In celebration of its recent 40th anniversary,
Frank Zappa's classic 1978 album Zappa In New York, was released today as a
suite of expanded anniversary editions. Overseen by the Zappa Family Trust and
produced by Ahmet Zappa and Vaultmeister Joe Travers, the versions include a
deluxe 5 CD box set, 3 LP on 180-gram audiophile grade vinyl, and digitally.
The 5-disc collection, which is housed in a limited-edition metal tin shaped
like a NYC street manhole cover and complete with a replica ticket from one of
the shows, consists of the main album in its original mix, newly remastered by
Bob Ludwig in 2018 and available for the first time since its debut. The four
additional discs are loaded with relevant Vault nuggets and more than three
hours of unreleased live performances from the NYC Palladium concerts,
representing every composition played during the concerts and the best
alternate performances of every tune Zappa picked for the original album, all
newly mixed in 2018. To achieve the highest-level sound quality, the audio team
went back to the original two-inch 24-track multi-track master tapes and
transferred every reel at 96kHz 24-bit wavs.
"We are
excited to bring you this new Deluxe version of Zappa in New York: an
opportunity to re-examine and celebrate the source material of a great album
while exploring the events of Frank's life in late December 1976, Collections
like these really show of the work ethic of a musical genius," exclaims
the Zappa Family Trust in the album notes.
In 1976,
Zappa played four historic sold-out concerts at The Palladium in New York City
the week between Christmas and New Year's. These thrilling shows – described by
band member Ruth Underwood as "theatrical, outrageous and raucously funny,
but also filled with startling and gorgeous music, dating from Frank's 1960s
output to literally the moment the curtain went up"— served as the source
material for the live double album Zappa In New York which was constructed from
the best-played performances with overdubs later recorded in the studio.
Originally slated for release in 1977, the album was delayed for a year due to
record label censorship issues, mostly over the controversial song
"Punky's Whips," and finally released in 1978. One of Zappa's most
beloved collections of songs, the now revered album included a sensational live
version of "Sofa" alongside nine new compositions, including the complex
percussion-based piece "The Black Page," which has become infamous in
the drum community as the ultimate challenge, the Devilish comedic sendup
"Titties & Beer," and the notorious aforementioned "Punky's
Whips" about Punky Meadows, the flamboyant guitarist for the band Angel.
Zappa In New
York includes expanded packaging which features previously unseen live photos
by Gail Zappa alongside extensive liner notes by band members Ruth Underwood
and Ray White (who were part of Zappa's band for these shows) as well as an
insightful essay by Joe Travers with Australian writer Jen Jewel Brown.
Underwood also contributes a solo piano version of "The Black Page"
that has been newly recorded for this special edition. "'The Black Page'
has proven to be one of Frank Zappa's most intriguing and enduring
compositions. It is performed in many kinds of venues all over the world. It is
taught and studied in schools. Perhaps most exciting is that it is adaptable
and lends itself to a variety of orchestrations and re-workings, as FZ himself
demonstrated. I am proud that after forty years, mine is finally among them. It
is my love letter to Frank and Gail," Underwood writes in the liners.
The 3LP set,
pressed at Pallas in Germany, features all-analog mastering of the original
album mix, unavailable since first issued. Plus, an additional LP of select
bonus content from The Vault. The digital release marks the debut of the
original mix.
Zappa In New
York capped off a terrific year for the ever-prolific and always-moving
musician which included shows around the globe including his second Australian
tour and one and only Japanese jaunt, the release of his album Zoot Allures and
Grand Funk Railroad's record Good Singin' Good Playin, which he produced, a
string of Halloween shows and a performance on "Saturday Night Live"
which ended up having a profound impact on the Palladium shows. Following an
on-air collaboration with SNL's announcer Don Pardo and the show's house band,
Zappa invited them to be a part of the shows after three of the horn players so
loved playing with Zappa that they asked if they could be involved. As Travers
and Brown write in the illuminating liner notes: "Out of nowhere, the
concept of adapting horns to the scheduled concerts became a reality. Frank was
immediately swept up in the pleasure and challenge of writing and arranging
parts for the existing material."
The
collection showcases some of Zappa's most masterful guitar playing and
electrifying arrangements as he leads an exceptional band featuring Ray White
on vocals and guitar, Terry Bozzio on drums and vocals, Eddie Jobson on
keyboards and violin, Ruth Underwood on percussion and synthesizer, Patrick
O'Hearn on bass and vocals and David Samuels on timpani and vibes. Don Pardo
provided "sophisticated narration" and the brass section, featuring
jazz duo the Brecker Brothers with Randy Brecker on trumpet and Michael Brecker
on tenor saxophone, was rounded out by the SNL players: Lou Marini on alto sax,
Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax and Tom Malone on trombone.
This Record
Store Day, Saturday, April 13, the Zappa Family Trust and UMe will continue
their tradition of releasing a unique vinyl pressing to celebrate the bi-yearly
indie record store extravaganza. The rare 1987 guitar-centric compilation, The
Guitar World According To Frank Zappa, originally available only on cassette
through Guitar World magazine and Barfko-Swill mail order, will receive its
first-ever vinyl pressing. The album features unique mixes and edits by Zappa
and a selection of solos that were released the following year on the Guitar
album. Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, this RSD First
release, limited to 8000 worldwide, is numbered and pressed on 180-gram clear
audiophile vinyl by Furnace MFG.
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