Early in 1978 Frank Zappa played London’s Hammersmith Odeon and these concerts provided the source for the Basic Tracks for 1979’s Sheik YerBouti. Hammersmith Odeon, compiled & produced by Gail Zappa and Joe Travers and released to coincide with the 3-Day Festival of Frank Zappa at the Roundhouse is now available in the Special Party Pack 3-CD set designed to also celebrate FZ’s 70th Birthday on December 21st. Mixed in NYC by Frank Filipetti, none of these tracks have been previously released and the track listing mirrors and/or parallels the set lists of the concerts. Peter Wolf, former band-member and current multi-faceted producer/arranger contributed Liner Notes.
“I wanted to have a concert in England to share with the folks who showed up for Frank at the Roundhouse,” says Gail Zappa. “We were very happy to participate and appreciate very much the invitation to do so, the phenomenal reception for FZ’s works, and everyone who showed up to be part of this extraordinary event. As for the art, the tube stops – Hammersmith for the location of the concerts in 1978 and Chalk Farm, the location of The Roundhouse – and in the middle is where FZ and I used to dwell during the making of 200 MOTELS. The frosting is to celebrate what would have been his 7tieth year and there you pretty much have it.”
The band is Frank Zappa, Lead Guitar & Vocals, Terry Bozzio, Drums & Vocals, Patrick O’Hearn, Bass & Vocals, Adrien Belew, Guitar & Vocals, Tommy Mars, Keys & Vocals, Peter Wolf, Keys and Ed Mann, Percussion. On Vaulternative Records.
