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From the Vault...
03/25/2018
#1613 |
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info
Frank Zappa
"Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar"
© Rykodisc Records
Rating:
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track listing
Disc One: Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
Five-Five-Five
Hog Heaven
Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
While You Were Out
Treacherous Cretins
Heavy Duty Judy
Soup'n Old Clothes
Disc Two: Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More
Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression
Gee I Like Your Pants
Canarsie
Ship Ahoy
The Deathless Horsie
Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More
Pink Napkins
Disc Three: Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
Beat It With Your Fist
Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
Pinocchio's Furniture
Why Johnny Can't Read
Stucco Homes
Canard Du Jour
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Frank Zappa "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar"
Previously, Frank Zappa's Guitar was reviewed, as it was the follow-up
to this week's review, Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar. Originally three albums, based on Zappa's instrumental guitar works, the three albums were set
as a 3-disc box set: Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar, Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More, and Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar.
And, as reviewed from his 2-disc Guitar release, once again, Zappa's instrumental guitar works here on this week's review truly stands out as
"unique" and "obscure."
Disc 1: Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
Another word (as another review stated), is "unimaginable." This is the word for the starter track, "Five-Five-Five." For some, this track
is "a lot of noise." But this is what made Zappa's music unique, obscure, and unimaginable. (Whether or not his songs had vocals or not.)
"Hog Heaven" is just as "noisy" (?), and the three words mentioned.
And speaking of those three words, this could have set his music as "the Zappa Sound." Truly as creative as it was, Zappa created his own deverse
sound and style. For those already familar with Zappa's music, his "sound" can be classified as humorous, demented, silly, funny. It truly was different
than your standard Rock n Roll, or Rock Music in general. This gets the title track on Disc 1.
These recordings were mostly live recordings, and for those who saw him in concert, (which I never did), I'm sure that Zappa took the stage as a pro.
"While You Were Out" sounds more like a band warming up to present a great concert performance. "Treacherous Crewtins" is slow moving, yet
it's Frank Zappa, and his music.
Another classification on Zappa's music, was his take on Jazz. Truly it stands out as Jazz, but with Zappa, he put his own touches on this source of
music, as he would create his own sound (once again), and classify it as his own -- making it the "Frank Zappa Jazz." This is the case for "Heavy Duty
Judy." Obscure as the "Zappa sound," "Soup 'N Old Clothes" is another obscure and unimaginable in sound, yet it's a good track.
Disc 2: Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More
Opening this set, is "Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression." Carlos Santana? Really? He didn't play like this (to my
knowledge). Or did he, on a secret as FZ implies? It's quite bouncy, and yes, again, it's different, being compare to the great Santana. "Gee, I Like
Your Pants" is groovin' Zappa, where "Canarsie" is more of the Dr. Demento style. Obscure for "Ship Ahoy." Really Obscure Zappa, where
the German band Kraftwerk meets Zappa, in my opinion.
And another source of music that Zappa took on was not only Jazz, but also Classical. "The Deathless Horsie" is almost Classical, and it is
the "Zappa Jazz." The title track from Disc 2 is definitely Jazz-sounding, being compared to another great Jazz band, Weather Report. And the most
impressive track on this disc, is the Psychedelic Blues track, "Pink Napkins." Zappa puts his own guitar touches on blues, and he makes it all
his own.
Disc 3: Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar
The "Zappa Jazz" is most of the style on this disc, with "Beat It With Your Fist," and the title track for this disc, and "Pinocchio's
Furniture." Compared to another track from this box set, "While You Were Out," gets "Why Johnny Can't Read" -- it's the unique Zappa
sound. Unique is also on "Stucco Homes," and there is peaceful guitar that Zappa does that gets your attention, towards the end of this track.
The album closes with "Canard Du Jour," with its uniqueness as he can get, and somehow it reminds me of another unique -- The music of Peter
Schickele's PDQ Bach.
Frank Zappa's guitar work is truly unique, remarkably outstanding. But maybe this kind of music and sound may not appeal to most. Yet, Frank Zappa
was a creative genius. His albums and music devoted to the uniqueness of his talent he provided in music. Although he is no longer with us, his son,
Dweezil has carried the torch by playing his father's music in various live performances. And Dweezil himself is an accomplished and fine guitar player.
Is he as good as his father, or better? He is remarkable, let's put it that way, he learned from the best.
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