The Lost Episodes

The album has five tracks which feature Captain Beefheart (known in early recordings by his birth name, Don Vliet, and later Don Van Vliet): "Lost in a Whirlpool", a blues parody from around 1958–59 in which Beefheart sings of being flushed down the toilet; "Tiger Roach", a rhythm and blues track from around three years later; "I'm a Band Leader" from 1969, a spoken word piece written by Zappa and read by Beefheart; "Alley Cat", a blues number in which Zappa plays guitar with two members of Beefheart's Magic Band, and "The Grand Wazoo", a spoken word piece recorded in 1969, to which Zappa added a Synclavier track in 1992 . Dan Glaister, writing in The Guardian, judged the first to be "a passable Bessie Smith cover", adding, "while "Alley Cat" could be a missing track from Clear Spot." Elsewhere on the disc are included a number of alternate, earlier versions of compositions which were later released on Zappa's studio albums. The Lost Episodes' version of "Any Way the Wind Blows", for instance, was recorded in Cucamonga in around 1963—three years before its appearance on Freak Out! (1966). "I Don't Want to Get Drafted" appears on this album in a slightly different version than the one released on the original single from 1980. And the version of "Fountain of Love" here was recorded around the same time, but not released until Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968). Several outtakes include the original versions of: "Inca Roads" and "RDNZL", along with a version of Wino Man featuring Ricky Lancelotti on lead vocals. The final track is the original version of Sharleena from the aborted 2nd Hot Rats LP recordings in 1970; featuring Sugarcane Harris on lead vocal. "The Big Squeeze" was recorded in 1967 for a Luden's cough drops television commercial. Zappa's music was matched with animation by filmmaker Ed Seeman and the advertisement won a Clio Award for "Best Use of Sound". The version on this album lacks the narration later added by Seeman. Some of the tracks had been previously released on the Mystery Discs, which were originally part of the first two Old Masters box set and were released together on a single CD in 1998. "Run Home Slow" is heard in stereo on The Lost Episodes but in mono on Mystery Disc (and probably a different take). "Charva" is heard in mono on The Lost Episodes but in stereo on Mystery Disc. "Wedding Dress Song" and Handsome Cabin Boy" are the same versions as on Mystery Disc but on the latter album the two songs feature as one track. == Track listing ==

• Frank Zappa – synthesizer, guitar, percussion, piano, celeste, drums, bass guitar, kazoo, vocals, background vocals, synclavier • Dale Bozzio – vocals • Terry Bozzio – vocals • Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) – vocals • Ray Collins – vocals • Ricky Lancelotti – vocals • Ray White – vocals • Kenny Williams – vocals • Ronnie Williams – vocals • Ronny Williams – vocals • Ike Willis – vocals • Elliot Ingber – slide guitar • Elwood Madeo Jr. – guitar • Bobby Zappa – guitar, rhythm guitar • George Duke – keyboards • Tommy Mars – keyboards, vocals • Don Preston – keyboards • Danny Helferin – piano • Terry Wimberly – piano • Arthur Barrow – bass, bass guitar • Max Bennett – bass, bass guitar • Erroneous (aka Alex Dmochowski) – bass, bass guitar • Roy Estrada – bass, bass guitar • Tom Fowler – bass guitar • Jimmy Carl Black – drums • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums • Aynsley Dunbar – drums • John French – drums • John Guerin – drums • Ralph Humphrey – drums • Chester Thompson – drums • Tony Rodriguez – alto sax • Chuck Foster – trumpet • Sal Marquez – trumpet • Bruce Fowler – trombone • Don "Sugarcane" Harris – violin, vocals, electric violin • Jean-Luc Ponty – violin • Art Tripp – marimba, background vocals, vibraphone • Ian Underwood – percussion, keyboards, saxophone, woodwind, fender rhodes • Ruth Underwood – percussion == Production ==

• Frank Zappa – arranger, producer, engineer • Paul Buff – engineer • Gary Kellgren – engineer • Kerry McNabb – engineer • Bob Stone – engineer, remixing • Spencer Chrislu – remixing • Gábor Csupó – artwork • Steven Jurgensmeyer – design • Hal Wilson – photography • Rip Rense – liner notes == References ==