Lumpy Gravy -- Classic; i think it actually samples a piece of
someone else's musique concrete composition, maybe Henry, maybe INA
GRM guys; i can't find out which very easily; its companion album
(?) " ..Money" is also mandatory.
200 Motels -- Classic conception at most or least; orchestra
presented as imprisoned in concentration camp at mercy of conductor,
harp player etc..; try to see the film cheaply and fast-forward;
sample the soundtrack.
Studio Tan/ Sleep Dirt/ Orchestra .. ("Lather" triple album played in
entirety on radio by Zappa encouraging fans to tape it -- contractual
dispute project) -- Dud with occasional instrumental relief -- tape
it off someone else but carefully avoid "Greggary Peccary".
Boulez conducts Zappa -- Dud -- your library will have it -- B
stopped having only made half the album which was then completed with
early Synclavier pieces -- B and Z weren't talking to each other
afterwards.
LSO plays Zappa -- Dud -- Zappa: "the brass section were drunk" --
not particularly startling -- library.
Jazz from Hell -- 'tween -- early Synclavier experiments -- library.
Mothers of Prevention -- 'tween -- Synclavier experiments coming
along nicely, but not of much interest -- library.
Civilization Phase III -- Classic -- properly realised and scaled
Synclavier works via Lumpy Gravy (part 2 ?, " .. Money" ?)
conception -- good instrumentals/orchestrals with Synclavier sounding
closest to orchestra as it would get.
Yellow Shark -- 'tween -- some good real orchestral pieces plus some
Synclavier but mostly boring -- Zappa trademark anal attention to
detail -- sample.
Compilation of orchestral stuff -- useless -- most of the good stuff
falls within concept album territory.
The Zappa Family Trust is reputed to have witheld around 200 late
Synclavier pieces -- possiblity Stockhausen-esque reissue program
will continue, but probably not, since it appears Z gets final veto.
― George Gosset, Tuesday, 14 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)