FRANK ZAPPA - Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (1981-1995) 3xCD Box-Set / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While most of the discussions of Frank Zappa have to do with his satirical and off-color lyrics, the fact remains that he was one of the finest and most underappreciated guitarists around. This collection places the spotlight squarely on Zappa's mastery of the guitar. Recorded for the most part in 1979 and 1980 (with a few tracks dating as far back as 1977), Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar is simply a collection of guitar solos. Even though most of the tracks were just edited out of their original song context, they fare well as stand-alone pieces, as Zappa was an ever-inventive player. Take, for example, the three versions of "Shut Up." These tracks were simply the guitar solos from "Inca Roads," but thanks to Zappa's ability for "instant composition," each version has its own complete story to tell, without ever being redundant. Other highlights are the reggae-tinged "Treacherous Cretins" and the beautiful "Pink Napkins." In addition to the electric guitar mangling contained on Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, there are a couple of rare tracks that feature Zappa on acoustic guitar in a trio with Warren Cuccurullo on acoustic rhythm guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. In fact, special mention goes to Colaiuta for his polyrhythmic daring all over this album. All bandmembers play great throughout, but Colaiuta's playing is mind blowing. The album closes with another oddity: a gorgeous duet between Zappa on electric bouzouki and Jean-Luc Ponty on baritone violin. This is an album that should be heard by anyone who's into guitar playing. Highly recommended. by Sean Westergaard  
Tracklist 1 :
    Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
1     five-five-FIVE 2:35
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
2     Hog Heaven 2:49
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – George Douglas
Keyboards – Bob Harris, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai
3     Shut Up 'n Play Your Guitar 5:38
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
4     While You Were Out 6:00
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Steve Nye
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Warren Cucurullo
5     Treacherous Cretins 5:34
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis
Sitar [Electric] – Warren Cucurullo
6     Heavy Duty Judy 4:42
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Tommy Fly
Keyboards – Bob Harris, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai
7     Soup 'n Old Clothes 7:53
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – George Douglas
Keyboards – Bob Harris, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai
Tracklist 2 :
    Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More
1     Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression 3:58
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – George Douglas
Keyboards – Bob Harris, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai
2     Gee, I Like Your Pants 2:35
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
3     Canarsie 6:05
Bass – Patrick O'Hearn
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Joe Chicarelli, Mick Glossop
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Sitar [Electric] – Warren Cucurullo
4     Ship Ahoy 5:20
Bass – Roy Estrada
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Engineer – Unknown Artist
Keyboards – Andre Lewis
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
5     The Deathless Horsie 6:20
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
6     Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More 6:53
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
7     Pink Napkins 4:38
Bass – Patrick O'Hearn
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Engineer – Alan P.
Keyboards – Eddie Jobson
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ray White
Tracklist 3 :
    Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
1     Beat It With Your Fist 1:58
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – George Douglas
Keyboards – Bob Harris Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Ike Willis, Ray White, Steve Vai
2     Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar 8:30
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
3     Pinocchio's Furniture 2:05
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Tommy Fly
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
4     Why Johnny Can't Read 4:15
Bass – Arthur Barrow
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Mick Glossop
Keyboards – Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Percussion – Ed Mann
Rhythm Guitar – Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Warren Cucurullo
5     Stucco Homes 9:08
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Engineer – Steve Nye
Lead Guitar – F.Z.
Rhythm Guitar – Warren Cucurullo
6     Canard Du Jour 9:56
Bouzouki – F.Z.
Engineer – Kerry McNabb
Music By [Joint Improvisation] – Frank Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty
Violin [Baritone] – Jean-Luc Ponty