1982

Frank Zappa		Mixed 10


Disc 1  -  76.16
1	Drowning Witch			 8.13	82-May-7
2	Truck Driver Divorce		 3.10	"
3	Zoot Allures			 6.49	82-June-5
4	King Kong			10.09	"
5	Black Page #2			 7.35	"
6	Zoot Allures			 7.17	82-June-8
7	Drowning Witch			10.16	"
8	Zoot Allures			 9.48	82-June-11 (late)
9	Marqueson's Chicken		 6.49	"
10	The Illinois Enema Bandit	 6.05	"



82-May-7:	Isstadion - Stockholm, Sweden

82-June-5:	Vechtewiese - Schuettorf, Germany

82-June-8:	Congress Centrum - Hamburg, Germany

82-June-11:	Alte Oper - Frankfurt, Germany  (late show)



Notes on this material from the Frank Zappa Tape Reviewing Society 
(I only picked the parts of the reviews that actually apply to the tracks above):


82-May-7:

While the first show of '82 is unusually strong, this second show is a 
more typical example of a tour just starting to find its own identity. 
The setlist is closer to 81 than usual. Also, there are some mistakes 
and unrefined arrangements, Scott and Chad sound a bit restless, and 
FZ's solos tend to ramble.

Still, it's clear that this band has a great sound and lots of chops, 
and FZ is in an aggressive guitar mode for the last time on tour. 
The best solo is Truck Driver Divorce, where his feedback-heavy tone 
brings back memories of 10/13/78. 



82-June-5:

This show finds FZ at a festival "out in the weeds on a very hot day", 
according to my info sources. He acknowledges this in the intros, telling 
the topless ladies in the audience to be sure that everyone in the band 
can see them. He points out that Ed and Scott need to see it a lot, Bobby 
isn't too interested, and "Steve Vai has already seen it" - more clues for 
inquiring minds.

Jokes aside, this is a rocking set. FZ's guitar has an especially sharp, 
barbed-wire tone, and it shrieks in every solo, though a lot of them seem 
to peter out rather than end. (Maybe that's why he didn't release anything 
from this date.) In particular, he, Chad and Scott do some outrageous things 
in Black Page. It sounds like he's in a good mood.



82-June-8:

First Question: Is it me, or does "Zoot Allures" pack a punch on this tour 
rivaled nowhere else in the annuls of Zappa Opening Song history? Fall '78 
may have had some crazier opening solos, and the avant-garde madness of 
late '71's opening "jams" will forever occupy a special place in my heart, 
but from start to finish, the 1982 "Zoot Allures" do something to me that no 
other opening number does. The tight power of the main theme, the slow 
escalation towards the solo, the breath of fresh air that runs through the 
opening bars of the vast solo space, and the always intriguing sometimes 
outrageous solos.  All of this combines into a force that satisfies me 
completely only 8 minutes into a show. What other Opening Song so consistently 
does that?

This show opens with "Zoot Allures" (obviously) which already puts this tape 
in the plus column. A pretty straightforward solo, but tasty nonetheless.

A surprise "Drowning Witch" follows and Frank seems intent on making amends 
for his "Easy Meat" lameness. The first solo is the highlight of the night: 
a walking bass line sets up a relaxed jazz atmosphere that Frank's completely 
rips to shreds, or at least tries to. Frank stabs six-string daggers all over 
Thunes' patient playing, and while Wackerman gives into the madness and follows 
Frank down the violent path, Thunes remains calm and steady, and underscores 
Frank's solo with some wonderfully contrasting playing. The second solo finds 
everyone returning to your typical aggressive '82 mode, and while no motifs or 
phrases particularly stand out, the solo pleases.

From here on out, Frank hits standard '82 overdrive, failing to produce any more 
solos as interesting as "Stinkfoot" or DW#1.



82-June-11 (late):

We're now in the part of the tour where Zoot Allures and The Mammy Anthem (or 
"Born To Suck" as it was called at this time) seem to fight about the prestigious 
opening slot. And ZA, maybe realizing it's about to lose, really shows itself 
from it's best side these days. Frank seems really focused for the first part of 
his solo here, and though he loses a bit of it towards the end, this is an 
excellent solo.

The encores kick-start with Marqueson's Chicken (cool solo!), before it's time 
for the more standard end-of-the-show run of songs. The final solo, in Illinois 
Enema Bandit, is long and quite good. Altogether, a nice tape with good sound 
(getting gradually better, ending up A-) and enough good playing to make it well 
worth having.