Frank Zappa – The Hot Rats Sessions – 6 CD Box FZ Records/Universal – 20-12-2019
Ormai le grandi manovre per le uscite del periodo natalizio sembrano essersi completate, ma qualche annuncio a sorpresa di pubblicazioni sfiziose arriva ancora. Per esempio quello di questo interessantissimo cofanetto dedicato a quello che è considerato quasi all’unanimità il miglior disco di Frank Zappa Hot Rats, che stranamente fino ad ora non è stato oggetto di quelle “ristampe” potenziate che negli ultimi anni hanno riguardato la discografia del baffuto chitarrista. Domani, giorno di Halloween, troverete sul Blog la recensione di Marco dedicata al box del concerto del 1973, ma oggi ci occupiamo dell’anteprima relativa a quest’altro, al solito costosissimo manufatto (si parla in Europa di un prezzo, al solito molto indicativo, intorno ai 120-130 euro), dedicato a questo album epocale, previsto in uscita per il giorno 20 dicembre p.v. L’immagine del cofanetto non è ancora disponibile (o almeno io non l’ho ancora trovata), ma immagino che visto il prezzo sarà particolarmente sfiziosa, a livello dei contenuti musicali che sono fantastici: si parla di un gioco da tavolo nella confezione, oltre a un libro con immagini rare ed inedite e diversi saggi, uno di Ian Underwood.
In totale tutte le 65 tracce registrate di cui 59 inedite e sei, il disco originale, nel mix curato dallo stesso Zappa nel 1987, che erano fuori catalogo dal 2012. Per il resto c’è una vera cornucopia di brani appunto tratti dalle sessioni tenute nel corso del luglio 1969 ai TTG Studios di Hollywood, California.
Visto che i contenuti sono colossali fate prima a leggervi qui sotto la descrizione dettagliata dei contenuti del cofanetto, disco per disco.
Disc 1
Basic Track Recording Sessions TTG Studios, Hollywood, CA 7-18-69
Piano: Ian Underwood
Piano Music (Section 1) 2:13
This is Take 8, an alternate performance of what became known as “Piano Intro to Little House I Used To Live In” found on “Burnt Weeny Sandwich”. (c)1969
Piano Music (Section 3) 5:42
Contains the theme from “Peaches En Regalia” (c)1969, and the Master Take of “Aybe Sea” (c)1969 (Burnt Weeny Sandwich)
7-28-69
Guitar: FZ
Piano: Ian Underwood
Bass: John Balkin
Drums: Art Tripp III
Trumpet: Buzz Gardner
Sax: Bunk Gardner
Peaches En Regalia (Prototype) (c)1969 (p)2019 5:57
7-28-69
Piano: Ian Underwood
Bass: Shuggy Otis
Drums: Ron Selico
Peaches En Regalia (Section 1, In Session) (c)1969 (p)2019 10:49
Peaches En Regalia (Section 1, Master Take) (c)1969 (p)2019 2:05
Peaches Jam – Part 1 6:28
Peaches Jam – Part 2 10:30
Violin: Don “Sugarcane” Harris
Tack Piano: Johnny Otis
Peaches En Regalia (Section 3, In Session) (c)1969 (p)2019 6:57
Peaches En Regalia (Section 3, Master Take) (c)1969 (p)2019 2:07
Arabesque (In Session) 7:01
Arabesque (Master Take) 6:57
Released in edited form as “Toads Of The Short Forest” on “Weasels Ripped My Flesh” in 1970 (c)1970
Dame Margret’s Son To Be A Bride (In Session) 4:30
This song was re-recorded on 7-30-69 and eventually repurposed as “Lemme Take You To The Beach” first issued on “Studio Tan” in 1978 (c)(p)1978
Disc 2
7-29-69
Basic Track Sessions
Guitar: FZ
Violin: Don “Sugarcane” Harris
Piano, Tack Piano: Ian Underwood
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: John Guerin
It Must Be A Camel (Part 1, In Session) (c)1969 (p)2019 8:22
It Must Be a Camel (Part 1, Master Take) 2:17
It Must Be a Camel (Intercut, In Session) 3:53
It Must Be a Camel (Intercut, Master Take) 4:02
Natasha (In Session) 4:04
Natasha (Master Take) 3:12
Released as “Little Umbrellas” on “Hot Rats” in 1969. (c)1969
Bognor Regis (Unedited Master) 10:59
Unreleased Track. Frank re-worked this track over the years, using it as the basics for an early version of “Conehead”. In the process, he erased original source material. This mix reflects what survived along with some crafty insertion from a vintage 2-track mix for completion.
Willie The Pimp (In Session) (c)1969 (p)2019 2:20
Willie The Pimp (Unedited Master Take) 15:14
10.Willie The Pimp (Guitar OD 1) 14:46
Labeled “Scrambler & Wah-Wah”
11.Willie The Pimp (Guitar OD 2) 6:18
Guitar: FZ
Violin: Don “Sugarcane” Harris
Disc 3
Basic Track Sessions
7-29-69
Piano: Ian Underwood
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: John Guerin
Transition (Section 1 – In Session) 6:17
Transition (Section 1 – Master Take) 2:25
Transition (Section 2 – Intercut – In Session) 1:50
Transition (Section 2 – Intercut – Master Take) 2:43
Transition (Section 3 – Intercut – In Session) 2:29
Transition (Section 3 – Intercut – Master Take) 2:13
Released in edited form as “Twenty Small Cigars” on “Chunga’s Revenge” in 1970. (c)1970
Lil’ Clanton Shuffle (Unedited Master) 12:46
Re-mixed and released in edited form on “The Lost Episodes” in 1998 (c)1998
7-30-69
Basic Track Sessions
Guitar: FZ
Violin, Vocal: Don “Sugarcane” Harris
Piano, Organ: Don Preston
Bass: Roy Estrada
Drums: Jimmy Carl Black
Directly From My Heart To You (Unedited Master) 10:18
Released in edited form on “Weasels Ripped My Flesh” in 1970 (c)1970
Another Waltz (Unedited Master) 27:56
Portions released in edited form as “Little House I Used To Live In” on “Burnt Weeny Sandwich” in 1970. (c)1969
Disc 4
Basic Track Sessions
7-30-69
Guitar: FZ
Piano, Tack Piano, Organ, Sax: Ian Underwood
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: Paul Humphrey
Dame Margret’s Son To Be A Bride (Remake) 3:54
Eventually utilized for “Lemme Take You To The Beach” on “Studio Tan” in 1978 (c)1978
Because of this song getting repurposed later, original tracks were wiped by FZ in favor of new ones. All that’s left is the original bass & drums.
Son Of Mr. Green Genes (Take 1) (c)1969 (p)2019 8:16
Son Of Mr. Green Genes (Master Take) 10:47
Big Legs (Unedited Master Take) 32:42
Released in edited form as “The Gumbo Variations” on “Hot Rats” in 1969 (c)1969
55:38
It Must Be a Camel (Percussion Tracks) 1:48
Percussion overdubs recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, August 1969
Arabesque (Guitar OD Mix) 6:57
Guitar Overdubs recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, August 1969
Released in edited form as “Toads Of The Short Forest” on “Weasels Ripped My Flesh” in 1970 (c)1970
Transition (Full Version) 6:22
Guitar Overdubs recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, August 1969
Released in edited form as “Twenty Small Cigars” on “Chunga’s Revenge” in 1970. (c)1970
Piano Music (Section 3 – OD Version) 5:41
Overdubs recorded at TTG Studios, 7-21-69
Contains the theme from “Peaches En Regalia” (c)1969, and the Master Take of “Aybe Sea” released on “Burnt Weeny Sandwich” in 1969. (c)1969
Disc 5
From The Vault – Part 1
Hot Rats
1987 Digital Re-Mix (c)(p)1987
Re-Mixed from the original multi-track masters with added material from the original sessions
Engineer: Bob Stone
Facility: Utillity Muffin Research Kitchen
Peaches En Regalia 3:39
Willie The Pimp 9:17
Son Of Mr. Green Genes 9:00
Little Umbrellas 3:04
The Gumbo Variations 16:57
It Must Be A Camel 5:15
The Origin Of Hot Rats :35
1987- FZ with Peter Occhiogrosso
Source: Cassette
Hot Rats Vintage Promotion Ad #1 1:02
Source: Vinyl
Peaches En Regalia (Mono Single Master) 3:32
1969 Mono Mix
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Hot Rats Vintage Promotion Ad #2 1:01
Source: Vinyl
Little Umbrellas (1969 Mono Single Master) 3:05
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
55:52
Lil’ Clanton Shuffle (1972 Whitney Studios Mix) 12:42
Studio: Whitney Studios
Mixed by FZ with Barry Keene
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Disc 6
From The Vault – Part 2
Little Umbrellas (Cucamonga Version) 2:00
Source: Acetate
Recorded at Studio Z; Cucamonga, CA circa 1961-1964
FZ: Guitar
Musicians: Undocumented
Little Umbrellas (1969 Mix Outtake) 3:10
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
It Must Be A Camel (1969 Mix Outtake) 5:23
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Son Of Mr. Green Genes (1969 Mix Outtake) 10:39
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
More Of The Story Of Willie The Pimp 1:24
Voices: FZ, Annie Zannus & Cynthia Dobson
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Willie The Pimp (Vocal Tracks) 2:07
Voice: Captain Beefheart
7-29-69 TTG Studios; Hollywood, CA
Willie The Pimp (1969 Quick Mix) 14:29
Studio: T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, CA
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Dame Margret’s Son To Be A Bride (1969 Quick Mix) 3:46
Studio: T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, CA
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Hot Rats Vintage Promotion Ad #3 :52
Source: Vinyl
Bognor Regis (1970 Record Plant Mix) 8:11
Studio: Record Plant, Los Angeles CA 1970
Engineers: FZ, Stan Agol
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Peaches En Regalia (1969 Rhythm Track Mix) 4:24
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Son Of Mr. Green Genes (1969 Rhythm Track Mix) 10:40
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Little Umbrellas (1969 Rhythm Track Mix) 3:11
Source: 1/4″ Analog Tape
Arabesque (Guitar Tracks) 6:57
Recorded at Sunset Sound Studios, August 1969
Hot Rats Vintage Promotion Ad #4 :59
Source: Vinyl
Niente male direi. Come vedete dall’immagine qui sopra, il 29 novembre per il Black Friday Record Store Day verrà pubblicato un EP picture 10″ a tiratura limitata del singolo dell’epoca Peaches En Regalia e il 20 dicembre, insieme al cofanetto, uscirà anche una versione in vinile colorato rosa dell’album completo.
Quindi ci sentiamo a Natale, più o meno, per la recensione del box, ma prima ci sarà nei prossimi giorni, un ulteriore Post per un’altra uscita a sorpresa, un megabox dedicato all’integrale dei Gentle Giant.
Bruno Conti