A new Frank Zappa box set featuring recordings of three concerts from the late legendary singer/guitarist’s run of 1981 Halloween shows in New York City will be released on October 2.
Halloween 81 is a six-CD collection that includes Zappa’s early and late shows on October 31, 1981, at The Palladium in New York, and his concert the following evening at the same venue. The box set comes packaged with a “Count Frankula” mask and cape.
The three shows have never been available before in their entirety, and 78 of the tracks are previously unreleased.
Zappa’s band at the concerts included Steve Vai and Ray White on guitar, drummer Chad Wackerman, keyboardists Tommy Mars and Robert Martin, percussionist Ed Mann and bassist Scott Thunes.
Among the many songs performed at the three concerts were “Chunga’s Revenge,” “Dancin’ Fool,” “Montana,” “Joe’s Garage,” “Zoot Allures” “I’m the Slime” and a cover of The Allman Brothers Band‘s “Whipping Post.”
Those who pre-order the Halloween 81 collection will be able to listen to one track in advance, a performance of “I’m the Slime” from Zappa’s November 1, 1981, show. You also can check it out at Zappa’s official YouTube channel.
On the same day that the box set arrives, a single-CD collection featuring highlights from the 1981 Halloween shows also will be released. It will include one exclusive track that doesn’t appear on the box set, a version of “Strictly Genteel” that was played at the November 1 concert.
Visit Zappa.com for full details about the releases.
By Matt Friedlander
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