Frank Zappa Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar CD

Personnel: Frank Zappa (guitar); Warren Cucurullo (guitar, electric sitar); Steve Vai, Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Ray White (guitar); Jean-Luc Ponty (baritone violin); Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf, Eddie Jobson, Bob Harris, Andre Lewis (keyboards); Arthur Barrow, Patrick O'Hearn, Roy Estrada (bass); Vinnie Coliauta, Terry Bozzio (drums); Ed Mann (percussion).
Engineers include: Bob Stone, Mick Glossop, George Douglas.
Recorded between February 17, 1979 and December 11, 1980.
Originally released as a 3 LP set.
SHUT UP 'N PLAY YER GUITAR puts the musical spotlight on Frank Zappa's solo guitar improvisations.
Composer: Frank Zappa.
Personnel: Frank Zappa (guitar, bouzouki, keyboards); Warren Cuccurullo (guitar, electric sitar); Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, baritone violin); Eddie Jobson, Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf , Bob Harris, Andre Lewis (keyboards); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums, percussion); Terry Bozzio (drums); Ed Mann (percussion); Patrick O'Hearn (wind).
Audio Mixer: Joe Chiccarelli.
Audio Remixer: Bob Stone.
Liner Note Author: John Swenson.
Recording information: Berkeley Community Theater (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Dallas Civic Arena (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Dallas Civic Auditorium (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); LA, CA (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Los Angeles, CA (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Odeon, Hammersmith, London, England (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Osaka, Japan (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); The Palladium, New York, NY (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Tokyo, Japan (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Toyko Or Osaka (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); UMRK (02/17/1977-12/11/1980); Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA (02/17/1977-12/11/1980).
Photographer: John Livzey.
Arranger: Frank Zappa.
Who would ever want to hear half an hour of wall-to-wall guitar instrumentals? When the soloist in question is Frank Zappa, the answer is anyone who should ever require proof that Zappa was one of the most gifted electric (and occasionally acoustic) guitarists of the rock & roll era. Granted, his previous recordings had included copious examples of his epic fretwork. However, it wasn't until the 1981 release of the Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar trilogy -- which was among the first offerings on the artist's indie-owned and operated Barking Pumpkin Records label -- that devotees had the opportunity to hear Zappa's consistently provocative playing. With the exception of the studio-derived "While You Were Out," this initial seven-song installment was lifted from a handful of performances circa 1979 and 1980. During that era, the supporting configuration bore the talents of rhythm guitarists Warren Cuccurullo, Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Ray White, and Steve Vai; keyboardists Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf, and Bob Harris; bassist Arthur Barrow; percussionist Ed Mann; and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. The selections unleash specific facets in Zappa's omni-versatile styles and sonic palettes. Likewise revealed is his remarkable interaction with the band, as the two are heard upping the proverbial ante and pushing one another. The results range from the edgy, piledriving opener "Five-Five-Five" and the reggae-influenced "Treacherous Cretins" through to the blues-informed closer, "Soup 'n Old Clothes." For sincere students of Zappa's techniques, the liner notes make mention of the exact axe that Zappa used on each respective title. Similarly, keen-eared enthusiasts might discern brief spoken "conceptual continuity"-related extracts courtesy of Davey Moire, Terry Bozzio, and Patrick O'Hearn. These are from the same conversational caches featured on Sheik Yerbouti (1979), Tinseltown Rebellion (1981), the Baby Snakes soundtrack recording (1979), and most prominently throughout Läther (1996). ~ Lindsay Planer
While most of the discussions of Frank Zappa have to do with his saQ (8/95, pp.150-151) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "107 minutes of guitar solos....All of the taste and less of the calories."
Down Beat - Recommended