The Frank Zappa 2012 Re-Issues

Weasels Ripped My Flesh: Sourced from the original analog tapes, and gets rid of the added reverb. In other words, sounds amazing! The older Ryko versions had a couple extended versions, like on Didja Get Any on Ya? so you will want to hold onto your old copy, but this new version is overall much better. Such clarity in the sound.

Zoot Allures: Once again, another album sourced from the original analog tapes, this one is one of the biggest improvements in the entire FZ catalog. The album actually sounds good now. this has never been anywhere near my favorite Zappa album, but the poor sound on the old Ryko editions made it worse. i actually really enjoy this album now. Wind Up Working In a Gas Station rocks hard now, and there's some parts i never heard before that can be clearly heard now. This is an essential buy for all you Zappa fans.

Tinseltown Rebellion: Sounds just as good as the 1998 Ryko edition, but reverts back to the original vinyl version, meaning that the cross-fades used on the old CD to get rid of the fade-outs at the end of each original vinyl side are gone. Personally, as someone who was used to the version with the cross-fades, I look at this as an alternate version of the album, and the cross-fades, or lack thereof, changes the flow of the album. Also, the new 2012 version is almost 2 minutes longer than the 1998 version, just so you know.

Orchestral Favorites: Reported to be the same as the old versions, and to me, it does sound the same, though the drums sound a little crisper to me, most likely from being mastered in 2012.

The Man From Utopia: Same as the older CDs, with the same CD track list, and with the bonus track Luigi & The Wise Guys.

 

I agree. Wazoo and Imaginary Diseases are probably the best of alll the stuff (that I've heard at least) which definitely should have been released in his lifetime. I also really like FZ:OZ. (Trance-Fusion is ok in my book, but I'm not a huge fans of that type of album). Buffalo & Hammersmith Odeon I"ve yet to get...mostly because they are up on price and I rarely sshop at Barfko Swill. (Though I highly enjoy EIHN but agree that it's no where near essential. I'd throw Lumpy Money in the same ballpark as well.) If you like the synclavier stuff last years "Feeding The Monkies..." is very good IMO. This years Road Tapes Vol 1 also looks good, but I've yet to buy it.

 

All that said, I would like more things like Finer Moments to be released. Supposedly that Road Tapes series is going to be an ongoing thing which also makes me excited. And of course the Roxy stuff but pipe dreams and all that...

For me, this whole thing started with buying the re-release of Sleep Dirt because I wanted to finally hear the original album without those horrid vocals. I didn't expect it to sound so good though, being it came from the original analog tapes. I didn't think it would spark my obsession with getting all these reissues.

 

What is the deal with the recently released FZ cd Finer Moments? I've seen no hubbub about it (here/the internet/fz.com) and unlike all recent things released by fz family trust it is available commercially. So what is this? It's not a complete concert, it's not a compilation (as far as I know), it just seems to be. Any info on this? Any idea if more things like this are planned for the future? 

I did. The other ones were improved that much more.