FZ1

The Complete Works of Frank Zappa -- an American Composer (1940-1993) (Part 1) [by Lewis Saul]

This post will feature mini-reviews of all 131 Frank Zappa "Official Releases" from 1966 to the present day. Linked songs open a YouTube video.

Love of My Life from #5.

Zappa's music is definitely the Love of my Life, since 1967. I was down the street visiting The Whittington Brothers (Dave, Harpo and Red), when I heard #3 spinning on a turntable. I was hooked; still am ...

**

The first 64 were released during Zappa's lifetime. The subsequent 67 are posthumous, culled from the massive vault where Zappa stored his unreleased library of taped performances. #65 is particularly important, because FZ spent his final years on this planet carefully arranging its composition ...

Zappa had at least 21 different ensembles (Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa) between 1965 and 1988. [see Charles Ulrich: The Big Note, pp. xxvii-xl. TBN is the definitive guide to all things FZ.]

Conceptual Continuity

Primary to understanding Zappa's oeuvre is this term he employed to describe the entire Project/Object which encompasses "everything, everywhere, all at once" an idea that was formulated when the Daniels were not yet a conception, womb or cinematic ...

So the term Project/Object would encompass the whole shebang: music (live and studio), films (Zappa made two feature-length: 200 Motels [1971] and Baby Snakes [1979]) books (Them or Us [1984] and The Real Frank Zappa Book [1989]), interviews, public appearances, etc.

The Project/Object is glued together by a universe of the musical, lyrical, and Dadaistic connections of FZ's language. It could be poodles, dental floss, the interval of the tritone (Augmented Fourth/Diminished Fifth), a gas mask, naughty televangelists -- the list is endless -- all figuring in the mysterious, ethereal and ever-changing world that FZ created, nurtured and produced over an approximately 35-year period.

A chronological listing of recordings with the word poodle might serve as a simple example:

#78 (1963) The Purse (Guess what? I have a French poodle)
#18 (1970-74) Stink-Foot (The poodle by-ee-ites)
#14 (1971) Call Any Vegetable (Where can I go to get my poodle clipped in Burbank?)
#17 (1973) Dirty Love (Make her fuzzy poodle do)
#19 (1973) Cheepnis (Apparently a very large poodle dog)

#129 (1974) Cheepnis (Apparently a very large poodle dog)
#55 (1974) Cheepnis (A very large poodle dog)

#128 (1975) The Poodle Lecture (Do you know what a poodle is?)

#128 (1975) Dirty Love (Make her fuzzy poodle do)#129 (1976) Stink-Foot (We're going to forego the usual poodle routine)

#129 (1976) The Poodle Lecture (And the first of those mistakes was the construction of the poodle)
#129 (1976) Dirty Love (Make that fuzzy poodle do)

#89 (1976) Stink-Foot (And there we have it, a thoroughly punished poodle, live on stage in Philadelphia, goddamn!)

#89 (1976) The Poodle Lecture (The first one was the poodle)
#89 (1976) Dirty Love (Make that fuzzy poodle do)
#89 (1976) Dinah-Moe Humm (Fido on poodle)
#73 (1976) The Poodle Lecture (Shortly thereafter God made the poodle)
#73 (1976) Dirty Love (Make that fuzzy poodle do)
#113 (1977) Dirty Love (Make that fuzzy poodle do)
#113 (1977) Disco Boy (THEY STOLE MY POODLE FROM LAST ...)
#113 (1977) Dinah-Moe Humm (I gave you the goddamn poodle last year)

#61 (1977) The Poodle Lecture (And the third mistake of was the invention of the poodle)

#37 (1977) Disco Boy (THEY STOLE MY POODLE FROM LAST ...)
#113 (1977) The Poodle Lecture (The third mistake of was the invention of the poodle)
#98 (1977) The Poodle Lecture (And the third mistake of was the invention of the poodle)
#114 (1977) The Black page #2 (Here, you keep the poodle)

#61 (1979) Dirty Love (Make that fuzzy poodle do)
#113 (1977) The Poodle Lecture (And the third mistake of was the invention of the poodle)

#83 (1980) Mudd Club (Fabulous Poodles)
#35 (1980) Mudd Club (Fabulous Poodles)
#130 (1980) Mudd Club (Fabulous Poodles)
#70 (1981-84) In France (When the poodles "react")
#122 (1981) Mudd Club (Fabulous Poodles)
#41 (1984) In France (When the poodles "react")
#56 (1984) In France (When the poodles "react")
#64 (1992) The Yellow Shark (As the denizens of NU-PERFECT AMERICA dine on rats, Poodles)

Here's the discography:

RELEASED DURING FZ'S LIFETIME

1. Freak Out! (2LP, Verve/MGM V/V6-5005-2, June 27, 1966)
2. Absolutely Free (LP, Verve V/V6-5013, June 26, 1967)
3. We're Only in it for the Money (LP, Verve V/V6-5045, March 4, 1968)
4. Lumpy Gravy (LP, Verve V/V6-8741, May 13, 1968)
5. Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (LP, Bizarre/Verve V6-5055, December 2, 1968)
6. Mothermania (LP, Bizarre/Verve V6 5048, March 24, 1969)
7. Uncle Meat (2LP, Bizarre/Reprise 2MS 2024, April 21, 1969)
8. Hot Rats (LP, Bizarre/Reprise RS6356, October 15, 1969)
9. Burnt Weeny Sandwich (LP, Bizarre/Reprise RS6370, February 9, 1970)
10. Weasels Ripped My Flesh (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2028, August 10, 1970)
11. Chunga's Revenge (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2030, October 23, 1970)
12. Fillmore East -- June 1971 (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2024, August 2, 1971)
13. 200 Motels (2LP, Bizarre/United Artists UAS 9956, October 4, 1971)
14. Just Another Band From L.A. (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2075, March 26, 1972)
15. Waka/Jawaka (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2094, July 5, 1972)
16. The Grand Wazoo (LP, Bizarre/Reprise MS 2093, November 27, 1972)
17. Over-Nite Sensation (LP, DiscReet MS 2149, September 7, 1973)
18. Apostrophe (') (LP, DiscReet DS 2175, March 22, 1974)
19. Roxy & Elsewhere (2LP, DiscReet 2DS 2202, September 10, 1974)
20. One Size Fits All (LP, DiscReet DS 2216, June 25, 1975)
21. Bongo Fury (LP, DiscReet DS 2234, October 2, 1975)
22. Zoot Allures (LP, Warner Bros. BS 2970, October 29, 1976)
23. Zappa in New York (2LP DiscReet 2D 2290, March 13, 1978)
24. Studio Tan (LP, DiscReet DSK 2291, September 15, 1978)
25. Sleep Dirt (LP, DiscReet DSK 2292, January 12, 1979)
26. Sheik Yerbouti (2LP Zappa SRZ-2-1501, March 3, 1979)
27. Orchestral Favorites (LP DiscReet DSK 2294, May 4, 1979)
28. Joe's Garage Act I (LP, Zappa SRZ-1-1603, September 3, 1979)
29. Joe's Garage Acts II & III (2LP, Zappa SRZ-2-1502, November 19, 1979)
30. Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR 1111, May 11, 1981)
31. Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More (LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR 1112, May 11, 1981)
32. Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR 1113, May 11, 1981)
33. Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Box Set (#30-32) (3LP, Barking Pumpkin WTX 3823CBS 66368, 1981)
34. Tinsel Town Rebellion (2LP, Barking Pumpkin PW2 37336, May 11, 1981)S
35. You Are What You Is (2LP, Barking Pumpkin PW2 37537, September 23, 1981)
36. Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch (LP, Barking Pumpkin FW 38066, May 3, 1982)
37. Baby Snakes (LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR 1115, March 28, 1983)
38. The Man From Utopia (LP, Barking Pumpkin FW 38403, March 28, 1983)
39. London Symphony Orchestra Vol. I (LP, Barking Pumpkin FW 38820, June 9, 1983)
40. Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger (LP, Angel DS-38170, August 23, 1984)
41. Them or Us (2LP, Barking Pumpkin SVBO-74200, October 18, 1984)
42. Francesco Zappa (LP, Barking Pumpkin SKCO-74202, November 21, 1984)
43. Thing-Fish (3LP, Barking Pumpkin SKCO-74201, November 21, 1984)
44. The Old Masters Box One (7LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR-7777, April 19, 1985)
45. Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention (LP, Barking Pumpkin ST-74203, November 21, 1985)
46. Does Humor Belong in Music? (CD, EMI CDP 7 46188 2, UK, January 27, 1986)
47. The Old Masters Box Two (8LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR-8888, November 25, 1986)
48. Jazz From Hell (LP, Barking Pumpkin ST-74205, November 25, 1986)
49. Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III (2LP, Barking Pumpkin SWCL 74206, 1987)
50. London Symphony Orchestra Vol. II (LP, Barking Pumpkin SJ-74207, September 17, 1987)
51. The Old Masters Box Three (9LP, Barking Pumpkin BPR-9999, December 30, 1987)
52. Guitar (2LP, Barking Pumpkin D1 74212, April 26, 1988)
53. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10081/82, May 9, 1988)
54. Broadway the Hard Way (LP, Barking Pumpkin D1 74218, October 25, 1988)
55. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 2 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10083/84, October 25, 1988)
56. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10085/86, November 13, 1989)
57. The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (2CD, Barking Pumpkin D2 74233, April 16, 1991)
58. Make a Jazz Noise Here (2CD, Barking Pumpkin D2 74234, June 4, 1991)
59. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 4 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10087/88, June 14, 1991)
60. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 5 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10089/90, July 10, 1992)
61. You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 6 (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10091/92, July 10, 1992)
62. Playground Psychotics (2CD, Barking Pumpkin D2 74244, October 27, 1992)
63. Ahead of Their Time (CD, Barking Pumpkin D2 74246, April 20, 1993)
64. The Yellow Shark (CD, Barking Pumpkin R2 71600, November 2, 1993)
    
    
    POSTHUMOUS RELEASES
    
    
65. Civilization Phaze III (2CD, Barking Pumpkin UMRK 01, December 2, 1994)
66. London Symphony Orchestra Vol. I & II (2CD, Rykodisc RCD 10540/41, 1995)
67. The Lost Episodes (CD, Rykodisc RCD 40573, February 27, 1996)
68. Läther (3CD, Rykodisc RCD 10574/76, September 24, 1996)
69. Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, a memorial tribute (CD, Barking Pumpkin UMRK 02, October 31, 1996)
70. Have I Offended Someone? (CD, Rykodisc RCD 10577, April 8, 1997)
71. Mystery Disc (CD, Rykodisc RCD 10580, September 15, 1998)
72. Everything is Healing Nicely (CD, Barking Pumpkin UMRK 03, December 21, 1999)
73. FZ:OZ (2CD, Vaulternative VR 2002-1, August 16, 2002)
74. Halloween (DVD-A, Vaulternative/DTS 1101, February 4, 2003)
75. Joe's Corsage (CD, Vaulternative VR 20041, May 30, 2004)
76. QuAUDIOPHILIAc (DVD-A, Barking Pumpkin/DTS 1125, September 14, 2004)
77. Joe's Domage (CD, Vaulternative VR 20042, October 1, 2004)
78. Joe's XMASage (CD, Vaulternative VR 20051, December 21, 2005)
79. Imaginary Diseases (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20001, January 13, 2006)
80. Trance-Fusion (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20002, November 7, 2006)
81. The MOFO Project/Object (fazedooh) (2CD, Zappa Records ZR 20005, December 5, 2006)
82. The MOFO Project/Object (4CD, Zappa Records ZR 20004, December 12, 2006)
83. Buffalo (2CD, Vaulternative VR 2007-1, April 1, 2007)
84. The Dub Room Special! (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20006, August 24, 2007)
85. Wazoo (2CD, Vaulternative VR 2007-2, October 31, 2007)
86. One Shot Deal (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20007, June 13, 2008)
87. Joe's Menage (CD, Vaulternative VR 20081, September 26, 2008)
88. The Lumpy Money Project/Object (3CD, Zappa Records ZR 20008, January 21, 2009)
89. Philly '76 (2CD Vaulternative VR 20091, December 15, 2009)
90. Greasy Love Songs (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20010, April 19, 2010)
91. "Congress Shall Make No Law . . ." (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20011, September 19, 2010)
92. Hammersmith Odeon (3CD, Vaulternative VR 20101, November 6, 2010)
93. Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20012, September 22, 2011)
94. Carnegie Hall (4CD, Vaulternative VR 2011-1, November 17, 2011)
95. Understanding America (2CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 3892, October 30, 2012)
96. Road Tapes, Venue #1 (2CD, Vaulternative VR 20122, November 7, 2012)
97. Finer Moments (2CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 3894, December 12, 2012)
98. AAAFNRAA -- Baby Snakes -- The Compleat Soundtrack (digital download), Zappa Records, December 21, 2012)
99. Road Tapes, Venue #2 (2CD, Vaulternative VR 2013-1, October 31, 2013)
100. A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20015, November 25, 2013)
101. Joe's Camouflage (CD, Vaulternative VR 2013-02, January 30, 2014)
102. Roxy By Proxy (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20017, March 13, 2014)
103. Dance Me This (CD, Zappa Records ZR 20018, June 19, 2015)
104. Roxy -- The Soundtrack (CD, Zappa Records EAGDV050/CD, October 30, 2015)
105. 200 Motels, The Suites (2CD, Zappa Records ZR 0019, 2015)
106. Road Tapes, Venue #3 (2CD, Vaulternative/Zappa Records/UMe VR 2016-1, May 27, 2016)
107. The Crux of the Biscuit (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20020, July 15, 2016)
108. Frank Zappa for President (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20021, July 15, 2016)
109. ZAPPAtite -- Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20023, September 23, 2016)
110. Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object (3CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20024, November 4, 2016)
111. Little Dots (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20026, November 4, 2016)
112. Chicago '78 (CD, Vaulternative/Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20025, November 4, 2016)
113. Halloween 77 (USB Costume Box Set, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20027, October 20, 2017)
114. Halloween 77 Highlights (3CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20027K, October 20, 2017)
115. The Roxy Performances (7CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20028, February 2, 2018)
116. Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (5CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20029, March 29, 2019)
117. Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary (3CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20030, August 30, 2019)
118. Halloween 73 (4CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20031, October 25, 2019)
119. Halloween 73 Highlights (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20031Z, October 25, 2019)
120. The Hot Rats Sessions (6CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20032, December 20, 2019)
121. The Mothers 1970 (4CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20033, June 26, 2020)
122. Halloween 81 (6CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20034, October 2, 2020)
123. Halloween 81 Highlights (CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20034Z, October 2, 2020)
124. Zappa -- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (3CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20035, November 27, 2020)
125. Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Shows (2CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20036, June 18, 2021)
126. 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition (6CD, Zappa Records/UMe/MGM ZR 20037, December 17, 2021)
127. The Mothers 1971 (8CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20038, March 18, 2022)
128. Zappa/Erie (6CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20039, June 17, 2022)
     
129. Zappa '75 -- Zagreb/Ljubljana (2CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20040, October 14, 2022)
130. Waka/Wazoo (4CD/Blu-ray, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20041, December 16, 2022)
131. Zappa '80 -- Mudd Club/Munich (3CD, Zappa Records/UMe ZR 20042, March 3, 2023)

FZ2