Tuesday 8 March 2016

FRANK ZAPPA: Shut up and look on Craigslist



Some background...back in 1981, I was at Foothill College radio station KFJC where we did a two day, 10 hour special on Frank and his music. It so happened that our special was scheduled to air near the release date of some new albums. After talking with Frank's management company in Los Angeles, they agreed to send three album sides so we could have the world premiere of some of Frank's new music! It was still a few weeks until the public release date and the artwork for the covers was not ready so they sent three test pressings of the final versions. Each one was played about a half dozen times and then put away. There are three albums in total (and the original mailing envelope from Zappa Records!). All three albums are one sided test pressings. Two are vinyl and one is metal. The plain white covers have handwritten titles along with some other notes. An appraisal I had done back in 1999 confirmed it is Frank's own handwriting (in the blue Sharpie) that you see in the pictures. Condition of the albums is excellent, The covers have a couple of slight 'dog ear' corners but otherwise exceptionally clean, no marks, stains or creases. The three albums are:
Tinsel Town Rebellion, Side 1, Vinyl one-sided test pressing. Cover has "Re-cut Side 1" and "OK" in black ink. In blue Sharpie pen (Frank's handwriting), is the album title, song titles and times. The disc label is from Columbia Record Productions, Santa Maria. Handwritten "#1" and "OK" in sharpie. 3 song names and times also handwritten. (1) Fine Girl (2) Easy Meat (3) Sophisticate.

Tinsel Town Rebellion, Side 4, Vinyl one-sided test pressing. In blue Sharpie pen (Frank's handwriting), is the album title, song titles and times. The disc label is from Columbia Record Productions, Santa Maria. The three song names and times are handwritten. (1) Bamboozled by Love (2) Brown Shoes Don't Make It (3) Peaches III.

Return of the Son of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar, Side B, metal one-sided test pressing (not vinyl). Cover is from Kdisc Mastering and has in blue Sharpie pen (Frank's handwriting), the album title, side B, EQ's OK, Levels OK. In red ink is the date, abbreviated album title and a song name. The metal disc has no grooves or lines on the back. The front has the Kdisc Mastering label with typewritten title, song names and times. (1) Stucco Homes (2) Canard du jour.







CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM  FRANK ZAPPA AT GONZO


Frank Zappa is considered to be one of the most influential rock musicians of the late twentieth century. Between the start of his career in the late fifties and his death in 1993 he recorded and rele..




On September 19, 1985, Frank Zappa testified before the United States Senate Commerce, Technology, and Transportation committee, attacking the Parents Music Resource Center or PMRC, a music organizati..

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