The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle

By now you may have read about this elsewhere: the ZFT yesterday released another Birthday Bundle. It’s a digital-download compilation album featuring various artists including Macy Gray, Holland Greco and of course FZ himself. Full tracklist here, a bit more info over at the wiki and zappa.com.

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22 Responses to The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle

  1. Jamez says:

    Macy Gray?!

  2. Balint says:

    “The Torture Never Stops by Chloe & Robert Trujillo” – yessssss!! I KNEW that FZ and Metallica will meet some day! 😉

    (Otherwise I think it should be a free download, or part of an online radio-show… that could have been fun. But as an “album”, as a “whole”?… [with no informations about the tracks of course]. No, thanks.)

  3. Balint says:

    My apologies: there ARE detailed infos at zappa.com. Sorry, sorry.

  4. Karl says:

    Who do they thake me for? Buying this download crap, no way. Having said that, I will make it clear that I have all Zappa alblums on cd and vinyl. and I didn’t get them just to be treated like a noboday. I am wortrh more. It is thanks to me and my like that there’s a Zappa shop at all. No help is forthcoming for the questioning fan, I propose we boycott all things ZFT that don’t meet our approval. I hear Kill Ugly Radio is already throwing parites in remembrance to all the forthcoming boycotts that they are still being boycotting.

  5. Pragmatic Sterbus says:

    Compile only the FZ versions from the three bundles and you’ll get a nice YCDTOSA reduced 😉

  6. Son of Pragmatic Sterbus says:

    (I actually did’nt do it yet, just ani dea but it seems like it’s impossible)

  7. urbangraffito says:

    I’m with Balint on this one. These birthday bundles should be free downloads. Gifts to the fans for their long years of dedication to Frank’s music. But, of course, we know this won’t happen. In the scheme of things over at the dangerous kitchen Frank built, we fans are the least consideration (and even then, it’s how much our wallets will bear, not what we would love to hear, or were promised once upon a time).

  8. Matt says:

    Why go through iTunes at all? Wouldn’t the ZFT make more money offering the downloads from their own site (as both MP3 & FLAC)? Yet another ZFT business decision that I just don’t understand.

  9. [quote comment=”19361″]Why go through iTunes at all? Wouldn’t the ZFT make more money offering the downloads from their own site (as both MP3 & FLAC)? Yet another ZFT business decision that I just don’t understand.[/quote]
    Visibility and reach. Some kid in Montana is much more likely to discover FZ music through iTunes initially than he ever would outside of it. Kids and adults alike know about iTunes – how many people would know of a download service over at some obscure URL under zappa.com? They could have best of both worlds by offering up “low res” mp3’s over at iTunes, while maintaining a “high res” flac download service at zappa.com.

  10. ABOOK says:

    hey i like it ………………the TNS is very cool and sexy voice…….AZ singing BBGD is well worth cheers ………………..

    TVI. frank where are you
    FZ mmmm ahhh im here up there where ahh on my astroid drawing circles clost to jupiter……….
    TVI. ohhhh is it cold up there
    FZ Nah the coffe aint good up here…………………….
    TVI Hmmmmmm dont know what to do about that
    THERE IS ALWAYS A HOT BLACK CUP OF COFFEE AT MY HOUSE FZ.
    THE ZAPPA TRIBUTE CUP OF COFFEE IS ON

  11. Jamez says:

    [quote comment=”19248″]”The Torture Never Stops by Chloe & Robert Trujillo” – yessssss!! I KNEW that FZ and Metallica will meet some day! 😉

    (Otherwise I think it should be a free download, or part of an online radio-show… that could have been fun. But as an “album”, as a “whole”?… [with no informations about the tracks of course]. No, thanks.)[/quote]

    Always knew Trujillo had good taste in music. He was also in Ozzy’s band too.

  12. Harry Barris says:

    What a bunch of scrooges you guys are! Obey the guidelines: Consume! Acquire! Purchase! Feed Egos! Be Happy!(?!)

  13. Bongo Bob says:

    I’m one of the ones to blame! I can not help but buy almost anything that comes out that is Zappa related…

  14. urbangraffito says:

    [quote comment=”19415″]What a bunch of scrooges you guys are! Obey the guidelines: Consume! Acquire! Purchase! Feed Egos! Be Happy!(?!)[/quote]

    You know, Harry, I’m just waiting for that esoteric of all Zappa solos where Diva performs Watermelon in Easter Hay plucking only her threads of golden yarn (they should be golden given all the hard cash I’ve poured into their coffers over the years!)

  15. ABOOK says:

    urban i bet you will get something in return one day ………….anyone i like to buy a complete old master set and a good apcrypha set pls let me know if you have one for sale ………………we should have a trading post .

  16. Balint says:

    …with an amazingly bad “albumcover” (primitive, under-educated? – what’s the right word?), probably made in 5 minutes. Every time I take a look, I’m suprised again and again – well, there MIGHT be albumcovers you migh not like, but this is surely one that was NOT seen by a graphic designer: typography, composition, whatever… uhh.

  17. urbangraffito says:

    [quote comment=”19467″]urban i bet you will get something in return one day ………….anyone i like to buy a complete old master set and a good apcrypha set pls let me know if you have one for sale ………………we should have a trading post .[/quote]

    Unlike some who make a business buying and selling in Zappa and Mothers of Invention (and related alumni material), all of the material, ephemera, albums, and reel to reel tapes I’ve collected over four decades are all earmarked for my son.

    That said, as the years pass, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for collectors and completists to find, let alone buy, items such as a “complete old master set” or a good copy of “apocrypha”, etc. Still, the fan compiled set such as Apocrypha reveals far more insight into Zappa’s legacy, both historically and musically, than the Joe’s Corsage series ever will, and Gail could have learned a thing or two from it’s compilation (as well as the fanbase reaction to it). Yet, obviously, the fan’s wants and desires appear to the last consideration when the ZFT releases something. Perhaps that’s why release after release is so hit and miss. Will I get something in return one day? I’m still waiting for them to knock my socks off with promised releases (Roxy, Dance Me This) or a compilation akin to either Apocrypha or The History And Collected Improvisations Of The Mothers Of Invention.

  18. nikita coltrane says:

    [quote comment=”19249″]My apologies: there ARE detailed infos at zappa.com. Sorry, sorry.[/quote]

    But even then, why would it be such a sore spot if it weren’t there? I’m a fucking dork that loves to have such information available to me as much as the next guy, but in its absence, I think I can still just listen and enjoy.

  19. ABOOK says:

    well i guess i fork the 1000 usd for the 3 box old master set then we should have a TRADINGPOST ON HER PLS !!!!!!!!!!!ZAPPA THINGS FOR SALE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GO GO GO Thank you

  20. urbangraffito says:

    [quote comment=”19623″]well i guess i fork the 1000 usd for the 3 box old master set then we should have a TRADINGPOST ON HER PLS !!!!!!!!!!!ZAPPA THINGS FOR SALE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GO GO GO Thank you[/quote]

    No one ever starts out planning to become a completist – it just sort of happens over the years, one thing leads to another, and before you know it… Personally, I suggest avoiding eBay at all costs. Of course, you’ll get what you are looking for, but you’ll pay through the nose, first. I’ve noticed an almost exponential increase in the price of Zappa paraphernalia since the advent of eBay. One could say there are those whose sole interest is to make a profit off of anything Zappa related, and it’s in their long term financial interests to over-inflate the real worth of Zappa paraphernalia on eBay. Am I suggesting that a certain amount of collusion is going on? I cannot say. But a Thousand US Dollars for the 3 Box Old Master Set does seem over inflated (especially since these are not the original vinyl recordings). I suggest you keep hunting.

    As a completist, I’ve long since learned that the hunt is half the joy. Often one can find mint condition vinyl Mothers and Zappa albums in the most unlikely of places. Just avoid antique shops, estate sales, and large Second Hand chains like Goodwill and Value Village. Antique shop owners and consignment shop owners hit these as part of their business and buy in lots (so there is no way for an individual to compete). Where you can compete, though, is by frequenting flea markets and farmers markets (both of which are usually only running one day a week, usually on a Saturday), and always keep a look out for the opening of new used record stores (an owner’s ignorance is your best weapon). Always know what you’re on the lookout for before you find it, and the price range you are willing to pay – on more than one occasion, I’ve had to outbid someone on the spot (but it’s still cheaper than eBay). I’ve always found offering the person I’ve outbid a taped copy (now a digital copy) to be a great consolation prize, as well as a means of keeping in touch with a potential contact for other Zappa paraphernalia.

  21. vince says:

    At least, there are no ‘wanna-be’ GTO songs by Diva on this one!

  22. Not cranky says:

    What a bunch of cranks in this thread! Yes, I prefer lossless files, but Dweezil’s Deathless Horsie was worth the price of admission alone. Each of these comps has had stuff that I never played again like when the ball drops and the new Willie the pimp, but there’s always been at least one gem and some previously-unknown-to-me FZ that I’ve treasured. So fick you guys, lol! I don’t know who ZFT is trying to reach with these, but they’re reaching me and I hope they keep them coming. Any FZ is good FZ.

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