Zoot Allures

Infobox Album |
Name = Zoot Allures
Type = Album
Artist = Frank Zappa


Released = October 20 1976
Recorded = Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles c. May – June, 1976
Genre = Hard rock, comedy rock
Length = 41:32
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Frank Zappa
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:elf2zfaheh7k~T1 link]
Last album = "Bongo Fury"
(1975)
This album = "Zoot Allures"
(1976)
Next album = "Zappa in New York"
(1978)

"Zoot Allures" is a 1976 rock album by Frank Zappa. This was Zappa's only release on the Warner Bros. Records label. Due to a lawsuit with his former manager Herb Cohen Frank Zappa's recording contract was temporarily re-assigned from DiscReet Records to Warner Bros.

The title is a pun on the French expression "Zut alors!" which, though it has no direct translation, conveys mild surprise and may be approximated by "Damn it!" or the British use of "Blimey!"

The album was originally conceptualized as a double LP, but for unknown reasons Zappa rearranged, edited, and shortened the track listing to what was eventually released as a single LP.cite web |url = http://www.arf.ru/Notes/Zoot/app.html | title = ARF The Home of Frank Zappa Heritage Studies | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = 2007-12-10] Zappa played a test pressing of the original album for "Circus" magazine in 1976, which reported a radically different, though slightly erroneous track listing that included "Sleep Dirt", "The Ocean Is the Ultimate Solution", "Filthy Habits", and "Night of the Iron Sausage". The former three tracks eventually surfaced on "Sleep Dirt" and the posthumous "Läther"; "Night of the Iron Sausage" remains unreleased, but was seemingly intended to be a guitar solo of fair length. "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station" and "Zoot Allures" were notably absent from test pressings.

"Black Napkins", one of several guitar-driven pieces on "Zoot Allures", began life accompanied by themes that would later make up the unique piece known as "Sleep Dirt".cite web |url = http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/songs/Black_Napkins.html | title = Information Is Not Knowledge | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = 2007-12-10] The performance heard on the album was culled from Zappa's 1976-02-03 performance in Osaka, Japan, though it was edited for the official release.cite web |url = http://www.lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/ | title = the zappa patio | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = 2007-12-10] Along with "Zoot Allures" and "The Torture Never Stops", "Black Napkins" became a signature piece for Zappa, featuring heavily in nearly every subsequent tour and several official releases.

"Wonderful Wino" was originally released on Jeff Simmons' 1970 LP, "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up". The album, produced partially by Zappa (though credited as "La Marr Bruister"), also included the titular track, which later appeared on 1980's "Joe's Garage".

Track listing

All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

ide one

# "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station" – 2:29
# "Black Napkins" – 4:15
# "The Torture Never Stops" – 9:45
# "Ms. Pinky" – 3:40

ide two

# "Find Her Finer" – 4:07
# "Friendly Little Finger" – 4:17
# "Wonderful Wino" (Simmons, Zappa) – 3:38
# "Zoot Allures" – 4:12
# "Disco Boy" – 5:11

Release history

Rykodisc CD release

"Zoot Allures" on compact disc, released by Rykodisc, is mixed differently than the original vinyl.

Members

Musicians

* Frank Zappa – synthesizer (1, 4, 5, 9), bass (1, 3-7, 9), guitar, keyboards (3, 5, 7, 9), vocals (3, 5, 7, 9), lead vocals (1, 4)
* Terry Bozzio – drums, backing vocals (5, 9)
* Davey Moiré – lead vocals (1), backing vocals (1, 9), engineer
* Andre Lewis – organ (2), vocals (2), backing vocals (5, 9)
* Roy Estrada – bass guitar (2), vocals (2), backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 9)
* Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone & vocals (2)
* Ruth Underwood – synthesizer (4, 7), marimba (6, 8)
* Captain Beefheart – harmonica (5) (credited as "Donnie Vliet")
* Ruben Ladron de Guevara – backing vocals (5)
* Dave Parlato – bass guitar (8)
* Lu Ann Neil – harp (8)
* Sparky Parker – backing vocals (9)
* Eddie Jobson appears on the album's cover, but does not perform on any tracks

Production staff

* Arnie Acosta – mastering
* Amy Bernstein – layout design
* Michael Braunstein – engineer
* Gary Heery – photography
* Cal Schenkel – design
* Bob Stone – digital remastering

Charts

Album - "Billboard" (North America)

References

External links

* [http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Zoot_Allures.html Lyrics and details]
* [http://www.lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/vinylvscds/zoot_allures.html Release information]