****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
The gracious Gail Zappa has just issued the original '76 recording, that seemed to be central to the break-up of Frank with his longtime partner, Herb Cohen. While bootlegs have floated around all these years, this is the first time the album has been available mastered to full fidelity. It is fantastic. The Captain is still in full voice, not yet displaying the symptoms of the long ailment that would afflict him the rest of his life. And the collection of songs (most of which to be re-recorded during his last, and wonderful, acolyte phase) fit together like a glove. Truly, it ranks as one of his best.Dont get me wrong. Shiny Beast remains a genuine hoot. I just bought it again just to get the remastering. And the one time I saw the Captain live was when he was performing Beast at the tiny 2nd Fret in Philly. (Sitting at the bar, just prior the show he appeared a bit disjointed and frail, but the crowd was adoring, his new young band was joyous and the Captain surely didn't disappoint. The strongest version of Dr. Dark I've ever heard, and after he got through the set list he shoved the mike way up his saxophone, announced that he was going to play the "real stuff" and honked on the thing like there was no tomorrow. Bless his soul.)SPIN declared this album his best, and there's no argument with anybody who champions this stuff. Very entertaining.
