The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life

Album History
Previous	Next
The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life
Released April 1991
See also: IINK, Patio, KUR Zappa In Barcelona

Players

• Frank Zappa (lead guitar, computer-synth, vocal)
• Paul Carman (alto sax, soprano sax, baritone sax)
• Bruce Fowler (trombone)
• Walt Fowler (trumpet, flugel horn, synth)
• Mike Keneally (rhythm guitar, synth, vocal)
• Kurt McGettrick (baritone sax, bass sax, contrabass clarinet)
• Ed Mann (vibes, marimba, electronic percussion)
• Bobby Martin (keyboards, vocal)
• Scott Thunes (electric bass, mini-moog)
• Chad Wackerman (drums, electronic percussion)
• Ike Willis (rhythm guitar, synth, vocal)
• Albert Wing (tenor sax)

Tracks

CD

Disc One

1. Heavy Duty Judy (6:04)
2. Ring Of Fire (2:01)
3. Cosmik Debris (4:33)
4. Find Her Finer (2:43)
5. Who Needs The Peace Corps? (2:40)
6. I Left My Heart In San Francisco (0:37)
7. Zomby Woof (5:42)
8. Boléro (5:19)
9. Zoot Allures (7:07)
10. Mr. Green Genes (3:41)
11. Florentine Pogen (7:11)
12. Andy (5:52)
13. Inca Roads (8:19)
14. Sofa # 1 (2:50)

Disc Two

1. Purple Haze (2:27)
2. Sunshine Of Your Love (2:31)
3. Let's Move To Cleveland (5:52)
4. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (0:46)
5. "Godfather Part II" Theme (0:30)
6. A Few Moments With Brother A. West (4:01)
7. The Torture Never Stops, Part 1 (5:20)
8. Theme From "Bonanza" (0:29)
9. Lonesome Cowboy Burt (Swaggart Version) (4:55)
10. The Torture Never Stops, Part 2 (10:47)
11. More Trouble Every Day (Swaggart Version) (5:29)
12. Penguin In Bondage (Swaggart Version) (5:05)
13. Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue (9:19)
14. Stairway To Heaven (9:21)

Release Notes

"THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE

The 1988 road band self-destructed before U.S. audiences in the south, Midwest and West could hear it perform. It was, however, heard and appreciated by East Coast and European audiences during its brief existence (four months of rehearsal in 1987/1988, followed by a tour, February through June, 1988), and it is from those performances that this compilation has been made.

The collection features big-band arrangements of concert favorites and obscure album cuts, along with deranged versions of cover tunes and a few premiere recordings.

In a world where most of the "big groups" go on stage and pretend to sing and play, we proudly present this quaint audio artifact. Yes, once upon a time, live musicians actually sang and played this. All material contained herein is 100% live, and there are no over-dubs of any kind."

Produced, arranged, compiled and edited by FRANK ZAPPA
Engineering supervision by BOB STONE

Liner Notes

1991 Frank Zappa /Photos: Bruce Malone, LGI. /Design: Tracy Veal
1991 BARKING PUMPKIN RECORDS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION/SAMPLING IS A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS AND SUBJECT CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

Background Information

Boléro had to be removed from European copies as there were complaints from the extant copyright holders.

Alternate Covers

Revised cover

Cal Schenkel cover

1991 Zappa Records CDDZAP 38 inner sleeve

Versions

ZFT #	Version #	# discs	Format	Catalog #	Release (YYYY-MM-DD)	Barcode (EAN-13)	Artwork	Comment
55	1.1 Original Stereo	2	CD	Barking Pumpkin D2 74233	1991-04-16	0013347423326	Stage cover and Revised cover	US edition.
		2?	CS	Barking Pumpkin D4 74233	1991-04?	0013347423340	Stage cover	US edition.
		2	CD	Zappa CDDZAP 38	1991-04	5016583603823	Stage cover	UK edition. Matrix # CD1: CDD ZAP 38 CD1 MPO 01 @@ ; CD2: ?
	1.2 Original Stereo "Censored" version	2	CD				Stage cover and Revised cover?	UK edition.
	Unknown	2	CS	Zappa TZAPPA 38	1991-04	5016583603854	Stage cover	UK edition.
	1.2 Original Stereo "Censored" version	2	CD	Barking Pumpkin/MSI MSI 80052/53	1992-09-25	None	Cal Schenkel cover	Japanese edition, does not include Boléro.
	2.1 Improved Remaster	2	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10553/54	1995-05-30	0014431055324		US edition.
		2	CD	Gravadora Eldorado/Rykodisc 968052	1995	7897181227707		Brazilian edition.
	2.2 Improved Remaster "Censored" version	2	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10653/54	1996-04-01	0014431065323		EU and US editions. Does not include Boléro due to copyright reasons. Matrix # CD1: IFPI 8741 DISCTRONICS IFPI L501 RCD 10653/54 ONE 02 ; CD2: IFPI 8741 DISCTRONICS IFPI L501 RCD 10653/54 TWO 01
	2.1 Improved Remaster	2	CD	VideoArts VACK 5093/4	1995-07-26	4988112406902		Japanese edition = Rykodisc RCD 10553/54 repackaged with an obi strip and extra liner notes in Japanese
		2	CD	VideoArts VACK 5228/9	1996-05-30?	4988112408289		Japanese edition with obi strip.
		2	CD	VideoArts VACK 9001	2004-02-16	4988112190313		Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve. Matrix # CD1: IFPI 3911 IFPI L222 VACK-9001-1 2MS1 C 3Y ; CD2: IFPI 3911 IFPI L222 VACK-9001-2 1MS1 C 3Y
	2.1b 2012 Remaster Stereo	2	CD	Zappa/UMe ZR 3881	2012-10-30	0824302388129	Revised cover	US edition, manufactured and distributed by UMe.
		2	CD	Zappa/UMG Intl 0238812	2012-10-30	0824302388129		EU edition = Zappa/UMe ZR 3881, manufactured in Germany.

See Also

• Zappa In Barcelona