FRANK ZAPPA
ZAPPA ’ 80 : MUDD CLUB 2XLP ZAPPA ’ 80 : MUNICH 3XLP ( Zappa Records / UMe )
These highly anticipated vault releases arrive as a companion pair documenting two shows in spring 1980 by a talented six-piece lineup . Ike Willis and Ray White join Zappa on guitars and vocals . Bassist Arthur Barrow and drummer David Logeman ( admirably filling big shoes between stints by Vinnie Colaiuta ) form the formidable rhythm section , and Tommy Mars drapes the songs in colorful keyboard textures . The Zappa band is captured at New York City ’ s trendy punk / new wave hangout the Mudd Club on May 8 , 1980 , and then at the final show of the tour on July 3 , 1980 , at the Olympiahalle in Munich , Germany . The Mudd Club show is compact by comparison , with 14 songs clocking in just under an hour . The set is pressed on heavyweight vinyl at 45 RPM for maximum sonic quality . 12 of the Mudd Club tracks are also performed on the Munichset . A comparison reveals how differently the ensemble of adept improvisers could take an arrangement from the middle of its tour to its conclusion . The Mudd Club live room was reportedly hot as an oven , and the band sent the temperature even higher with white-hot interplay . Set opener “ Chunga ’ s Revenge ” earns a rowdy cheer of recognition from the intimate NYC crowd as the set begins with an absolute scorcher . Unique to the Mudd Club set is the alternately soulful and incendiary “ Outside Now ” and the wry , racially confrontational , harmony-laden , and reggae-spiked “ You Are What You Is .” The latter song would become the title track for Zappa ’ s fifth album of 1981 . Zappa tells the trendy Mudd Club audience that they can dance to the doo-wop-inspired and offkilter “ You Didn ’ t Try to Call Me ” if they use their imaginations . The acid-rock and psych-jazz combo dives fully into doo-wop with “ Love of My Life ” from 1968 ’ s Cruising with Ruben & the Jets before transitioning into the predatory rocker “ Easy Meat .” Next comes “ Mudd Club ,” Zappa ’ s tribute to the venue itself and its manic scene . “ It ’ s the best kinda place to unfasten yerself ,” sings Zappa . Barrow and Logeman anchor a loopy reggae groove for the song , Zappa , Willis and White join three-part harmony during the chorus . The song would appear on You Are What You Is . “ The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing ” takes a rather uncharitable view of religious devotees . The set wraps with a rollicking “ Joe ’ s Garage ” and the album ’ s melodramatic arena anthem “ Why Does It Hurt When I Pee ?” Zappa then requests that the DJs turn the
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