News/Review: “Apostrophe” by Frank Zappa, 40th Anniversary Edition
October 25, 2014
Zappa Family trust Announces 40th Anniversary Edition of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe (‘), On 180-gram Vinyl.
The ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST presents more freshly remastered music with the 40th Anniversary Edition of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) on audiophile quality 180-gram vinyl. Cut directly from the original quarter-inch stereo analogue master tapes, the special edition of the iconic 1974 album will be released on 20th October 2014.
If I had to criticise this release, and we only received the CD not the vinyl of the album, is the lack of liner notes detailing the albums history.
The ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST presents more freshly remastered music with the 40th Anniversary Edition of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) on audiophile quality 180-gram vinyl. Cut directly from the original quarter-inch stereo analogue master tapes, the special edition of the iconic 1974 album will be released on 20th October 2014.
Featuring definitive Zappa cuts ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow’ and ‘Cosmik Debris’ among its original nine tracks, Apostrophe (’) was Zappa’s highest-charting album, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. The Gold-certified album has been remastered for vinyl by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and manufactured for the world at Pallas Group in Germany.
The 40th Anniversary Edition of Apostrophe (’) continues the ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST’s ongoing commitment to the restoration of Frank Zappa’s albums on audiophile quality vinyl. Joe Travers, Vaultmaster, Zappa Archives, is working on the new LP releases with Bellman.
In 2012, when the rights to the iconic composer’s masters reverted back to Zappa Records and the ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST – headed by Zappa’s widow Gail Zappa – the family made his entire recorded catalog available on iTunes for the first time and began remastering the albums for reissue on vinyl. Presented with proper care and attention to detail, the releases honour the iconic legacy of the Composer, Guitarist, Bandleader, Filmmaker and Irrepressible Wit.
Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement.
About 40 years ago a certain Mr. Zappa released one of his most popular and influential albums in his extensive back catalogue, not to mention one of his most [comercially] successful. The album was perfect for the decade it was released in. And still through its humour and observations, not to mention the catchy hooks; it is still as accessible today as it was 40 years ago.
This reviewer discovered Zappa with material about a decade younger than this album, and slowly jumped around in through his back catalogue, sometimes picking albums based on covers, sometimes just by name or rumour. Yet this album has possibly had the most plays over the years, and is a great place to get started in the world of Zappa. Not only does ‘Cosmic Debris’ completely suck you into a crazy world he weaves, or the amusing warning of ‘Don’t Eat The yellow Snow’ (with the first four track having been referred to as Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow Suite, through to the guitar solos on the title track – the whole album is engaging.
Having listened to the CD the sound quality is as good and clear as ever, although I did not do a side by side comparison to the double album release (with ‘Overnite Sensation’), and was a shear pleasure to revisit. If you are reading this and have wondered about listening to Zappa but have yet to dive in, do give this album a go. It is not guitar heavy although there are some great passages, it contains some very humorous insights into society; probably just as relevant today as when they were penned. Well worth listening to.
Press release from Prescription PR
Additional commentary by Jon.