Super Deluxe 5 CD/Blu-ray Audio set with the newly remastered album, session outtakes and two 1974 concerts. Blu-ray Audio features hi-res formats, new Dolby Atmos remixes, and FZ’s 1974 Quadraphonic mix.
That’s a lot of Frank Zappa! I’m not a super deluxe Frank Zappa fan, but I do enjoy going through these remastered and expanded sets. In my younger days when these Frank Zappa albums were released, I wasn’t much of a fan, but I’ve learned to appreciate his immense talent.
Apostrophe’ (1974) was Zappa’s fifth solo album, but he had also released recordings by The Mothers of Invention studio, live and compilations, so he already had a heady discography.
The 50th Anniversary set, released in September 2024, includes the remastered album, plus studio jams and outtakes during the album’s recording. The other four discs contain two concert recorded during 1974.
Joe Travers, Zappa Vaultmeister for the Zappa Family Trust said, “…the bonus live material contained herein throughout Discs 2-5, Travers explained that the goal was to represent what Zappa achieved during his live concerts throughout 1974 by focusing on shows at the beginning and the end of the year.”
One might have the notion that Zappa recorded and collected everything, and that would seem correct if you’ve seen inside Zappa’s home recording studio and vault. His collection of tape reels, films, programs, photos, etc is massive.
For most people, just the new remaster of the original album and studio outtakes will be enough. The other four live discs are for more serious Zappa fans. The Zappa Trust has released tons of Zappa jams and live material, I suppose it’s like hardcore Grateful Dead fans, empty the vault and don’t stop. Frank Zappa was truly a great innovator and he recruited the best players to follow him into the musical Wonderland, and he recorded everything.
“Dupree’s Paradise Intro live”
I found the live material from Colorado Springs, CO, and Dayton, OH, to be in some ways more entertaining and enjoyable than the studio tracks from the songs on Apostrophe’. “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” is cute, funny if you enjoy that side of Zappa; I never did. Where Zappa gets daring and jazzy, he’s a force to be reckoned with musically. The title track features two heavyweights, Jack Bruce and Jim Gordon. “Uncle Remus” was co-written by pianist George Duke, who played with Zappa off and on during the 1970s.
This early 1970s period offers some of Zappa’s most creative music. I don’t love everything Zappa recorded, but I find enough to make the dig rewarding. If you don’t enjoy Frank Zappa’s experimental and existential style of jazz-rock, you won’t like this album. If you are curious and open-minded, you may find more than you anticipated.
Ticket 2 Ride 
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