FRANK ZAPPA - 1976 Zoot Allures

F.Z

Zoot Allures compared to other earlier albums of F.Z sounds very stripped down to bare essentials. Zappa focused on limited instrumentation, lots of bass and vocals to create a Masterpiece of dark, slow, sleazy rock. Except for the opening and closing numbers ("Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station" and "Disco Boy"), all the material is slow to medium tempo with Zappa delivering the closest he'll ever get to a crooner vocal performance.

"The Torture Never Stops" is the highlight, ten minutes of suggestive lyrics, crawling riffs, searing solos, and female screams of pain. That song and "Disco Boy" became classic tracks; "Black Napkins" and "Zoot Allures" rate among the man's best guitar solos. Historical note: The album was first devised as a two-LP set and would have included "Sleep Dirt," "Filthy Habits," and "The Ocean Is the Ultimate Solution," which all also fit the mood. Although humor has not been completely evacuated, Zoot Allures comes through as a much more serious rock record.

Yet, it is more than a transitional album; it represents one of Zappa's strongest accomplishments.

Line up:

FRANK ZAPPA - guitar,bass,synth,keyboards -

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - harmonica. -

TERRY BOZIO - drums,vocals. -

NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK - sax,vocals. -

ROY ESTRADA -bass,vocals. -

ANDRE LEWIS - organ. -

RUTH UNDERWOOD - marimba,synth. -

DONNIE VLIET -harmonica. -

Tracks:
1.Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (2:29) -2.Black Napkins [Live] ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (4:15) -3.The Torture Never Stops ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (9:45) - 4.Ms. Pinky ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (3:40) - 5.Find Her Finer ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (4:07) -6.Friendly Little Finger ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (4:17) - 7.Wonderful Wino ... Jeff Simmons, Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (3:38) -8.Zoot Allures ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (4:12) - 9.Disco Boy ... Frank Zappa Frank Zappa (5:11) -

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