Waka/Wazoo – one of the best posthumous Zappa releases

This monster release is sweeping the ocean! We suggest that you dive deep into this collection of music recorded during Frank Zappa's acclaimed Waka/Jawaka - Grand Wazoo era.

Waka/Wazoo is available on streaming platforms, as well as in a five-disc multi-format box set.

What first strikes me when confronted with this 50th anniversary release is how Zappa did not seem to value certain eras of his carreer when he chose music for the albums he put out during his last years. Unfortunately he favoured less interesting music featuring the 1984 and 1971 bands. For instance he claimed no quality recordings with the 1972 Petite Wazoo band existed. We know better. 

The other thing that is shines through is how Zappa managed to rise again after the disastrous 1971 tour that ended when an irate fan pushed him off the stage. Zappa was seriously injured and had to spend a long time in wheelchair, but in spite of this he managed to record the two superb jazz influenced albums Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo.

Well, let's enjoy this new release. One of the highlights is Think It Over which is the song The Grand Wazoo with vocals. There are also alternate takes, alternate mixes and longer edits of familiar compositions.

Track list here:

https://radiodupree.blogspot.com/2022/10/historical-archival-zappa-release.html

Sigurd Huckle

Radio Dupree

New Bowie set: Hunky Dory demos – with Scary Monsters clues

The Divine Symmetry 4 CD set celebrates the twelve months running up to the release of the album Hunky Dory in December 1971 via home demos, BBC radio sessions and live and studio recordings.
Already halfway through the first track, Tired Of My Life, Bowie surprises. It turns out that this is the prototype to It's No Game that was released on the Scary Monsters album in 1980. (At around 17:00 in the YouTube clip above.)
And the track King Of The City is obviously an early version of Ashes To Ashes from the aforementioned album.
https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2022/9/28/divine-symmetry-box-set-details

Audio engineer Bernie Grundman on the Steely Dan reissues

Legendary audio engineer Bernie Grundman and Chad Kassam discuss the Steely Dan catalogue, reissues, and the master tapes. The first record "Can't Buy A Thrill" is out November 4, 2022 with the rest of the albums to follow in the coming 12 months.

More on Bernie at Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Grundman

And here's Donald Fagen himself on the reissues,

Historical archival Zappa release: Waka/Wazoo box set

This are the recordings we thought did not exist, but finally we get to know they do, alternate takes of songs from Zappa's beloved Waka/Jawaka and Grand Wazoo albums. Plus a live concert and Zappa related George Duke demos.
"The Waka/Wazoo box set features a complete historical run-down of the entire project, featuring alternate takes of almost every composition recorded during the album sessions, along with Vault mix session outtakes and oddities. Also included is the full final show of the 10-piece tour, recorded at the famous Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on December 15, 1972. The Blu-ray Audio disc features both albums with brand-new, first-time-ever Atmos and 5.1 mixes from the original multi-tracks and the 96kHz 24-bit high-resolution stereo remasters. Finally, during the album recording sessions at Paramount Studios, FZ worked with George Duke on some of Duke’s solo material. These demos were produced by Zappa, who also played guitar. Although George would go on to re-record the compositions for his own albums, the versions with FZ have never been officially issued until now."

TRACKLISTING

CD 1

Paramount Studios Recording Session Alternates and Outtakes

1. Your Mouth (Take 1)

2. Big Swifty (Alternate Take)

3. Minimal Art (Eat That Question – Version 1, Take 2)

4. Blessed Relief (Outtake Version)

5. Think It Over (The Grand Wazoo) (Outtake Version)

6. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers) (Outtake Version)

7. Waka/Jawaka (Outtake Version)

CD 2

Paramount Studios Recording Session Alternates and

Outtakes, continued

1. Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus (Alternate Take)

2. Eat That Question (Version 2, Alternate Take)

3. Big Swifty (Alternate Mix)

4. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)

(Alternate Mix)

5. It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal (Alternate Mix)

6. Waka/Jawaka (Alternate Mix)

7. Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus (Alternate Mix)

8. Eat That Question (Alternate Mix)

CD 3

George Duke Demos – The Master Versions

1. For Love (I Come Your Friend)

2. Psychosomatic Dung

3. Uncle Remus (Instrumental)

4. Love

George Duke Session Outtakes

5. For Love (I Come Your Friend) (Basic Track, Take 1)

6. Psychosomatic Dung (Basic Track, Take 2)

7. Love (Basic Track, Take 1)

The Grand Wazoo – Live

8. Approximate (Live – FZ Record Plant Mix)

10-Piece/Petite Wazoo – Live / Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA – 12-15-1972

9. Winterland ’72 Opening And Band Introductions

10. Little Dots

CD 4

10-Piece/Petite Wazoo – Live, continued

Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA – 12-15-1972

1. America Drinks

2. Montana

3. Farther O’Blivion

4. Cosmik Debris

5. Chunga’s Revenge

BLU-RAY AUDIO

48kHz 24-bit Dolby Atmos, 48kHz 24-bit Dolby TrueHD

5.1, 96kHz 24-bit PCM Stereo

WAKA/JAWAKA

1. Big Swifty

2. Your Mouth

3. It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal

4. Waka / Jawaka

THE GRAND WAZOO

1. The Grand Wazoo

2. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)

3. Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus

4. Eat That Question

5. Blessed Relief

Donald Fagen on the upcoming improved versions of all the original Steely Dan albums

This is an interesting chat about amongst other things the newly mastered releases of the original Steely Dan albums starting in November with Can't Buy A Thrill.

The albums will be released in various CD and vinyl versions over the coming 12 months, and here you can get some facts from Donald Fagen himself together with Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions CEO Chad Kassem and Fred Kaplan, reviewer for the Tracking Angle and a columnist for Slate:

Steely Dan's Joni Mitchell cover finally available

Steely Dan. Photo: Danny Clinch.

It popped up a couple of months ago. Steely Dan's cover of the song Carey recorded for a tribute album released in 2007 on Nonesuch Records titled just A Tribute to Joni Mitchell. Back them it had been in the works for seven years!

We wrote about it in 2006 stating a lot of the songs and artists that in the end didn't make the album. Including Steely Dan. Click here to read that post.

It should be said that this is not an official release, but it is out and being shared. Want to hear it?

Here's a Youtube link.

And here's one more from another Youtube poster who's done a "gentle remaster".

We're happy to finally hear the Steely Dan version even if it is more
than 20 years after it was recorded.

Archival release of The Beatles Revolver album

 

On 28th October the groundbreaking 1966 album Revolver will be released in newly-mixed and expanded Special Editions packages.

Versions:
* 5 CD/4 LP Super Deluxe
* 2 CD Deluxe
* Picture Disc
* 1 LP
* 1 CD
* Download and streaming

Including: Original mono album mix, previously unreleased session recordings and demos, Paperback/Rain EP.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-beatles-revolver-unheard-archives-sheffield-1234587264/?fbclid=IwAR2dIO8K3v-AIAcwaAA3GmrTxDMhiQS59e9vC1wIIR7ctb7WM-7ihIdYHkc

Rock Theatre – excellent Finnish Genesis tribute band

Attention Genesis fans! If you ever get the chance to see Rock Theatre from Finland...don't hesitate!
The quintet mostly performs in Finland but has recently played a couple of concerts in northern Sweden. They do covers of songs from the Genesis albums that were released between 1970 and 1977, like Nursery Cryme and Selling England by the Pound.
Rock Theatre band leader guitar player Charles Plogman tells Swedish public service radio that it took him two years to form the group. No wonder, since these songs can be hard to play.

https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/hyllade-vasabandet-rock-theatre-spelar-genesis-i-umea

During their recent concerts they performed songs like The Return of the Giant Hogweed, Supper's Ready and Firth of Fifth. Their musicianship is excellent. It is not an easy task to front the band (like Peter Gabriel did) but lead vocalist Bo-Anders Sandström does a great job, with fox head and all.

Check out this video where they do Firth of Fifth (from a concert in Vasa, Finland 2018):

New: Zappa in Yugoslavia 1975 – 2 CD set

In November 1975 Frank Zappa went to Yugoslavia for two concerts. Of course he recorded them.
This incarnation of The Mothers of Invention is the same as the one on FZ:OZ (a show in Australia, January 1976), with one exception. In the fall 1975 singer/sax player Norma Bell was in the band for a short time. Otherwise it is the same band and pretty much the same repertoire. 
To be honest this is far from Zappa's best lineup, BUT since there are no quality releases of entire shows with Norna Bell it will be interesting to hear her contribution to the band. And as always, with every new release there is always golden nuggets that will appear and surprise you.

Black Napkins (one track from Ljubljana, 22 November 1975, from the album Frank Zappa Plays The Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute):
https://youtu.be/3x_x6d42U3Q

Zappa.com/news:
https://www.zappa.com/news/presenting-zappa-75-zagreb-ljubljana-coming-oct-14-2022-pre-order-now

October release: Bowie's "Heroes" 45th anniversary vinyl + Live in Berlin 1978

The release of the "Heroes" 45th anniversary vinyl is nice but more interesting is the digital release of the rare Live in Berlin (1978) mini album.
Live in Berlin was made available exclusively at the "David Bowie Is..." exhibition in New York. In October it will be released digitally for the first time. The music was recorded at the Deutschlandhalle in West Berlin on 16th May 1978.

Live in Berlin (1978) track list:
1. “Heroes”
2. Be My Wife
3. Blackout
4. Sense Of Doubt
5. Breaking Glass
6. Fame
7. Alabama Song
8. Rebel Rebel

https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2022/7/29/heroes-anniversary-vinyl-and-live-78-digital

New: The first bioplastic vinyl record – made of sugar and starch

 

Well, you should probably not try to eat the new bioplastic vinyl record, although it is made from sources such as sugars and starches rather than oil or gas and is better for the environment.

Read more here: 
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220720-world-s-first-bioplastic-vinyl-record-launched-in-the-uk

"Zappa/Erie" reviewed by Radio Dupree

The highlight of this 6 CD set is the first part, a long awaited release of a concert with the spring 1974 Mothers, the 10th anniversary of the Mothers tour. 

Edinboro, PA 8 May 1974:
Don't be sad over the absense of percussionist Ruth Underwood here, She had obviously other things to attend to. On the good side is that we now get three horn players (Walt Fowler, Bruce Fowler and Napoleon Murphy Brock). We get the two drummers Chester Thompson and Ralph Humphrey. We get Jeff Simmons on rhythm guitar, and both George Duke and Don Preston on keyboards.
This band is very funky and powerful. Also appreciated is the fact that they haven't started to joke around and play the songs too damn fast. Highlights of this show: Pygmy Twylyte, Dupree's Paradise (so much better than the lame version on YCDTOSA Vol.2), the 60's medley (a lot better than the way some of these tunes were played on FZ:OZ). It is also interesting to hear the guitar solo on Son Of Orange County that in edited shape ended up on Roxy & Elsewhere. An example of Zappa's best editing work.

Erie, PA 12 November 1974:

This is a show features the same band as in Helsinki 1974 (YCDTOSA Vol.2). A great band but unfortunately they play some of the songs too fast. Is that a sign of getting tired of the repertoire after long and extensive touring? And since the band now has only one horn player (Brock) and one drummer (Thompson) some of the funky feel is lost although George Duke does his best.

Erie, PA 12 November 1976:

This is the same lineup as on the album Philly '76 and it's pretty much the same repertoire too. It's not bad but the sound quality on Philly '76 is just better, and maybe the performance too.

Summary: Don't let my opinion on the latter two shows mislead you. This release is definately worth checking out...through streaming service or even buying the 6 CD set. It's just that the Erie, November 74+76 shows do not add too much that has not been released before, BUT the lineups are terrific and one Zappa show is never exactly the same as another one. And last: The Erie 6 CD set has a bunch of bonus tracks from other concert dates.

Sigurd Huckle, Radio Dupree

The funky "Zappa/Erie" 6 CD set streaming now!

 

The latest release from the Frank Zappa vault is now available on streaming services as Spotify and Tidal. It is a 6 CD set from Erie, Pennsylvania and surrounding area recorded between May 1974 and November 1976.

We at the Radio Dupree office have just dug in to this tasty little sucker, and my God we are already on our feet. This is Zappa (& The Mothers) at his/their funkiest!

We are especially looking forward to hear the 60's medley of the spring 1974 band. Review comes soon!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5jMwFhLiUmpWKePQoKIrwu?si=A7-r4wolS5y2QuUeqhRKJw

Kate Bush Running Up That Hill gets a new life thanks to the TV series Stranger Things

Created in honour of Stranger Things Season 4

That is the line of text below the short edit of the 1985 hit Running Up That Hill published today on Kate Bush YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/SzcZGuj5Hdg

The background is the Netflix series Stranger Things using the song Running Up That Hill causing it to get popular 27 years after it was released and a hit.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/kate-bush-running-up-that-hill-stranger-things/

https://pitchfork.com/news/kate-bush-makes-rare-statement-on-stranger-things-use-of-running-up-that-hill/

The popularity resulted in the song becoming Kate Bush first top 10 in the USA as well as making it back into the top five in the UK.

Radio Dupree has still to see one episode of Stranger Things, but are happy for all the new people discovering kate Bush. We've also heard good things about Stranger Things. It is just that we're a bit slow and behind. Catching up can be a good thing...

King Crimson's notorius live album – 50th anniversary

King Crimson’s first live album was released 50 years ago today (June 9). Despite the low-fi sound, many fans love it. …Okay, and many do not.
”First time I heard it, in the early 1980’s, I thought it was a bootleg. And it could have been, judging from the sound”, recalls Radio Dupree Crimson afficionado Sigurd Huckle.
”However, I was immediately spellbound by Earthbound. The rough sound, the surprisingly funky band, took me by storm.”

The mysterious album liner notes that should be intriguing for anyone with an interest in music.

You can read all about the events surrounding the album that still polarises fans 50 years on:

https://www.dgmlive.com/news/earthbound-at-50