Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention – Carnegie Hall – Three Compact Disc Set

Description

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention – Carnegie Hall – Three Compact Disc Set

Carnegie Hall documents a remarkable October 11, 1971 engagement that placed Frank Zappa and the Flo & Eddie-era Mothers inside one of New York’s most formal concert rooms. The three-disc program preserves both the early and late shows, allowing the band’s satire, ensemble precision, and extended improvisation to unfold at full length.

The early performance moves quickly from “Call Any Vegetable” and “Any Way the Wind Blows” into newer material such as “Magdalena” and “Tears Began to Fall.” Instrumental pieces including “Peaches en Regalia” and “King Kong” demonstrate that the theatrical vocals never replaced the group’s demanding rhythmic language.

The late show pushes further into narrative performance. The connected Divan sequence develops through “Once Upon a Time,” “Sofa #1,” “Magic Pig,” and “Stick It Out,” mixing spoken comedy, recurring musical themes, and abrupt stylistic turns. “Pound for a Brown” and “Sleeping in a Jar” then reconnect the set to earlier Mothers material.

A complete “Billy the Mountain” dominates the final disc, including the Carnegie solos and the second narrative section. The performance captures Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan working as comic leads while Zappa directs a band capable of changing meter and character instantly. “The Mud Shark” provides a notorious final chapter.

This three-CD edition contains 27 indexed selections drawn from the full concert tapes. It is more than a souvenir of a prestigious venue: it offers an unusually complete view of the 1971 Mothers as a live theater company, rock band, and improvising ensemble.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic

Record Details

Artist: Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
Title: Carnegie Hall
Format: Three Compact Disc Set
Label: Zappa Records
Release year: 2011
UPC: 824302010181

Track Listing

1. Hello (To FOH) / Ready?! (To the Band) [Live]
2. Call Any Vegetable (Live)
3. Any Way the Wind Blows (Live)
4. Magdalena (Live)
5. Dog Breath (Live)
6. Peaches en Regalia (Live)
7. Tears Began to Fall (Live)
8. Shove It Right In (Live)
9. King Kong (Live)
10. 200 Motels Finale (Live)
11. Who Are the Brain Police? (Live)
12. Auspicious Occasion (Live)
13. Divan: Once Upon a Time (Live)
14. Divan: Sofa #1 (Live)
15. Divan: Magic Pig (Live)
16. Divan: Stick It Out (Live)
17. Divan: Divan Ends Here (Live)
18. Pound for a Brown (Live)
19. Sleeping In a Jar (Live)
20. Wonderful Wino (Live)
21. Sharleena (Live)
22. Cruising for Burgers (Live)
23. Billy the Mountain, Pt. 1 (Live)
24. Billy the Mountain (The Carnegie Solos) [Live]
25. Billy the Mountain, Pt. 2 (Live)
26. The $600 Mud Shark Prelude (Live)
27. The Mud Shark (Live)