#FZ Roxy & Elsewhere

[jernostrapig]

Frank Zappa 1974 The Motherts ''Roxy & Elsewhere''

[somethingvinyl]

Roxy & Elsewhere is the first live album by this iteration of the Mothers, but of course the distinction between live albums and studio ones is considerably more porous when it comes to Zappa. This is another of my absolute favorite FZ records. Each side starts with Frank talking for a bit, then launches into some of the most amazing, batshit crazy music he ever recorded. The lyrics are more absurdist fun—monster movies in Cheepnis, a disgusting bus in Pygmy Twylyte (often the song I reach for to show an uninitiated listener what Zappa is like), nostalgia in Village of the Sun, and the obvious in Penguin in Bondage. But it’s the instrumentals that are the star of the show on this one. We’ve got the vital core group: George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Tom Fowler on bass, the double attack of Chester Thompson and Ralph Humphrey on drums. (As if that isn’t enough, on some later-released tracks from these shows, Zappa goes and plays percussion in the back for a stretch, meaning four percussionists playing at a time—he was best when writing for percussion!) For extra flavor, you’ve got more Fowler brothers on horns, and the incredible Napoleon Murphy Brock on lead vocals and woodwinds. Truly the best of Zappa’s lineups.

The “Roxy” portion of the album is from the band’s December 1973 residency at the Roxy between releasing Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe. The “Elsewhere” portion is from early 1974–FZ had prepped a bunch of songs from the original Mothers of Invention to play a concert in honor of the first anniversary of that band forming, and he liked a couple of the renditions so much he added them to the regular set—that’s the back half of side 3.

In the very first monologue of the album, FZ says something about getting this concert on television. Of course my ears perked up hearing this for the first time 15 years ago—this was FILMED! I went searching immediately, but was disappointed: something had gone wrong with the footage and it was unusable. Zappa tried again about a year later, resulting in the television special now known as A Token of His Extreme (also worth watching). Then just a few years ago, incredible news: after years of work, they’d managed to sync the disastrously variably-speeded Roxy video with the audio, and it was released as Roxy the Movie. It’s an incredible show, but also one that left me lightly scandalized by how much studio overdubbing Zappa had done on the original album. Bruce Fowler (trumpet) WASN’T EVEN AT THE CONCERT—the only horn on the stage was Walt on trombone! But now there’s a wealth of Roxy material out there: if you like the original album, you’ve got to hear Roxy by Proxy, which collects a lot of the most essential Roxy material that wasn’t on R&E. And if you’re an obsessive like me, you can now stream the complete Roxy shows—all the nights, early set and late set, and some rehearsals. An absolute embarrassment of riches. That plus The Helsinki Concert that I mentioned in the Apostrophe post, which is from a slightly stripped down version of this ensemble and might be FZ’s single greatest recorded set…

If you’re thinking the live album is going to be the weak link in this band’s output, you haven’t heard this album. I think the stretch from Over-Nite Sensation to One Size Fits All is probably the best four-album stretch in his career, and Roxy & Elsewhere more than pulls its weight!

[zed-air]

CKUA - OZ ON FZ

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In 2021 I wrote and produced a four-part music documentary series about the life and work of Frank Zappa. His music has been a big part of my life for decades, and the series was designed to be part biography, part introduction, part celebration, and part study - with the focus always on the music he created. Each episode focuses on a particular slice of Zappa’s catalogue.

In summer 2022, to celebrate the launch of CKUA OnDemand - and to satisfy the many requests to hear the series again - OZ ON FZ returned for an encore broadcast during the final four weeks of Saturday Night Surprise. It is unknown if or when the series will be heard again at this time.

Click “keep reading” below for the playlists of completed programs.

Explore my playlist history for other dates and programs.

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TITLE • PERFORMING ARTIST • ALBUM • AIRTIME

OZ ON FZ

Ep 01: Bandleader (live concert recordings)

Original airdate: 2021-03-13 - 23:00-24:00

I'm the Slime • Frank Zappa & Don Pardo • ZAPPA IN NEW YORK • 23:02

Peaches III • Frank Zappa • TINSEL TOWN REBELLION • 23:06

More Trouble Every Day • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME • 23:09

Louie Louie • The Mothers of Invention • UNCLE MEAT • 23:16

My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama • The Mothers of Invention • YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE • 23:18

Inca Roads • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE • 23:22

Village of the Sun • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • ROXY & ELSEWHERE • 23:32

Happy Together • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • FILMORE EAST - JUNE 1971 • 23:36

Rollo • Frank Zappa & the Petit Wazoo • IMAGINARY DISEASES • 23:38

Montana • Frank Zappa • YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE • 23:43

Whipping Post • Frank Zappa & Dweezil Zappa • DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? • 23:48

Ep 02: Guitar (guitar-centric works)

Original airdate: 2021-06-05 - 23:00-24:00

Apostrophe • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • APOSTROPHE • 23:01

Zoot Allures • Frank Zappa • ZOOT ALLURES • 23:05

What's New In Baltimore? • Frank Zappa • DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC • 23:09

Sinister Footwear II • Frank Zappa • THEM OR US • 23:15

Son of Mr. Green Genes • Frank Zappa • HOT RATS • 23:24

On The Bus • Frank Zappa • JOE'S GARAGE • 23:34

Watermelon in Easter Hay • Frank Zappa • JOE'S GARAGE • 23:38

Five-Five-Five • Frank Zappa • SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR • 23:48

Black Napkins • Frank Zappa • CHICAGO 78 • 23:51

Ep 03: Dots (orchestral & instrumental works)

Original airdate: 2021-07-03 - 23:00-24:00

The Semi-Fraudulent Overture... • Royal Philharmonic Orch • 200 MOTELS • 23:01

Aybe Sea • The Mothers of Invention • BURNT WEENIE SANDWICH • 23:02

Mount St. Mary's Concert Excerpt • Frank Zappa • THE LOST EPISODES • 23:06

Run Home Slow Theme • Frank Zappa • THE LOST EPISODES • 23:09

The Black Page • Frank Zappa • ZAPPA IN NEW YORK • 23:12

Envelopes • L.S.O. • LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • 23:18

Naval Aviation in Art • Ensemble Intercontemporain • THE PERFECT STRANGER • 23:22

Night School • Frank Zappa • JAZZ FROM HELL • 23:27

Dance Me This • Frank Zappa • DANCE ME THIS • 23:32

Dog Breath Variations • Ensemble Modern • THE YELLOW SHARK • 23:36

Uncle Meat • Ensemble Modern • THE YELLOW SHARK • 23:38

Outrage at Valdez • Ensemble Modern • THE YELLOW SHARK • 23:41

Get Whitey • Ensemble Modern • THE YELLOW SHARK • 23:44

G-Spot Tornado • Ensemble Modern • THE YELLOW SHARK • 23:50

Strictly Genteel • L.S.O. • LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • 23:55

Ep 04: Mudshark (humourous works)

Original airdate: 2021-10-23 - 23:00-24:00

The Mudshark • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • FILMORE EAST - JUNE 1971 • 23:01

Call Any Vegetable • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM L.A. • 23:02

San Ber'dino • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • ONE SIZE FITS ALL • 23:08

Cheapnis • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • ROXY & ELSEWHERE • 23:13

Cosmik Debris • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • APOSTROPHE • 23:19

Dancin’ Fool • Frank Zappa • SHEIK YERBOUTI • 23:23

W.P.L.J. • The Mothers of Invention • BURNT WEENY SANDWICH • 23:28

Ring of Fire • Frank Zappa • THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE • 23:30

Valley Girl • Frank Zappa & Moon Unit Zappa • STRICTLY COMMERCIAL • 23:33

Don't Eat the Yellow Snow • Frank Zappa • YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE • 23:37

St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast • Frank Zappa & the Mothers • APOSTROPHE • 23:49

Muffin Man • Frank Zappa & Cap’n Beefheart • BONGO FURY • 23:53

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PROMO TEXT & CREDITS

I’ve had a lifelong interest in the music and works of Frank Zappa. He often described himself as a composer who drew little dots on paper, but there’s far more to him than that. Fans fresh and familiar can get better acquainted with his vast and various exploits via my multi-part music-doc series: OZ ON FZ. Each hour-long program focuses on a different element of Zappa’s work.

OZ ON FZ is a CKUA Radio presentation written and produced by Oskar Zybart.

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[gossipnetwork-blog]

Frank Zappa's 1973 Roxy Residency Focus of New Box Set

New Post has been published on http://gossip.network/frank-zappas-1973-roxy-residency-focus-of-new-box-set/

Frank Zappa's 1973 Roxy Residency Focus of New Box Set

Frank Zappa’s legendary two-night, four-show December 1973 stand at Los Angeles’ Roxy Theatre will be the focus of an upcoming box set packed with unreleased performances, soundcheck and rehearsal recordings and more.

The Roxy concerts were previously featured on the 1974 live album Roxy & Elsewhere as well as the posthumous releases Roxy by Proxy and Roxy the Movie. However, the seven-CD The Roxy Performances marks the first time Zappa and the Mothers’ Roxy residency has been released in its entirety.

“This is one of my favorite FZ line-ups ever. This box contains some of the best nights of music Los Angeles has ever seen with their ears at an historic venue,” Ahmet Zappa said in a statement. “Hold on to your hotdogs people. This box is the be-all-end-all. This is it. This is all of it. It’s time to get your rocks off for the Roxy.”

In addition to the four performances spread over December 9th and 10th, 1973, the box set also features recordings from a December 8th film shoot and soundcheck from the venue, as well as material laid down on December 12th at nearby Bolic Studios, where Zappa and company worked on songs that would appear on 1974’s Apostrophe.

The Roxy Performances, due out February 2nd and available to preorder now, also contains a 48-page booklet with liner notes by Zappa vaultmaster Joe Travers and essays by Zappa associates Jen Jewel Brown and Dave Alvin.

The Roxy Performances Track List

DISC 1 12-9-73 Show 1 1. “Sunday Show 1 Start” 2. “Cosmik Debris” 3. “‘We’re Makin’ A Movie'” 4. “Pygmy Twylyte” 5. “The Idiot Bastard Son” 6. “Cheepnis” 7. “Hollywood Perverts” 8. “Penguin In Bondage” 9. “T’Mershi Duween” 10. “The Dog Breath Variations” 11. “Uncle Meat” 12. “RDNZL” 13. “Montana” 14. “Dupree’s Paradise”

DISC 2 1. “Dickie’s Such An Asshole” 12-9-73 Show 2 2. “Sunday Show 2 Start” 3. “Inca Roads” 4. “Village Of The Sun” 5. “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” 6. “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” 7. “Slime Intro” 8. “I’m The Slime” 9. “Big Swifty”

DISC 3 1. “Tango #1 Intro” 2. “Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzmen’s Church)” 3. “Medley: King Kong/Chunga’s Revenge/Son Of Mr. Green Genes” 12-10-73 Show 1 4. “Monday Show 1 Start” 5. “Montana” 6. “Dupree’s Paradise” 7. “Cosmik Intro” 8. “Cosmik Debris”

DISC 4 1. “Bondage Intro” 2. “Penguin In Bondage” 3. “T’Mershi Duween” 4. “The Dog Breath Variations” 5. “Uncle Meat” 6. “RDNZL” 7. “Audience Participation – RDNZL” 8. “Pygmy Twylyte” 9. “The Idiot Bastard Son” 10. “Cheepnis” 11. “Dickie’s Such An Asshole” 12-10-73 Show 2 12. “Monday Show 2 Start” 13. “Penguin In Bondage” 14. “T’Mershi Duween” 15. “The Dog Breath Variations” 16. “Uncle Meat” 17. “RDNZL”

DISC 5 1. “Village Of The Sun” 2. “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” 3. “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” 4. “Cheepnis – Percussion” 5. “‘I Love Monster Movies” 6. “Cheepnis” 7. “Turn The Light Off’/Pamela’s Intro” 8. “Pygmy Twylyte” 9. “The Idiot Bastard Son” 10. “Tango #2 Intro” 11. “Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzmen’s Church)”

DISC 6 1. “Dickie’s Such An Asshole” Bonus Section: 12-10-73 Roxy Rehearsal 2. “Big Swifty – In Rehearsal” 3. “Village Of The Sun” 4. “Farther O’Blivion – In Rehearsal” 5. “Pygmy Twylyte” 6. “That Arrogant Dick Nixon” 12-12-73 Bolic Studios Recording Session 7. “Kung Fu – In Session” 8. “Kung Fu – with guitar overdub” 9. “Tuning and Studio Chatter” 10. “Echidna’s Arf (Of You) – In Session” 11. “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow – In Session” 12. “Nanook Rubs It – In Session” 13. “St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast – In Session” 14. “Father O’Blivion – In Session” 15. “Rollo (Be-Bop Version)”

DISC 7 12-8-73 Sound Check/Film Shoot” 1. “Saturday Show Start” 2. “Pygmy Twylyte/Dummy Up” 3. “Pygmy Twylyte – Part II” 4. “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” 5. “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” 6. “Orgy, Orgy” 7. “Penguin In Bondage” 8. “T’Mershi Duween” 9. “The Dog Breath Variations” 10. “Uncle Meat/Show End”

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