Finer Moments

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Sean Westergaard
Finer Moments is a curious but mostly excellent compilation of (mostly) instrumental odds and ends put together by FZ in 1972 that went (mostly) unreleased until 2012. Disc one concentrates on the 1968-1969 Mothers. The first four tracks are from a 1969 Royal Albert Hall show that was partially documented in the film Uncle Meat. "Sleazette" is a great guitar solo, but the Mozart piece loses quite a bit without the "ballet" visuals. "The Wailing Zombie Music" sounds part-composed/part-conducted improvisation. "The Old Curiosity Shoppe" is a nice jam from 1971 featuring some nice wah-wah alto sax from Ian Underwood and wicked soloing from FZ. This also might be the first...
See more details below
CD
$19.28
BN.com price
(Save 3%)$19.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (8) from $14.20   
  • New (8) from $14.20   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Sean Westergaard
Finer Moments is a curious but mostly excellent compilation of (mostly) instrumental odds and ends put together by FZ in 1972 that went (mostly) unreleased until 2012. Disc one concentrates on the 1968-1969 Mothers. The first four tracks are from a 1969 Royal Albert Hall show that was partially documented in the film Uncle Meat. "Sleazette" is a great guitar solo, but the Mozart piece loses quite a bit without the "ballet" visuals. "The Wailing Zombie Music" sounds part-composed/part-conducted improvisation. "The Old Curiosity Shoppe" is a nice jam from 1971 featuring some nice wah-wah alto sax from Ian Underwood and wicked soloing from FZ. This also might be the first time Zappa excerpted the solo portion of a tune and retitled it (as he did for nearly every track on the Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar series). In this case, it's probably "Little House I Used to Live In." "Uncle Rebus" is another one of these, this time using the solos from "King Kong" at the Ark in Boston in 1968 (previously released as part of Beat the Boots!, Vol. 2). It doesn't say it in the liner notes, but "Music from the Big Squeeze" is actually the soundtrack to the Luden's cough drop commercial that won Frank a Clio award. "Enigmas 1-5" is a cool series of percussion duets with FZ and Art Tripp (both of whom were very well-versed in orchestral percussion). "Pumped and Waxed" shifts gears considerably. It's a really cool keyboard/synth piece that Zappa did in his basement studio that could easily be the soundtrack for a '50s sci-fi B-movie. Then it's back to the 1969 band, during Lowell George's brief stint in the Mothers. "There Is No Heaven Where Slogans Go to Die" is a spooky, improv-sounding piece with Dave Samuels guesting on vibes while "Squeeze It, Squeeze It, Squeeze It" is Roy Estrada's laughing/hysterics/"Oh God!" schtick (this track was also previously released on the Mystery Disc). "The Subcutaneous Peril" is from 1971 and ends the set on a high note. It also sounds like the vamp from "Little House I Used to Live In" but Don Preston in place of Bob Harris gives it a very different flavor. Finer Moments has some amazing moments, some that are more curious/interesting and a couple that are sub-par for one reason or another. It's also an interesting glimpse of Zappa's creative process, as this was the first time he used parts of existing compositions as "new" compositions as well as the first time he assembled an album from such disparate sources, but ultimately chose to not release it. It's a minor quibble (and hard to go against Frank's choices) but the elimination of the previously released "Squeeze It, Squeeze It, Squeeze It" would have allowed this set to be released as a single disc. Even so, there's enough great material to please a hardcore fan. But if you're not a hardcore fan, there are better places to start.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/18/2012
  • Label: Zappa Records
  • UPC: 824302389423
  • Catalog Number: 3894
  • Sales rank: 24,475

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Frank Zappa Primary Artist, Guitar, Conductor, Vocals
Don Preston Keyboards, Mini Moog
Jimmy Carl Black Drums
Lowell George Guitar
Aynsley Dunbar Drums
Roy Estrada Bass, Vocals
Bunk Gardner Tenor Saxophone, Woodwind
Bob Harris Keyboards
Howard Kaylan Tambourine, cowbell
Jim Pons Bass
David Samuels Vibes, Soloist, Guest Appearance
Motorhead Sherwood Baritone Saxophone
Art Tripp Percussion
Ian Underwood Clarinet, Piano, Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, Woodwind
Mark Volman Tambourine, cowbell
Buzz Gardner Trumpet
Arthur Dyer Tripp III Percussion, Drums
Technical Credits
Frank Zappa Composer, Producer, Engineer, Instrumentation, Construction
Dick Kunc Engineer
Stephen Marcussen Mastering
Kerry McNabb Engineer
Michael Mesker Layout
Jerry Hansen Engineer
Bill Miller Liner Notes, Cover Art
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously