For those of us who ordered MOFO back in August (my order processed Aug 10th) for a September delivery...it has shipped today, after 3:00 PM EST. I used UPS blue for a speedy delivery.

Robert, i have a question for you. When i bought my 2-cd MOFO at a local retailer earlier today, a young clerk asked me which Zappa album Stanley Clarke played bass on, and i had to confess that i haven't a clue. I figure if anyone might know off the top of their head, it may be you. Can you help me on this? Thanks....

(yet to begin listening to MOFO)

He never played with FZ. He is on a couple of George Duke (former FZ keyboard player from the early to mid 70's). I'd have to serach for the vinyl as it's been at least 25 years since I listened to those LPs.

They recorded as The Clarke-Duke Project.

I saw the MOFO two-fer @ a local store...was not aware it was going to be retail as well. I was somewhat surprised at how steep it was (32.99)...which made me more suspect of its legitimacy as a retail release as well.

It did take a lot of will power to put it down though....for now.

Thanks for the info. I knew he and Duke recorded together (Clarke-Duke Project with "Sweet Baby") and that they guested on each other's solo LPs, but this guy insisted that Stanley had guested with Zappa. Well, he was wrong!

2-cd MOFO retails (on sale this week only) at Newbury Comics for $24.99, for any New Englanders interested.

I picked up the 2 cd version today.....the 1st disc is great the 2nd is not bad either[i paid $29.99 for it i saw it for $32.99 at Borders and $35.99 at Barnes and Noble btw].

Got the 4 CD MOFO today.

Disc one is the same as the 2 disc set
About half of disc 2 on the 2 disc set is spread thru-out the 4 disc set.

disc 2 and 3 are different takes, mixes, etc.
One new vocal Groupie Bang Bang - a vocal sung to a Bo Diddley style beat. Lots of pieces and parts to Monster Magnet.

Disc 4 is mostly (3/5) talking.

Disc 2 also has a live section of 3 or 4 Freak Out tunes from June 1966

Thanks for the breakdown of contents, Robert. Sounds like it's gonna be a "must have", though probably not until next year. Still have only gotten about 1/3 of the way through disc 1 of the 2 cd issue, (naturally) saving the disc 2 goodies for last.

I sure hope that they release the original mix of "Cruising With Ruben and the Jets". My cousin did a nice vinyl transfer of it for me, but i'd love to have a nice remaster from the original tapes, and perhaps an expanded edition if there's enough outtake material.

This release is awsome. Really for collectors though. It is truely a documentary of the making of Freak Out. Only one real out take/unreleased track (Groupie Bang Bang - a kind of Bo Diddley vamp with vocals about some encounters with these dedicated fans).

Lots of alternate takes, different mixes and lots of bits of material that went into (and left off of) the Return of the Son of Monster Magnet. No large 10 minute section or anything like that.

There are some interviews - on disc 4 - makes 1/2 of disc - but as a "FZ is the best - and then there's all the rest" I find it very interesting.

One thing that I knew but forgot over the years, Monster Magnet was unfinished. What we got was just the basic backing track - what was intended to go on top of it - we will never know (MGM decided to push it out at that point).

I only hope ALL - or at least all the 60's and 70's releases are given like treatment.

The packaging - it is great, it is strange, it is large. It is made up of the kind of plastic that was on notebooks in days of old (hey I'm 53 so that is what I relate it to). Each flap opens up so it becomes a large +. This will not fit in with your normal CDs. I don't think you'd want to stand it up either.

It is a Zappa fan's must have.

I just recently ordered and received the 4CD version and I have to say this is one of the great reissues, focusing on one album, that I have heard.

The packaging is hokey in that Zappa kind of way. The booklet is great, the inclusion of the hot spots map is wonderful and the sound is impeccable to me. The bonus material from the alternate takes to the interviews is really "neat".

I have been playing this a lot since I got it.

It's one of those reissues that brings me back to the time when I first heard the album.

As the Zappa fan I am, I do love the whole album. I love tracks like "Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" and "It Can't Happen Here". I love the off-the-wall fifties styled arrangements of the "teenage" songs. My least favorite song is "I'm Not Satisfied" - never cared for it that much.

I think I'm gonna get a TV dinner and cook it up.

Barry

Is the map in the 4 CD set larger than the map in the 2 CD set?
The 2 CD just has a fold out the size of two pages of a standard CD booklet.

I had a hard time reading the print on mine (damn, may be time to get reading glasses)

[quote="Barry Veverka-Brownlie"]
The booklet is great, the inclusion of the hot spots map is wonderful

The map in the 4CD set is 18.5" by 14" unfolded with the legend printed on one side, the map on the other.

Barry

This restores the original vinyl mix if I'm not mistaken, right?