ANYWAY THE WIND BLOWS

Frank Zappa was always outspoken about the bootleg releases of his music. In particular, he was appalled that others were selling his songs before he was able to release them (I wonder how he would feel about today's Internet, where too many people think that because they can illegally share music, they should illegally share it). Zappa's response, just a few short years before his untimely death, was to take some of the illegally released CDs, and sell their recordings, warts and all, on his own label (humorously named "Foo-Eee").

One reason for wanting bootleg Zappa recordings (as opposed to most other bands), is that performances of songs could vary from concert to concert. Zappa encouraged the band to embellish the songs, or add "eyebrows" as he would put it. Also, many of the songs would go through different arrangements before or even after it was released.

This album was obviously recorded on someone's clandestine device. The recording starts during the intro song, Jumbo Go AwaY, and has many blemishes. The sound begins poorly, but gets better as the "engineer" adjusts the level. It doesn't really sound like stereo, but it may just be that there was no separation on the mics. There is also a spot where the tape was changed during a song, and another moment where someone recorded their own voice over the original tape.

As for eyebrows, there are not many here that aren't available elsewhere. There is a pretty good recording of Dead Girls Of London, a rarity, originall on L. Shankar's "Touch Me There album.

So, only fair recording, not much that can't be obtained elsewhere. Only 2 stars.