Frank Zappa & the Mothers - Roxy & Elsewhere

Not as good as it's made out to be.

I also think this is overrated. Get YCDTOSA Vol 2 instead. 3 of the tracks are faded out. This is a remastered disc; the rest of those tracks should have been included when the 2lp set was released on CD. Also, Cheepnis was remixed, and it stands out from the rest of the disc by how much worse the sound is. I have no idea why they did that. The original is much better. Other than that, good performances and sound quality. But the remaster should have fixed those problems.
July 19, 2008

One of Zappa's best LP's

Having listened to this recording since it first came out, and being a ginormous Zappa fan in any case, I can assure you sans doute that this is one of the best Zappa CD's you will find. "Son of Orange County/More Trouble Everyday" alone is worth the price of purchase. In general, the period between 1972 and 1982 is his best work, in my opinion. Try "Bongo Fury" too. For what is an entree of Zappa without a surfeit second dish of Captain Beefheart? Just try not to "freak out," OK? July 10, 2008

Fantastic ...

This recording demonstrates how much fun a live performance can be ... great songs ... great humor ... great artists. This album would be worth the price even if it only contained the "preamble" to Cheepnis! April 11, 2008

Essential but not excellent

Anyone with more than a passing interest in Frank Zappa's work should listen to this. It is an example of a live a band Frank clearly enjoyed touring with. Their high level of muscianship and Frank's respect for that sounds clearly through the disc. This was a period in Frank's evolution as a guitar player where his guitar solo work is very accessible by almost any fan of rock guitar. If anyone has doubts about his legendary status as a guitar player, there are examples on this disc that will put these doubts to rest. However, if you are new to the world of Frank Zappa, this may not be the best place to start. There are long passages that feature Frank's version of audience participation and inside joke silliness that may bore the uninitiated. Track 5, Echidna's Arf (Of You),can hold its own with any recording Frank ever did. Track 9, More Trouble Every Day, is a remake of what could be called a protest song from Frank's first albumn in 1964. The music is updated a bit from the orginal but the lyrics are unchanged. Despite the dramaticaly different cultural climate, they still convey a relevant message. There are many other great tracks on this disc but, as a lifelong collector, I would reccomend other recordings over this one. Zoot Allures comes to mind: Zoot Allures April 7, 2008

Jewel In The Crown

I have been an avid Zappa fan for years, back in the 70s, hearing "Apostrophe" changed the way I heard music forever.

Unfortunately, most of my extensive Zappa collection burned in a house fire, so in putting together music, I am sticking with the essentials.

In my opinion, Roxy rates as a "Jewel In The Crown" of the Zappa creative masterworks, sort of bridging the gap between "commercially acceptable" or listener friendly,like "Yellow Snow" or "Valley Girl" and his more complex instrumental only compositions that he focused on at the end of his career.

(If you haven't heard "Shut Up And Play Your Guitar", "Hot Rats", or later albums like "Yellow Shark", you are missing out.)

This live concert features, again IMHO, the best Zappa band ever, which is NOT a slight to the phenomenal bands and musicians that played in later Zappa musical ensembles.

There just seems to be an unspoken joy in the performance that probably reflects a content (if that adjective could ever be applied to Frank) band leader that knows he has some of the best musicians on the planet, at that time, executing his complex and delightfully bizarre compositions.

This can also be evidenced on the DVD "The Dub Room Special", where a laughing, smiling Zappa can be seen conducting the band while leaning on his trusty Gibson SG, also worth getting for a visual documentation of this extraordinary band.

(Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood, George Duke and "Nappy" Brock could show todays "superstars" a thing or two about chops and edge of your seat musicianship and chops...Watch Ruth!)

This band was one of a kind, ahead of it's time, and ran smoother than a fine watch.

Breaking the songs down track by track would be futile, as one composition frequently runs into the other, but "Cheepnis" has always been my favorite.

If you are a fan of music, or a student, this is essential listening.



February 10, 2008

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