Zappa Family Trust "vaultmeister" Joe Travers says Roxy & Elswhere was cut from original 1/4" analog tape masters. Unfortunately the original 1968 edited Uncle Meat master is "damaged in parts", so he transferred the tape at 96k/24 bit along with a second set of analog safety masters that were in "excellent shape" and produced from those two elements and new cutting master. So it is, he says a "high res digitally restored master from U.M.R.K. 2013." U.M.R.K standing for "Utility Muffin Research Kitchen", Frank Zappa's recording studio.
Meanwhile thanks to an Analogplanet reader I got to hear the digitally sourced vinyl reissue of Freak Out and the analog sourced reissue of Over-Nite Sensation. The digitally remastered Freak Out sounded better than my AAA version on side one, while the rest was close enough to render a "buy" verdict. My side 1, with a "RE-4" in the inner groove area sounded murky and plain lousy compared to the digital remaster and to the earlier version he also brought along. The remaining sides sounded identical.
The Over-Nite… reissue sounded arguably better than the original as I recall the listening session.
Uncle Meat, first released in 1969 ranks among the most creative and musically enjoyable Mothers albums and even made the Billboard charts, peaking at #43. It also sounds great.
Roxy and Elsewhere, a double live set was pulled from three 1973 evenings at the Sunset Strip's famed Roxy and 1974 dates at Edinborough State College in Pennsylvania and Chicago's Auditorium Theater. It highlights what a fine touring group Zappa had back then, though there were some studio overdubs (guess what? Most "live" rock recordings are either partially or totally overdubbed!).
We'll get the source poop on these titles ASAP.
 | ||
|
||
COMMENTS
Frank constantly tinkered with his albums even after commercial release, from what I've read. He liked to micromanage live recordings too, to a greater extent than most artists, editing in 'best bits' from many different performances.
So I'm wondering if these re-releases are from Zappa vault tapes that he'd worked on since the originals were released.
Just picked up a mint original last week (mastered at Artisan), sounds wonderful and will be hard to beat soundwise I reckon!
James, Dublin
...a look at my Bizarre/Reprise copy and noticed that it's set up for a record changer (sides 1 & 4 / sides 2 & 3). I wonder what the last double (or more) album was that was pressed that way?
I think my copy of the Allman Bro's "Live at the Fillmore East" is pressed in this configuration.
Because most people back then stacked their records! I admit to it myself. I had a Dual 1219 and I stacked....
Those damn record-changer mechanisms never worked properly for me. Even in my formative years, I always played LP's one at a time (I guess I didn't party much..). It was equally pointless to use a record changer with 45's, if you were using those yellow plastic inserts, which invariably popped out when it landed on the turntable (excuse me...record player). LOL.
I guess we've gotten a bit off-topic. At least the Zappa Family Trust is trying to use as many of the original tapes as possible. A hell of a step up from the misguided meddling Frank did for the 1984 CD issues.
|
Equipment Reviews | |
The Gruvy Awards | |
Blogs Analog Tips | Columns Music | |
Show Reports | |
News Resources |
© 2024 AnalogPlanet
