Album

Zoot Allures

Zappa

1976 · Rock

35 collectors on Gatefold own this

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Zoot Allures by Zappa

Zoot Allures is a Rock album by Zappa, originally released in 1976. On Gatefold: 135 pressings tracked, owned by 35 collectors.

About

For those who wish Frank Zappa would shut up and play his guitar more often, 1976's <i>Zoot Allures</i> occupies a special place in the Zappa catalog. It's not an instrumental record, as many later releases would specifically allow, but it is Zappa stripping back the craziness for a tasteful, even mildly subdued approach. "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" is a freaky and insanely catchy and quick opening number, but the instrumental "Black Napkins" cuts to the heart of 1970s FM radio rock, with one of Zappa's strongest guitar solos and a guitar-organ arrangement worthy of <i>Meddle</i> to <i>Wish You Were Here</i>-era Pink Floyd. The dark whispery vocals of "The Torture Never Stops" adds to the menace of the female screams and the noir-inspired guitar solos. "Friendly Little Finger" features a twisted guitar lead that's pure Zappa mayhem. "Zoot Allures" is even more melodic and delicious. Hard rock that cruises the avenues cements the Iggy Pop-like "Wonderful Wino." "Disco Boy" is more demented satire from an artist who looked upon all trends with deep suspicion and cutting humor.

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Tracklist

Side A

  1. A1Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station2:31
  2. A2Black Napkins4:18
  3. A3The Torture Never Stops9:52
  4. A4Ms. Pinky3:49

Side B

  1. B1Find Her Finer4:22
  2. B2Friendly Little Finger4:20
  3. B3Wonderful Wino3:41
  4. B4Zoot Allures4:15
  5. B5Disco Boy5:28

Sound DNA

  • Rock
  • Prog Rock
  • distorted
  • intense
  • psychedelic

Album notes

Discogs page for these notes (opens in a new tab)

Official Release #22
The track "The Torture Never Stops" is the Zappa vocal, studio version. (Not the Vliet vocal - sometimes credited in parenthesis as [Original Version]).
The front cover features (L to R) Patrick O'Hearn, Terry Bozzio, Frank Zappa & Eddie Jobson although both O'Hearn and Jobson did not play on the album.
The Japanese hanko (seal or stamp) on the front cover, 葉雑, can be read as "Za-pa"; the characters used translate as "Miscellaneous Leaves". The back cover features 不乱苦雑派, which can be read phonetically as "Fu-ran-ku-zap-pa"; the translation of these characters is non-sensical, rendering "Not" "Turbulent" "Distress" "Miscellaneous" "Faction", which could be interpreted as "An easy-going band/group."

Credits

The people behind it.

Performers

  • Andre LewisORGAN, VOCALS BACKING VOCALS ORGAN
  • Don Van VlietHARMONICA
  • Frank ZappaGUITAR GUITAR, BASS, KEYBOARDS, VOCALS LEAD GUITAR
  • Roy EstradaBASS, VOCALS BACKING VOCALS BASS
  • Ruth UnderwoodMARIMBA MARIMBA, SYNTH MARIMBA, SYNTHESIZER
  • Terry BozzioDRUMS BACKING VOCALS DRUMS, BACKING VOCALS
  • Dave ParlatoBASS
  • Davey MoireBACKING VOCALS LEAD VOCALS LEAD VOCALS , BACKING VOCALS
  • Dick BarberBACKING VOCALS
  • Lou Anne NeillHARP
  • Napoleon M. BrockBACKING VOCALS SAXOPHONE SAXOPHONE , VOCALS
  • Ruben Ladron de GuevaraBACKING VOCALS
  • Sparkie ParkerBACKING VOCALS

35 collectors on Gatefold own this · 135 pressings tracked on Gatefold

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