Frank Zappa - Roxy & Elsewhere

High Energy Live album featuring some of Zappa's most talented band members. Then again, aren't they all ? Great live version of Trouble Coming Everyday, I Just can't Believe....., . All kinds of great grooves, as per Zappa. Bruce Fowler, trombone, Ruth Underwood, mallets, George Duke, keyboard and vocals. All Zappa fans will appreciate ! I can't speak for the others.

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.

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?

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!

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

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.

This is my favorite Frank Zappa album of all time! The band, the crowd inuendos, and Franks guitar work still puts me at awe everytime I listen to this album. Roxy never gets old and very few albums that I own even come close to touching it. "Penguin in Bondage" and "Pigmy Twilite" are my two favorite tracks, but every song is a treat on this album. 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know the thrill of experiencing a piece of art for the first time and instantly recognising that it has added value to your life? I'm an admirer of Mr Zappa for two decades and in possession of a substantial part of the canon, but for no apparant reason I never purchased Roxy. As a result, I experienced the album for the first time last Saturday, between 2-3 in the afternoon, while overlooking the Manila Lagoon. It made my day (and the rest of the weekend). This band was COOKING and they knew it! The playing is elevated, skillful, sophisticated, funny and never without a groove. Exceptional!

Received a vinyl copy of this remarkable live recording from my father as a youngster and it served as an excellent introduction to the genius of Frank Zappa (and his ensemble).
Frank shows what he's made of and why he's recognized as one of the greatest modern composers, guitar players as well as a wizard when it came to choosing musicians for his band.
Incredible tunes, fantastic live performance, funny speeches and lyrics - this album's got it all.
I just got myself this gem on CD (remastering supervised and approved by Frank Zappa) and it's running non-stop in my car...
And it's a historical injustice that I never got to see Frank live... ;-(

After listening to this album when I was fourteen, I realized I had no choice but to be involved in music 24 /7. Frank Zappa makes a solid case for why "music is the best" and pity the poor souls who do not get it or who never get involved. God, this album is so much fun. Yet another gift for your ears from FZ and his musical peers. "Oh yeah, oh yeah, ohhhhhh!" And I forgot to mention, Bruce Fowler is one of the greatest trombone players ever recorded. Love every second of it!

Jimi Hendrix eat your heart out this album has some of the greatest guitar solo's ever recorded.FZ may you never be forgotten

While I am a huge FZ fan, I gravitate a bit toward the 70's albums, yet my favorite might be Make a Jazz Noise Here from the 'final' live tour (1988?). Everyone has an opinon right? I really don't care for the Live at the Filmore East album, but this album is simply excellent. Yes the reviews about the final dance contest number being a bit drawn out are true, but it is not a fatal flaw.

I was talking about Frank Zappa with a co-worker of mine the other day, and he broke into song. The song was Penguin in Bondage. I congratulated him on his obscure choice, as most people would have probably broken into I'm the Slime or Don't Eat the Yellow Snow. I then thought about this album, and it's one of Frank's more memorable ones. I do like Penguin in Bondage, a funny parody of a blues song. I love the music from the song Cheepnis, and the vocals. I don't share Frank's love of s***ty monster movies, so the lyrics leave something to be desired. But Frank adored the cheesy, cheap monster movies from the 1950's, so if he dug 'em, to each his own I suppose. The best song is the incredibly intricate instrumental Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?. This is one of my favorite Zappa instrumentals, and I always look forward to it whenever I break out this album. George Duke's electric piano solo is quite beautiful. Be-Bop Tango (of the Old Jazzmen's Church) would have probably been better if I was at the concert, as Frank is conducting the band and choreographing people on the stage at the same time. It would have been lovely to listen to and to witness. Overall, an excellent addition to the Zappa catalogue, even though there are others which are better.

though i have many,many of franks albums, this is my favorite one.everyone is top-notch and frank is one heck of a guitarist.very highly recomended.

This was one tight band. But, in an early instance of Zappa's doctoring of live material, "Roxy & Elsewhere" is partially a studio effort. Napoleon Murphy Brock's high vocals in "Cheepnis" are proof of this. Further proof would be Volume Two of "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore." Vastly different arrangement, with no speeded-up vocal. The other instances are more subtle, but present, nonetheless. But I won't detract from this record. It really is good.

There is a relaxed feel all through this, even in the fast-paced, intricate arrangements, and it is obvious the whole band is having a lot of fun on stage. And despite a slight raciness in some of the material, Zappa keeps it all clean; a "PG" rating at worst. Too bad it wasn't aired on television, as intended. There is such mundane material in spots, who would have thought you could write a nice, jazzy ballad about turkey poop on your windshield ("Village Of The Sun"), and actually have it work? And, of course, cheap monster movies have a fan base all their own, including Zappa and The Mothers' salute with "Cheepnis." Despite the obvious overdubbing, this is an incredible piece of live music. It's no wonder he had a "NO DRUGS IN THE BAND" rule. Uppers could help, but you really need to be on top of your game to pull this stuff off. Take the first part of "Bee-Bop Tango," for instance. Frank Zappa tells the audience, just before the band starts, "This is a HARD one to play." Just listen to it, the band probably played it every night for the whole 73-74 tour, maybe not, but, as rendered here, it's one of the most difficult pieces in contemporary music. And, I have no doubt, this version has it's own ambience.

"Roxy & Elsewhere" has funny dialogue, good, lively interplay between band members and audience, and a clean, immediate sound, as if the band were set up in your home. One thing that is funny, how many times do you see a rock audience seriously listening to a jazzy trombone solo, and liking it?

He couldn't escape his "Freak Out" roots though, as a slowed down, truncated "Trouble Coming Every Day" is included, but called "MORE Trouble Coming Every Day," along with a rearranged "Orange County Lumber Truck," from "Weasels Ripped My Flesh," but not sounding dated at all at the time. And even now, it still sounds fresh.

Was fortunate enough to see this gig at the Roxy. Zappa's soloing on Penguin In Bondage is superb. If you're a Guitarist I would also recomend Black Napkins from Zoot Allures and Watermelons In Easter Hay from Joe's Garage, Willie The Pimp from Live At The Fillmore East,although only part one made it on the CD, is also representative of Zappas quality as a soloist.

Hi again, Seeker.

Just thought I'd offer to agree to disagree, just as you obviously disagree with the vast majority of customer reviewers on this, as well as every other Zappa music you hate.

As the saying goes "To each his own" and there are very many folks who LOVE LOVE LOVE Frank Zappa. To quote FZ himself,
"There are more people who HATE everything that I do than there are peole who like anything that I do, and NOBODY likes everything that I do, so that's the framework which I work in."

You fall into the category of those who HATE everything that he does, and certainly have the right to that opinion. Like him or hate him, Zappa DID have an impact on music in his lifetime and beyond. Considered a "musician's musician" more than a pop artist for the teen masses, I think that's more significant.

Time will tell whether Zappa's music is taught in music school and played far off into the future. Dweezil Zappa, along with a killer band of young musicians and a few Zappa alumni, just toured Zappa music to great reviews and audience delight and is gearing up for a second leg in the fall, due to demand. What I'm getting at is that folks TRULY love Zappa, his thought process, his twisted compositional arrangement style and hit-or-miss composed on-the-spot LIVE guitar solos.

Zappa refered to the live guitar solos of the major rock guitarists as "Freeze Dried" solos. Awesome that they may be, they'd be about the same night after night. Zappa took the chance night after night of bringing freshness to the audience, many traveling to many different cities on the tour, to hear something different, even within the same song. Again, hit-or-miss, but having the musical balls to keep it interesting for himself as well as the paying customers.

Hot Rats, an album which you detest, is on many people's "Desert Island" list. As the saying goes "A million Elvis fans can't be wrong." If you don't like Zappa, it's not that he sucked, or was a sham. Just that he isn't YOUR cup of tea, and we'll just have to disagree.
Best regards,
Jizmo

I saw this band during the "elsewhere" part of the tour in May of 1974. They were all STUNNING musicians. Ruth Underwood who, during what must have ultimately become Echidna's Art, was intent on running around on-stage between a small trap set, a marimba, and a set of tuned cowbells (this release does not need "more cowbell"). "Ladies and Gentlemen, watch Ruth! All through this film, Ruth has been wondering, 'what can I possibly do to amaze everyone? ' Just keep your eye on her, I think she's come up with the answer." I love hearing Zappa say that because I can clearly remember just how fascinating it was watching this woman in performance.

The reviewer below who said there is no humor on this record must not have a sense of humor. This recording is fabulously and famously funny. Zappa's monologues and comments to the audience are hysterical, such as his playful critique "No No! You're much too adagio!"of an audience participant trying to dance to "all the fast and funny little notes George is playing"

The musicianship on this recording is jaw-dropping and awesome. There's some great "fusion" music going on here that finds the ensemble of 10 musicians playing impossibly fast lines all in unison (Echidna and Don't You Ever Wash That Thing). Today it is impossible to watch a crappy movie on the Sci-Fi Channel without thinking of Cheepness: "Here comes that poodle-dog, big as a cliff with a rhinestone collar, snapping off trees like they were bonzai twigs on the landscape, keep it away! Don't let the poodle bite me! We can't let it reproduce!"

I don't know if I would say this is Zappa's best live album from a musical standpoint... it is certainly his most entertaining. Make a Jazz Noise Here might be better as far as musicianship goes. Both are stunningly great!

By the way, if you like Zappa's music and humor, I HIGHLY recommend reading his autobiography "The Real Frank Zappa Book". I guarantee you will be laughing your backside off before page 3. I recall the first time I picked this up on a display at a Walden's books. I randomly turned to a page and started to read. I was laughing so hard I was doubled over, convulsing and had tears in my eyes, the store clerks probably thought I was having a stroke.

Frank Zappa And The Mothers-Roxy And Elsewhere *****

Maybe Frank Zappa's all time best live album, maybe. Bongo Fury and Guitar are both great as well, but I think Roxy And Elsewhere takes the cake. The muscian interplay is just down right amazing and all of the songs on the record are fantastic. Napoleon Murphy Brock, Bruce and Tom Fowler, Ruth Underwood, and George Duke are maybe the best lineup to ever play with the man, well maybe second only to the Zoot Allures line up but thats it. Frank's guitar playing here is amazing, not as promenant on all the songs but still an important musical force here.

As I said this is the best live album but not my favorite by Zappa. It is great to listen to but I often times find myself listening to Bongo Fury or Guitar instead when I want to listen to a live album. But this is a great one because of the interaction with the crowd, Frank truly was the master of ceremonies, and a great one at that.

To me all of the songs on this album are classic's in the Frank Zappa music cannon but no other songs are as essential or as memorable as 'Pygmy Twylyte' or 'Echidna's Arf (Of You)' the later is one of the very best Zappa compositions ever created. The guitar interplay with George Dukes trumpet is amazing. 'Pygmy Twylyte' is just a great song that I can never grow tired of even after all the times I have listened to it. As for the res of the album, as I said all of the songs are great 'Cheepnis' is wonderful, 'More Trouble Every Day' is great not as good as the original but still a masterful song.

So to conclude this is the purest way to explore the genius that is Frank Zappa to hear him is his most comfortable and in his true habitat....live on a stage with one hell of a backing band. To all who dare this is a excellent live album by one of the music worlds true virtuosos. Highly recomended to all.

The Roxy Mothers lineup, also appearing on "One Size Fits All", is one of the best bands ever assembled. Brilliant, seasoned musicians playing sophisticated, intelligent and vastly enjoyable music. A plus is Zappa's attitude personable and had not yet begun its descent into non-stop vicious disparagement of anything around him.

This was recorded mostly in late 1973 and early to mid 1974.
It has some very complicated songs to play like "Echidna's Arf (Of You)", "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?", and the beginning of "Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)".
All of the titles here were previously unreleased. But "More Trouble Every Day" is actually "Trouble Every Day" from Freak Out. It's played slower and a little differently. And "Son Of Orange County" has bits of "Orange County Lumber Truck" and "Oh No" from Weasels Ripped My Flesh in the end. "Cheepnis" is a very good song, but has very many over-dubs making it sound like a studio recording. My favortes are all of the songs except "More Trouble Every Day" because I never really liked this song that much, "Dummy Up" because it's too long and not interesting, and "Be-Bop Tango" because it's 16 minutes long and most of it is audience participation.
But the rest is really good. I recommend this album.

My friend used to play this album quite often, and it really made me absoltely averse to his music. And seeing him interviewed several times more than gave me the impression that this was an infinitely egotistical man who seemed to have contempt for his fellow musicians. He believed himself to be above the music scene, when, in fact, he did absolutely nothing to bring the music to new heights. He had little talent to put where his big mouth was, and seemed to be an angry contrarian who was easily outshone by numerous artists of his time-Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Lennon/McCartney, Pete Townshend, Jim Morrison, Steve Winwood, Ray Davies, Janis Joplin, the Mamas and the Papas, Cream, Aerosmith, Ian Hunter, Alvin Lee, The Eagles, Joe Walsh, Linda Ronstadt, Procal Harum, The Who, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Carole King, Carly Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Van Halen, Tina Turner-just to name a few.

I've listened to many zappa albums. And people say this is like one of his greatest EVER! I think it's overrated. Because it is very jazzy, most of these were never on studio albums before (only trouble every day is from freak out) and there's not much humor.

Penguin In Bondage - This is one of the best songs.
Pingwy Twylyte - Not a very good track. Seems unnecessary.
Dummy Up - This is alright. I prefer the original mothers talking during concerts than george duke.
Village of the sun - Don't really like this one that much.
Echdina's Arf (Of You) - Jazzy song that goes right into...
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing? - Good one. One of my faves.
Cheepnis - Mediocre.
Son Of Orange County - Not that great.
Trouble Every Day - Allright version. Not the best one though.
Bee-bop Tango - I'm sure the dancing part would have been cooler if seen. But the places where they play music are good.
I wouldn't recommend this album for beginners. If you want radio friendly zappa, get apostrophe or overnite sensation. If you want crazy mothers zappa. Get WOIIFTM. If you want post mid 70s zappa, get Joe's Garage, or One size fits all. If you want jazzy zappa get Hot Rats, or Burnt Weeny Sandwich or Uncle Meat or Grand Wazoo. But this is not a good first try.

I'm surprised though that nobody else mentioned "Echidna's Arf" which is followed immediately by "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing" - absolutely exquisite jazz-rock, flawlessly realized by musicians completely at their peak. Wonderful!