Zappa's late-80s live albums

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   The late 80s and early 90s saw Zappa pumping out albums. Most of them were double CD albums, averaging over an hour of music on each disc, so there's roughly 22 hours of music between all the albums listed; containing a mix of original material, and revised, edited, or completely different versions of older songs. Much of the music here comes from the 80s, but a good chunk also comes from the 60s and 70s.

Of course, there are treasure troves of great stuff spread out across all the other albums, and it was a bit of a tough choice. The Stage albums are loaded with great stuff from the 60s and 70s, a lot of which hadn't been released before. Vol. 2 is of course, amazing, being the '74 band with George Duke, Ruth, and Brock. Vol. 1 is also interesting as it's a nice collection of different (and new) things. Vol. 5 is also cool because disc 1 is from the 60s Mothers, and lot of that stuff hadn't been released before, and disc 2 is the '82 band, which were and extremely tight group.

I think it's a tough choice, but I'll go with Make A Jazz Noise Here. It
 has some original compositions like When Yuppies Go To Hell, or Fire 
and Chains, and some original material disguised as an older tune like 
King Kong or Big Swifty, is pretty funny (the synclavier sounds and noises crack me up), and was kinda the last Zappa album in terms of a
 rock/jazz-fusion band performing. The '88 band is phenomenal, and all 3
 of those albums are outstanding, but MAJNH is the best. 

Which do you think is the best one here?

Poll Question: Which do you think is the best?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Guitar	2	[9.09%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1	4	[18.18%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2	6	[27.27%]
Broadway The Hard Way	2	[9.09%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3	0	[0.00%]
The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life	5	[22.73%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4	0	[0.00%]
Make A Jazz Noise Here	3	[13.64%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5	0	[0.00%]
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6	0	[0.00%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964	Topic: Zappa's late-80s live albums Posted: March 26 2013 at 12:39
	The late 80s and early 90s saw Zappa pumping out albums. Most of them were double CD albums, averaging over an hour of music on each disc, so there's roughly 22 hours of music between all the albums listed; containing a mix of original material, and revised, edited, or completely different versions of older songs. Much of the music here comes from the 80s, but a good chunk also comes from the 60s and 70s. Of course, there are treasure troves of great stuff spread out across all the other albums, and it was a bit of a tough choice. The Stage albums are loaded with great stuff from the 60s and 70s, a lot of which hadn't been released before. Vol. 2 is of course, amazing, being the '74 band with George Duke, Ruth, and Brock. Vol. 1 is also interesting as it's a nice collection of different (and new) things. Vol. 5 is also cool because disc 1 is from the 60s Mothers, and lot of that stuff hadn't been released before, and disc 2 is the '82 band, which were and extremely tight group. I think it's a tough choice, but I'll go with Make A Jazz Noise Here. It has some original compositions like When Yuppies Go To Hell, or Fire and Chains, and some original material disguised as an older tune like King Kong or Big Swifty, is pretty funny (the synclavier sounds and noises crack me up), and was kinda the last Zappa album in terms of a rock/jazz-fusion band performing. The '88 band is phenomenal, and all 3 of those albums are outstanding, but MAJNH is the best. Which do you think is the best one here?
	My Last.fm

smartpatrol Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 15 2012 Location: My Bedroom Status: Offline Points: 14169	Posted: March 26 2013 at 13:09
	YCDToSA Vol.2

HolyMoly Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: April 01 2009 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 26138	Posted: March 26 2013 at 13:47
	I'll go with Stage Vol 1. I almost went with Vol 5 because it gives a nice in depth look at the '69 Mothers (my favorite period of Zappa), but Volume 1 gives a wider range of stuff and includes several tracks that are indispensable (dat Yellow Snow!)- there's a reason they ended up on the first volume out of six. I'm not as big on the 80s live albums, though they're all fine in their own way too. I know Stage Vol 2 will get a lot of votes, but honestly I'm sick to death of that band. Edited by HolyMoly - March 26 2013 at 13:48
	My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran

Man With Hat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166183	Posted: March 26 2013 at 13:55
	This is much more difficult. The three 88 band albums are all fantastic and Vol 2 is of course a classic. If I must choose, I'll choose The Best Band... Idk how seriously to take the following ranking but nevertheless: TBBYNHIYL YCDTOSA Vol 2 MAJNH YCDTOSA Vol 1 YCDTOSA Vol 3 YCDTOSA Vol 5 BTHW YCDTOSA Vol 6 YCDTOSA Vol 4 G
	Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.

Mellotron Storm Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 27 2006 Location: The Beach Status: Offline Points: 14050	Posted: March 26 2013 at 20:51
	I have five of these but it's between Vol. 2 , The best band You Never Heard In Your Life and Make A Jazz Noise Here. For me all three are pretty even but today i'll go with the latter.
	"The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964	Posted: March 26 2013 at 22:40
	I'm a little surprised Best Band.... is winning. As great as it is, there's too many covers on that one.
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smartpatrol Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 15 2012 Location: My Bedroom Status: Offline Points: 14169	Posted: March 26 2013 at 22:44
	My favorite of the 1988 tour is definitely Make a Jazz Noise Here.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: November 19 2005 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 10964	Posted: March 26 2013 at 23:24
	I've gotten to really like Broadway The Hard Way. It's very underrated.
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questionsneverknown Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 22 2009 Location: Ultima Thule Status: Offline Points: 602	Posted: March 28 2013 at 09:42
	YCDTOSA Vol. 2 is simply one of my favorite Zappa albums period.
	The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough. --Robyn Hitchcock

The.Crimson.King Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: March 29 2013 Location: WA Status: Offline Points: 4596	Posted: April 03 2013 at 12:01
	YCDTOSA Vol 2 is far and away my favorite. It was one of my 1st Zappa albums and the '74 lineup remains my favorite to this day.
	Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987