Welcome fellow KUR-meisters to the second installment of the “Son of Tweezer Glint – Part 1B.” In this installment, we hear unique versions of Mothers of Invention songs, the singles, as well as early edits of songs which would see major changes in later remixes. For some, a pleasant trip back to original vinyl collections, while for others, especially new fans of FZ and the M.O.I., a real audio treat. Also in this installment, demo (acetate) versions from Uncle Meat and We’re Only In It For The Money. Finally, a smattering of extended versions, longer edits, and proto versions to give a taste of what is forthcoming in the final four parts of the series.
Click here to listen to the mixtape.
(Note: each part in the series will be up for a two week period. Next installment: September 17th.)
Much thanks to gundamcustom for supplying the much improved audio version of “Dead Girls of London (Van Morrison, vocals)”.
psst….. how does one keepthis?
I just compared Flambay from the mixtape with the version on my CD of Sleep Dirt (i.e. the one that already has the vocals). At least the vocal track appears identical. Any comment about what makes the mixtape version peculiar? (If they are indeed identical, then you are definitely infringing the ZFT’s copyright, aren’t you?)
[quote post=”2485″](Note: each part in the series will be up for a two week period. Next installment: September 17th.)[/quote]
So why do you put those related entries up there, when we cannot listen to them anymore. Sounds like a sausage in front of a dogs nose…or a carrot in front of a donkey’s nose…
But thanx for the mix tapes. We ENJOY them!
@vince: get Audacity and record it. Be quick, you only have 14 days to tape ‘m 🙂
It would be interesting to have a discussion around how and why some of these versions are different. I would be particularly interested in trying to understand WHY Zappa made the changes. Can someone explain what a ’45’ version is? It sounds like a ‘single’ release (in the UK at least single tracks were called 45’s), but I can’t see many of these releases having ‘commercial potential’. The two Ruben releases are so much better than the later versions than I am used to. I know Zappa himself remixed this and added drums and bass parts (I think), but I don’t understand why he reduced the impact of the backing vocals on the later version for example. Any ideas?
[quote comment=”7333″]I know Zappa himself remixed this and added drums and bass parts (I think), but I don’t understand why he reduced the impact of the backing vocals on the later version for example. Any ideas?[/quote]
This has been discussed time and time again. My (personal) conclusion is this: FZ owns the stuff and has the right to do with it as he pleases. Now, why did he and why did the new mix give less emphasis on the backing vocals? My theory: This was the 80s with digital drums, new digital recording equipment and everything. FZ was a *lot* into the new stuff, so this pleased his ears at the time, that’s why he did it and that’s why the backing vocals mattered less. (Much to the dislike of those who had to play the tracks, btw. I remember Arthur Barrow talking about this somewhere. FZ told him to play the stuff and paid him for it, so what should he do? Go on strike?)
This makes sense to me. In many ways he was using the technology to re arrange the pieces in the same way that he used the particular skills of various musicians in live and recorded environments to (re)shape his music. The issue I have with some of the remixes on the modern ruben is that some of the sounds just don’t contribute to what I perceive as the ‘whole’. For example the double bass on Cheap Thrills or the over technical drum fills on Jelly Roll Gum drop. I am sure however that Zappa would just see it as part of the ‘Big Note’.
[quote comment=”7333″]Can someone explain what a ’45’ version is? It sounds like a ‘single’ release (in the UK at least single tracks were called 45’s), but I can’t see many of these releases having ‘commercial potential’. The two Ruben releases are so much better than the later versions than I am used to.[/quote]
Yes, Paul, a ’45 version’ is a single release. In some cases, such as “Dog Breath” the version is much different from the Uncle Meat mix. Versions such as “Deseri” and “Jelly Roll Gum Drop” from ‘Cruising…’ are the original mix, with Jimmy Carl Black on drums and original bass by Roy Estrada. I agree, these two Ruben releases are so much better than the remixes (at least in my opinion). “Help I’m A Rock” and “Lonely Little Girl” versions were also different from their LP versions (edited for single release). And releases such as “Junior Mintz Boogie” and “Bognor Regis” would never appear on a Zappa LP, only as single releases and an acetate. I’m sure there is enough interest in these early FZ and M.O.I. singles that an official Vaulternative release of them would be both welcome and profitable. I know I would purchase such a compilation with nary a second thought.
[quote comment=”7326″]I just compared Flambay from the mixtape with the version on my CD of Sleep Dirt (i.e. the one that already has the vocals). At least the vocal track appears identical. Any comment about what makes the mixtape version peculiar? (If they are indeed identical, then you are definitely infringing the ZFT’s copyright, aren’t you?)[/quote]
While the vocal track on “Flambay” is identical to the version on the CD version of Sleep Dirt, if you listen closely, you’ll notice that the version on the mixtape does not have Chad Wackerman’s drum tracks added which so obscure Ruth Underwood’s fantastic percussion. I also included “Flambay” because it is so necessary to appreciate the bass segue into “Spider of Destiny”. Given the differences in these versions, and that KUR presents these mixtapes purely for educational purposes, I don’t see anyone’s copyright being infringed.
[quote comment=”7320″]psst….. how does one keep this?[/quote]
Have you considered converting to .mp3?
[quote comment=”7348″][quote comment=”7320″]psst….. how does one keep this?[/quote]
Have you considered converting to .mp3?[/quote]
Sure he considered. Hence the question. And the answer would be…?
[quote comment=”7320″]psst….. how does one keepthis?[/quote]
Actually with the exception of a few tracks (regretfully Flambay being one of em), you can pick up most of these on the epic Frank Zappa discography torrents. Specifically the Rarities and “Apocryphia” files.
These torrent(s) also include the original lp “Hot Rats” and “Sleep Dirt” mixes with the test acetates of “We’re Only in it For the Money” and “Uncle Meat” + the premixes of “Thing-Fish” and “Civilisation Phase 3” + “Crush All Boxes” and “Warts and All”.
AND “An Evening with Wildman Fischer” + “Permanent Damage”
But to bring it back to the topic, I’ve always felt that “Tears Began to Fall” could have really been a hit single. It’s a shame that Frank never bothered to take it into the studio and produce a cleaner, more refined recording.
[quote comment=”7353″][quote comment=”7320″]psst….. how does one keepthis?[/quote]
Actually with the exception of a few tracks (regretfully Flambay being one of em), you can pick up most of these on the epic Frank Zappa discography torrents. Specifically the Rarities and “Apocryphia” files.
These torrent(s) also include the original lp “Hot Rats” and “Sleep Dirt” mixes with the test acetates of “We’re Only in it For the Money” and “Uncle Meat” + the premixes of “Thing-Fish” and “Civilisation Phase 3” + “Crush All Boxes” and “Warts and All”.
AND “An Evening with Wildman Fischer” + “Permanent Damage”
[/quote]
Sorry to once again deviate from the topic, but your pointer is a bit vague. Could you be a bit more … ahem … explicit?
If you get “downloadhelper” for mozilla firefox you can grab the .mp3’s. You just get the song playing, right-click – choose downloadhelper and then media and you can save the file where you like (it gives them a weird name with a lot of % signs), but it seems to work for me. Good luck and good mix.
Plooker – Thank You – your comment made me search, I found a 30 day free trial DVD Audio Extractor (first result that came up in a search)
I now have Halloween, QuAudioPhilliac, and Dub Room Special, and Does Humor..? on my computer and I-Pod. They sound great (with the help of Audacity) Thanks