On Sep 17, 2012, at 3:56 PM, Yusuf Malenky wrote:

I already have every Zappa cd release so I wasn’t planning on buying the new remixes. However, I decided to update Hot Rats since I only have the 1987 mix. WHOA! the new mix is SUCH a revelation I’m going to have to find money to update the catalogue! Thanks for revealing the music more fully.

Whoa!, yourself. You are so very welcome. Thanks so much for your comments but not all Titles were remastered. If you look on the album package on the back you will see exactly what the source is – so you can compare that to what you already have. Enjoy!!!

On Sep 13, 2012, at 10:18 AM, Edwin Kool wrote:

Hello,
I recollect an thrilling announcement earlier this year concerning Roxy and its release somewhat this year. After that my mailbox remained silent. That can have multiple causes but an update would be very much appreciated.

Thanx in advance so the speak.

From Holland with love

Grx!
Edwin Kool

Today is my wedding anniversary and so I will tell you this: Stay tuned. The Real Frank Zappa Roxy Announcement will be yours not later than Moon’s birthday this year. And it is thrilling.

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz

On Sep 14, 2012, at 5:10 AM, Nick Meyers wrote:

Hi Gail / Barfies,

Can you tell me the titles comprising the final batch of 12 original albums for release in November – presumably will include YCDTOSA vols. 3 through 6 and Yellow Shark?

Thanks

Nick Meyers – huge UK Zappa fan since the late 70’s…yippee do
Barf

Ahhh. Tricky question. I see how you are. Out of a total of 56 actual Titles (considering some of the combined ones – Joe’s Garage and SU&PYG and LSO par example – you want to know how we are planning to get to 12 in November. Cheeky clever you are. Let me just confirm that for you Nick. That would be a yes on 12 – with fingers crossed. How we get there from here is a mystery so far but does include Mystery Disc. And YCDTOSA 3 – 6 and Yellow Shark and Playground Psychotics and The Lost Episodes with some Have I Offended Someone? on the side – and one or two surprises! Cross your fingers for me and we’ll get there together! (Did I mention Vinyl?)

Thanks Nick.

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz

Hello Sean. The content of your letter that I have addressed is in blue below. My comments are in red. Thanks for your good will.

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz

On Sep 11, 2012, at 6:34 PM, Sean wrote:

Hello Gail Zappa,

I’m writing about the recent victory over Ryko/Warner Bros.
Since no details were disclosed and some fans seem to want to know what the deal is, and some seem to feel it was appropriate to attack you in the past and still, I would like to offer some observations. If I get anything horribly wrong please correct me.

I have read in an interview from 1995 that the sale of the masters to Ryko was arranged prior to FZ’s death for an undisclosed amount. True.

At the time the estimate was 40 million. Speculation.

This was only for the masters and the license to distribute them. True.

All copyrights remained with you, as well as all publishing rights. Not True. It was a Sale of the Masters but nothing to do with the publishing.

It was always Frank Zappa’s intention that the digital distribution rights remained with the family. True.

This sale was finalized in 1994. Signed in 1994. True.

In 1997 Ryko began working with outside parties to increase the size and value of their Zappa catalogue, notably the release of “200 Motels” in a joint venture with MGM. Speculation.

Due to the relatively short existence of this title Speculation.

I have concluded that this was initially undertaken without your consent or input. True.

As you own the copyright on the name Frank Zappa. True.

you had leverage to stop the continued distribution. Speculation.

Ryko then proceeded to release a long list of unauthorized comilation disks, even though Speculation.

new content was still being provided to them such as “Lather,” True but not part of Sale

“Mystery Disc,” and “Have I Offended Someone?” True – part of Original Sale.

I do not know when the unauthorized digital distribution began, but I have heard it mentioned that download sales were not being properly reported to you and therefor exact amounts of royalties could not be determined. True.

This was the reason for the lawsuit. Speculation.

in undertaking without your consent the digital sales, you had a legitimate claim of Breach Of Contract. Whoa, whoa, “legitimate” has become an obscene term recently. Also Speculation.

In 2006 Ryko was taken over by Warner Bros. No comment.

You wound up having to fight them a second time and WON. Speculation.

You got back all distribution rights because Ryko now owned by Warner Bros. had violated the terms of the contract. Speculation.

Now here’s my question.
Do they still have their copies of the masters that were sold to Ryko in 1994? Their useless masters that they can do nothing with because they don’t own the rights? This I cannot answer but I can say that Warners currently are enjoying no further rights with respect to the FZ Masters sold to Ryko in 1994.

Congratulations on kicking Warner Bros. ass again. I have them and a few lawyers to thank for getting the Masters returned to us. The only asses in the picture besides democrats too lazy to vote are those who have been casting their ill-will towards me and my family for years.

XOXOXO, Sean. Thank you.

On Sep 8, 2012, at 5:10 AM, GAYAN. HESHAN. wrote:

Hi Zappa.com,

Will the September releases be the FZ approved masters?

The Lugwig/Sax remasters do not sound faithful to the FZ approved masters on prior CD releases. The remasters sound loud and boxy.

Regards,

Gayan Packeer

They are not required nor intended to be “faithful” – The language, “FZ approved master,” was language required by Ryko which they demanded to use. Although we signed off on this there were other other claims that were neither authorized or factual. We did the best we could. I took the heat for a lot of misleading information over which I had no control. That is not the case anymore. You don’t have to spend your money on any of this. The point remains, we want to now let people know that they are not all the same – to spare people from duplicating the masters already in their collection. That is why we include the source on each Master and whether or not the album has been REMASTERED and when. Ultimately, in some cases where appropriate there will be 2 and possibly more versions of the Primary Catalog titles available. I hope this is clear. Sorry you are on the list of those we can’t please nohow.

Thanks!

gz

On Aug 24, 2012, at 7:38 AM, Hans Annellsson wrote:

Dear Gail,

I’ve made a lyric consisting entirely of titles from Frank’s songbook.
I don’t know if I need permission for this, if I do I’m hereby seeking it.
The music is mine, but I’m willing to credit Frank as a co-lyricist.
The title of the song is Titles and will be released by The Vegetarians.
Notice that the intent is not to ridicule or make mockery of Frank, his lyrics or his music.
This isn’t a totally original idea; the English group Barclay James Harvest released a song
in the seventies (also named Titles) consisting of Beatles titles.

TITLES

Tell me you love me, Willie the pimp
Wonderful wino, You are what you is
Chunga’s revenge, Would you go all the way
Uncle meat, Father O’blivion It can’t happen here

Florentin pogen, Carol you fool
San Bernadino, Shove it right in
It must be a camel, Love of my life
Apostrophe, If only she woulda, Catholic girls

Muffin man, He’s so gay
Jazz from hell, Pick me I’m clean
Mom & dad, The purple lagoon
Return of the hunchback duke

Lost in a whirlpool, The groupie routine
Amnesia vivace, I’m a beautiful guy
Dong work for Yuda, Can’t afford no shoes
Goblin girl, Eddie are you kidding, Help I’m a rock

Muffin man, He’s so gay
Jazz from hell, Pick me I’m clean
Mom & dad, The purple lagoon
I ain’t got no heart, Fine girl

Suicide chump, T’mershi duween
I don’t even care, In France

Baby Snakes, Joe’s garage
Toad-O line, While you were out
Valley girl, Why Jonny can’t read
That evil prince, Sy Borg

Massagio galore, Soup’n old clothes
Return of the hunchback duke

Sincerely,
Hans Annellsson
www.annellssongs.com
www.myspace.com/annellsson
www.myspace.com/thevegetarians2

Hans,

For the most part, this is a list of FZ Compositions. You are calling it Lyrics but it is a list. You do not have permission to use FZ’s concepts which are a part of his image to associate yourself with FZ for commercial exploitation. Thanks for asking but the answer is NO. Also, you should be ashamed of yourself for even considering that crediting FZ for half of the “lyrics” would be an attractive offer.

Sincerely,

gz

On Aug 24, 2012, at 9:12 AM, jerome wrote:

hi gail

is that you on the hot rats cover?

love ya.
jerome

No not now and not then either. It is none other than Miss Christine of the GTOs (Girls Together Otrageously). Thanks for asking!

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz

On Aug 23, 2012, at 6:04 PM, Brian E. Boldt wrote:

Dear Gail,

Is there an advantage to ordering the “Frank Zappa – 56 Original Masters by The Maestro in Chronological order – 1966 – 1993″ complete from Barfko-Swill, as opposed to bit by bit elsewhere? Meaning, is there a special box, or something else collectable, etc.? The reason that I ask, is that if I cancel all my current pre-orders through Best Buy and Amazon and order through Barfko-Swill right now, I can still take the first 12 that I already bought out of the order from Barfko-Swill and return them to Best Buy with their receipt for a full refund!

I need to know in the next couple of days though, otherwise, it’ll be too late to process the return via their 30 day return policy.

Thank you; always wanting to support you and the family!

(Really wish this option was available, or even the knowledge of it, before I bought the first 12. Sigh.)

My best,

Brian
Thank you for your support. The answer to your question: If you grab a bundle as offered you will also get Free shipping – domestic only – and a discount on a t-shirt as offered. Check it out. http://barfkoswill.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=971_57751

Thanks!

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz

On Aug 23, 2012, at 3:52 PM, Bill Hunter wrote:

Can you say something more specific regarding the (re-)mastering of these? As I have purchased and re-purchased most of the titles a few times now on CD, to say nothing of the vinyl, I would like to know what I might be getting / getting into here?

Exactly how tweezed are they? I read where,
“The UME deal is for the entire Zappa Catalog as it appeared on Frank Zappa’s own independent label, Barking Pumpkin Records. Many of the original analog masters have been re-mastered for this occasion. Yes that’s right, you heard right. “
But can you be more specific, title by title, what was done to the original masters, who done it, etc.?

What about new and improved vinyl releases? Any hope for us analog-ish, record-playing types?

Thanks much!!!

-bill
Bill,
See below for the LIST and all of them were Remastered this year. (You can add Hot Rats to that but it happened a few years back for the brief but exciting limited release on Vinyl, Mastered by Bernie Grundman.) Well before any of this Joe baked the many muffins here at UMRK and then transferred each and every master before they were reassigned for reissue on Zappa Records. It was during this process that decisions were made for what seriously-before-going-any-further must be Remastered – from the original Analog. We are not done with this but further choices will be in the context of other formats – or in some cases, the next Audio-Documentary, should it apply. When you purchase any of these (as many of you have already noticed) you too will note that each and every title advises the source and year of the Master, the name of the Engineer who did the Remastering, the original year of release of the title and how old FZ was when making the record. All of the titles listed below are also MFiT.
Enjoy.
The REMASTERED TITLES:
Absolutely Free
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Chunga’s Revenge
Fillmore East, June 1971
Just Another Band From L.A.
Waka / Jawaka
The Grand Wazoo
Over-nite Sensation
Apostrophe(‘)
One Size Fits All
Bongo Fury
Zoot Allures
Studio Tan
Sleep Dirt
Sheik Yerbouti
Joe’s Garage Acts 1, 2 & 3
Tinseltown Rebellion
Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Guitar
You Are What You Is
Them or Us

On Aug 23, 2012, at 5:17 PM, Bernhard Drax wrote:

and needless to say I will be spending a lot of money this year…for a good cause: keep FZ’s music alive! btw: my 8-year old and I sing “Man from Utopia” in the car driving to and fro from his violin lessons every Thursday, new tradition I guess…AWESOME :)
all best

bd

Bernard,

New tradition and well it should be! He is lucky to have a Dad with such a wondrous persuasion in music and a violin! His imagination would not seem to be threatened. Wow, Virginia, there IS hope for Humanity!

Thanks!!!

gz
“Music is the Best!”~fz