ROAD TAPES - VENUE #3

This is the third entry in the "Road Tapes" series (I bet you didn't figure that out by the title), on the ZFT's "Vaulternative" label, seeming to be reserved for historically important (in the Frank Zappa sense) but less than technically stellar performances.

This recording documents two shows from a single night, very early in the "Flo & Eddie" era of The Mothers of Invention.

Joe Travers explains in the liner notes that for quite a bit of the first show, one track of the stereo reel-to-reel tape had been recorded over, so the other channel was used, and digitally separated into simulated stereo. This does create some weakness in the sound, and when the album switches into true stereo, the change is drastic, but also a great relief.

Aside from that major sound issue extending through the first few tracks, the rest of the sound is fair. The instruments can all be heard, and the only unwanted distortion comes from Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan's shrill falsetto vocals (I'll gat into that later). Also, Frank's dialogue in between songs is barely audible.

The set lists, where only two songs were played in both shows, are heavily culled from "We're Only In It For The Money" and "Uncle Meat". There are arrangements that are obviously in transition between their original versions and the more familiar Flo & Eddie/Mothers material previously released by FZ.

Historically, this shows Frank in the process of working Volman & Kaylan's unique vocal style into his music, before giving way to the hit or miss comedy band that they became in that period. There is little on this album I haven't heard previously by this group, but I do like the "Call Any Vegetables" sounding closer to the original version, and more than once, Zappa can be heard developing what was to become the "Inca Roads" guitar solo.

I can't say I hate the Flo & Eddie Mothers ("Just Another Band From LA" holds a special place in my heart), but This group always sounded sloppier than any other of Zappa's groups. But just because you have a very high falsetto voice does not mean you should use it on almost every song. And on an unrefined recording like this one, the tone gets downright irritating at times.

I have to admit, that as a Zappa collector, I find it valuable, but for the prog fan, I would recommend nearly every other (save the "Beat The Boots" releases) album over this one.