Track Listing

1. Re Gyptian Strut
2. Naval Aviation In Art
3. Little Green Rosetta
4. Duck Duck Goose
5. Down In De Dew
6. For The Young Sophisticate
7. Tryin' To Grow A Chin
8. Broken Hearts Are For Assholes
9. Legend Of The Illinois Enema
10. Bandit
11. Lemme Take You To The Beach
12. Revised Music For Guitar And Low
13. Budget Orchestra
14. RDNZL
15. Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me
16. Black Page No 1
17. Big Leg Emma
18. Punky's Whips
19. Flambe
20. Purple Lagoon
21. Pedro's Dowry
22. Lather
23. Spider Of Destiny
24. Duke Of Orchestral Prunes
25. Filthy Habits
26. Titties 'n' Beer
27. Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution
28. Adventures Of Greggery Peccary
29. Re Gyptian Strut (2)
30. Lather Goods
31. Revenge Of The Knick Knack People
32. Time Is Money

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47476 in Music
• Released on: 1996-09-23
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: Box set

CD Description
Recorded at various times with a revolving cast of characters, the huge mass of material known as LATHER was to be released in the late '70s when Zappa's record company refused toput it out. Instead, they insisted that he owed them four individual records. So, the unflappable Zappa chopped LATHER into four sections (released as LIVE IN NEW YORK, STUDIO TAN, SLEEP DIRT and ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES). He then went on a southern California radio station and played the whole projectwhile encouraging listeners to illegally tape it. Finally, the entire collection is now available on one three-disc setin all of its legendary glory.
And just what is LATHER (pronounced "leather")? It is the ultimate amalgam of all that Zappa could be. From unabashedly comical novelty songs ("The Legend Of The Illinois Enema Bandit") and cynical observations of human behavior ("Titties And Beer") to complex instrumentals ("Re-Gyptian Strut", "Pedro's Dowry") and epic swathes of nonsensical madness ("The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary"). In addition, there are several bonus tracks, including a remixed version of "Re-Gyptian Strut", the solo guitar track "Leather Goods", a bizarre "Revenge Of The Knick KnackPeople" and the classic Zappa sound of "Time Is Money".

Customer Reviews

A gem of a record
The 'Läther' album was originally conceived as a 4 LP box set of 8 sides, 27 songs for release in 1977 but Warner Brothers refused to release 2 ¾ hours worth of music. The album was sort of released but spread over 4 albums namely 'Studio Tan', 'Sleep Dirt', 'Orchestral Favourites' and 'Live in New York' with other songs appearing in different form on 3 other albums. The 'Läther' album is however the context in which these songs were supposed to be heard.

With some songs being very long in length such as the 21 minute long 'The Adventures of Greggary Peccary', the 2 ¾ hour set is very wide ranging in styles encompassing elements of Jazz, rock, classical and a lot of humour and weird and wonderful craziness. The album intersperses some of Frank's seriously good instrumental tracks with his more satirical lyrical songs and funny conversations between tracks occasionally.

The instrumental tracks range from the opener 'Regyption Strut', which is a superb opener deserving this reappraisal after its somewhat understated placement at the back of the 'Sleep Dirt' album to 'The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution', which is one of his best instrumentals along with the previously unheard title track. Elsewhere Frank's love of classical music is in evidence on 'Orchestral Duke of Prunes', which is a fine closer to disk two or the end of the original side 7.

If I had one criticism of the whole album it would be that sides 5 to 6 are slightly out of synch from Frank's original hand written track listing (as shown in the 'Läther' booklet) and one song, 'Baby Snakes' is missing altogether. God knows why these tracks are out of synch or why that other track is missing but I think Frank's original order of the sides feels better myself. The 4 bonus tracks at the end of the album nearly make up for these blunders but it is the main factor for the album receiving 4 stars as opposed to 5. Still well worth the price of admission and some of these tracks do have to be heard to be believed but I don't think many people could be disappointed by this.

the perfect introduction to Zappa's universe
After years of listening to Zappa I still can't fathom how one man could produce such awe-inspiring music in so many genres. Lather is simply incredible. I had thought that Hot Rats and Overnite Sensation are as good as it gets but now I'm not so sure. The material on Lather ranges from frenzied rockers to modern classical, cocktail lounge jazz, surf parodies and beyond yet somehow it all holds together seamlessly; An ideal introduction to Zappas work. Don't let the purchase price put you off - this is amazing music from one of the twentieth centuries greatest composers.
NOTE: Lather was intended for release in 1977 but didn't actually see the light of day untill 1996. In the meantime material from this set appeared on Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt, Zappa in New York and Sheik Yerbouti.

desert island FZ
The story behind "Lather" is probably better known than the CD itself-you know,FZ tried to get a four album set released by Warner Bros,who wouldn't do so.Took to another label,who then backed out.Went to an FM station in Los Angeles,and played the whole lot to any would-be bootleggers.It all came out in dribs and drabs,sometimes censored,in formats FZ didn't approve,between 1978-79.
Only released after his death,it is startling.It's all here,just about every musical form this most eclectic of composers tried:orchestral,crazed jazz,rock,R+B,silly pop songs,driving guitar,cheesy sexist jokes,deranged spoken word,musique concrete,even a mini-opera("Gregarry Peccary")and some stuff not on the original,scheduled for 1977,"Lather",notably a great live guitar solo from New York,"Ancient Armaments"-eat your hearts out,Led Zep!!
If I could only keep one FZ CD this would be it.Not because it's his best
("Roxy and Elsewhere"."YCDTOSA vol 2","Uncle Meat" and "Burnt Weeny Sandwich",IMHO)but it is the most complete.The unity-in-diversity of this CD reflects just about all aspects of FZ's music,both before and after 1977.Anyone new to FZ could do a lot worse than to start here.Get the headphones on and listen in wonder.