FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Playground Psychotics (1992) 2xCD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

First of all, it must be understood that Playground Psychotics is intended for fans only: fans of Frank Zappa, of course, but most of all fans of the Flo & Eddie era of the Mothers of Invention (1970-1971); fans of the man's comedy rock; fans of his obsession with "life on the road" and its chronicling; and, finally, fans of the movie 200 Motels. This two-CD set contains live material and dialogues among band members (recorded with or without their knowledge). The "anthropological field recordings" (as Zappa liked to call them) get most of the attention. Each disc begins with a collage of dressing room and hotel room tapes. Touring can make you crazy and Zappa has proof. The second disc also ends with a sequence titled "The True Story of 200 Motels," where excerpts from the video by the same title are interspersed with previously unavailable tape recordings, all pertaining to the script-reading sessions in preparation for the movie shooting. The live tracks have average sound but present some very good moments, including old Mothers songs of which no live version with this particular lineup (including the vocal prowess of Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) was yet available; "Sleeping in a Jar" and "Mom and Dad" are highlights. An early version of "Wonderful Wino" and a complete alternate rendition of "Billy the Mountain" are also quite enjoyable. Disc one ends with the famous live session featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, here released with a different mix than on Lennon's Sometime in New York City. Aficionados of this particular period will find most of this album amusing; others will get profoundly bored.
by François Couture  
Tracklist:
A Typical Day On The Road, Part 1
1-1    Here Comes The Gear, Lads    1:00
1-2    The Living Garbage Truck    1:21
1-3    A Typical Soundcheck    1:19
1-4    "This Is Neat"    0:24
1-5    The Motel Lobby    1:21
1-6    Getting Stewed    0:55
1-7    The Motel Room    0:30
1-8    "Don't Take Me Down"    1:11
1-9    The Dressing Room    0:25
1-10    Learning "Penis Dimension"    2:02
1-11    "You There, With The Hard On!"    0:25
1-12    Zanti Serenade 2:40
Music By – Preston, FZ, Underwood
1-13    Divan 1:46
Words By, Music By – FZ
1-14    Sleeping In A Jar 1:30
Words By, Music By – FZ
1-15    "Don't Eat There" 2:26
Music By – FZ
1-16    Brixton Still Life 3:00
Music By – FZ
1-17    Super Grease 1:40
Music By – FZ
Words By – M.O.I.
1-18    Wonderful Wino 4:52
Words By, Music By – FZ, Simmons
1-19    Sharleena 4:23
Words By, Music By – FZ
1-20    Cruisin' For Burgers 2:54
Words By, Music By – FZ
1-21    Diptheria Blues 6:19
Words By, Music By – M.O.I.
1-22    Well 4:43
Words By, Music By – Walter Ward
1-23    Say Please 0:57
Words By, Music By – FZ, Lennon, Ono
1-24    Aaawk 2:59
Words By, Music By – FZ, Lennon, Ono
1-25    Scumbag 5:54
Words By, Music By – FZ, Kaylan, Lennon, Ono
1-26    A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono 6:11
Words By, Music By – Lennon, Ono
A Typical Day On The Road, Part 2
2-1    Beer Shampoo    1:39
2-2    Champagne Lecture    4:30
2-3    Childish Perversions    1:31
2-4    Playground Psychotics    1:08
2-5    The Mudshark Interview    2:39
2-6    "There's No Lust In Jazz"    0:55
2-7    Botulism On The Hoof    0:47
2-8    You Got Your Armies    0:11
2-9    The Spew King    0:25
2-10    I'm Doomed    0:25
2-11    Status Back Baby 2:50
Words By, Music By – FZ
2-12    The London Cab Tape 1:24
Words By – M.O.I.
2-13    Concentration Moon, Part One 1:21
Words By, Music By – FZ
2-14    The Sanzini Brothers 1:34
Words By, Music By – Kaylan, Underwood, Volman
2-15    "It's A Good Thing We Get Paid To Do This" 2:45
Words By – FZ
2-16    Concentration Moon, Part Two 2:04
Words By, Music By – FZ
2-17    Mom & Dad 3:16
Words By, Music By – FZ
2-18    Intro To Music For Low Budget Orchestra 1:32
Music By – FZ
2-19    Billy The Mountain 30:26
Words By, Music By – FZ
The True Story Of 200 Motels
2-20    He's Watching Us    1:21
2-21    If You're Not A Professional Actor    0:23
2-22    He's Right    0:15
2-23    Going For The Money    0:12
2-24    Jeff Quits    1:34
2-25    A Bunch Of Adventures    0:56
2-26    Martin Lickert's Story    0:39
2-27    A Great Guy    0:30
2-28    Bad Acting    0:11
2-29    The Worst Reviews    0:21
2-30    A Version Of Himself    1:03
2-31    I Could Be A Star Now    0:36
Credits:
Artwork [Art] – Cal Schenkel
Bass, Vocals – Jim Pons (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Electric Piano [Fillmore East] – Bob Harris (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Guitar, Vocals – John Lennon (tracks: 1-22 to 1-26)
Keyboards [Pauley Pavilion, Rainbow Theater], Electronics [Pauley Pavilion, Rainbow Theater] – Don Preston (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Keyboards, Alto Saxophone – Ian Underwood (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Lead Guitar, Vocals – FZ (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19)
Producer, Arranged By – Frank Zappa
Vocals – Howard Kaylan (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19), Mark Volman (tracks: 1-12 to 1-26, 2-11 to 2-19), Yoko Ono (tracks: 1-22 to 1-26)
Voice [Dialogue Portions] – Aynsley Dunbar (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), Dick Barber (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), FZ (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), George Duke (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), Howard Kaylan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), Ian Underwood (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), Jeff Simmons (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31), Mark Volman (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10, 2-20 to 2-31)
Words By, Music By – M.O.I. (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-10)