Frank Zappa’s ‘Apostrophe (‘)’ receives 50th anniversary box set

From the NME.

The musician’s acclaimed sixth solo album, which was originally released in 1974, will see a 75-track, six-disc re-release, due for September 13.

Along with the original nine tracks, which includes classics like ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow’ and ‘Cosmic Debris, the re-release will include bonus live material from Zappa’s performances in Colorado and Ohio, new mixes, and more details from the album’s recording.

In the box set of the new edition, a 52-page booklet will also be included which will feature brand-new archival photos of the cover’s photographer, Sam Emerson. Fans will also receive a compilation of liner notes and essays written by British music journalist Simon Prentis and expert Zappa archivist Joe Travers.

Speaking about the re-release, Travers said: “With Apostrophe (‘), Zappa continued to carve out his own genre in music, while celebrating ten years in the business. Nobody sounded like Frank Zappa. This album, and specifically ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow’ brought that unique wonderful sound to the masses in a way that nobody, including Frank, would expect.”

Arguably the most popular album in the Frank Zappa catalog, apostrophe (‘) has consistently been a best-seller. It was Zappa’s first Gold Record Award in the U.S., peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” single also made the Billboard Top 100 Hits chart, peaking at #87. The success of Apostrophe(‘) brought along a new awareness for Zappa and through the years, the album has been a go-to for most when discovering his music.

For the 50th Anniversary, Zappa Records and UMe have compiled a 5-CD + Blu-ray Audio set featuring the original album newly remastered by Bernie Grundman, session outtakes from the Vault and two bonus concerts spanning the year of 1974. The Blu-ray contains the new remaster in hi-res formats, brand-new Dolby Atmos remixes by Karma Auger and Erich Gobel and FZ’s 1974 Quadraphonic mix, back in print for the first time in 50 years. The package features new historical essays by Simon Prentis & Vaultmeister Joe Travers, along with never-before-seen images from the archive of Sam Emerson, who shot the now iconic front cover photo.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 – Original 1974 Album – 2024 Remaster

1. Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
2. Nanook Rubs It
3. St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast
4. Father O’Blivion
5. Cosmik Debris
6. Excentrifugal Forz
7. Apostrophe
8. Uncle Remus
9. Stink-Foot

Remastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, 2024

Source: Original 1/4” 1974 2-track Dolby-encoded analog master tape

192K24B WAV transfer by Joe Travers, 2023

Album Session Bonus Tracks

1. Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow (Basic Tracks/Alternate Take)
2. Nanook Rubs It (Basic Tracks/Outtake)
3. Nanook Rubs It (Session Outtake)
4. Cosmik Debris (Basic Tracks – Take 3)
5. Excentrifugal Forz (Mix Outtake)
6. Apostrophe (Mix Outtake)
7. Uncle Remus (Mix Outtake)
8. Apostrophe (Unedited Master/2024 Mix)
9. Uncle Remus (Piano and Vocal Mix 2024)

Disc 2 – Bonus Concert #1 Colorado Springs, Colorado – 21 March, 1974 

1. Show start/Band Intros
2. Village Of The Sun
3. Echidna’s Arf (Of You)
4. Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?
5. Babbette
6. Approximate
7. Cosmik Debris
8. Pygmy Twylyte
9. The Idiot Bastard Son
10. Cheepnis
11. Montana
12. Dupree’s Paradise Intro

Disc 3 – Colorado Springs, Colorado – 21 March, 1974 Continued…

1. Dupree’s Paradise
2. Is There Anything Good Inside Of You?
3. Florentine Pogen
4. Kung Fu
5. Penguin In Bondage
6. T’Mershi Duween
7. The Dog Breath Variations
8. Uncle Meat
9. RDNZL
10. Medley: King Kong/Chunga’s Revenge/Son Of Mr. Green Genes

Disc 4 – Early 1974 Bonus Live Track + Bonus Concert #2 – Dayton, Ohio, Hara Arena 20 November, 1974

1. Inca Roads – Salt Lake City, Utah – 3-18-74 – Terrace Ballroom
2. Tush Tush Tush (A Token Of My Extreme)
3. Stink-Foot
4. RDNZL
5. Village Of The Sun
6. Echidna’s Arf (Of You)
7. Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?
8. Penguin In Bondage
9. T’Mershi Duween
10. The Dog Breath Variations
11. Uncle Meat
12. Building A Girl

Disc 5 – Dayton, OH continued

1. Dinah-Moe Humm
2. Camarillo Brillo
3. Pygmy Twylyte
4. Room Service
5. Tush Tush Tush (End Vamp)
6. Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
7. Nanook Rubs It
8. St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast
9. Father O’Blivion

+ more Bonus Swill

1. Apostrophe TV Ad
2. Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow- Single Edit
3. Goteborg GTR
4. Approximate
5. …the poodle bites…

BLU-RAY AUDIO:

apostrophe (‘) – The Album

Dolby Atmos* / Dolby TrueHD 5.1* / Dolby TrueHD 1974 Quadraphonic / 192K24B Stereo / 96K24B Stereo

1. Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
2. Nanook Rubs It
3. St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast
4. Father O’Blivion
5. Cosmik Debris
6. Excentrifugal Forz
7. Apostrophe
8. Uncle Remus
9. Stink-Foot

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