Roxy & Elsewhere
	production credits unknown
	Released on September 10, 1974
	US CHART POSITION #27
	Find it at GEMM
RCD 10520 cover

T his one rocks: dazzling arrangements, brilliant songs, a modicum of molten guitar licks and some clever stage banter. I’m partial to this lineup of The Mothers: Ruth Underwood (previously Preston) has never shined so bright -- “Echidna’s Arf (of You)” is nothing less than stunning -- while Napoleon Murphy Brock gives the band a legitimate vocalist. Although the double elpee only presents nine works, collectively it’s an overwhelming experience. “The Be-Bop Tango (of The Old Jazzmen’s Church)” is enough to drain most listeners, filling every conceivable nook and cranny of side four with notes before devolving into one of Frank’s audience participation pieces. Generally, the show (actually shows, which explains the elsewhere) balances between hot instrumental workouts and memorable songs. Not many listeners were left humming “Echidna’s Arf (of You)” or “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing,” but quite a few I’ll bet have recalled bits of “Cheepnis,” “Penguin In Bondage” and “Village of the Sun” over the years. Not all of Roxy is top-shelf stuff; “Dummy Up” is a forgettable poke at “higher” education and “Son of Orange County” is cute but could have been more fully developed. Still, Roxy & Elsewhere is no mere live placeholder; 90% of the material is new (Freak Out’s “More Trouble Every Day” earns a fiery reprise) and the performance is as clean as “studio” albums like One Size Fits All. Although Over-Nite Sensation is the best way to get acquainted with this version of The Mothers (i.e., the mid-‘70s Mothers), I’d rank Roxy right below it. I haven’t heard Apostrophe yet, so I can’t speak to that, but I’d certainly recommend this over One Size, Bongo and Zoot.

TRACK LISTING

record one (side one/side four)

1. PREAMBLE
2. PENGUIN IN BONDAGE
3. PYGMY TWYLYTE
4. DUMMY UP
5. PREAMBLE
6. BE-BOP TANGO (OF THE OLD JAZZMEN'S CHURCH)
   
   record two (side two/three)
   
1. PREAMBLE
2. VILLAGE OF THE SUN
3. ECHIDNA'S ARF (OF YOU)
4. DON'T YOU EVER WASH THAT THING?
5. PREAMBLE
6. CHEEPNIS
7. SON OF ORANGE COUNTY
8. MORE TROUBLE EVERY DAY

CREDITS

FRANK ZAPPA -- guitar, vocals
NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK -- sax, flute, lead vocals
GEORGE DUKE -- keyboards, vocals
BRUCE FOWLER -- trombone
TOM FOWLER -- bass
WALT FOWLER -- trumpet
RALPH HUMPHREY -- drums
DON PRESTON -- synthesizer
JEFF SIMMONS -- rhythm guitar, vocals
CHESTER THOMPSON -- drums
RUTH UNDERWOOD -- percussion

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