FRANK ZAPPA - Zoot Allures (1976-1995) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Zoot Allures, released in October 1976, is mostly a studio album (there are some basic live tracks, as in the title track and "Black Napkins") featuring a revolving cast of musicians who, oddly, do not correspond to the ones pictured on the album cover (for instance, Patrick O'Hearn and Eddie Jobson did not contribute). Compared to previous releases like One Size Fits All, Roxy & Elsewhere, or even Over-Nite Sensation, and to upcoming ones such as Zappa in New York, Studio Tan, or Sheik Yerbouti, Zoot Allures sounds very stripped down to bare essentials. Zappa focused on limited instrumentation, lots of bass, and whispered vocals to create a masterpiece of dark, slow, sleazy rock. Except for the opening and closing numbers ("Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station" and "Disco Boy"), all the material is slow to medium tempo with Zappa delivering the closest he'll ever get to a crooner vocal performance. "The Torture Never Stops" is the highlight, ten minutes of suggestive lyrics, crawling riffs, searing solos, and female screams of pain. That song and "Disco Boy" became classic tracks; "Black Napkins" and "Zoot Allures" rate among the man's best guitar solos. Historical note: The album was first devised as a two-LP set and would have included "Sleep Dirt," "Filthy Habits," and "The Ocean Is the Ultimate Solution," which all also fit the mood. Although humor has not been completely evacuated, Zoot Allures comes through as a much more serious rock record. Yet, it is more than a transitional album; it represents one of Zappa's strongest. by François Couture  
Tracklist:
1     Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station 2:29
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals – FZ
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Davey Moire
2     Black Napkins 4:15
Bass, Vocals – Roy Estrada
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar – FZ
Organ, Vocals – Andre Lewis
Saxophone, Vocals – Napoleon Murphy Brock
3     The Torture Never Stops 9:45
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Directed By [Vocal Director Of Recreational Activities] – FZ
4     Ms. Pinky 3:40
Backing Vocals – Roy Estrada
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals – FZ
Synthesizer – Ruth Underwood
5     Find Her Finer 4:07
Backing Vocals – Andre Lewis, Roy Estrada, Ruben Ladron De Guevara
Drums, Backing Vocals – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals – FZ
Harmonica – Donnie Vliet
6     Friendly Little Finger 4:17
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass – FZ
Marimba, Synthesizer – Ruth Underwood
7     Wonderful Wino 3:38
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals – FZ
8     Zoot Allures 4:12
Bass – Dave Parlato
Drums – Terry Bozzio
Guitar – FZ
Harp – Lu Ann Neil
Marimba – Ruth Underwood
9     Disco Boy 5:09
Backing Vocals – Andre Lewis, Davey Moire, Roy Estrada, Sharkie Barker
Drums, Backing Vocals – Terry Bozzio
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals – FZ
Credits:
Producer – Frank Zappa
Written-By – Frank Zappa, Jeff Simmons (tracks: 7)