Buffalo is a live album by Frank Zappa.
It was recorded at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York on October 25, 1980.
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Tag: Frank Zappa Live Albums
Live Albums By Frank Zappa
Strange, funny, surreal but extremely talented Frank Zappa has released plenty of live albums. Was he a genius? Some say yes and point to the sheer variety of music he created and his constant drive to improve or was he just crazy?
Where do you start finding one or a handful of Zappa live albums to add to your collection? It’s said that Zappa recorded all his concerts.
We have concert/tour albums released by Zappa himself, compilations put together by Zappa, concert/tour albums released after his death by the Zappa estate and the various radio broadcasts that have slipped out of copyright in Europe.
Zappa, probably more than anyone else, has obscured the difference between studio albums and live albums because:
- live snippets and especially guitar solos played live were incorporated into studio songs.
- some of his live albums have received considerable doctoring in the studio.
- he didn’t have small core of songs that he played live but instead there are plenty of songs that only appear on his live albums, sometimes just on one but other times on multiple live recordings (this website is a major help in finding out where songs come from http://www.globalia.net/donlope/fz/songs/index.html)
I have to warn you, I’ve found these live albums strangely addictive and I started out wanting one or two to give me a taste. Now I’m hoping to keep my Zappa collection to a limit of ten as I’ve come to appreciate the different bands and the different styles of performance.
The wide variety of music he played is captured in the series of live compilations:
1969 to 1984 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
1971 to 1984 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
1969 to 1988 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
1966 to 1969 & 1982 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
1970 to 1988 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
Or perhaps you’d prefer to sample the concert/tour albums:
1971 Fillmore East June 1971 (released as The Mothers)
1971 Carnegie Hall
1971 Just Another Band From L.A.
1973 & 1974 Roxy & Elsewhere
1974 You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 Helsinki – this came from a few concerts performed in the city in 1974
1975 Bongo Fury with Captain Beefheart
1976 Zappa in New York
1976 FZ:OZ
1976 Philly 76
1977 Baby Snakes
1977 & 1978 Sheik Yerbouti
1978 Hammersmith Odeon
1980 Buffalo
1988 The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life
1988 Make A Jazz Noise Here
1988 Broadway the Hard Way
There are many more to be added.
Rolling Stone magazine recognised Zappa as the 22nd best guitarist so you might prefer to try one of his albums where he’s selected one guitar solo after another:
1972 to 1980 Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar
What Are The Best Live Albums By Frank Zappa?
Which are the best? Below is a poll to find the best live albums by Frank Zappa that should help help anyone interested to listening to more of Zappa’s music.
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What Are The Best Live Albums Of All Time?
In many ways, Zappa is like the Grateful Dead, his music has its own category rather than neatly fitting into a genre. However I have included some of his most respected live albums in the art rock poll and some of the more instrumental based albums in the prog rock poll.
Please vote in the poll to find the best art rock live albums.
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Please also vote in the poll to find the best prog rock live albums.
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Because there are so many great progressive rock live albums I have split the poll into two and you may find some of your favourites in the second division. Albums will be promoted when they get enough votes.
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You can see the complete list of readers polls at Live Album Polls.
Frank Zappa Carnegie Hall 1971
Carnegie Hall is a live album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention.
It captures the two performances Zappa played in New York on October 11, 1971. It was finally released in October 2011.
This dates back to the time of Flo & Eddie on vocals and this period has divided Zappa fans.
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Frank Zappa Hammersmith Odeon 1978
Hammersmith Odeon is a live album by Frank Zappa.
It was recorded in London at concerts in January and February 1978 and these shows were also the source for the Sheik Yerbouti album.
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Frank Zappa In New York 1976
Zappa In New York is a live album by Frank Zappa.
It was recorded at The Palladium in New York City between December 26 and 29, 1976.
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Frank Zappa Baby Snakes 1977
Baby Snakes is a soundtrack album from Frank Zappa’s film of the same name.
It was recorded at The Palladium in New York City between October 28 and 31 in 1977.
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Frank Zappa Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar 1972 to 1980
Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar is a collection of guitar solos performed live in concert by Frank Zappa between 1972 and 1980.
Originally three albums were released:
- Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar
- Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar Some More
- Return Of The Son Of Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar
In recent years, all three albums have been combined to create a two CD set.
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Frank Zappa Sheik Yerbouti 1977 1978
Sheik Yerbouti is a live album by Frank Zappa.
Most of the album is pulled from two sets of concerts:
- The Palladium, New York between October 28 and 31 in 1977.
- Hammersmith Odeon, London from concerts between January 24 to 28 and February 24 to 28 1978.
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Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 6
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 6 is a compilation of live recordings by Frank Zappa.
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Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 5 1966 to 1969 and 1982
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 5 is a compilation of live recordings made by Frank Zappa and his bands. It collects together performances from the period 1966 to 1969 when he was with the Mothers Of Invention and from 1982.
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Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 4 1969 to 1988
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 4 is another compilation of live recordings featuring Frank Zappa and his various bands. This was mostly recorded in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Full recording details are available at Discogs
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