Wednesday, December 26, 2012

R.I.P. Ray Collins

The early Mothers. Left to right: Frank Zappa, Elliot Ingber, Ray Collins, Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada.
Several sources report that Ray Collins, singer of The Mothers of Invention, passed away on December 24.
Collins was the lead vocalist on the group's early albums as Freak Out! and Cruising With Ruben & The Jets. He died at the age of 76.

Radio Dupree picks five essential songs sung by Ray:
* Oh No (Weasels Ripped My Flesh)
* Anything (Cruising With Ruben & The Jets)
* How Could I Be Such a Fool (Freak Out!)
* Fountain of Love (Cruising With Ruben & The Jets)
* Mr. Green Genes (Uncle Meat)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Lisa Loeb covers Steely Dan on Conan

Since we started this here Radio Dupree thingy on two must-play-artists; Frank Zappa and Steely Dan, we feel obliged to post this brand new performance of Dirty Work by Lisa Loeb. The connection of course being a Steely Dan song sung by Lisa who in the early 2000's had a personal and professional relationship with Dweezil Zappa.

And here's the web exclusive performance from the TV show Conan.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Finer Moments available on Spotify now!

The mysterious Zappa/Mothers album Finer Moments is planned for release tomorrow. But you can already hear the songs on Spotify.
Most of the tracks sound as if they are recorded live in various locations around 1968-71.

Frank opens with an announcement that could indicate that at least one track is taken from Albert Hall, London June 6, 1969: "We have the assistence of a famous pop star who will help us tonight during our renowned ballet sequence."
That would be Noel Redding who danced with The Mothers on stage during the performance of Mozart Piano Sonata in B Flat. That one has been released before (You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5) but the version on Finer Moments seems to be a longer edit, or maybe even another take.


It is our guess that Finer Moments initially was a 2 LP set prepared by Frank himself.
* Each CD is rather short. The total time of a single CD use to be around 60 or 65 minutes. Here we get circa 43 and 41 minutes respectively. That used to be a usual length for vinyl albums.
* If you look at the track order and their length you'll get the idea that they would fit on to four sides of vinyl. Side 1 and 3 would consist of several shorter pieces while side 2 and 4 contain one "monster song" each, filling the entire side.

CD 1
1. Intro 1:20
2. Sleazette 3:33
3. Mozart Piano Sonata In B Flat 6:21
4. The Walking Zombie Music 3:23
5. The Old Curiousity Shoppe 7:07
6. You Never Know Who Your Friends Are 2:20
7. Uncle Rhebus 17:45

CD 2
1. Music From The Big Squeeze 0:42
2. Enigmas 1 Thru 5 8:15
3. Pumped And Waxed 4:19
4. There Is No Heaven From Where Slogans Go To Die 4:37
5. Squeeze It, Squeeze It, Squeeze It 3:17
6. The Subcutaneous Peril 19:41

In spite of the peculiar titles, some of the material consists of familiar compositions. Uncle Rhebus, for example, is a version of King Kong. The Subcutaneous Peril is solos from A Pund For A Brown. Squeeze It, Squeeze It, Squeeze It does also appear on Mystery Disc and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5.
Finally, we find it appropriate to quote the liner notes on the Uncle Meat album "Basically this is an instrumental album".

Thursday, December 13, 2012

New Läther cover art #2

Another version of the new Läther cover art. (See below). Re-release on December 18.
Läther was Frank's masterpiece that was originally intended for release in 1977 but got wasted because of the problems between him and Warner Brothers. Instead most of the music got spit out via rather bad packages as Sleep Dirt and Studio Tan. Rykodisc released Läther on cd in 1996. Now it's re-released through the deal between Zappa Records and Universal. No bonus tracks anymore, though.
But are there even more front covers than the two presented here on the Radio Dupree blog?
Looks like amazon.com use the "lather" Läther cover art for the cd, and the "non lather"one (below) for the advertising of the mp3 downloads.

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Jon Herington on Those Diner and Motorcycle Guys podcast

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conxroad/2012/12/08/those-diner-and-motorcycle-guys-saturday-dec8th-2012

"Follow those eggs over easy riders as Those Diner and Motorcycle Guys host Garrison talks with Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington about his new CD, "Time On My Hands." Diner of the Week profile: The Main Street Diner in Plainville, CT."

Saturday, December 08, 2012

New Läther cover art

The new cover art.
The old version.
It seems like the Frank Zappa album Läther is provided with new cover art for the re-release on December 18.
The picture of Frank looks like it was taken duirng the photo sessions for Joe's Garage. The old Läther cover by Dweezil Zappa was discussed among fans: Was it an italian map on the side of the cow? Another different thing on the re-release: no bonus tracks!

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Dave Brubeck dead at 91

Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died of heart failure today, December 5, one day before his 92 Birthday.


I hear you're mad about Brubeck
I like your eyes, I like him too.
He's an artist, a pioneer.
We've got to have some music on the new frontier.
- Donald Fagen: New Frontier, 1982

A fine 1998 article from The Independent about Dave Brubeck that starts with the above lyrics.

Time: The Essential Dave Brubeck: Everything You Need to Know About the Jazz Great. (Including a few YouTube clips with examples of his music including this classic:

Video: Michael Leonhart's keyboards

Here's a three part video of Keyboard Magazine visiting Michael Leonhart's studio and having a look at his keyboards. Also some talk about the recording/producing of Donald Fagen's Sunken Condos.

A full interview with Michael and Donald will be in the January 2013 issue.

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Radio Dupree Top 20 - December 2012

1.  Jimi Hendrix with Curtis Knight - Knock Yourself Out
Knock Yourself Out

2.  Paul McCartney - What's That You're Doing?
Tug of War

3.  Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
Apostrophe (')

4.  Donald Fagen - Security Joan
Morph The Cat

5.  Jimi Hendrix with Curtis Knight - How Would You Feel
Knock Yourself Out

6.  Jimi Hendrix - Easy Blues
Nine to the Universe

7.  Jimi Hendrix - Nine to the Universe
Nine to the Universe

8.  Curtis Mayfield - Little Child Runnin' Wild
The Very Best Of Curtis Mayfield

9.  The Jimi Hendrix Experience - I Don't Live Today
Are You Experienced

10.  The Jimi Hendrix Experience - You've Got Me Floating
Axis: Bold as Love

11.  Jimi Hendrix - Young & Hendrix - Nine to the Universe
12.  Esperanza Spalding feat. Lalah Hathaway - Endangered Species - Radio Music Society
13.  Steely Dan - Chain Lightning - Katy Lied
14.  Paul and Linda McCartney - 3 Legs - Ram
15.  Jimi Hendrix - We Gotta Live Together - Band of Gypsys
16.  Jimi Hendrix - Who Knows - Band of Gypsys
17.  Frank Zappa - Advance Romance - Philly '76
18.  Wayne Krantz - The Bad Guys - Howie 61
19.  Jimi Hendrix - 3 Little Bears - War Heroes
20.  Jimi Hendrix - Drone Blues - Nine to the Universe


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Chart compiled by listeners voting
on the songs they hear on Radio Dupree

We're ready to name this month's chart winner Jimi Hendrix. Just watch the Top 20! There are a couple of other artists on there, but in reality it is a "Top Jimi".