Zappa.com

okay guys, this new thread functions on two levels. one, you can post any Zappa questions that you want answered. two, you can show off your [probably years worth of] Zappa knowledge. the benefits of this thread are it will be good place for newbies to ask something without creating a whole new thread.
now, if possible, please answer any question asked with a source when possible. that way we can deal with facts, for the most part.
here is an example of a question and an answer with a source:

A. i know he liked Between The Buttons. http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/Fave ... eir_Graves

you don't have to use a website as a source though that may be ideal. hell, if you have rare fanzines, books, bootlegs anything at all with information please let us know so we, the questioner or any other interested party, can track down said article for more intricate answers.


so, without further ado, here are my humble questions:

What is the story behind the title Where We Ever Really Safe In San Antonio? Being a resident of SA myself I've always wondered about this. I know it was recorded here but does anybody have any other info? Was security lacking that night at the ol' Majestic Theatre or what?


I know Christmas came up a few times in Frank's conceptual continuity going back to a Christmas tree being featured on the original cover of We're Only In It For The Money (and even further than that) all the way up to Xmas Values from CPIII. With this in mind, what was Frank's opinion on traditional Xmas pop music? Do you recall him mention any favorites in interviews or anything?

There are several FAQ threads already, Nuff said.

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If I'm not alone... How long have I been asleep?

Nuff said? Nuff threads? Never!

My current question is... Is there a list somewheres of all the FZ Song Medleys? Ya know, like the Yellow Snow Suite, Sofa Suite, but then also including great song segues like Son Of Mr. Green Genes/King Kong/Chunga's Revenge on BTB III, theres a bunch, so I've been wondering about a list.

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Here's another one I've been thinking about. In the box for MOFO, we get this:



Is there a link somewheres that tells us about the unknown songs like "I Cried When I Died". Hmmmm... Now, I'm wondering if there is a clue in the booklet... I'll have to check later

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

iink unreleased page; must record

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well, this a FAQ thread with sources. it's totally different!

Newbie to the forum....

I see that Buffalo is only available as a DL. How long did it last as a CD and do all releases from the "vault" behave the same way? I like the cd s and I am a little disappointed i missed this one.

Ok - good luck

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If I'm not alone... How long have I been asleep?

http://www.webalice.it/oscar.bianco/tcmyc/medley.html

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Oh No! I don't believe it...
You say that you think you know the meaning of love...

Burning inquiry: Did Frank have any close personal friends? Someone outside of music?

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

That is a fine question. Enquiring minds want to know.

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“The power of pop music to corrupt and putrify the minds of world youth are virtually limitless."

Thanx Los Manx

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

OK, my question. Is there any video of the '71 band performing Billy The Mountain?

None that I know of.
If it turns out such footage even exists, I'd happily try and scrape together the $1,000 the ZFT is asking for the Roxy Performances, and put it towards a BTM film instead. While I do find the 73-74 lineup more accomplished (in a manner of speaking), the 70-71 lineup will always hold a special place in my heart for taking the majesty of Zappa's (sometimes) elaborate instrumentation and mixing it up with some of his raunchiest humor (and Flo & Eddie's outlandish personalities).

But on the note of "Billy the Mountain" footage, I've always wondered what everyone is doing during the Studebaker Hoch Dancing Lesson & Cosmic Prayer for Guidance... I can almost see the sly smirk Frank must've had on his face...

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Oh No! I don't believe it...
You say that you think you know the meaning of love...

Just bought the Buffalo DL. Awesome release. Is it likely that releases like Carnegie and Hammersmith will soon be in this format ? Also, any clues fro a ZPZ tour for 2013? I see a Halloween show in NYC. Will we see other dates announced?

Anybody?

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

i guess the word 'friend' is open to interpretation and i'm sure there are people out there who considered Frank a friend and vice-versa but here are his own words:
Freeman Report Oct 26, 1981
FZ: Well, I don’t have any friends[...]
Interviewer: You don't have any friends?
FZ: [...]When you're the boss you don't have any friends.
Interviewer: What about people outside the buisness?
FZ: I don’t have any time for social activities.
Interviewer: Who would be your friend?
FZ: Well, I have a wonderful wife and four children. I like them, they are my friends.
Interviewer: So your Wife is your friend?
FZ: Right.
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDyHArKQges (starting at 7:32)

i also found this less than serious answer from The 1966 Fanzine Questionnaire :
Who are your closest friends?
The ones that are still alive. I keep to myself mostly, jes' me and my pup dog, Po Po – walking alone together all through the canyon, what care I for friends? Seriously now, my friends made me promise if I ever got famous not to tell their names – it might get back to them. Something like that on your record could keep you from getting a Civil Service job.

source: http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/The_ ... stionnaire

FZ had a friendly relationship with Norwegian composer Arne Nordheim. Many would call that being friends.

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If I'm not alone... How long have I been asleep?

Thanks. I'll take the responses as kind of a "no".

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

This reminds me of something I had brought up some time ago, I saw a show about the archieve of material that was discovered after Bill Grahams passing, they said he had thousands of posters, tens of thousands of photographs, and had filmed with sound nearly every concert played at his venues...they included so conserved color footage of Led Zeppelin from like 1970.

They said they needed to do a lot of conservation and they have begun auctioning posters and photographs, but what if they had films with sound of any of the Mothers incarnations or Frank in general, did not the BTM band play at both Fillmore’s?

Just thinking out loud...

It is entirely possible that such footage does exist, but in the case that it does, I've yet to either see it or even read about it.

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Oh No! I don't believe it...
You say that you think you know the meaning of love...

What would GZ have to say about it? Could the Trust try and control it? Wouldn't it be the property of the Graham estate?

Probably would take years to go thru court...and on the show (I think it was Sunday Mornings on CBS) the curators said it may take years to determine everything they have, apparently there is a ton of stuff in a warehouse...

There's probably video out there somewhere. People make finds all of the time of that nature.

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

And boy, oh boy, when they do... $$$ $$$

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Oh No! I don't believe it...
You say that you think you know the meaning of love...