Frank Zappa - 1992 "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6"

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 is the last of six double-disc collection volumes of live performances by Frank Zappa recorded between 1970 and 1988. All of the material on Disc one has a sexual theme. Zappa used the monologue in "Is That Guy Kidding or What?", to ridicule Peter Frampton's album I'm in You with its double entendre title and pop pretensions. Disc two includes performances from Zappa's shows between 1976 and 1981 at the Palladium in New York City, as well as material like "The Illinois Enema Bandit" and "Strictly Genteel" that he frequently used as closing songs at concerts. It was released on October 23, 1992, under the label Rykodisc.

The last volume of the series You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore is one of the strongest, especially for those who prefer Frank Zappa's sex-oriented songs. There is not much complex material or instrumental pieces in this collection, but catchy humorous songs abound, along with more of that stage craziness the series tried to capture. Live incarnations of Zappa's band from 1970 up to 1988 are represented (the original Mothers had a whole disc devoted to them on Vol. 5). Most of disc one revolves around sex, starting with "The M.O.I. Anti-Smut Loyalty Oath," where the 1970 Mothers solemnly swear not to show their private parts on stage. Disc two is more varied, but tracks like "Catholic Girls" and "Crew Slut" make it fit right in. "The Poodle Lecture" and "Lonely Person Devices" reveal important Conceptual Continuity Clues. The "Camarillo Brillo"/"Muffin Man" medley provides a highlight, as does the frantic rendition of "Dirty Love." Lisa Popeil, who sang the 1982 track "Teen-Age Prostitute," makes her only other Zappa-related appearance in "Lisa's Life Story." Most of all, the music from the movie 200 Motels -- still unavailable on CD when this album came out -- was given special attention. Even today, the renditions of "200 Motels Finale" and "Shove It Right In" stand out as important tracks. This volume is less focused on the die-hard fan craving rare material. It will appeal to a wider range of casual listeners, while portraying with much fidelity the atmosphere of Zappa's concerts.

Track listing:

All songs written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.

Disc one

No.    Title    Recording venue and date    Length

01.    "The M.O.I. Anti-Smut Loyalty Oath"    Tully Gymnasium, October 9, 1970    3:01
02.    "The Poodle Lecture"    The Palladium October 30, 1977    5:02
03.    "Dirty Love"    Hammersmith Odeon, February 18, 1979    2:39
04.    "Magic Fingers"    Berkeley Community Theater, December 5, 1980    2:21
05.    "The Madison Panty-Sniffing Festival"    Dane County Coliseum, November 16, 1980    2:44
06.    "Honey, Don't You Want a Man Like Me?"    Towson Center, March 23, 1988    4:01
07.    "Father O'Blivion"    Hordern Pavilion, June 25, 1973    2:21
08.    "Is That Guy Kidding or What?"    The Palladium October 30, 1977    4:02
09.    "I'm So Cute"    Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, December 11, 1980    1:39
10.    "White Person"    Hemmerleinhalle, February 25, 1978    2:07
11.    "Lonely Person Devices"    Tivolis Koncertsal, March 3, 1976    3:13
12.    "Ms. Pinky"    Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, December 11, 1980    2:00
13.    "Shove It Right In" (comprising "She Painted Up Her Face", "Half a Dozen Provocative Squats" and "Shove It Right In")    Fillmore East, June 5–6, 1971    6:45
14.    "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station"    The Spectrum, October 29, 1976    2:32
15.    "Make a Sex Noise"    Broome County Arena, March 17, 1988    3:09
16.    "Tracy Is a Snob"    Salt Lake City, December 3, 1980    3:54
17.    "I Have Been in You"    The Palladium, October 29, 1978    5:04
18.    "Emperor of Ohio"    Salt Lake City, December 3, 1980    1:31
19.    "Dinah-Moe Humm"    Bismarck Theater, November 23, 1984
The Pier, August 26, 1984    3:16
20.    "He's So Gay"    The Pier, August 26, 1984    2:34
21.    "Camarillo Brillo"    Bismarck Theater, November 23, 1984    3:09
22.    "Muffin Man"    Bismarck Theater, November 23, 1984    2:25

Disc two

No.    Title    Recording venue and date    Length

01.    "NYC Halloween Audience"    The Palladium, October 31, 1981    0:46
02.    "The Illinois Enema Bandit"    Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 1984
Royal Oak Music Theatre, November 21, 1984
Paramount Theatre, December 17, 1984
Bismarck Theatre, November 23, 1984
Stadio Communale, July 8, 1982    8:04
03.    "Thirteen"    The Palladium, October 27–31, 1978    6:08
04.    "Lobster Girl"    The Palladium, October 29, 1978    2:20
05.    "Black Napkins"    The Palladium, December 26, 1976
Bismarck Theater, November 23, 1984 (guitar solo)    5:21
06.    "We're Turning Again"    Mannheimer Rosengarten, May 25, 1988    4:56
07.    "Alien Orifice"    The Palladium, October 31, 1981    4:16
08.    "Catholic Girls"    Tower Theater, February 12, 1988
Auditorium Theatre, March 3, 1988    4:04
09.    "Crew Slut"    Tower Theater, February 12, 1988
Auditorium Theatre, March 3, 1988    5:33
10.    "Tryin' to Grow a Chin"    The Palladium, October 31, 1977    3:33
11.    "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"    The Palladium, October 31, 1978    3:46
12.    "Lisa's Life Story"    Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, December 11, 1981    3:05
13.    "Lonesome Cowboy Nando"    Pauley Pavilion, August 7, 1971
Palasport, June 9, 1988    5:15
14.    "200 Motels Finale"    Pauley Pavilion, August 7, 1971    3:43
15.    "Strictly Genteel"    The Palladium, October 31, 1981    7:07

Personnel:

Frank Zappa – conductor, main performer, guitar, vocals, synthesizer, producer
Mark Volman – vocals
Howard Kaylan – vocals
Lisa Popeil – vocals
Denny Walley – slide guitar, vocals
Ike Willis – guitar, vocals
Adrian Belew – guitar, vocals (tracks 2, 8, 10, 32)
Ray White – guitar, vocals
Warren Cuccurullo – guitar
Steve Vai – guitar
Mike Keneally – guitar, synthesizer, vocals
Bobby Martin – keyboards, vocals
Bob Harris – keyboards, vocals
Peter Wolf – keyboards
Allan Zavod – keyboards
George Duke – keyboards
Tommy Mars – keyboards
Ian Underwood – keyboards, alto saxophone
Lady Bianca – keyboards, vocals on "Wind up Workin' in a Gas Station"
Patrick O'Hearn – bass guitar
Jeff Simmons – bass guitar
Arthur Barrow – bass guitar
Scott Thunes – bass guitar
Tom Fowler – bass guitar
Ralph Humphrey – drums
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
Aynsley Dunbar – drums
Terry Bozzio – drums
Chad Wackerman – drums, electronic percussion
Ed Mann – electric percussion, percussion, backing vocals, marimba
Paul Carman – soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone, vocals
Albert Wing – tenor saxophone
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone on "Black Napkins"
Kurt McGettrick – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet, bass saxophone
Walt Fowler – flugelhorn, synthesizer, trumpet
L. Shankar – violin
Jean-Luc Ponty – violin