Frank Zappa - Entire Catalogue Remastered and Reissued (part3)

Continued from here:
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=293605

 

Second!

 

A 3-parter on Frank Zappa?

Eddie are you kidding?

 

I wish the Forum software would auto-subscribe us to subsequent parts.

Part 3, eh? I think this thread needs more "has it shipped" posts!

 

Postin' so I don't skip over the thread

I can't wait to see what the 4 extra releases are at the end of the reissue series:

My best guess so far:

1. Mothermania
2. 200 Motels
3. ???
4. ???

 

Oh don't worry, they're coming.

I just listened to Apostrophe and ONS tonight and think they sound great. I'm really trying to just double-dip on the titles where they went back to the analog masters and there is a noticible upgrade in sq. So far I've picked up:
AF
HR
BWS
Apostrophe
OS
WRMF
Fillmore <God, I'd forgotten just how stupid this album was - hate it except for WTP>

Probably pick up CR, ZA, OSFA <although I do have the AU20 of this, it seems the jury's still out on this one>.

We'll see about the upcoming batches...

 

I am not kidding.

 

#3

 

OK, I've given SHEIK another listen on my large Advents and I think I was wrong about the EMI being a better experience. My first impression was on old JBL's and they really overemphasized the bass at the expense of the mids. Also sounds great on my sh***y patio system. SHEIK was my Zappa gateway drug so it has a special place in my heart...love your nails!

 

I am enjoying the 17 titles I have out of the first 24. Some of these are the first time hearing them and owning them. For myself this is much welcomed.

 

Can't be. "Mothermania" is the only Verve compilation that was authorized by Zappa, where he had any input in the preparation.

 

I hope it's some pre-Verve stuff.

Zappa's Pal Studio/Studio Z years would be much better served by an official ZFT release than the slightly dodgy stuff which has been released in the recent Paul Buff downloads/CD set.

 

Seems Sheik is the first album for many Zappa newcomers. Especially in Germany. Probably because of the "hit" Bobby Brown. This is such a shame, because Bobby Brown ends up becoming Zappa's visiting card which is absolutely misleading. What kind of hit was it anyway?

As for the new CD, it is quite a different experience from my old Zappa Records CD (1989). The old one had a nice "airy" quality to it, probably the effect of the added reverb. Now that the old one restores the dry master mix, it sounds...too dry for me Also I seem to hear more of the live aspect of the basic tracks. The reverb on the old CD had managed to mask the concert hall ambience.

 

200 Motels would be great. I've only owned a very worn used LP copy which has gone missing.

 

Mothermania has already been confirmed by Gail for October release on Zappa.com. Now, we just need to figure out the other three.

 

Well she said "Something old, something new, something borrowed & something blue" and Mothermania was highlighted in blue. I'm guessing the "borrowed" will be 200 Motels.

 

It better be remastered. I can't handle another uncle meat fiasco

 

What was wrong with the original 200 Motels CD? I know it sounds pretty muddy, but I thought that was inherent in the original recording. And there was definitely no wonky digital processing to speak of.

My guess is that an re-release of 200 Motels will not be remastered.

 

Look what they've done with Fillmore East and Weasels. They can make 200 motels sound much better, they are studio recordings.

 

Given the documented technical aberrations behind this recording project (if you haven't already, see the CD booklet), I for one am not expecting any miracle for the future and agree here with bubba-ho-tep.

 

Sheik and YCDTOS Vol. 2 were the two Zappa albums that made me a fan, so I had to give the remaster of Sheik a try. I think it's a vast improvement over the cassette or Ryko CD. It's got more depth, imaging and clarity. I can't wait to find the money to buy more of these.

 

I am waiting for Joe's Garage, Sept. 25th.

 

I agree, the whole Flo & Eddie period can disappear as far as I'm concerned.

 

Agreed. Simply obnoxious and unfunny.

 

^ F&E is not my favorite phaze either, but revisit 200 Motels and Playground Psychotics. Those titles are loaded with standout material.

As noted above, 200 Motels was poorly recorded, frought with problems. I haven't had the vinyl in a years, but did put in a lengthy comparison between it and the CD, which wasn't too far removed from its predecessor in general SQ, and was at least free of surface noise.

Frankly, I'd welcome a serious remix if multis were available.