Truckin' Comedy, Vol. 1

1. Kickin' Asphalt - Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley

2. Come Back to Nashville and Get Your Peterbilt - Sheb Wooley

3. Six Days Back at Home - Bobby Bare

4. Date in Dallas - Del Reeves

5. Born to Be a Trucker - Sheb Wooley

6. Semi-Married Man - Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley

7. World's Last Truck Drivin' Man - Bobby Bare

8. Truck Driver's Girl - Del Reeves

9. Truckin' Sons of Mitch's - Sheb Wooley

10. Fryin' Bacon Naked - Joe Sun

Truckin' Comedy, Vol. 1,Various Artists,Music Mill,Country Comedy,Pop,Popular Music,Spoken / Comedy / Radio Shows,Traditional Country

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

"THE HELSINKI CONCERT - SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1974"
Maybe not "really" a complete show, but who cares?
great concert from Zappa at his best.
20 Stars if I Could...
As good a chronicle of this band as you will ever hear

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 2
Frank Zappa
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 1
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 3
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 4
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 5
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 6

ASIN: B0000009TO
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Tush Tush Tush (A Token Of My Extreme)
Stinkfoot
Inca Roads
RDNZL
Village Of The Sun
Echidna's Arf (Of You)
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?
Pygmy Twylyte
Room Service
The Idiot Bastard Son
Cheepnis

Tracks:

Approximate
Dupree's Paradise
Satumaa (Finnish Tango)
T'Mershi Duween
The Dog Breath Variations
Uncle Meat
Building A Girl
Montana (Whipping Floss)
Big Swifty

Customer Reviews:

"THE HELSINKI CONCERT - SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1974".......2006-02-06

This is the 1974 line-up of The Mothers, so far removed from the original band that paved the way, clear back in 1965, but still a stellar example of how Frank Zappa's music is to be played on stage, per September 22nd, 1974. The music is complex, with lots of arrangements, and even though there are only six musicians on stage for this performance, it sounds at times like many more. There is silly interplay between the members of the band, and as I said earlier, there are no original members of The Mothers Of Invention on these two discs, but, as talented as they were, I believe most of this material does push itself past the capabilities of the original line-up. This is in no way to disparage the original band, I loved what they did, all of it, but the chops the members of this particular band display, are in a league all their own; the definitive jazz-fusion line-up. George Duke, Chester Thompson, and Tom Fowler are a complete jazz combo themselves, and when you add percussionist Ruth Underwood and lead vocalist Napoleon Murphy Brock, with his abilities on sax and flute, this is an intimidating roster of talent. Frank Zappa has always used outstanding musicians in his touring and recording ensembles, and as I have already said, this is no exception.

This volume of the series is unique, in the fact that this is the only installment in the whole series featuring one band, on one stage, recorded on one particular day. All the others feature various line-ups at different stages of Zappa's career. So you get to hear the momentum of the show (some say it's the best of two separate performances in one day; possible, given FZ's penchant for editing the best segments of various perfomances together).

The Mothers play Zappa's live standards such as Apostrophe's "Stinkfoot" with such ease, they make it sound like it's a mind-numbingly simple song to play. Not his most difficult, by any standard, but they show what true PROFESSIONALS they really were, because songs like "Stinkfoot" sound easy, and so do incredibly difficult arrangements such as "Echidna's Arf." Don't let the silly titles fool you; songs named "Tush, Tush, Tush," "Stinkfoot," "Cheepnis," and "Building A Girl," are only the names these selections have. They are incredibly intricate, complex arrangements that most bands, then and now, could not approach.

One priceless bit of FZ history is included here, the reason Zappa's band included "Whippin' Post" in their repertoire after this tour. Someone in the audience called out "Whippin' Post!" The band at this juncture didn't know this song, so Zappa toyed with the heckler, asking him to sing it, and cut him off after about one second. Some people really step into it when they don't know who they are messing with. This exchange is at the beginning of "Montana," and FZ changed the lyrics on the spot, to make references to the heckler's request for "Whippin' Post," and the rest is history. To hear the conviction that he covered this with, check out the last track on 1984's "Them Or Us." It's the 1984 touring band playing "Whippin' Post," and even though nobody can do it like The Allman Brothers Band, the arrangements played by Zappa's touring band at the time, are a phenomenal job. There is video of this song on "Does Humor Belong In Music?," the 1985 video, and it has some changes in the middle, but it all began with the guy in the audience at Helsinki, way back in 1974.

In all, this is the most consistent volume, as I have already said, because this is all one band, on one stage, on one day. It's many people's favorite, and I can clearly see why.

Maybe not "really" a complete show, but who cares?.......2006-01-08

A little bit of research on the 'net will tell you that this is, regardless of what the liner notes say, likely edited - some Finnish fans who were at the concert say that the "Finnish Tango" was actually performed during the second day's show on the 23rd rather than during the show on the 22nd as stated here. It hardly matters, though. This was an incredible band, and the playing will leave you breathless. Some of the highlights that I think haven't been touched on by others include:

- The "Inca Roads" solo is beautifully melodic in a "conventional" sense and a perfect example of improvisational composition.

- "Cheepnis" is the single best song, with an incredibly funky middle section.

- George Duke has a great voice and, like everyone else in the band, is obviously totally committed to the music. Even better, everyone (including Frank) sounds like they're having fun. Check out the articles on the 'net from Finnish correpsondents - it's clear that, despite the hassle of touring (and towels), Helinski turned out to be a great experience.

- Poor Suzi Quattro.

- There are mistakes, or better, accidents. That may sound bad, but for me those can be the best thing about live performance. Best examples - Ruth can't keep up on the opening of "Montana" and Frank, after some surprisingly good-natured ribbing, slows the song down, and George changes "Tush Tush Tush" to "squeek squeek squeek" at the inadvertent feedback squeal going into "Stinkfoot."

- Finally, the band playing the "Finnish Tango" (they aren't sight-reading - a photo is published from rehearsals earlier that day that shows Finnish percussionist Matti Koskiali helping the band learn the song) absolutely straight, until Napoleon Murphy Brock enters with a horribly mangled vocal in bad phonetic Finnish.

Wow. Too much detail, maybe, but this is a great recording. If you get nothing else of Zappa playing live, this should be it.

great concert from Zappa at his best........2005-12-17

I own just about every album Zappa released, and this one has become one of my favorites. Taken from the "Roxy and Elsewhere" tour. Newcomers to Zappa should get "Roxy and Elsewhere" first, but they'll want to get this one eventually for a number of reasons.

First of all, it's one of Zappa's best bands in top form. This includes early versions of RDNZL, Approximate, Dupree's Paradise, Token of My Extreme played with great virtousity. The "Room Service" skit is hilarious. The astute listener will recognize that the guitar solo on the "studio" version of "Inca Roads" is actually an edited version of the solo from this concert - he actually mentioned it in the liner notes of OSFA. Also of "conceptual continuity" interest is "Montana", which explains why Zappa performed "Whipping Post" 10 years later.

The version of "Idiot Bastard Son", while very different from the WIFM version, is absolutely wonderful.

I disagree with the editorial review that says that this version of "Village of the Sun" is the best. They play it too fast here and spoil it a bit. I much prefer the more soulful version on "Roxy".

Still, a must-have for Zappa fans.

20 Stars if I Could..........2005-01-07

A perfect concert, they jam, they do a finnish folk song for the folks in Helsinki, some hilarious montana hijinks, and proof that zappa could hold his own with weather rpt, return to forever, and mahavoshnu...make this you first live zappa disc. you will love it

As good a chronicle of this band as you will ever hear.......2004-10-07

Seeing as the 30th anniversary of this show's performance recently came and went, I thought I'd take it out and give it a listen since I hadn't in a while.

Wow.

If you ever saw FZ in concert, then you know that his bands were highly-disciplined, rigidly-timed machines that could bend, stretch, improvise and create at Zappa's every whim.

In the band presented here, Zappa had what he later described as "the band that could play anything." You get the feeling that he knew he was never gonna have it this good again, and in some ways that's probably true.

Here you get the entire show from the '74 band's concert in Helsinki, Finland. Highlights include some blistering guitar solos, plus fantastic soloing by other members of the group.

My favorite cut, though, has to be "Montana," the "Dental Floss" song, which Frank mutates a bit after someone in the audience calls out a request for the Allman Brothers' song, "Whipping Post." (This band didn't know the song, but on future tours, he made SURE the band knew how to play it, and they did!)

Pop on the headphones and go back 30 years to one of the best Zappa shows you're ever gonna hear. It's all here and it's all great.

Average customer rating:

this is NOT a five star ablum
Land of the misfit toys
Good album, worth getting, esp for ween fans
Fun, but no classic
Prequel to next albumn?

Shinola, Vol. 1
Ween
Manufacturer: Chocodog
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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White Pepper
The Pod
Pure Guava
God Ween Satan-Anniversary Edition
The Mollusk

ASIN: B000ALMMJ6
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Tracks:

Tastes Good On Th' Bun
Boys Club
I Fell In Love Today
Big Fat Fuck
Gabrielle
Did You See ME?
How High Can You Fly
Transitions
Israel
The Rift
Monique The Freak
Someday

Product Description

The band is not releasing a track listing as a surprise for their fans, but this CD contains alternate versions, out-takes, B-sides, and other material that has not previously been released.

Amazon.com

Ween have never been accused of taking themselves too seriously. Music, on the other hand, is serious business indeed for the New Hope, Pennsylvania duo. As their career stretches into its second decade, they have a rabidly devoted fan base, no more ties to a major label, and a body of work that marks the most significant contribution to psychedelic music of the last ten years. In part this is because they don't hew to a limited definition of "psychedelic," making music that is trippy without being hippy. Over nine albums they've explored a music store's worth of genres with accomplished song craft and instrumentation, which can include anything from a drum machine to Elvis Presley's backup singers. In Shinola Vol. 1, a collection of songs left off other albums, the "brownest" strains of Ween's oeuvre are on proud display. "Brown" is the code word Ween uses to describe music that's warbly, pitch-shifted, and plain strange. The stompy, squirty opener "Tastes Good on the Bun" falls into this camp, as does the astral travelogue "The Rift." Elsewhere Ween's gleeful, Saturday morning cartoon side surfaces in "Boys Club," begging the question of when exactly they'll join Danny Elfman and Mark Mothersbaugh in writing music for movies (their occasional gigs for Nickelodeon and their disastrous collaboration with Pizza Hut notwithstanding). Their reverence of Prince is felt in "Monique the Freak," which contains what have to be the dumbest lyrics in the Ween canon. And "Gabrielle" could make it past even the most vigilant customs agent as a rare Thin Lizzy track. For a collection of odds-and-sods, Shinola Vol. 1 stands up remarkably well with other albums like The Mollusk and Quebec. Bring on Vol. 2. Hail Boognish. --Ryan Boudinot

Ween's Brownest Albums

Quebec
Chocolate and Cheese
The Mollusk

Pure Guava
Godweensatan - The Oneness
The Pod

Customer Reviews:

this is NOT a five star ablum.......2007-07-31

This is not an unlistenable album. I'm giving it two stars to offset all the 5 stars on here. In my opinion its really a 3 star, which means its an okay album(which means you won't hate it, but you won't replace it if you lose it). There are some good tracks on here, but most of it is just okay, and there is more than one track you'll skip over. But, everyone giving this album 5 stars has to remember what that means - 5 stars means music can't get any better, do you seriously think this is one of the best albums ever made?

Land of the misfit toys.......2007-07-16

Outtakes? Leftovers? Not quite.

This record has a lot of great songs; well-produced, well-written tracks from the brothers Ween. As far as I can tell, the only reason why they weren't included in other albums would be that none of them seem like they would `fit' in the context of anything previously released. Solid songs from start to finish. They're the kind of songs that Ween has always been great at-- Infectious, creative, reminiscent of something you may have heard before, but can't remember where or when.

Good album, worth getting, esp for ween fans.......2007-03-25

I really like this album. Some songs I love. I Feel in Love Today is downright great. Gabrielle is pure Thin Lizzy, almost bettering it. Monique has some sweet guitar play and overall funk. Tastes good on the Bun rules too (totally Pod era). There is no bad song on this album, although I usually might skip some (Isreal, etc). Worth getting most definetly, but maybe not better than WP or Quebec.

Fun, but no classic.......2007-03-04

I'll rock out to any Ween all day long, but if the point of these reviews is to help uninformed listeners decide whether to purchase an album or not, then here's the deal: This is a fun album, and if you like Ween you'll dig this, but there's a reason some of these cuts weren't included on albums. There's no doubt some of these tunes should have been previously released. But it's a little absurd for all these people to give this album the coveted "5" stars. If this a 5 star album, what is the Mollusk or Chocolate and Cheese, 'cause this album ain't either of those.
Reviewing music is silly anyway, 'cause one man's trash is another man's all-time favorite album, but I don't think potential listeners should be viewing this as a 5 star album.

Prequel to next albumn?.......2007-02-02

Hello World,
Third genny Ween. White p, queb, shinola1...

How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 7: Hangin' It Up

Average customer rating:

Hilarious!
a great cd for anyone who loves to play jokes on others
Couldn't Be Much Better
Never a Dull Moment With Roy D. Mercer.

How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 7: Hangin' It Up
Roy D. Mercer
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Country Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Greatest Fits: The Best of How Big'a Boy Are Ya?
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 6
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 2
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 1
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00004YLJI
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Tracks:

Police Chief
Roy Vs. Goldberg
Lost Lunch Box
Smooshed Hand
Lost Heirloom
Zeerox The Myna Bird
RV Backwash
Poison Pansies
JJ The DJ
Cookie Buzz
Giant Squarsh
Who Wants To Whup A Millionaire?

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious!.......2005-09-04

Our family was recently "introduced" to the CD's by Roy D. Mercer. After listening to a couple different CD's, we knew we would be getting some of our own. They are so funny, they have had our family and friends laughing out loud!

a great cd for anyone who loves to play jokes on others.......2002-05-08

I have been listening to RD Mercer for about 3 years now. Unlike the Jerky Boys (who I dont find funny at all) RD Mercer calls up people with a problem, asks for money to solve the problem and then if he gets no money he tells them he will kick there butt....and the lets the person on the other end off the hook. This CD never has a dull call and will keep you on the edge of your seat. To me this is the last of the best radio skits around.

Couldn't Be Much Better.......2000-12-22

Probably the best yet. Zeerox the mynah bird is incredibly funny!

Never a Dull Moment With Roy D. Mercer........2000-10-13

Roy D. Mercer is a telephone prankster which is actually, the creation of two DJS from Tulsa, Oklahoma, namely, Brent Douglas (the voice of Mercer) and Phil Stone. In each of its' ribtickling releases, Mercer, calls up on unsuspecting victims tells them that their responsible for a strange incident that took place. The fun part is that Mercer threatens to whup their you-know-what if he isn't financially compensated. Unlike the Jerky Boys, Phil and Brent let their victims off the hook.

Volume Seven never has a dull moment. One of the highlights is track two "Roy vs Goldberg" which features its' first celebrity victim, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. My favorite of all has to be "Giant Squarsh" in which Roy harasses a TV journalist about her failure to show up to cover a giant Squash." Wait until you hear her reaction when she realizes that the phone call was a prank.

Like the first six volumes, you'll get an enjoyment out of people reacting to Roy's threat of a major "...".

Tracks:

Vol. 1, The Early Years: Overture
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Columbus Discovers America 'It's A Round, Round World'
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Pilgrim's Progress 'Take An Indian To Lunch'
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Thanksgiving Story (Under The Double Turkey)
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Sale Of Manhattan 'Top Hat, White Feathers, And Tails'
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Boston Tea Party
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Declaration Of Independence 'A Man Can't Be Too Careful What He Signs...
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Betsy Ross And The Flag 'Everybody Wants To Be An Art Director'
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Discovery Of Electricity
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Washington Crosses The Delaware (Command Decision)
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Yankee Doodle Go Home (Spirit Of '76)
Vol. 1, The Early Years: The Battle Of Yorktown
Vol. 1, The Early Years: Finale 'So Long, Friend...'

Tracks:

Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Intro And Overture
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Madison, Jefferson, Franklin & Osbourne: The First Advertising Agency...
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Madison, Jefferson, Franklin & Osbourne'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Madison, Jefferson, Franklin & Osbourne (Part 2)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: America! America!
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Madison, Jefferson, Franklin & Osbourne (Part 3)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Rumplemeyer's Horseshoes: The Francis Scott Key Story
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Rumplemeyer's Horseshoes'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Stephen Foster, Beloved Songwriter
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Samuel F.B. Morse Sends The First Telegram
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Abe Lincoln In Analysis
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Show Folk'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Abe Lincoln At Home In The White House
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Barbara Freitchie, Martyr Of The Year
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Shoot If You Must'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Lincoln At Shiloh, With General Grant
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'As Long As You're Up'/'A Sober Life's A Hard Life'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: The Appomattox Courthouse Bar & Grill
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'There'll Never Be Another War'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Custer's Last Stand
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Alexander Graham Bell And The First Phone Call
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Thomas Edison Invents The Light Bulb! The Phonograph! (Part 1)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Perserverance'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Thomas Edison Invents The Light Bulb! The Phonograph! (Part 2)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Planned Obsolescence'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: The Wright Brothers At Kitty Hawk
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Henry Ford Invents Detroit
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Perserverance' (Reprise)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: The Sinking Of The Lusitania
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Two Tin Pan Alley Songwriters
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'U-Boat'/'The Guns Of August'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'Hello, Peace, Hello'
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: 'There'll Never Be Another War' (Reprise)
Vol. 2, The Middle Years: Finale 'America! America!' (Reprise)

Amazon.com

When Stan Freberg released The United States of America in 1961, it was one of the first comedy concept albums ... and perhaps the funniest musical comedy never performed onstage. With a cast that included Jesse White and June Foray (as well as a dead-on Orson Welles impression by voice-over master Paul Frees), Freberg presented a madcap version of history that began with Christopher Columbus's insistence that "It's a Round, Round World." His crew, however, was unconvinced:

Crazy kind of scheme
It's a cockamamie dream
If we don't sight land we're gonna scream.

Later, a cautious Ben Franklin would express suspicion of the declaration Thomas Jefferson brought by for him to sign: "You go to a few harmless meetings, sign a few harmless petitions, and forget all about it.... Ten years later you get called up before a committee. No thank you! I'm not going to spend the rest of my life writing in Europe!"

For decades, fans were frustrated by the lack of sequels that would carry the story beyond the Revolutionary War. (After attempts to turn the material into a real Broadway musical were ruined by heavy-handed producer David Merrick, Freberg went on to a lucrative career in advertising.) Finally, in 1996, Freberg went into the studio with the surviving members of his original cast--as well as stars David Ogden Stiers, Sherman Hemsley, Tyne Daly, Lorenzo Music, and John Goodman--with a new batch of songs and skits that covered the period from the founding of the United States government in 1789 to the end of World War I.

Volume 2 is not quite as strong as volume 1, but that's like saying that Babe Ruth didn't hit as many home runs as Hank Aaron. There's still plenty of great material in "The Middle Years," like Francis Scott Key's first draft of his most famous composition: "Rumplemeyer's horseshoes are the best you can use, what so proudly he's nailed onto all kinds of horses." Or Ulysses S. Grant demanding a drink so he can keep on...

Pursuing the South
Over the hills
Fearless and brave, minus a shave
And crocked to the gills.

The two-CD set includes the original liner notes from the 1961 release; a 1989 CD reissue of the first volume; and the notes by Freberg, Dr. Demento, and Ray Bradbury for the sequel. It also contains a complete lyric sheet. Although some of the jokes on the first CD may be too arcane for younger listeners, The United States of America can still be called, without overstatement, a work of genius. --Ron Hogan

Customer Reviews:

They are right.......2006-06-30

The reviewers above who said the first volume is one of the funniest records ever made are right.

I listened to it when it came out and tracks like "A Man Can't Be Too Careful What he Signs these days" (Jefferson and Adams trying to get Franklin to sign the Declaration of Independence) and the one where Betsy Ross presents the new flag to George Washington are still indescribably funny.

But you can still buy the two volume set, pour yourself a nice dry Martini in a damp frosted glass, and use the disk with volume 2 for a coaster.

O;-)

A comedic gem (Vol. 1, that is).......2005-07-05

I have been a BIG fan of this album for well over two decades, since I came across the LP at the local library as a teenager. I was simply in stitches, and searched at used record stores until I found a copy of my own, which I eventually wore out in my repeated listenings.

So I was excited when I heard that after all these years, Vol. 2 was finally coming. But what a disappointment.

Vol. 1 has great songs like "Round Round World", "Take an Indian to Lunch" and "A Man Can't be Too Careful What He Signs These Days" that not only sparkle with satiric wit, but are great tunes I sometimes find myself humming.

The songs in Vol. 2, however, fall flat and just feel, well, forced. And that applies to all of Vol. 2 as well. The sense is that they had a list of punch lines they were set on, and didn't stop to think if it was funny or not. Funny is not a word that can be applied to Vol. 2, sadly.

So buy it for Vol. 1. You can just discard the other disc.

Five stars for Volume 1; one star for Volume 2.......2005-04-19

"Vol. 1, The Early Years" is without a doubt the best comedy recording I have ever heard. I personally discovered it back in the mid-80s, when I came across a copy of the album one Saturday at the radio station where I worked. It was listened to many a time "in cue" or after sign-off. I simply could not get enough of it. I also listened repeatedly to his "Original Cast" greatest hits album and the classic "Freeberg Underground" live recording he did in the mid-60s at the Hollywood Bowl.

Ever since then, I had hoped that a) Vol. 1 would someday come out on CD, and b) that he would eventually make good on his promise in the original album's liner notes to bring out a Vol. 2.

Well, both of my wishes came true. Vol. 1 is out on CD and as good if not better than I remember it. Plus, they added back in some parts that were cut so the original recording could fit on one LP. Vol. 2, on the other hand, is a *major* disappointment.

Vol. 2 simply tries too hard. It tries to tackle a huge amount of American history (from the late 1700s through the end of World War I) in 34 tracks on one CD (a virtually impossible task). It tries to satirize events during the Civil War (a hopeless task). And, its satire lacks the "let's not take ourselves too seriously" light-heartedness of Vol. 1, which is another way of saying it is trying to be Politically Correct.

It's a shame Vol. 2 wasn't written and produced soon after Vol. 1. I honestly believe Stan and Co. would have come up with another classic.

I too wish Rhino still offered Vol. 1 separately. From a marketing/business standpoint, I understand why they don't do it.

Still, if you don't have Vol. 1, it's worth the sacrifice to buy the two-volume set just to get it. Who knows? You may end up liking Vol. 2. If not, it makes a good (albeit expensive) coaster.

Ten Stars for Volume 1.......2005-02-10

My mom turned me on this LP and I listened to it repeatedly. It makes history SO funny! I have not heard this LP in years and years but I can still remember so much of it word for word.

Chris Colomubus and his duet with King Ferdenand is great!

Chris: It's a round, round world, it's a round, round world. I contend its round and its goin' be found, it's a round world now and its always been!

Kind Ferdindad: It's a flat, flat world, it's a flat, flat world, I contend its flat, as a welcoming mat, and you're sailing off the end, it's a flat world now and its always been!

If you are Stan Freberg fan, this is a MUST HAVE! And while you are at it, get yourself a nutcup and a couple of french horns!

A classic (if a bit corny)!!.......2004-12-24

This is a classic bit of Americana.
A must-have for anyone who enjoys good comedy and great production value.

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A Good Place To Start.
Zappa does the Grateful Dead thing, only better.
absolute greatness
Send in the diseased musicians
You'll like it

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 1
Frank Zappa
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 2
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You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 5

ASIN: B0000009TN
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

The Florida Airport Tape
Once Upon A Time
Sofa #1
The Mammy Anthem
You Didn't Try To Call Me
Diseases Of The Band
Tryin To Grow A Chin
Let's Make The Water Turn Black/Harry, You're A Beast/The Orange County Lumber Truck
The Groupie Routine
Ruthie-Ruthie
Babbette
I'm The Slime
Big Swifty
Don't Eat The Yellow Snow

Tracks:

Plastic People
The Torture Never Stops
Fine Girl
Zomby Woof
Sweet Leilani
Oh No
Be In My Video
The Deathless Horsie
The Dangerous Kitchen
Dumb All Over
Heavenly Bank Account
Suicide Chump
Tell Me You Love Me
Sofa #2

Customer Reviews:

A Good Place To Start........2006-02-02

In the late 1980's Frank Zappa went into his vault, and began work on a mammoth retrospective of every phase of his professional career, from the early recordings of the scandalous Mothers Of Invention, all the way through to what would be his final touring ensemble, the 11-piece backing band that, due to infighting, wound up disbanding before the tour was completed. There is a lot, and I mean A LOT of music in this series. Every line-up has something to offer, and this volume, the first in the series, gives the listener twenty-eight tracks, all live, recorded on different stages all over the world. The opening number, "The Florida Airport Tape," is a candid recording Zappa made on his portable tape recorder, of Mark Volman telling the other guys in the Mothers, circa 1970, that he had vomited on stage ("puked onstage," in his words), and wanted to know if anybody else had noticed this. Of course, poor-taste jokes follow, and this segues to a 1971 performance of the band, with most of the guys from the 1970 Florida tape, playing part of a forgotten suite,"Once Upon A Time," that leads into an early version of "Sofa (sung in German)." This leads right into a recording of the 1982 band playing an instrumental version of what would, with lyrics, appear on "Thing-Fish," two years later, as "The Mammy Anthem." And so forth, all through this disc, ending with a 1979 performance of "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow." FZ himself referred to this as a "totally stupid" song, but the version included here, is a first-class live performance, and worth buying the disc for. It depicts the band, in top form, recreating the music from the original as heard on "Apostrophe'," but with a lot added, most notably, the unreleased "Rollo."

Disc Two follows the same format, starting with the original Mothers Of Invention playing in a bar in the Bronx, New York, Spring tour, 1969, replete with stage announcements by Frank Zappa, telling the owner of a green Chevy, that his car needs to be moved, and the listener is transported through time and space, from the 1960's, through the 1970's, and into the 1980's, ending with the 1981 band's MTV special, before MTV turned into what it is now; it actually had MUSIC, played by MUSICIANS back then, and to give this volume a sense of beginning, main body, end, it closes with the MTV special's clip of the 1981 band playing an instrumental version of "Sofa," the track near the beginning of the first disc that had Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman singing in German.

Bottom line, this is a THOROUGHLY enjoyable cross-section of Frank Zappa's music, all live, and an excellent first volume of the series. In time, I aim to write reviews of all six volumes.

Zappa does the Grateful Dead thing, only better........2005-10-23

This is the first of six volumes of two disks per volume of live material done by various Zappa bands, including the original 'Mothers of Invention', the augmented band including former Turtles, Mark Volman and Howard Kaylen, and later groups simply performing under Zappa's name.

The material in the whole series covers twenty years of performing, and the notes say that great care was taken to select the best version of each piece.

I have so far only heard this first volume and as a long time Zappa fan, I believe this material is as good or better than what you will find in many of the earlier albums done by the original 'Mothers' group. The tracks include a rather large amount of Frank and other band members interacting with the audience and relatively few purely instrumental tracks. This is just fine with me. If you want instrumental, get 'Hot Rats' or 'Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar'.

There is a fair amount of overlap with some well-known albums such as the 'Filmore East, June, 1971' album but most of the material, unlike so many Grateful Dead live albums, is different enough to make the comparison interesting.

Great value for Zappa fans, except that it makes us miss Frank all the more!

absolute greatness.......2005-10-10

This compilation of live tracks from 1969-1984 represents almost every style zappa did. It has just so much good. It has the Flo&Eddie 1971 band play "Sofa #1", "Once Upon A Time" is a prelude to it, and "The Groupie Routine" which is almost the same thing as "Do You Like My New Car?" from "Fillmore East, June 1971". There's also a conversation where someone talks about puking on stage called "The Florida Airport Tape". The Roxy band here plays "Big Swifty", "I'm The Slime", "Babette", "Ruthie-Ruthie". The 1969 Mothers of Invention have a great medley "Let's Make the Water Turn Black/Harry You're A Beast/Orange County Lumber Truck". As well as an absolutely awesome version of "Oh No", and "Plastic People" played in the riff of "Louie, Louie". "Ruthie-Ruthie" is also played like that. The M.O.I also play "Sweet Leilani", a cover of some old folk tune and then break into avant-garde. The 1976 band plays "The Torture Never Stops" which is good, but it's too long (15 minutes). There's also the 1982 band playing "Fine Girl", and "Zomby Woof" where mosquitos kept on biting them. Also "The Mammy Anthem", "Tell Me You Love Me" and "Sofa #2". The 1981 band plays 3 songs, "Dumb All Over", "Heavenly Bank Account", and "Suicide chump" which are great. They're all from "You Are what You Is". The '84 band plays "Be In My Video" which is better than the studio version, and "The Dangerous Kitchen", and "The Deathless Horsie". The 1979 band plays "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" which goes on for 20 minutes because they also play "Nanook Rubs It", "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast", and "Father O'Blivion" and there's another song which I don't know, and crowd participation. He also called the yellow snow lyrics stupid. The 1979 band also has "You Didn't Try to Call me", "Diseases of the Band" where FZ talks about how some band members are sick, and "Tryin' To Grow A Chin" which is very catchy, and it's sung by Denny Walley, because Terry Bozzio was no longer in the band. That's all the songs. The previously unreleased titles are "The Florida Airport Tape", "Once Upon A Time", "Diseases Of The Band", "The Groupie Routine", "Babette", "Ruthie-Rithie", and "Sweet Leilani". This without any doubts for me is the best of the series of YCDTOSA. Definetly highly recommended.

Send in the diseased musicians.......2002-11-05

I have still yet to hear Vol. 5. However, I risk saying that besides the special case of Vol. 2 (a single concert by the much beloved '74 Mothers), this one is probably the most successfull installment of the series. Read, something for everyone. No matter how you may dislike some Zappa line-up or other, it is unlikely that no part of this double CD at all won't give you immense listening pleasure (if you enjoy Zappa's music, of course). I am tremendously thrilled by the Roxy band (1973) version of "Big Swifty", one of the hottest pieces of jazz-rock music I have ever heard, anywhere... very different from the original studio version. Three words: GEORGE DUKE SMOKES! (And we all know that if Duke smokes, then so will the Zapper!) Spend the dough for this ditty alone, and listen to 'em go... It is that good! I am also fond of the lovely minuet groove of "Once Upon a Time" (a prelude to "Sofa"), with Jim "The Lord" Pons' nasal bass voice that is so funny... The London 1978, 20 minute version of "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" includes an otherwise unavailable "classical" composition called "Rollo", that features striking 12-tone style vocals by Tommy Mars, and an overall impressive performance by an eight-piece band, half of whom were affected with various road diseases and ailments... That is quite historical and has "MC" Zappa giving one rather snide shot at the English people's eating habits (though one cannot help but question here the American composer's own notorious Wiener-based diet...) and having punters come on stage to recite poetry. Which is... enlightening!... Lastly, I will second the "molten metal" metaphor by the other reviewer with regard to the instrumental "Mammy Anthem", performed as it is in Palermo ('82). That was recorded in the middle of an actual riot in the audience, complete with tear gas bombs (which can be overheard here), that says quite a lot about the band leader's guts and work ethics! One other beautiful tune!

You'll like it.......2002-02-16

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore (Part 1) is the first of six double CD's that include 28 tracks of live performances. The quality of the sound engineering is quite impressive. I was particularly impressed with the bass on "One Upon a Time." In addition, I believe that Zappa fans will not be able to find the following tracks in any other location (at least Zappa didn't authorize such productions) "One Upon a Time," "Ruthie-Ruthie," "Babbette," and "Sweet Leilani." I listened to these four tracks with great fascination. If there are other copies, I doubt they could achieve the same level of quality found on this CD. Excluding these four, the other tracks can be found on various CDs and LPs. However, the renditions on this CD are live and offer a different interpretation of the music. I enjoyed listening to familiar music executed in a different manner. I think all Zappa fans will enjoy this CD and the others in the set.

Average customer rating:

these guys should be ashamed of themselves
A very UNfunny cd.
A Very funny fellow
Use Caution While Driving
Don't think this is funny? Then probably a Prozac candidate

How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 1
Roy D. Mercer
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 2
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 3
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How Big'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 5

ASIN: B000002UJ8
Release Date: 1997-02-11

Tracks:

Bad Pager
Dead Rooster
Janitor
Car Dealer
Network
Golf Course
Burrito
Dead Hamster
Barber Shop
Bird Dog
Body Shop

Amazon.com

Roy D. Mercer's shtick involves phoning unsuspecting folks from his roost at Tulsa, Oklahoma, radio station KMOD and blamin' 'em for one ridiculous thing or another. Mercer's accusations are prefaced by wild yarns and followed by demands for a few hundred dollars. Of course, the people he calls aren't so agreeable and that's when Roy threatens to whup some ass. Mercer's marks respond in wildly different ways. The guy on "Dead Hamster" isn't threatened at all; he can't stop cracking up at Mercer's convoluted tale featuring a stylishly attired, piano-playing hamster. The man at the other end of the line on "Bird Dog" is all macho. It sounds like he can't wait to tangle with Mercer and even gives the professional prankster detailed directions to his house. Each track has a Candid Camera ending where writer-producers Brent Douglas and Phil Stone let on that the call is just a gag. Even these sections provide some added yucks. --Fred Cisterna

Customer Reviews:

these guys should be ashamed of themselves.......2005-07-01

Roy D. Mercer is a rip-off of Leroy (NOT LEE ROY) Mercer. Do a search for Leroy Mercer aka John Bean and find out the real story.

A very UNfunny cd........2004-10-31

These are the worst phony-phone calls that I have EVER heard, I assumed they would be funny, based on the other reviews- let's just say they were a HUGE disappointment. I love this type of humor, Roy Mercer is not humorous at all. I believe that the positive reviews must have been written by his family and record company. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS GUY.

A Very funny fellow.......2003-07-08

You'll laugh till it hurts roy d mercer is one funny fella the pranks he pulls i can't believe sometimes . pick up a copy otherwise he'll whup your tail i also recommend vol. 6 , 2

Use Caution While Driving.......2003-06-30

My better half and I bought this and some other comedy CDs for a recent road trip. This CD was so funny that I felt it impaired our ability to drive. We found ourselves listening intently and occasionally we'll make jokes with each other about the more memorable lines. It's not exactly high-brow humor, so don't buy this CD if redneck jokes and laughing at prank calls doesn't work for you. However, if you've ever listened to morning radio pranks and enjoyed them, you'll love this CD. It's perhaps the best set of radio pranks I've ever heard. My favorite on this one is the naval recruiter, but it's just one of many, many other hysterical phone calls.

Don't think this is funny? Then probably a Prozac candidate.......2002-12-15

Sure, the well crafted stories delivered to the victims of R.D. Mercer are hilarious in themselves, but it's the candid reactions of the victims that add to the cheerfulness of this effort. Unlike many of the other self-indulgent phone call pranksters on the market Roy manages to set verbal traps, luring his victims out into the open where they expose their true character. Also compared to most attempts at comedy the amount of profanity is very low ... proving you don't have to be foul mouthed to be funny ... you just have to be imaginitive...and Roy is exactly that.

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 4

Average customer rating:

Get it together, Amazon!
I don't really like this that much
Better of the series
Blown Away
Nice job

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 4
Frank Zappa
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 3
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 6
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You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 2
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore - Vol. 1

ASIN: B0000009TQ
Release Date: 1995-05-30

Tracks:

Little Rubber Girl
Stick Together
My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
Willie The Pimp
Montana
Brown Moses
The Evil Prince
Approximate
Love of My Life (Mud Club Version)
Let's Move To Cleveland Solos (1984)
You Call That Music?
Pound For A Brown Solos (1978)
The Black Page (1984)
Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Filthy Habits
The Torture Never Stops (Original Version)

Tracks:

Church Chat
Stevie's Spanking
Outside Now
Disco Boy
Teen-Age Wind
Truck Driver Divorce
Florentine Pogen
Tiny Sick Tears
Smell My Beard
The Booger Man
Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy
Are You Upset?
Little Girl of Mine
The Closer You Are
Johnny Darling
No, No Cherry
The Man From Utopia
Mary Lou

Customer Reviews:

Get it together, Amazon!.......2006-02-20

Since the all-knowing, all-caring folks at Amazon.com are seemingly refusing to post my review of Volume 3 in this series (I wrote a good review of Volume 3, submitted it, and waited, and waited, and waited. With no results, I wrote another. And waited, and waited, and waited again. Still, nothing.), I'll press on ahead, and, this time, submit a review of Volume 4.

This edition follows the same premise of Volume 1, in that it spans Zappa's whole live career, without any apparent underlying theme. Where Volume 2 is only from the 1974 Helsinki Concert, Volume 3 is focused on the vocal abilities of the 1984 touring band, Volume 5 contrasts the original Mothers Of Invention (1965-1969) with the 1982 touring band, and the first disc of Volume 6 is focused on sexual themes, with the finale (disc two) being odds and ends to wrap it all up, this is a pot-pourri going back to the spring tour of 1969, spanning forward through the 1988 "Broadway The Hard Way" tour. Some real gems are included here, most notably, the '84 band's version of "The Evil Prince." The original, from "Thingfish," features Napoleon Murphy Brock singing this lengthy selection, in a sinister, chilling voice during that particular version of "The Torture Never Stops." I didn't feel there was room for improvement. Ray White sings it here, with the full band accompanying him, a far more complex arrangement than the studio version, and it is to be heard to be believed. Awesome band, contrary to what some detractors may think. The "Pound For A Brown Solos" are flowing with sweet-sounding keyboard arrangements, very nice, "Brown Moses" shows that Zappa hired some fantastic vocalists for his tours, and Disc One ends with the first version of "The Torture Never Stops," from the "Bongo Fury" sessions, Austin, Texas, 1975. This version is signifigantly different from the one everybody's familiar with. It's gritty and bluesy, the 1975 line-up of The Mothers, with Captain Beefheart singing, a perfect vehicle for this particular delivery of this number.

Disc Two begins with Zappa's "sermon" about Hell, and he tells the French audience, "THERE IS NO HELL, THERE IS ONLY...FRANCE!"
This kicks off a lengthy guitar duel between Zappa and Steve Vai, in the song "Stevie's Spanking." This is what live shows used to be made of. Too bad, look at what's out there these days. Things really have gone downhill.

Once again, you are treated to different performances over the years, some really old Mothers gems, "Are You Upset?" having gotten its title from the question Zappa asked a heckler in the audience during the recording of this piece. They lampoon The Doors in "Tiny Sick Tears" with a part of Zappa's monologue being modeled after the Oedipal section of "The End," only here there is no mother, just an embarrassed father. Really tacky, but funny, nonetheless. "Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy" just shines, it is so well done. And the set ends with a medley of old Rock-n-Roll songs from yesteryear. You don't have to like that kind of thing to see just how much fun the band had playing this sequence, and its inclusion is all part of the experience of Frank Zappa on stage. He never limited himself to one genre, and along with Volume 1, this is the most variety you will find in this series.

I don't really like this that much.......2005-10-25

This is songs recorded 1969-1988. Ends with a 50's doo-wop medley recorded in the 80's. Even though this does have a lot of great songs, it's just that I already have most of the popular songs and the verions are not better, some of them are worse. Like "Willie The Pimp", "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama". Those are great but here they kind of suck. Same goes for a lot of the songs. But I really do enjoy "The Torture Never Stops Original Version", "You Call That Music?", "Are You Upset?", "Filthy Habits". There's a problem with "Montana". The first half is from the 1973 Roxy, Hollywood concert, then right after the solo it goes into a lame 1984 performance. Basically this album is full of popular songs with worse than original versions. So I don't really like it that much. But the songs I listed that I like are great.

Better of the series.......2005-08-15

This is one of the best of the six volume series (You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore). This is a 2 CD set. The first is 70 minutes and the second is 63 minutes. The sound quality varies but it is mostly very good to excellent, especially for live recordings.

I like this because much of it I had not heard before in any form. There is also much more variation in the music and the playing. There are some great keyboard and sax solos from other musicians.

This set is just a good compilation of tracks throughout the years. Some of the other volumes concentrate on one band (vol 2 is a complete concert) or period of time.

Blown Away.......2004-03-05

I've listened to tons of Zappa, and seen him many times...this is my favorite so far........too much good here...the playing is awesome...every song is great...if you want to hear the best of Zappa, buy this cd...you will not be disappointed...

Nice job.......2002-02-16

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore (Part 4) is the fourth in a series of six double CD's that include 26 tracks of live performances. With the exception of "You Call That Music," "Take Me Out To The Ball Game," "Tiny Sick Tears," "Smell My Beard," and "The Booger Man" all of the other tracks can be heard elsewhere. These four, according to the liner noted are unreleased. I particularly enjoyed, "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama." That song - regardless of who does it - brings a smile to my. It reminds me of visiting a girlfriend's house while I was in high school. Nearly 30 years later, it comes back into my mind each time I hear that song. Music brings flashbacks to most people. The CD is good for that.

Average customer rating:

Some good humor; some only ok
Bob Rivers is the comedy king of the 1990's and on
So-so production
You'll love this album if you want to laugh
Blech

The Best of Twisted Tunes, Vol. 2
Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Twisted Tunes, Vol. 1
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ASIN: B000002JE7
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Hello, I Love You (Let's Get Tested)
I'm Just A Singer In A Holiday Inn
What If God Smoked Cannibis
Beat Up Old Jetliner
Read It In The Tabloids
Mr. magoo
When A Man Loves A Chicken
I Used To Rock And Roll All Night
Getting Fatter All The Time
I'm A Weight Watcher
Officer Fuhrman
OJ's Trial Thing
How It Feels (To Be Old)
Bowel Moves
Wrong Foot Amputated

Customer Reviews:

Some good humor; some only ok.......2007-01-04

IF you are into the spoofs, this CD is for you. The tunes tend to fit closely to the original songs and some songs (such as "How it Feels to be Old") hit my funny bone just right. Others seemed didn't quite work, and 2 OJ songs back-to-back didn't quite do it for me.

Bob Rivers is the comedy king of the 1990's and on.......2002-07-02

Well, I finally found out why Weird Al Yankovic's creative output has diminished from say, 1993 to 1999, and I was laughing hard as a result. Al's position as parodymeister has been supplanted by Bob Rivers. I have a few of his Rivers' Twisted Tunes CDs and the 1990's were his decade in comparison to Weird Al, who had the 1980's as his heyday. Rivers seems to have a head start on 2000 as well. Clinton, O.J. Simpson, and the Balkans were his big targets. Dated true, but fun for nostalgia's sake.

His takes on songs go further than Weird Al did, which is, tastelessly non-PC at times and yes, twisted. He also has vocalists imitate the originals if possible, so that makes the parody funnier. Another difference between him and Yankovic is that the songs are one to two minute snippets. And the songs sometimes has profanities.

"Beat Up Old Jetliner," a take on the Steve Miller song, is about a decrepit airplane. It ends with the pilot announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, I just turned off the no-smoking sign. "I figure, the plane's smoking so why shouldn't you?" Whoa!

The funniest song is a send-up on the Doors' "Hello, I Love You." That song becomes "Hello, I Love You (Let's Get Tested)" For what? AIDS. Now that's funny! Joan Osborne's "One Of Us" becomes "What If God Smokes Cannibus?" Key lyrics: "And do you think he rolls his own." "And when the saints go marhcing home, maybe he sits and smokes a bowl."

Now, I really enjoy KISS so I can appreciate the parody of "Rock And Roll All Night," which is "I Used To Rock And Roll All Night." Basically, it rips on KISS for reuniting and going back on the road with makeup. "We're putting on the makeup again/it covers up a bunch of wrinkled skin" And the chorus: "I used to rock and roll all night/but now my hair's turning gray/"I have to get to bed by nine/rub in a tube of Ben Gay." Now that's really funny!

Two Beatles tunes are ribbed--"Getting Better" becomes "Getting Fatter All The Time" and "Eleanor Rigby" becomes "Officer Fuhrman"--"Heeee likes to set up coloured people." This is another highlight.

Speaking of O.J., "OJ's Trial Thing" is a take on Sam Kinison's "Wild Thing" which was of course a classic Troggs hit, full of Kinison's (his imitator, I mean) manic yelling.

I didn't take things too personally when Weird Al ribbed some things I liked, and the same goes for Bob Rivers. I figure, "hey, it's just a song, right?"

So-so production.......1998-11-10

Not the best of Bob Rivers, unfortunately... The O.J. jokes are quite dated by now, yet there are several on the album. My copy was stolen by accident, and while I would love to have it back, it isn't worth paying for it full price a second time.

You'll love this album if you want to laugh.......1998-08-09

This is one funny album. I have played it to all my friends and they keep wanting to hear it over and over. You will think the beatles sang some of these titles, Like Ofcr Furman.

Blech.......1998-06-12

Okay, when I first picked up Twisted Christmas several years ago as a kid, it was great. The little kid singing about Santa Claus being stuck in the chimney, and the christmas song about deadhead were the kind of humor that best appeals to kids.

Tracks:

Sharleena
Bamboozled By Love
Lucille Has Messed My Mind up
Advance Romance
Bobby Brown Goes Down
Keep It Greasey
Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me?
In France
Drowning Witch
Ride My Face To Chicago
Carol, You Fool
Chana In De Bushwop
Joe's Garage
Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?

Tracks:

Dickie's Such An Asshole
Hands With A Hammer
Zoot Allures
Society Pages
I'm A Beautiful Guy
Beauty Knows No Pain
Charlie's Enormous Mouth
Cocaine Decisions
Nig Biz
King Kong
Cosmik Debris

Customer Reviews:

FZ Journal # 7.......2005-06-21

Although I know and understand the premise of this series of discs, and have heard a couple of them, I am generally not familiar with the details of the performances. I have never listened to this volume in the series, but my conception of Zappa's work is heavily influenced by the Best Band recordings. In some ways, YCDTOSA 3 feels like home.

These recordings have also been a source of interest in they way that they are structured. Zappa himself states that the live material contains "ABSOLUTELY NO OVER-DUBS", but there is some editing together of separate performances. In some instances, like Zoot Allures and King Kong on disc 2, a single "performance" contains entirely different bands. Now on one hand, it is a testament to both the consistency of Zappa's preparations and his deft hand in the studio. In these cases, one must listen very closely for the seams. The casual listener would probably not even notice them. In the end, Zappa can look at his best performances and create what he might consider a live show that most closely captures his intention. On the other hand, it begs the question of "ABSOLUTELY NO OVER DUBS....". Technically, there are no overdubs, but there is definitely some studio trickery going on. However, we have stated that Zappa conceived of the studio as an instrument in and of itself, and these recordings most definitely show his mastery of the medium.

In the liner notes, Zappa also gives eight criteria for the selecting songs for this series, and number six is whether a given recording has "Conceptual Continuity Clues". I have had an interest in familiarizing myself with this feature of Zappa's repertoire, but as I am becoming more familiar with them, it is getting more difficult to tease out the threads. This recording just about made my brain hurt as I tried to figure out where I heard what from where, and there were so many of them that I could hardly find pen and paper fast enough.

As Zappa hit the `80's, his repertoire of mindless rock licks expanded beyond "Louie Louie", and here he adds "Owner of a Lonely Heart" to the list as a vamp for the solo on "Bamboozled By Love". His choice and presentation of "cover" songs is of interest, as they represent a satirical view of the state of rock and roll and the music industry. Of course, the audience is just happy to hear their faves cranked out through Zappa's outfreakage.

I was really happy to hear a live version of "Drowning Witch", which is one of my favorite Zappa compositions. In the liner notes, he admitted how hard the song was to perform, and here he had to splice a couple of performances together to just get one that was close. I also enjoyed getting to hear an entire performance of "Dickie's Such an A**h*le". I really only know that song by the lick that Ed Mann "f****d up" on the Make A Jazz Noise Here recording. Dweezil and Frank sound great together on "Sharleena" as well. There's also a nice post-modern moment when he starts referring to back-up doo-wops as lyrics, encouraging the performers to get the lyrics right.

Something else I have been thinking about is how Zappa chose people for his band that were sort of the charismatic "drama" figures. As we were watching Napolean Murphy Brock in class today, I was thinking about Ike Willis and the place that he held in the `80's lineup, and about how the late `70's group had very charismatic players in the group (Bozzio, O'Hearn) and about how much these members were necessary to Franks live performances as people who could command the attention of the spotlight in musically technical sections. This problem of keeping audience attention in technically demanding rock music was what caused Peter Gabriel to start wearing makeup and outlandish costumes.

The Spots are so great that the lag aint that much..........2005-01-07

Dweezil ROcks Sharleena...Witch, RMFTC, all of disc one is dank.

Zoot, Charleys Suite, Kong, Depris...this is worth more than it costs.
a few lags, make is 4.5 for me, but a great 4.5

Worst of the Series........2004-01-24

To put it up front, this is my least favorite of the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore series. Most of this volume is dominated by the 1984 band, generally considered by fans, myself included, as one of Zappa's worst tours. With Ike Willis, Ray White, and Bob Harris on board, this tour is pretty much dedicated to exercising vocal muscle. The band was stripped down, a lot of things (like percussion) taken over by synthesizers, rhythm was dumbed down in the material to be more conductive to the heavy guitar playing and vocals, and the tempos were sped up. This probably explains why this sounds like a "song" tour, so to speak, with an abbreviated, poppish sound. In addition, the tour relied heavily on FZ's guitar playing, which would normally be an excellent attribute. Unfortunately, this just wasn't FZ's best guitar year, as is evidenced by the disappointing Guitar album. A lot of these solos sound overwrought and uninspired. They hardly have that beautiful tinge of bold originality and technical experimentation that makes FZ usually so great to listen to.

The first disc is entirely devoted to the '84 tour. SHARLEENA features a 15 year old Dweezil joining his father on stage for the first time, and soloing with him. While Dweezil's playing is impressive considering that he'd only been playing for 2 years, it sounds hopelessly Van Halenish. This track is more interesting as a documentary of a charming father/son moment. BAMBOOZLED BY LOVE is so rhythmically stripped that it clocks into "Owner of a Lonely Heart" at one point. LUCILLE HAS MESSED MY MIND UP has a charming calypsoish feel. ADVANCE ROMANCE is one of my favorite FZ songs, but this is the worst version of it. A lot of the next tracks deal with a miserable Thanksgiving show, where the band, despite its hardships, seemed to be having a lot of fun. A Lone Ranger motif keeps reoccuring and forcing FZ and Ike Willis into uncontrollable fits of laughter. I have no idea why there's yet another version of HONEY, DON'T YOU WANT A MAN LIKE ME here. Like the plenty of other versions, there's no real variation, except a cute audience fakeout. DROWNING WITCH is a brilliant epic work, of course. Because none of his bands ever performed it right, Zappa mixes the '82 and '84 band together to get an ideal performance. The best part of this disc is a chain of three premiere songs, RIDE MY FACE TO CHICAGO, a great little rocker inspired by graffiti found in the bathroom of the Whisky-a-Go-Go, CAROL, YOU FOOL, a nice crooner piece, and CHANA IN DE BUSHWOP, co-written by Diva Zappa. The Joe's Garage songs that end the disc are far inferior to the album versions.

The second disc is a lot better. It opens with a 10 minute version of DICKIE'S SUCH AN... as originally performed by the '73 Roxy band. After disc one, its a real breath of fresh air. HANDS WITH A HAMMER, an incredible drum solo by Terry Bozzio, confirming the incredible precocious genius of that certain FZ alumnus. It leads into a split version of ZOOT ALLURES, with the original variant of the composed portion, as played in 1975, which jumps into a reggae-vamped solo played in 1984, which is pretty good. The You Are What You Is songs that follow are just wasteful. Why would we want to hear the 1981 band trying to replicate these songs exactly as they appear on the albums? Didn't we get enough of that on Volume one? COCAINE DECISIONS and NIG BIZ (another premiere song) are classic documentary moments, played during the Palermo riots that ended the 1982 tour. You can hear the tear gas cannisters being shot off as the band, blinded, goes on undaunted. Its absolutely incredible. The 24 minute KING KONG mixes the '82, '84, and '72 band. The last is from the concert in which Zappa was pushed off stage. Some excellent solos here. COSMIK DEBRIS, performed by the '84 band, is another throw-away, put on here for its Secret Word significance.

There's a lot on this volume worth having, but overall its pretty lacklustre. I recommend getting this one last.

Mixed blessing.......2003-07-27

As previous reviews have made clear, Volume 3 of the "'Stage' series" is not for everybody. You have to be able to tolerate the in-jokes ("secret words" in Zappa-lingo) and the thin texture of the synthesizer-heavy 1984 band (which dominates the album). And you may find, as I did, that improvisationally the first disc is a total write-off. IMHO 1981-4 were not good years for Zappa's guitar playing - and while, fortunately, there's not a lot from the '81-2 tour where he tended to make ugly noises for no reason at all, the 1984 solos sound to me like haphazard noodling.
But on the first disc, you get the unassailable `Drowning Witch', a bit of rock 'n roll fun called `Ride My Face to Chicago', the infectious nonsense of `Chana in de Bushwop' (with a good keyboard solo from Bobby Martin and a funny one from Zappa and Zavod), and the marvellous `Carol You Fool' - a doowop song about a girl who'd been stalking the sound engineer, which reminds us that when they weren't joking around these 1984 guys could REALLY sing! (Especially Ray, in the difficult middle-eight)
The second disc, and especially the 24-minute `King Kong', is the real reason for buying. The original and best version of `Dickie's...' - even though purchasers of the `Stage sampler' album will know that a few lines have been inexplicably edited out, and the song remixed (poorly).
Terry's unique way of constructing a drum solo, leads us to the original (and best?) arrangement of `Zoot Allures'. But it edits to 1982 for the solo - damn! To get an idea of what the 1976 solos were like, consult `FZ:OZ' or, better still, `FZ Plays The Music Of FZ'
From the riot show we have the fabulous `Nig Biz' - Ray White singing like a good'un and, better yet, leading off the solo sequence. The `You Are What You Is' medley is always a pleasure to hear. And then...
The `King Kong' extravaganza. Part 1, a short Ed Mann noise-solo followed by the band shouting something unmentionable, functions mainly as light relief after the hectic music that precedes it on this album. Part 2 - Ian Underwood demonstrating his godliness as the rhythm alternates 4-4 and 3-4. Part 3 - one of the best Zappa solos you've ever heard. Uncharacteristically mellow and reflective (think of the `Sleep Dirt' title cut), partially unaccompanied, including quotes from `Big Swifty' and `Zoot Allures' (and you thought they hadn't been written yet!) as well as a hint of `Toads of the Short Forest' as the band shifts into a jazz waltz. Parts 4 and 5 - some hot keyboard action from Tommy Mars, plus the William Tell Overture and a bit of Zappa/Hammersmith stage-folklore. And, Part 6, a Zappa solo from '82 that's actually not bad at all (thanks to Scott and Chad).

Mixed blessing.......2003-07-27

Average customer rating:

Speak for yourself, love!
Good, but not great
Crank yankers rating
Hang up these puppets...
Great CD, wicked funny

The Best Uncensored Crank Calls, Vol. 3
Crank Yankers
Manufacturer: Comedy Central
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Best Uncensored Crank Calls, Vol. 2
The Best Uncensored Crank Calls Vol. 1
Crank Yankers Uncensored - Season Two, Volume One
Crank Yankers Uncensored - Season One
Customer Service Crackpots

ASIN: B00008OLYP
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Do You Know That Song - Jim Florentine
Spporting Goods Spokesperson - David Alan
Beat Around the Bush Phone Sex - Kevin Nealon
Hits a Deer - Jim Florentine
Lost $25 Chip - Sarah Silverman
Black Guy Masturbating in Park - Jimmy Kimmel
Caulk
Security Guard Job - Adam Carolla
8lb Balls
Kids Saw Porn
Building a House, Pt. 2 - Fred Armisen
I Have the Junk! - Jimmy Kimmel, Patton Oswalt
Your Son Hit My Car - Dom Irrera
Rosie's Candy Birthday - Jimmy Kimmel
Dr. Drew Talks Hip-Hop - Adam Carolla
Nude Model
Raven

Album Description

Full Title - Best Uncensored Crank Calls Volume 3. Created by Jimmy Kimmel & Adam Corolla (The Man Show), Crank Yankers is a perverse crank call show on Comedy Central in which A-List comedians lend their voices to record a variety of provoking phone calls made by a motley group of outrageous puppets. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Speak for yourself, love!.......2004-08-08

This is the third volume of uncensored crank calls from the Crank Yankers TV show. How is this volume different from the first two volumes? This one is in stereo! This time around, the caller is in the left speaker and the person answering the phone is in the right speaker. Other than that, it's much the same as the other two CDs. Funny crank phone calls by hilarious characters like Special Ed, Hadassah Guberman, Elmer Higgins, Niles Standish, Dick Birchum and Gladys Murphy. If you are a fan of crank phone calls, you should enjoy this.

Good, but not great.......2004-01-09

This C.D. is funny the first time on a couple of tracks, but then it is all boring

I would suggest not buying this because it is a one time only C.D.
But, it was O.K.

Crank yankers rating.......2003-12-27

I think Crank yankers is absolutely hillarious. I give a lot of credit to the comics involved in the series. I think they are all talented. I do wish, however, that they would invent more episodes with the older guy, I think his name is Elmer. The best episodes are with him.

Hang up these puppets..........2003-06-10

Not only are the crankers not nearly as funny as they were on the first two installments, but the people being cranked aren't either. What makes Volume 3 so boring and UNfunny is the fact that most of the people who are called sound so unammusingly annoyed, not really willing to participate on any level at all. The irrate people just sound bothered and the clueless people sound irritatingly stupid. Even the "puppets" have problems here, being more crass and ruder than is required to be effectively funny. Perfect examples are Bircham's humorless tirade while calling for employment and Jimmy Kimmel's bratty-sounding kids calling a bowling alley with the age old prank (think about it). I kind of felt sorry for the guy on the other end of the phone who was really too dumb to figue out what was going on with these two snots. So while the first two volumes are fun to be had by all, this one is a snoozer. And I do agree with the reviewer prior to me: This should have been a DVD of the skits on Vols 1 & 2.

Great CD, wicked funny.......2003-05-04

you should definetly by this cd, this one is bettr then vol.1 and 2.This is a wicked good cd, they should come out with a crank yankers dvd.

Mexican Music: