Soundtrack available digitally now and physically in 2021
A perfect complement to Alex Winter’s highly acclaimed documentary, Zappa, about the about the prolific genius composer, free speech activist, cultural ambassador to Czechoslovakia and legendary musician, Frank Zappa, the 68-track soundtrack is available to stream and download now via Zappa Records/UMe. Zappa is now available everywhere in the U.S. on demand from Magnolia Pictures.
The soundtrack will be released in two deluxe formats: a 3 CD edition slated for February 19, 2021 and a 5 LP box set planned for May 7, 2021, which will be available on 180-gram black vinyl as well as on limited edition 180-gram smoke vinyl. The deluxe physical and digital editions showcase Zappa’s unique sonic brilliance and nearly every song heard in the film, including 12 previously unreleased recordings from The Vault, which include performances from the Whisky A Go-Go in 1968, the Fillmore West in ’70 and Zappa’s famed performance of “Dancin’ Fool” on Saturday Night Live in ’78. The soundtrack spans Zappa’s expansive catalog with 25 additional songs from across his peerless and influential career, from his seminal 1966 debut double album with the Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, to the final release of his lifetime, 1993’s The Yellow Shark, a live orchestral album performed by the Ensemble Modern in Europe in 1992.
The soundtrack features songs from Zappa’s record labels Straight and Bizarre Records such as “No Longer Umpire” from Alice Cooper’s debut album, Pretties For You, originally released on Straight in 1969; “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by GTO’s, from the all-girl group’s one and only album, Permanent Damage, produced by Zappa. It also includes two classical compositions by Zappa’s lifetime inspirations Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky as well as several interview clips. The soundtrack is rounded out with 26 original score cues newly composed by John Frizzell for the documentary.
A 2 LP edition on 180-gram clear vinyl and 21 track digital edition will also be available, collecting together eight of the unreleased recordings from the Zappa archive, the SNL performance and 13 recordings from Zappa’s extensive recording career.
With unfettered access to the Zappa Trust and all archival footage, Zappa explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Winter’s assembly features appearances by Zappa’s widow Gail Zappa and several of his musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others. Announced on Kickstarter in 2016, the film became the highest-funded documentary in the crowdfunding site’s history.
Taken together Zappa and the companion soundtrack offer a riveting, revealing and emotional portrait of Frank Zappa, a trailblazer, iconoclast, virtuosic musician and fearless artist who forever changed music and culture with his unconventional and uncompromising vision. From his early psychedelic rock beginnings to his avant-garde experimentation, jazz-rock explorations, symphonic suites and satirical send-ups to his conceptual, compositional and technological innovations, Zappa shattered the norms every step of the way and his influence and ethos continues to reverberate as strongly today as ever.
3 CD | 5 LP
CD 1:
1. Anyway The Wind Blows (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
2. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
3. Everytime I See You – The Heartbreakers^
4. Motherly Love (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
5. Memories Of El Monte (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
6. Oh! In The Sky (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
7. The Duke (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
8. How Could I Be Such A Fool? (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
9. “The Reason We Have Stayed Together…” – Frank Zappa interview with Warren Duffy / WMEX Boston, MA – January 31, 1969*
10. Black Beauty (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
11. Absolutely Free (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
12. You Didn’t Try To Call Me (Basic Tracks) (from The MOFO Project/Object) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
13. Agency Man (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
14. Oh No (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh) – The Mothers of Invention
15. Mother People (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
16. Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite: Finale – Orchestre de l’Opéra Bastille & Myung Whun Chung
17. “FZ on Varèse” – Frank Zappa interview with Craig Eldon Pinkus, Indiana University Radio-TV Center – April 25, 1974*
18. Varèse: Ionisation – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Pierre Boulez
19. The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes – GTO’s^
20. No Longer Umpire – Alice Cooper
21. Road Ladies (from Chunga’s Revenge) – Frank Zappa
CD 2:
1. Call Any Vegetable (Excerpts) (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
2. Happy Together (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
3. Scumbag (Live at Fillmore East, NYC, 1971) (from Playground Psychotics) – Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention,John Lennon, Yoko Ono
4. Your Mouth (from Waka/Jawaka) – Frank Zappa
5. Cheepnis (Live at the Roxy, 12/10/73, Show 1) (from The Roxy Performances) – Frank Zappa
6. Apostrophe’ (Live in Los Angeles, Rehearsal Hall – June 21, 1974) – Frank Zappa*
7. Muffin Man (Live at The Palladium, NYC, 1977) (from Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack) – Frank Zappa^
8. Dancin’ Fool (Live on “Saturday Night Live” – October 21, 1978) – Frank Zappa*
9. Mo’s Vacation (Live in Munich 1978) – Frank Zappa*
10. The Black Page #1 (Piano Version) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
11. Sofa (1977 Mix, Live) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
12. Fembot In A Wet T-shirt (from Joe’s Garage – Act I) – Frank Zappa
13. Valley Girl (from Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch) – Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa
14. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (Live at The Pier, NYC – 1984) – Frank Zappa*
15. R. 2911 (from Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention) – Frank Zappa
16. G-Spot Tornado (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa
CD 3:
1. Frank’s Library – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
2. Edgewood Arsenal – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
3. Frank’s Parents – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
4. The Blackouts – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
5. Greeting Cards – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
6. Studio Z – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
7. Frank Goes To Jail – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
8. Musically Difficult – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
9. The Parts Are Complicated – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
10. Murray Roman’s TV Show – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
11. Frank Put His Foot Down – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
12. Laurel Canyon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
13. The Manson Family – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
14. Are We Going To Get Paid – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
15. Steve Vai’s Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
16. Frank Could Be Hardcore – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
17. Bruce Bickford’s Zappa Head – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
18. If I’m Alive – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
19. Keep This Guy Under Check – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
20. Frank’s Business Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
21. Fake It – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
22. Don’t Have Any Friends – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
23. Hi, I’m Moon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
24. Frank Addresses Congress – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
25. Turn Off That Zappa Music – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
26. Frank Getting Sick – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
27. Envelopes (1983 Original Vinyl Mix) – Frank Zappa, London Symphony Orchestra^
28. Overture (Live in Frankfurt, Germany – September 19, 1992) – Ensemble Modern, Conducted by Frank Zappa*
29. Get Whitey (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa
30. Nap Time (from Everything Is Healing Nicely) – Frank Zappa
31. Watermelon In Easter Hay (Live, 1978) (from Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa – A Memorial Tribute) – Frank Zappa
*previously unreleased