You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 1 [LIVE] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Frank Zappa

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 1995)
• Original Release Date: May 16, 1988
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live, Original recording remastered
• Label: Zappa Records
• ASIN: B0000009TN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,273 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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• This is item 1 in The You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Series.

Editorial Reviews

From the Label
This is the first installment of FZ's mammoth live retrospective, proving he could do anything on stage and did. Each set contains over 2 hours of music on 2 CDs; all performances are previously unreleased. Zappa intentionally didn't organize the material chronologically, pointing out in the liner notes, "The performance of any band from any year can be (and often is) edited to the performance of any other band from any other year, sometimes in the middle of a song." Indeed, some of the after-the-fact musical segues (everything runs continuously) are no less ingenious than the playing.

Volume One includes material ranging from a 1969 performance of "Plastic People" (to the tune of "Louie, Louie," of course) dating from Little Feat founder Lowell George's brief stint with the Mothers; to a trio of YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS numbers performed for an early MTV telecast ("It's unlikely they'll ever let us get away with that again," notes Zappa in the liners). In between come a 20-minute performance of "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" with spontaneous audience interaction; and a lengthy "The Torture Never Stops" with suitably vicious guitar solo.

Along with the musical highlights come emblematic moments in the history of the Mothers. Flo & Eddie's "Groupie Routine," the infamous highlight of the FILLMORE EAST album, is included in an alternate live version; there's also an archival tape of that band getting hassled at the airport. One track ("Sofa #1") was recorded a week after the casino fire described in Deep Purple's "Smoke On the Water"; while "Zomby Woof" was recorded during an outdoor show in Milan, where the band was deluged by mosquitos during the entirety of their set.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Zappa Album (or two), September 26, 2000

By	MG Nagy - See all my reviews

This set works perfectly on a couple of different levels. As an introduction to the "non-serious" part of Frank's World, it's great. While it doesn't have most of the "signature" tracks (Peaches, Montana, Dancin' Fool, Valley Girl, etc.), it gives the needed depth and breadth (Sorry Gail). The Zappa catalog is both vast and varied. So how do you get the guitar playing, arranging, twisted humor, and maybe even a hint of the monsterous line-ups that Frank put together (again and again and again)? There isn't a studio record that can do it, largely because so much of Frank's reputation was built on his live shows.

In two discs, we get a 15 year overview (1969-1984). We get on-the-road-between-show-conversation and on stage rap, covering (ahem) topics from vomiting on stage during a show (The Florida Airport Tape) and various health problems in the band (Diseases Of The Band) to sharing life on the road with groupies (The Groupie Routine, on a far better night than the Filmore record), and what some fans are willing to do to hitch a ride.

And then there's the bands performance, the improvising, and Frank's guitar work. On disc one, "The Mammy Anthem" is pure molten metal. "Big Swifty" is equal parts pulsing jazz track and other worldly guitar solo. The disc closes with a 20 minute version of "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" that includes an almost out of control audience participation segment that no other musician could ever hope to instigate, let alone pull off.

The highlights on disc two include an absolutely crushing 15 minute version of "The Torture Never Stops" (the original version on "Zoot Allures is pretty darn great too). The three tracks taken from the 1981 MTV Halloween (Dumb All Over>Heavenly Bank Account>Suicide Chump) are over the top. They rock, they swing, they make you laugh, and it's all political.

And that is another facet of Frank's World: Social critic. If you're easily offended, this may not be the disc for you. He gives The Church a pretty thorough hosing. There's "raw" language and sexual references throughout, but by no means gratuitous.

To the merely curious or casual fan, this might be a bit much. Better you find out now, rather than later. This set is an absolute must for any fan of Frank Zappa's rock music. For those interested in Franks electronic/"serious music," check out "The Perfect Stranger." Part electronic, part orchestral, you get a little sample of the other two musical parts of Frank's World. "Jonestown" is one of the most haunting pieces of music I've ever heard.

No, you can't do this on stage anymore. And that is a crying shame.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great start to a great series, February 24, 2001

By	"theslime" (DUBLIN) - See all my reviews

The ycdtosa series is essential listening for any zappa fans. this is the first installment. it starts off with some dialogue from 1970, then the sofa lecture-straight into conceptual continuity! The flo and eddie version of sofa is beautiful. you can't go wrong with sofa (it also appears in the 2nd disc as the closing song). Then we go forward in time , to 1982 one of frankie's most technically proficient bands. The mammy nuns theme from thing fish, a staggering solo from frank, which is one of the highlights of this album. After a splendid 1980 u didn't try to call me, the 1979 band is introduced to us. They are a sick bunch, with stomach flu, malnutrition and mental health problems but whip up a terrific tryin' to grow a chin anyway. sung by denny walley who fluffs a line at the end! Then we go back to the 60s mothers with a nice medley. they broke up (or frank disbanded them morelike) a few months after this. After some more flo and eddie with the groupie routine, we get a tasty slice of the 73-74 mothers. ruthie-ruthie is a louis-louis type tune, and babette. Then a 73 i'm the slime and a stonking big swifty. Frank solos majestically again and george duke is delightful. The last track on disc 2 is an earth-shattering 1979 yellow snow, complete with audience poetry recitals and the 'rollo' section. great. disc 2 has a terrific plastic people from 69 sung to the louis-louis tune again. fabulous. A 77 torture hits great heights with a 7 minute zappa guitar excursion.(a la rat tomago). a snappy 82 fine girl is followed by a zomby woof from the same gig, with a juicy zappa solo. after some more 1969 treats (oh no and sweet leilani) the 1984 band, the much maligned 84 band, get their moment to shine. we get a bitchin deathless horsie, a hilarious dangerous kitchen and a similarly hilarious be in my video. the 84 band rule. some youarewhatyouis songs from 1981 band. dumb all over-a classic. heavenly bank account and suicide chump too. these were taken from the mtv special. there are more songs from this mtv show in vol 3. to wrap up the 82 band in italy with tell me you love me and the aforementioned sofa . italy 3, west germany 1, and a lot of satisfied customers. Thank you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Of YCDTOSA, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

They're right, you can't do this on stage any more. This is the best of the amazing series. "Yellow Snow" is incredible. And "Dangerous Kitchen" takes some beating. The two versions of "Sofa" are so different, it gives you a feel for the genius of the guy. You'll probably also like YCDTOSA #2 (Helsinki gig) and YCDTOSA #3 (for the amazing Ike Willis foolishness, and the pastiche-and-patch "King Kong"). But what the hell, buy them all. There will never be another Zappa, and oh, do we miss him now.