Guitar

From the Label

You want more solos, you got ’em. Lots of ’em. This double-CD follow-up to SHUT UP ‘N’ PLAY YER GUITAR compiles live recordings of FZ guitar solos collected from 1979-1984. At the time Zappa’s live solos were the most unpredictable parts of his shows; they would appear as bridges between familiar numbers and vary greatly in style and content from night to night. Thus FZ’s live tapes would yield a wealth of once-ever solos, the best of which would be worked into his albums. Some of these solos were used extensively on JOE’S GARAGE, while GUITAR collects the solos that FZ felt would stand best on their own.

This wall-to-wall guitar showcase brought Zappa his 6th Grammy nomination, for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance.” Among the highlights are the bluesy “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”; the self-explanatory “In-a-Gadda-Stravinsky” (yes, that’s Igor meets Iron Butterfly); the suitably grisly “Republicans,” the slide-guitar driving “For Duane” (excerpted from a live version of “Whippin’ Post”), the reggaefied “Too Ugly for Show Business,” and more. The usual impeccable cast of support players is also on hand.