cdx. ZAPPA, Frank: Billy the Mountain

cdx. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Billy the Mountain (1972)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Mark Volman, vocals
Howard Kaylan, vocals
Ian Underwood, woodwinds, keyboards, vocals
Aynsley Dunbar, drums
Don Preston, keyboards
Jim Pons, bass, vocals
(24:41)

from: Just Another Band From L.A.

If you've never heard Frank Zappa's magnum opus rock opera -- the rock opera of all rock operas -- you don't know what you're missing.

The story of Billy -- a mountain; and Ethell -- his small wooden wife -- is told in musical segments like only Frank could tell it ...

This performance -- from Pauley Pavilion on August 7, 1971 -- was geared towards an L.A. audience. A few references:

• Rosamond and Gorman
  
• El Dorado Cadillac leased from Bob Spreen (where the freeways meet in Downey
• Edwards Air Force Base
• KTTV
• San Joaquin Valley
• Torrance
• Hawthorne
• Lomita
• Westchester
• Playa Del Rey
• Santa Monica
• Tujunga
• Sunland
• San Fernando
• Pacoima
• Sylmar
• Newhall
• Canoga Park
• Palmdale
• Glendale
• Irwindale
• Rolling Hills
• Granada Hills
• Shadow Hills
• Cheviot Hills
• Inland Empire
• little Howard Kaplan
• Watts
• Orange County
• Chief Reddin
• Big John Mazmanian
• El Segundo
• Zubin Mehta
• Boney's Market
• Neil Sedaka
• City of Industry
• The Broadway at Hollywood and Vine
• Ralphs on Sunset

In the meantime, the Zappa Family Trust has recently released an eight-disc box-set of all the early June 1971 performances, including six complete versions of Billy:

• June 1, Scranton
• June 3, Harrisburg
• June 5, Fillmore, NYC, early show
• June 5, Fillmore late show
• June 6, Fillmore early show
• June 6, Fillmore late show

In addition, a complete performance can be found on:

• Carnegie Hall, October 11, 1971