1978 + 1975

Frank Zappa		Mixed 7


Disc 1  -  77.46
1	Watermelon In Easter Hay	 6.12	78-Feb-7
2	The Deathless Horsie		 7.17	78-Sept-15
3	Yo Mama				10.20	"
4	Intro (Twenty-one)		 7.31	78-Sept-17  (late)
5	Yo Mama				10.38	"
6	Black Napkins			 6.46	75-Oct-23
7	Stinkfoot			 2.21	75-Oct-31  (late)
8	Black Napkins			 6.11	"
9	Chunga's Revenge		11.20	"
10	Zoot Allures			 9.06	"



78-Feb-7:	Nouvel Hippodrome - Paris, France

78-Sept-15:	Convention Hall - Miami, FL

78-Sept-17:	Fox Theater - Atlanta, GA  (late show)

75-Oct-23:	Music Hall - Boston, MA

75-Oct-31:	Felt Forum - New York, NY  (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):


78-Feb-7:

They got one more, same as last night with a closing Watermelon In 
Easter Hay, again in double time. Before it starts, FZ comes out 
alone and just runs scales which is very unusual. He really cranks 
out a gem to close the show.



78-Sept-15:

This is the first show back in the states after a few days off to travel 
and bring the equipment back to the US.  The show starts with a nice 
Deathless Horsie solo, still in early development. 

The crux of this show really starts with the encores, a mini show in itself. 
..this segues into a real nice Yo Mama, another nice long solo by FZ.



78-Sept-17 (late):

Frank must have realized how badly the previous (early) show sucked. 
Possibly as an apology to those who had to sit through the early show, 
Frank completely mixes up the set list for the late show, and delivers 
a show that deviates from the norm even more than any of the "go-for-broke" 
Halloween shows. While those later Halloween shows would ultimately 
provide the more satisfying performances, this early in the tour treat 
is a very welcome change of scenery, and does provide the inspiration for 
some amazing moments.

The surprises arrive immediately, with the first known performance of 
"Twenty One" occupying the opening guitar solo spot. Frank solos for 
approximately five-and-a-half minutes, displaying his virtuosity by wringing 
some intense emotion out of the complex solo environment.

..No matter, though, as all is mended with the middle-of-the-show climax, 
"Yo Mama".  Unlike the "Yo Mama's" from the Spring '78 tour, this "Yo Mama" 
(and all "Yo Mama's" since) is not your slowly building, guitar epic showcase. 
While Vinnie and Artie (and in '81 Wackerman and Thunes) are no doubt highly 
talented musicians, they could never grasp that methodical, well-paced 
acceleration that Bozzio and O'Hearn employed so effectively during their tenure. 
Frank seems to know this, because instead of taking the time to slowly build 
his solo, he simply takes off as soon as the race starts. With full-speed guitar 
soloing from the second we enter solo territory, this "Yo Mama" is a mad dash 
to the finish. We get approximately two minutes of solo Zappa six-string fury, 
before Vinnie and Artie join in. The segue into Phase II is rather weak, and 
Frank seems to lose track of where his solo is going at this point. Almost 
immediately, therefore, he calls for the segue into Phase III, and rides the 
rhythmic wave that the band builds beneath him. The solo peaks before reaching 
a truly climatic conclusion, but all things considered (the tour, the month, 
the solos so far), this is a satisfying excursion.



75-Oct-23:

Musicwise, this tape shows the band getting closer to the routine it got into 
by the winter, which is not such a good thing.