The Roxy Performances cover

The Roxy Performances

Frank Zappa · 2018

475 min · 84 tracks · alternative rock · classical · jazz fusion

A wild fusion of jazz, rock, and theatricality that captures Zappa's improvisational brilliance.

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Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic live performance energy
  • wave-like pacing with surprises
  • theatrical storytelling through music
  • engaging audience participation moments
  • improvisational brilliance throughout

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer straightforward song structures
  • dislike lengthy listening experiences

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2018, 'The Roxy Performances' showcases Frank Zappa's innovative live sound during a pivotal era in his career. This album documents performances from December 1973, shortly after Zappa's commercial breakthrough with 'Over-Nite Sensation', capturing his eclectic style at the height of his creative powers.
Stylistic neighbors
Captain Beefheart· The Residents· Henry Cow
New to Frank Zappa? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Sunday Show 1 Start (12‐9‐73 show 1) 4:59
  • 2 Cosmik Debris (12‐9‐73 show 1) 11:33
  • 3 “We’re Makin’ a Movie” (12‐9‐73 show 1) 3:16
  • 4 Pygmy Twylyte (12‐9‐73 show 1) 9:08
  • 5 The Idiot Bastard Son (12‐9‐73 show 1) 2:19
  • 6 Cheepnis (12‐9‐73 show 1) 3:44
  • 7 Hollywood Perverts (12‐9‐73 show 1) 1:07
  • 8 Penguin in Bondage (12‐9‐73 show 1) 5:54
  • 9 T’Mershi Duween (12‐9‐73 show 1) 1:56
  • 10 The Dog Breath Variations (12‐9‐73 show 1) 1:44
  • 11 Uncle Meat (12‐9‐73 show 1) 2:29
  • 12 RDNZL (12‐9‐73 show 1) 5:14
  • 13 Montana (12‐9‐73 show 1) 7:49
  • 14 Dupree’s Paradise (12‐9‐73 show 1) 15:23

Disc 2

  • 1 Dickie’s Such an Asshole (12‐9‐73 show 1) 10:29
  • 2 Sunday Show 2 Start (12‐9‐73 show 2) 4:08
  • 3 Inca Roads (12‐9‐73 show 2) 8:27
  • 4 Village of the Sun (12‐9‐73 show 2) 4:19
  • 5 Echidna’s Arf (Of You) (12‐9‐73 show 2) 4:01
  • 6 Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing? (12‐9‐73 show 2) 13:22
  • 7 Slime Intro (12‐9‐73 show 2) 0:59
  • 8 I’m the Slime (12‐9‐73 show 2) 3:34
  • 9 Big Swifty (12‐9‐73 show 2) 9:01

Disc 3

  • 1 Tango #1 Intro (12‐9‐73 show 2) 3:50
  • 2 Be‐bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen’s Church) (12‐9‐73 show 2) 18:12
  • 3 Medley: King Kong / Chunga’s Revenge / Son of Mr. Green Genes (12‐9‐73 show 2) 9:46
  • 4 Monday Show 1 Start (12‐10‐73 show 1) 5:31
  • 5 Montana (12‐10‐73 show 1) 6:57
  • 6 Dupree’s Paradise (12‐10‐73 show 1) 21:26
  • 7 Cosmik Intro (12‐10‐73 show 1) 1:05
  • 8 Cosmik Debris (12‐10‐73 show 1) 8:05

Disc 4

  • 1 Bondage Intro (12‐10‐73 show 1) 1:52
  • 2 Penguin in Bondage (12‐10‐73 show 1) 6:54
  • 3 T’Mershi Duween (12‐10‐73 show 1) 1:52
  • 4 The Dog Breath Variations (12‐10‐73 show 1) 1:48
  • 5 Uncle Meat (12‐10‐73 show 1) 2:29
  • 6 RDNZL (12‐10‐73 show 1) 4:59
  • 7 Audience Participation / RDNZL (12‐10‐73 show 1) 3:08
  • 8 Pygmy Twylyte (12‐10‐73 show 1) 4:05
  • 9 The Idiot Bastard Son (12‐10‐73 show 1) 2:21
  • 10 Cheepnis (12‐10‐73 show 1) 4:49
  • 11 Dickie’s Such an Asshole (12‐10‐73 show 1) 10:21
  • 12 Monday Show 2 Start (12‐10‐73 show 2) 5:13
  • 13 Penguin in Bondage (12‐10‐73 show 2) 6:33
  • 14 T’Mershi Duween (12‐10‐73 show 2) 1:52
  • 15 The Dog Breath Variations (12‐10‐73 show 2) 1:46
  • 16 Uncle Meat (12‐10‐73 show 2) 2:28
  • 17 RDNZL (12‐10‐73 show 2) 5:11

Disc 5

  • 1 Village of the Sun (12‐10‐73 show 2) 4:05
  • 2 Echidna’s Arf (Of You) (12‐10‐73 show 2) 3:54
  • 3 Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing? (12‐10‐73 show 2) 6:56
  • 4 Cheepnis / Percussion (12‐10‐73 show 2) 4:08
  • 5 “I Love Monster Movies” (12‐10‐73 show 2) 2:10
  • 6 Cheepnis (12‐10‐73 show 2) 3:35
  • 7 “Turn the Light Off” / Pamela’s Intro (12‐10‐73 show 2) 3:59
  • 8 Pygmy Twylyte (12‐10‐73 show 2) 7:23
  • 9 The Idiot Bastard Son (12‐10‐73 show 2) 2:22
  • 10 Tango #2 Intro (12‐10‐73 show 2) 2:01
  • 11 Be‐bop Tango (of the Old Jazzmen’s Church) (12‐10‐73 show 2) 22:08

Disc 6

  • 1 Dickie’s Such an Asshole (12‐10‐73 show 2) 15:39
  • 2 Big Swifty (in rehearsal, 12‐10‐73 Roxy rehearsal) 2:50
  • 3 Village of the Sun (12‐10‐73 Roxy rehearsal) 3:13
  • 4 Farther O’Blivion (in rehearsal, 12‐10‐73 Roxy rehearsal) 5:34
  • 5 Pygmy Twylyte (12‐10‐73 Roxy rehearsal) 6:17
  • 6 That Arrogant Dick Nixon 2:19
  • 7 Kung Fu (in session) 4:50
  • 8 Kung Fu (with guitar overdub) 1:17
  • 9 Tuning and Studio Chatter 3:38
  • 10 Echidna’s Arf (Of You) (in session) 1:22
  • 11 Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow (in session) 9:49
  • 12 Nanook Rubs It (in session) 5:41
  • 13 St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast (in session) 2:46
  • 14 Father O’Blivion (in session) 2:31
  • 15 Rollo (Be‐bop version) 2:36

Disc 7

  • 1 Saturday Show Start (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 2:20
  • 2 Pygmy Twylyte / Dummy Up (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 20:25
  • 3 Pygmy Twylyte, Part II (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 14:25
  • 4 Echidna’s Arf (Of You) (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 3:42
  • 5 Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing? (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 6:01
  • 6 Orgy, Orgy (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 3:39
  • 7 Penguin in Bondage (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 6:30
  • 8 T’Mershi Duween (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 1:53
  • 9 The Dog Breath Variations (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 1:45
  • 10 Uncle Meat / Show End (12‐8‐73 sound check/film shoot) 4:01

What to play next

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alternative rock jazz fusion

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata