Many Zappa aficionados consider his backing band on the 1978 live release ZAPPA IN NEW YORK to be one of his finest. After all, the group included future Missing Persons/UK drummer Terry Bozzio, Jethro Tull/Roxy Music/UK keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson and a fantastic horn section that would gain notoriety in the Saturday Night Live house band (The Brecker Brothers), among others. Although the concert was recorded during a multi-night stand at New York's Palladium in December of 1976, the album's release was held up by Warner Bros. because of their objection to the homo-erotic track "Punky's Whips." Eventually the track was dropped, but was included on the Rykodisc 1991 re-issue, which also featured three other tracks not on the original version.
Surprises abound on ZAPPA IN NEW YORK, such as a cameo by Saturday Night Live announcer Don Pardo, who introduces the aforementioned "Punky's Whips" and other tracks. Fans of technically complex rock will surely love the epics "Black Page (Parts One and Two)" and the lengthy album closer "The Purple Lagoon/Approximate." Zappa manages to inject some of his trademark humor throughout the proceedings--look no further than the unbelievable true story of "The Illinois Enema Bandit" and the album opener, "Titties & Beer."
Personnel includes: Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals); Michael Brecker (saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Terry Bozzio (drums).
- Format: Vinyl, 3 LP, 40th Anniversary Edition
- Genre: Jazz
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Track Listing:
A1 Titties & Beer
A2 I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth
A3 Big Leg Emma
B1 Sofa
B2 Manx Needs Women
B3 The Black Page Drum Solo / Black Page #1
B4 Black Page #2
C1 Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me?
C2 The Illinois Enema Bandit
D The Purple Lagoon
Bonus Disc:
E1 Black Napkins
E2 Cruisin' For Burgers (1977 Mix)
F1 The Black Page #2 (Piano Version)
F2 I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth (Alternative Version)
F3 Punky's Whips (Unused Version)
F4 The Black Page #1 (Piano Version)
