The detailed, no, no, no...
ASTONISHINGLY DETAILED
and complete
Mr. Zootsuit
Leather
releases comparison
In celebration of the release of Lather, the following document should
answer the question of "What's On Lather That Is Not On Anything Else?"
[The short answer is that only 6 Lather tracks are precisely the same
as other Ryko catalogue tracks.]
The document compares the 1977 Polygram SRZ-4-1500 Lather test
pressings (which are the first 26 tracks of Rykodisc RCD10574/76
LATHER) with the 1995 Ryko compact disc reissue catalogue. This
document does NOT compare Lather to any of the intermediate Warner
Bros/Barking Pumpkin/EMI/MFN/other releases (although additional
differences abound), but focuses solely upon what FZ conceived in 1977
compared to what is presently manufactured and currently available from
Ryko.
A few other notes about this document:
(1) The times listed are segment running times and may not match times
listed in packaging elements.
(2) The link transcriptions are for reference needed for comparison and
may not be completely accurate.
(3) 'Duck Duck Goose' is the complete title of one track and is
dissected here for comparison only.
(4) Size limitations of newsgroup e-mail may cause some line breaks
which are correct in the original document to shift from their proper
location.
(5) Lather is, of course, spelled with an umlaut-A, which newsgroup e-
mail prevents.
(6) Authoritative comments and corrections are welcomed.
Happy Lather To All!
Cheers,
Zoot
+++
Side One
LINK #1 [0:24]
ee-el-el-ah Father I'm glad you're here...I want you to hear this...
I have a confession to make...
Well, spit it out, son...
ee-el-eel-el-el-ell-leather...
Well, don't be ashamed...
(Line 4 of link, with "ship ahoy" replacing "leather", as later on
"Ship Ahoy" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)
REGYPTIAN STRUT [4:12]
Lather basic tracks noticeably remixed with replacement percussion
track, brass mixed down, more "jazzy"/less "anthemic" as later on Ryko
RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.
NAVAL AVIATION IN ART [1:22]
Same track as later, with stereo image reversed, on Ryko RCD10529
ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.
LINK #2 [0:12]
God, that was really beautiful...
ha-uh...
(Same link as later on "Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar Some More" on Ryko
RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)
A LITTLE GREEN ROSETTA [0:51]
Unreleased studio version of song later on Ryko RCD10530/31 JOE'S
GARAGE CD.
LINK #3 [0:02]
FZ: Whereupon the door closes violently...
DUCK [1:57]
Lather contains further edit of the 3:13 to 5:19 portion of track
titled "Ship Ahoy" as later on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER
GUITAR CD.
LINK #4 [0:01]
What?...
DUCK [0:40]
Lather contains the 5:11 to 5:51 portion of track titled "Lather Goods"
which remained unreleased subsequent to Lather until appearance as
added Bonus Track on Ryko RCD10574/76 LATHER CD.
LINK #5 [0:40]
Heh heh heh ye-yes!...
(unintelligible singing to:)....from me...
Pyow!...
Now that you're gone, I miss you so much...
Nice...wheep wheep...
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry?...
oh-ooh-h listen to him go...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Dancing Fool" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK
YERBOUTI CD. Line 7 of link as later on "We've Got To Get Into
Something Real" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)
GOOSE [0:33]
Unreleased subsequent to Lather.
LINK #6 [1:05]
Why don't you take it down to C-sharp, Ernie?...
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry-y-y-y?...
Talk 'em down, Vic...
Come on down, Johnny...
O.K....
ungh...
yeah...
nope...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Rubber Shirt" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK
YERBOUTI CD. Lines 3 and 4 of link as later on "Soup N Old Clothes" on
Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)
DOWN IN DE DEW [2:57]
Same track as later on 1987 Barking Pumpkin GW002 THE GUITAR WORLD
ACCORDING TO FRANK ZAPPA cassette.
LINK #7 [0:04]
Uh-uh-uh-un-ha-ahh!...
FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE [3:11]
Unreleased live recording of song later on Ryko RCD10532 TINSELTOWN
REBELLION CD.
LINK #8 [0:01]
FZ: Sick!...
Side Two
LINK #9 [0:22]
Leather!...
ungh...ungh...ungh...
unnh-ooh-oooh...
Leather!...
What?...
Leather!...
TRYIN' TO GROW A CHIN [2:56]
Unreleased live recording of song later on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI
CD.
LINK #10 [0:11]
ungh...ungh...ungh...
Whadya say we go down the street for a few minutes?...
No...no go on that...I, uh...
I don't like fag bars...
No...
Well, try 'em...
BROKEN HEARTS ARE FOR ASSHOLES [4:38]
Unreleased live recording of song later, with some different lyrics, on
Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. The original Lather lyrics, different
than the SHEIK YERBOUTI lyrics, are:
[Section after "...and Dagmar was his name"]
- handle-bar johnnys?
HIS WHISKERS STICKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HIS PANCAKE MAKEUP
- alive and living in leather
NEARLY DROVE YOU INSANE
- awlright
SO YOU KISSED A LITTLE SAILOR
- coming up next week at The Grape, something new, something exciting
WHO HAD JUST BLEW IN FROM SPAIN
- get a few of these lovely little sailors to roll the stage back
AND PULL THE CHAIN ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENTLY-ERECTED NIPPLES OF
JIMMY
- nice
IN A BOLD SALUTE TO PAIN
- awlright do you remember FiFi Dupree?
YOU SNIFFED THE REEKING BUNS OF ANGEL
- formerly Buddy Love the Baron Of Beef
AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS COCAINE
- and next week a Grape salute to S&M
[Responses in section after "...ram it up yer poop chute"]
cock ring...
leather...knockwurst...
sausage...bockwurst...
scabies...weisswurst...
volume...
LINK #11 [0:03]
Ha-ha...
Yeah...I knew you'd be surprised....
(Same link as later on "Bobby Brown" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI
CD.)
THE LEGEND OF THE ILLINOIS ENEMA BANDIT [12:28]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.
Side Three
LEMME TAKE YOU TO THE BEACH [2:44]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.
LINK #12 [0:02]
(instrumental)
REVISED MUSIC FOR GUITAR AND LOW BUDGET ORCHESTRA [7:36]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.
RDNZL [8:13]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.
[Note: Although the 1977 Polygram Lather Test Pressings list the title
of this track, correctly, as "RDNZL", the 1978 Warner Bros DSK2291
release lists it, on all formats, as "Redunzl".]
Side Four
LINK #13 [0:08]
It's gone...
What?...
Your talent for sucking...
I never...
(Same link as later on "Heavy Duty Judy" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N
PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)
HONEY, DON'T YOU WANT A MAN LIKE ME? [4:14]
Lather contains unedited FZ quote "Fuck you too, buddy. You know what I
mean? Fuck you very much." missing from later Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN
NEW YORK CD.
LINK #14 [0:38]
What a minute...we gotta get somethin' happenin' here,...
he's in there spendin' thousands of dollars 'n' shit...we should make
this worthwhile....we should, we should get into something real...
ho-ho-leather...
No, man, he's not interested in leather...Shit, that shit's been
fucking
rubbed into the ground...hmmm...Christ, that's goin' on two tours old
now...
we gotta come up with some new shit...
oh-ho-ho-you don't think so, huh?...
(Lines 1 to 7 of link as later on "Wait A Minute" on Ryko RCD10528
SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. Line 8 of link as later on "Why Johnny Can't Read"
on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)
THE BLACK PAGE #1 [1:59]
Same track as second half of "The Black Page Drum Solo/The Black Page
#1" as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.
BIG LEG EMMA [2:12]
Lather basic tracks noticeably remixed with additional reverb, brass
mixed down, winds mixed up as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW
YORK CD.
LINK #15 [0:08]
Whatever happened to all the fun in the world?...
gurh-gurh-gurh-gurhg...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Whatever Happened To All The Fun In The
World?" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)
PUNKY'S WHIPS [10:45]
Lather contains originally released, and presently unavailable, Warner
Bros 2D2290 horn-and-woodwind-dominant version with FZ guitar first
appearance at 8:33 and with FZ end comment of "Thank You...Terry
Bozzio, Ladies and gentleman..." of track with FZ guitar first
appearance at 1:41 of guitar-dominant-throughout version with slightly
different lyrics recorded on different night of same series of shows
with FZ end comment of "Our birthday boy, Terry Bozzio, sad but
true..." as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.
Side Five
FLAMBAY [1:46]
Lather contains edited instrumental marimba-and-keyboard-dominant
version of 0:00 to 1:33 + 4:43 to 4:54 portions of track substantially
remixed and reassembled with lyric-dominant lead vocal, replacement
drum track and keyboards mixed way down as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP
DIRT CD.
LINK #16 [0:18]
There it is...
Bill, look at it...ain't she a beauty...
It's...it's breathtaking...
Sh...sh...she musta cost you a small fortune...whadya pay for it?...
An arm and a leg...Christ, are you kidding?...Shit, I'm in hock up to
my godamned eyeballs...
THE PURPLE LAGOON [15:51]
Lather basic tracks noticeably remixed here and there with repositioned
horns at 00:00 to 00:20, saxophone not as "defined" with keyboards
mixed up and overall "denser" mix at 1:17 to 5:40, percussion mixed up
during guitar solo 5:40 to 7:10, percussion and bass mixed up and horns
mixed down at 10:20 to 12:55, horns mixed down at 15:22 to 16:13 and
with intact unedited original applause at 16:13 to 16:40, and with
title "corrected", as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.
LINK #17 [0:03]
Tse-heh-heh-heh-heh-ha-ha...
Side Six
PEDRO'S DOWRY [7:41]
Same track as later, with stereo image reversed, on Ryko RCD10529
ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.
LINK #18 [0:05]
Oh God, no, not again...
LATHER [3:31]
Same track, retitled, as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK
CD.
LINK #19 [0:19]
Tsh-nngh-heh-heh...
Ahhhh!...
Ooo-oo-oo-oh, yes!...
What?!
ahhh...smell it...
awwh?...
Oh, hold on...
SPIDER OF DESTINY [2:33]
Lather instrumental guitar-dominant version of track substantially
remixed and reassembled with lyric-
dominant lead vocal, guitar mixed way down, replacement percussion
track and ending "bells" missing at end as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP
DIRT CD.
LINK #20 [0:10]
Say, uh...you still bowling?...
DUKE OF ORCHESTRAL PRUNES [4:20]
Same track, with stereo image reversed and with title "corrected", as
later on Ryko RCD10529 ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.
Side Seven
FILTHY HABITS [6:02]
Lather contains edited version of the 0:00 to 4:46 + 6:03 to 7:33
portions of track as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.
LINK #21 [1:11]
Uh...heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh...
Larry's not with us anymore...he went on, y'know...
Yeah...
Yeah, he bit the big one...
ahh-hem...yeah...
Well, he's got his own little piece of heaven now...
If she'd played something else...
Cause, uh, they're just not gonna stand for it...
(Lines 1 to 6 of link as later on "Whatever Happened To All The Fun In
The World?" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)
TITTIES AND BEER [5:20]
Lather contains edited version of the 0:00 to 3:45 + 4:51 to 5:17 +
5:51 to 6:36 portions of track as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN
NEW YORK CD.
LINK #22 [0:02]
One more time for the world...
THE OCEAN IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION [8:28]
Lather contains the 4:43 to 13:17 portion of track as later on Ryko
RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.
[Note: The 1977 Polygram Lather Test Pressings list the title of this
track as "One More Time For The World". That title was not used on any
released edition of SLEEP DIRT.]
Side Eight
THE ADVENTURES OF GREGGERY PECCARY [20:32]
Lather basic tracks noticeably remixed here and there with multi-track
(right + left vs. center) Greggery
voice at 0:00 to 0:46, Greggery voice processed as "thought bubble"
with music mixed way down at 7:41 to
8:04, 13-seconds of cacophony from 14:17 piano to FZ vocal "What?"
edited out, Greggery voice reverb missing and horns mixed up at 15:31
to 15:46 and guitar sting missing at very end as later on Ryko RCD10526
STUDIO TAN CD.
LINK #23 [0:01]
L-le-leather...
+++
In Summation:
UNRELEASED SUBSEQUENT TO 1977 POLYGRAM SRZ-4-1500 LATHER TEST
PRESSINGS:
GOOSE [0:33]
and
LINKS #1 lines 1-3+5/#3/#4/#5 lines 2-6/#6 lines 2+5-
8/#7/#8/#9/#10/#12/#15 line 2/#16/#17/#18/#19/#20/
#21 lines 7+8/#22/#23
UNRELEASED PERFORMANCES OF SONGS LATER RELEASED:
A LITTLE GREEN ROSETTA Different recording than RCD10530/31 Joe's
Garage
FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE Different recording than RCD10532 Tinseltown
Rebellion
TRYIN' TO GROW A CHIN Different recording than RCD10528 Sheik Yerbouti
BROKEN HEARTS ARE FOR ASSHOLES Different recording than RCD10528 Sheik
Yerbouti
PUNKY'S WHIPS Different recording than RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
LATHER TRACKS SUBSTANTIALLY REMIXED LATER:
FLAMBAY RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
SPIDER OF DESTINY RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
LATHER TRACKS NOTICEABLY REMIXED LATER:
REGYPTIAN STRUT RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
BIG LEG EMMA RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
THE PURPLE LAGOON RCD10524/25
Zappa In New York
THE ADVENTURES OF GREGGERY PECCARY RCD10526 Studio Tan
LATHER HAS COMPLETE TRACK LATER EDITED:
HONEY, DON'T YOU WANT A MAN LIKE ME? RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
LATHER HAS EDITS OF TRACKS LATER RESTORED:
DUCK [1:57] RCD10533/35 Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar
DUCK [0:40] Added Bonus Track On RCD10574/76
Lather
FILTHY HABITS RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
TITTIES AND BEER RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
THE OCEAN IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
LATHER HAS ORIGINAL OF TRACK LATER WITH STEREO IMAGE REVERSED:
NAVAL AVIATION IN ART RCD10529 Orchestral Favorites
PEDRO'S DOWRY RCD10529 Orchestral Favorites
DUKE OR ORCHESTRAL PRUNES RCD10529 Orchestral
Favorites
LATHER TRACK SAME AS LATER:
DOWN IN DE DEW GW002 The Guitar World According To Frank Zappa
THE LEGEND OF THE ILLINOIS ENEMA BANDIT RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
LEMME TAKE YOU TO THE BEACH RCD10526 Studio Tan
REVISED MUSIC FOR GUITAR AND LOW BUDGET ORCHESTRA RCD10526 Studio Tan
RDNZL RCD10526 Studio Tan
THE BLACK PAGE #1
RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
LATHER RCD10524/25 Zappa In
New York
+++
Lather was originally scheduled for release on 31 October 1977 as Zappa
Records SRZ-4-1500. It was to have been a 4-LP box set with a suggested
list price of $27.92.
Any comments? E-mail 'em to me!