Kosmik Radiation Radio - December 16, 2011 Playlist

CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Frank Zappa "Läther" mostly rec. 1972-77, rel. 1996 (USA)

It's time for our annual birthday salute to Frank Zappa, and so our classic album this week is one of Zappa's greatest works. He made several attempts during his lifetime to release a long-form epic, beginning with an unreleased 10-record box set of 1960's Mothers of Invention recordings, but the only time he succeeded before he passed away was when he released the mammoth 12-CD You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore series. Läther was another attempt at a long form work, originally conceived as a 5-LP set to be released in 1977. However, Zappa was in the midst of a fight with his record label at the time, and so instead this material was originally released on the albums Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt, Orchestral Favorites and the bowdlerized double-live Zappa In New York. (At the height of his battles with Warner Brothers, Frank also played the master tapes of the entire original Läther configuration on an L.A. radio station, which means it has also been available as a bootleg since the 1970's). Before he died in 1993, Frank prepared a revised edition of Läther which was released posthumously as a 3-CD set in 1996.
Here's a 22 year old Zappa on the Steve Allen Show demonstrating how to use a bicycle as a musical instrument. Next, one of the greatest groups of the 1960's: The (original) Mothers of Invention, as well as another great Mothers lineup from the mid-70's. Zappa's first love was always classical music; here is Frank conducting the Ensemble Modern (accompanied by a "ballet"). In recent years his son Dweezil has been leading a repertoiry group called Zappa Plays Zappa to keep his father's music alive.

(W) = Web archive/podcast version of the show includes only these tracks

Artist	Song	Album	Year	Country
Frank Zappa	Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (original title "Never On Sunday")	The Lost Episodes	rec. 1961, rel. 1996	USA
Frank Zappa	Theme From Run Home Slow	Mystery Disc	rec. 1963, rel. 1998	USA
Frank Zappa	The Original Duke Of Prunes (incidental music from Run Home Slow)	Mystery Disc	rec. 1963, rel. 1998	USA
Frank Zappa	Speed Freak Boogie (an early experiment in "vari-speed" recording)	Mystery Disc	rec. 1962, rel. 1998	USA
Frank Zappa	excerpt from part 1	Lumpy Gravy	1967	USA
The Mothers Of Invention	A Pound For A Brown (On The Bus) (live) (based on a "string quartet" written by Zappa as a teenager)	Electric Aunt Jemima	rec. 1968, rel. 1992	USA
Frank Zappa	Peaches En Regalia	Hot Rats	1969	USA

The Mothers Of Invention	Project X	Uncle Meat	1969	USA
Frank Zappa	Imaginary Diseases (live "Petite Wazoo" band)	Imaginary Diseases	rec. 1972, rel. 2006	USA
Frank Zappa	Watermelon In Easter Hay	Joe's Garage	1979	USA

Frank Zappa	Läther	Läther CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK	mostly rec. 1972-77, rel. on CD 1996	USA
Frank Zappa	The Purple Lagoon	Läther CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK	mostly rec. 1972-77, rel. on CD 1996	USA
Frank Zappa	Down In De Dew	Läther CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK	mostly rec. 1972-77, rel. on CD 1996	USA

Frank Zappa	Chunga's Revenge	Chunga's Revenge	1970	USA
Jean Luc Ponty	Music For Electric Violin And Low-Budget Orchestra (arranged by Frank Zappa, conducted by Ian Underwood)	King Kong: Jean Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa	1970	France

The Mothers Of Invention	The Eric Dolphy Memorial BBQ	Weasels Ripped My Flesh	1970	USA
Frank Zappa	Blessed Relief	The Grand Wazoo	1972	USA
Frank Zappa	Stucco Homes	Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'n Play Your Guitar	mostly rec. 1976-80, rel. 1981	USA
Frank Zappa	Cold Light Generation / Dio Fa	Civilization Phaze III	1994	USA

The Mothers Of Invention	Let's Make The Water Turn Black / Harry You're A Beast / The Orange County Lumber Truck (part 1) / Oh No / The Orange County Lumber Truck (part 2) (live)	Ahead Of Their Time	rec. 1968, rel. 1993	USA