality is here very good.

Frank Zappa - FZ-OZ (2002) {2CD Vaulternative Records VR 2002-1 rec 1976}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.03 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 346 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 185 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2002 Vaulternative Records / Zappanese | VR 2002-1
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

Official Release #70. This two-disc set represents almost all of Frank Zappa's concert on January 20, 1976, at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia. The only problem is that there was only one reel-to-reel machine to record the concert, necessitating missing portions of several songs to change tapes; these gaps were replaced by excerpts from a pitch-corrected bootleg from the same tour, with an obvious drop in sound quality but little loss in continuity. This particular band – with tenor saxophonist Napoleon Murphy Brock, bassist Roy Estrada, drummer Terry Bozzio, and keyboardist Andre Lewis (in his only tour with Zappa) – has only been represented sporadically on Zappa's earlier releases.

Frank Zappa - Beat The Boots! III (2009) {6CD Set, Zappa Records Digital Downloads}
MP3 @VBR 256 -> 786 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 2009 Zappa Records Digital Downloads
Rock / Experimental Rock / Art Rock

Beat the Boots III is a set of digitally downloadable albums by Frank Zappa. It compiles bootleg recordings which were previously available illegally, released by Zappa Records in 2009 as part of the Zappas' campaign to dissuade Frank Zappa fans from buying illegal recordings of his concerts. These albums are not distributed as physical items but only as Digital downloads.

Frank Zappa - Apocrypha: Thirty Years of Frank Zappa (1994) {4CD Set Great Dane Records GDR 9405/ABCD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.46 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 624 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 371 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 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).

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Original Bootleg Series from The Manticore Vaults Vol. 4 Set 3 (2006) {2CD Castle Music rec 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 713 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 275 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 37 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1992, 2006 Castle Music / Sanctuary Record | CMXBX1374 / 5~6
Rock / Art Rock / Progressive Rock

Set 3: Pennsylvania - July 22nd, 1992. 2008 repressing of this deluxe eight CD box set, subtitled From The Manticore Vaults. Four epic concerts make up this suitably extravagant box set by the unchallenged kings of Pomp-Rock, whose majestic three-way instrumental interplay laid down the blueprint for the Progressive '70s. Features shows from Hartford Civic Center (1977), Chicago (1978), Pennsylvania and Jones Beach (both from 1992), 61 tracks. Volume #4 seemed to have completely caught me by suprise. Out Of The blue[excuse the unintended pun]. I was indeed unprepared; Since I own volumes I-III; I had no choice but to buy this ELP set. Volume IV contrasts dodgy to somewhat good -great audio performances of ELP specifically comparing/contrasting the ELP years of 1977/1978/1992. It is a true sucessor to volumes I-III.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Original Bootleg Series from The Manticore Vaults Vol. 4 Set 1 (2006) {2CD Castle Music rec 1977}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 643 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 262 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 37 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 2006 Castle Music / Sanctuary Record | CMXBX1374 / 1~2
Rock / Art Rock / Progressive Rock

Set 1: Hartford Civic Centre, CT - July 10th, 1977. 2008 repressing of this deluxe eight CD box set, subtitled From The Manticore Vaults. Four epic concerts make up this suitably extravagant box set by the unchallenged kings of Pomp-Rock, whose majestic three-way instrumental interplay laid down the blueprint for the Progressive '70s. Features shows from Hartford Civic Center (1977), Chicago (1978), Pennsylvania and Jones Beach (both from 1992), 61 tracks. Volume #4 seemed to have completely caught me by suprise. Out Of The blue[excuse the unintended pun]. I was indeed unprepared; Since I own volumes I-III; I had no choice but to buy this ELP set. Volume IV contrasts dodgy to somewhat good -great audio performances of ELP specifically comparing/contrasting the ELP years of 1977/1978/1992. It is a true sucessor to volumes I-III.