Just Another Band From L.A. [Original recording remastered] [Live]

From the Label
Released in the wake of FILLMORE EAST, this is the next installment of FZ's adventures with ex-Turtles vocalists Flo & Eddie, and marked the debut of the time-honored catchphrase "Eddie, Are You Kidding?"

Recorded live in the summer of 1971, at Pauley Pavillion, UCLA, this was orginally released in mid- 1972. Along with "Eddie" (about an infamous LA clothing establishment) and "Magdalene," JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM L.A. includes the 24-minute opus "Billy The Mountain," an ambitious mini-opera that took FZ's surrealism to new peaks, so to speak.

Just Another Band From L.A.,Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention,Rykodisc,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Just Another Band From L.A. [Original recording remastered] [Live]

Average customer rating: Great! ...if you are a teenage boy Well done, but still... Not his best, but still very good frank zappa at his best I need the knits, the double knits !

Just Another Band from L.A. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fillmore East: June 1971 Chunga's Revenge Burnt Weeny Sandwich Uncle Meat Waka/Jawaka ASIN: B0000009SD Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

1. Billy The Mountain
2. Call Any Vegetable
3. Eddie, Are You Kidding?
4. Magdalena
5. Dog Breath

Customer Reviews:

Great! ...if you are a teenage boy.......2007-07-26

I love Zappa's music and have many, many CDs from different eras. My first Zappa purchase was in 1972, Weasles Ripped My Flesh. I even saw the Roxy lineup live in March 1974. I do not own any of the Flo and Eddie material anymore. It might have been funny when I was 16 but not so much now that I'm 51. Really now, it's pretty disgusting dialog throughout. There just isn't THAT much emphasis on the music, which is sort of shocking in light of the body of Zappa's work. so, if you are a 16 year old boy who has not heard this or Live at the Fillmore East 1971, buy 'em. Otherwise, I say skip 'em.

Well done, but still..........2007-03-07

One thing that seems to permeate most of the records made under the name "The Mothers" is a sloppiness mixed with real virtuosity. Every line-up FZ had, Mothers and otherwise, were made up of some of the best players you'll find anywhere, but all the Mothers' records had a certain something, lacking elsewhere.

Looking at this as a time-piece, it becomes a better record, because there are many references to the Los Angeles area in the early 1970's, and unless you know this, it is just a jumble of obscure, arcane references that make very little sense. A lot of younger listeners may not have seen the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was host, but the main Tonight Show motif is played many times throughout the twenty something minute "Billy The Mountain," and so forth ("...let me write this down, sort of take a few notes here; 'Daa-da-da daa-daahh...'"). I get the way they do some things that can be annoying, like refering to a narcotics crack-down, and as Jim Pons names city after city, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman make these screechy noises with their voices, it's just grating on the ears. It makes dogs in the room act funny, but as anti-drug as Zappa was, he has said it should be treated as a health problem, not a police battle. So, to see the police waste time, effort, and money chasing down drug users instead of going after real criminals, this is as annoying as the noise "Flo and Eddie" made in the reference. There are so many layers to Zappa and The Mothers' work, it would be pointless to get into all them here.

The second half of the program starts off with a revamped "Call Any Vegetable," in some ways better than the original, in some ways, not as good, but my own personal favorite cut on the disc. This is an ideal performance of this type. It's broken down into a bunch of mini-songs linked together, with a vamp toward the end, a vehicle for Volman and Kaylan, "Flo & Eddie" to some, to goof, and make the audience laugh. So off-the-wall, but so funny, as with most of what they do. This cuts into "Eddie, Are You Kidding?," another song geared to the southern California area, so many outsiders just won't get what's going on in this number, incidentally, the only radio-friendly track included; I actually heard it on the radio one night, it surprised me.

"Magdalena," oh, my. What can I say? A little concentrated listening will show it doesn't glorify the behavior depicted here, but unless you don't know this, you'll feel dirty upon listening. It is a depiction of seedy, abhorrent behavior, and if anything brings this performance down, it's the prolonged monologue at the end, but seeing it as a dramatic reading, knowing it's just portrayal, helps. If you want good taste, look elsewhere. This cuts into "Dog Breath(don't you just love his titles?)," a relic from "Uncle Meat." Don't even try to compare the two versions, it's apples and oranges. One is an Avant Garge experiment in sound, and the other is raw, outdoor rock, circa 1971. It bends your ear, unless you appreciate, or are in the mood for this stuff.

Many people don't like this record, but it is what was going on back then. But, Zappa had moved on to other things at the time of "L.A.'s" release (1972). The cartoon drawing on the front has Zappa's foot with a cast on it, an obvious reference to the injuries sustained in the attack he suffered at the Rainbow Theatre in London the previous December, causing the band to break up. This phase of the band was plagued with problems. Jeff Simmons quits the band right before "200 Motels" is to begin shooting, the replacement quits, the replacement's replacement moves on to other things, Jim Pons from The Turtles rejoins Flo and Eddie in the ranks of The Mothers, Don Preston returns, and all the band's equipment is destroyed in a fire which leveled the venue they were playing that particular night; they play the next gig, trying to sort out all the problems that go with new equipment, and some idiot throws Frank Zappa into the orchestra pit, nearly killing him. Maybe it's good this line-up broke up. It was seemingly cursed from the beginning.

Not his best, but still very good.......2007-01-06

"Just Another Band" is certainly not Zappa'a best work, but it's still very entertaining. It's the first FZ album I ever owned (back in 1972), so I have a soft spot for this one. Some fans can't stand the vocal antics of Flo & Eddie, but I think they're very funny. This version of the Mothers is not a bunch of virtuosos like FZ's later bands, but they get the job done. "Billy the Mountain" is 25 minutes of hysterically funny insanity. For those who don't know, "Eddie, Are You Kidding?" parodies an L.A. clothing store commercial. Even if you don't know the commercial (and I don't), the song is pretty funny. "Magdalena" is another twistedly funny song that I love. And the finale, "Dog Breath", kicks butt. All in all, it's a fun ride.

frank zappa at his best.......2006-10-14

from start to finish this cd is amazing. i love the short lived Flo and Eddie period. to me, thats some of his best music. great vocals, great music. worth it for the version of Call any Vegtable alone.

I need the knits, the double knits !.......2006-05-25

Its hard for me to believe that Flo and Eddie only recorded 3 albums with Zappa - - in part because as a person who's seen 200 Motels a million or so times, to me they're two ever enduring faces that I associate with The Mothers of that period. That said, I think this album is interesting because any time an event marks the end of an era in Zappa lore, you know something else is brewing around the corner, though its difficult to tell exactly what to expect. (Zappa was one of those artists who just never quite seemed to run out of creative steam, and seemed to enjoy fusing any type of music you'd think someone would tell him not too - - say music concrete, Reggae and the music of Spike Jones.)
...I say all this because this recording marks a transition to come and in some ways it *can* be seen, though only with hindesight and a good magnifying glass. - - This is an era in which the unbridled creative conceptualism of the underground Mothers is begining to tighten up and transform towards what would become Zappa's more polished Jazz/Rock endeavors in years to come. I like this album because the raw political rebelliousness, in your face surrealism and psychadelic rock influences alongside a really tight and punchy sounding line up. Sadly, I imagine that few of us today can truly appreciate the greatness of this album though - - first, you have the quintessential 1960's teenie bopper bubble gum pop band singing with FRANK ZAPPA - - The good boys with Haight Asbury's implant Italian Satan himself, and not only that, making fun of not only themselves, but the thing America holds sacred (a TV commercial) and also telling a tripped out story about a mountain (who happens to be a communist) taking a trip across America and wreaking all sorts of havoc as well as a story about an incestious Canadian - - and not only do they pull it off quite well, but they sing every bit like the legendary studio vocalists they were, and doing it so naturally you realize that even though they were the people Frank Zappa was actually once told by labels he should mold his sound after years later, *THEY* in the end were down with *him* ! - - In retrospect, you listen, and by the time its over forget that these guys were THE TURTLES ! ! !

All this said, lyrically, musically and Frank Zappically this is one of my favorite albums of his - - via the tail end of the "psychadelic Frank" era... and to boot, not only is the comedy and off beat musical conceptualism there, some of the tunes ARE damn toe toe tappable too ! For this reason, I'd also recommend this album for Zappa newbies as well and anyone in the world who hasn't been too dumnified by most the music out today to appreciate an artist with not only a deep cultural understand of the music he parodied, but a musical vision of his own! Viva la Frank !

Average customer rating: Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material! Beginner or Expert Very Informative and Enjoyable Frank's view Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4 The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD) What to Listen for in Music Study of Orchestration, Third Edition ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
11. Mahler's Sleighbells
12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
30. Nocturnes
31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
35. The Oboe As Duck
36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Average customer rating: Great CD 10 Years before "La Bamba" Incredible guitar work Musico Mexicano con SOUL!! In The Beginning There Was This Little Band From East L.A...

Del Este de Los Angeles (Just Another Band from East L.A.) Los Lobos Manufacturer: Fontana Mammoth ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: La Pistola y El Corazon Kiko Wolf Tracks: The Best of Los Lobos By the Light of the Moon Just Another Band from East L.A.: A Collection ASIN: B00004XQXD Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. El Canelo (Son Jarocho)
2. El Pescado Nadador (Ranchera)
3. Sabor A Mi (Bolero)
4. Flor De Huevo (Son Locos)
5. Cielito Lindo (Cancion Mexicana)
6. La Iguana (Son Jarocho)
7. El Cuchipe (Cancion Boliviana)
8. Imploracion (Bolero Ranchero)
9. Guantanamera (Guajira)
10. La Feria De Las Flores (Ranchera)
11. Maria Chuchena (Son Jarocho)
12. El Bon Bon De Elena (Plena)

Amazon.com

Long before they became American rock legends and Grammy favorites, Los Lobos (or rather Los Lobos del Este de Los Angeles--the Wolves of East Los Angeles--as they were then known) turned a faithful musical tutelage by their parents' Mexican folk music records into a steady stream of gigs at parties, weddings, and what was then a career plateau--a regular engagement at a Mexican restaurant. They also invested in this long out-of-print 1978 independent recording of the best of their all-acoustic traditional Mexican repertoire of that time. Perhaps prophetic of the fusion to come, they named themselves after a popular Tex-Mex group, Los Lobos del Norte, but titled the LP in a good-natured nod to Frank Zappa. Though light years from the experimentation of Kiko and Colossal Head, this collection nonetheless exudes a dedication, soul, and sheer musicality that will be instantly familiar to Lobos admirers. Especially in tackling chestnuts such as "Cielito Lindo" (here quickly segueing from typically sloppy party favorite into a fresh, intricate arrangement in a heartbeat) and "Guantanamera" (in a traditional, rhythmically compelling guajira), the Lobos can't resist some loving musical tweaking. More than just the roots of a modern legend, this is truly music from the heart. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-01-14

My students sing along to this CD as they do art projects. Great versions of Cielito Lindo and others. I love this CD.

10 Years before "La Bamba".......2006-12-30

In 1987 Los Lobos became worldwide known thanks to the title song
of the movie "la Bamba" inspired in the life of the first hispanic
Rock & Roll star Ritchie Valens who had a big hit with it in 1958/59.
It was Ritchie's idea to record a typical Mexican folk song from Veracruz
and launch it on the market against the will of everybody. It would
become one of the most popular songs ever and recorded by hundreds of
different artists in the past fifty years. Los Lobos' version made it to
number 1 for 3 consecutive weeks. Ten years earlier these guys recorded
a number of traditional Mexican songs like La Bamba called "Just another band
from East L.A." whose original tapes have been recuperated in 2000.
What a treasure! Beautiful songs from ranchera to bolero and from
jarocho to a traditional Bolivian and Cuban song. An incredible band
still making great music today as Los Lobos or taking part in projects or groups
like the wonderful Los Super Seven.

Incredible guitar work .......2004-10-22

This album consists of all tradional-style songs, which were recorded before the band's rise to fame. Songs showcase the incredible talent of Los Lobos, making what is kinda cheesy music sound really cool. I also recomend "This Time", a little more garage rock influenced, but also with some folk-songs on it.

Musico Mexicano con SOUL!!.......2003-01-05

Without a doubt this collection of Los Lobos
songs are fabulous. I have given this CD to family and friends
and their reaction was the same as mine.
If you grew up in or near a Mexican neighborhood this
music will touch your soul!!!

In The Beginning There Was This Little Band From East L.A..........2002-07-04

This is a must have for not only Los Lobos fans but those somewhat interested in their music. This album contains truly classic Mexican traditional songs that I used to hear as a child at family gatherings and continue to hear to this day with much pride and honor ! The guitar/acoustical arrangements are truly flawless and crisp. The rhythms are highly infectious and the melodies will stay with the listener long after the fiesta is over or the cd player stops ! Sabor A Mi is a timeless romantic bolero interpreted over the decades by other Latino artists (Trio Los Panchos come to mind). Here The Lobos do the song much justice with their perfect rendition. Guitars never sounded so awesome ! Yes, the Spanish language is beautiful (even if some listeners don't understand it). It's the music and harmonic vocals tht should captivate (and do) regardless of any language...

Average customer rating: All Around Musicians Not Just Another Band READ THIS Good Stuff, but...... make it a priority purchase

Just Another Band from East L.A.: A Collection Los Lobos Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Del Este de Los Angeles (Just Another Band from East L.A.) How Will the Wolf Survive? La Pistola y El Corazon Kiko Good Morning Aztlán [Limited Edition] ASIN: B000002MLY Release Date: 1993-08-31

Tracks:

1. Volver, Volver
2. El Cuchipe
3. La Feria De La Flores
4. Sabor A Mi
5. Let's Say Goodnight
6. Anselma
7. Will The Wolf Survive?
8. A Matter Of Time
9. I Got To Let You Know
10. Don't Worry Baby
11. One Time One Night
12. Shakin' Shakin' Shakes
13. River Of Fools
14. Carabina .30-30
15. Tears Of God
16. Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)
17. Come On, Let's Go
18. La Bamba
19. El Gusto
20. Estoy Sentado Aqui
21. La Pistola Y El Corazon
22. I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)

Tracks:

1. Someday
2. Down On The Riverbed
3. Be Still
4. The Neighborhood
5. I Can't Understand
6. Angel Dance
7. Bertha
8. Saint Behind The Glass
9. Angels With Dirty Faces
10. Wicked Rain
11. Kiko And The Lavender Moon
12. When The Circus Comes
13. Peace
14. Bella Maria De Mi Alma
15. What's Going On
16. Wrong Man Theme
17. Blue Moonlight
18. Politician
19. New Zandu

Amazon.com

Even the title of this terrific two-disc compilation--a play on the title of an early-'70s recording by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention--displays just how clever and hip this great L.A. band has always been. Just Another Band is everything an anthology should be, touching on all the best-known moments ("Don't Worry Baby," "Will the Wolf Survive?," "One Time One Night," "La Bamba," etc.), spanning their career from its origins through Kiko (six tracks from which are featured here), arguably their finest hour. Musically, you get hard R&B, Tex-Mex, pure traditional Mexican music, pop-rock, gorgeous ballads, and pure, raucous rock & roll. Actually, pure is the operative word here--and fans who already own all the albums proper will probably still want this for the soundtrack cuts, live versions (including a performance of their great "Let's Say Goodnight"), unreleased outtakes, cool live cover versions (from both Marvin Gaye and Cream!), and even their terrific "I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)," originally performed by Louis Prima in The Jungle Book, from the late-1980s, Hal Wilner-produced Disney tribute, Stay Awake. How will the wolves survive? Damn well, from every indication on this fine collection. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

All Around Musicians.......2007-06-08

You don't have to be Hispanic to enjoy the incredible talent of Los Lobos. This CD is actually a replacement for the old one I wore out. This band can play virtually any kind of music but they have a way of weaving traditional Mexican Ranch music into their rock. The richness of the music is great to listen to when traveling or even working around the house. I highly recommend this CD.

Not Just Another Band.......2007-04-19

Few bands have been able to put together a body of work of the quality of Los Lobos. Only Steely Dan and Little Feat come readily to mind; I'm talking "roots" music here. Far fewer bands have been able to put together a retrospective album as good as this one. I own all of Los Lobos' albums so one would think that this collection would have limited value; not so. Not only does this album bring together the very best of their album tracks, it also includes many superb live cuts and other rare gems. In addition, there is a fantastic booklet. Whoever put this retrospective together must be congratulated as it is a model for other bands/record companies to follow.

Los Lobos are a band that has evolved considerably over the years but have always presented an original, superb and interesting product. Some of their material may be an acquired taste; their groove-based and traditional mexican material occupy the extremes of a very wide musical spectrum and the listener needs to have liberal and wide-ranging tastes, however the quality of everything they do is of the highest order. If you are a Los Lobos fan get this album, if you are a neophyte also get it and if you want to find out what the fuss is all about, get it. This is great music by one of America's finest roots music bands.

READ THIS.......2006-01-25

I tend to get defensive on reviews. One person did not like this album and it still bothered me. Why? Because I've never bought a disc like this; I've never gotten so much "use" out of a two CD set; I've never been so moved by the songs on disc 2 or jazzed off of the Richie Valens/Jungle Books rock on disc 1; never fought my mom for possesion of a cd :); never cruised down downtown podunk Ohio or latino Washington DC listening to LA-Mexi Bar Mitzvah / Mariachi music on disc 1.
Lemme tell you, I believe Los Lobos are the most underrated band ever... They are ignored. DON'T IGNORE THEM!!!
Also, I have not explored all their albums; in fact, after LIve at Fillmore this was the first one I went for (with my allowance money from Barnes and Noble). Pero mira, I'll do a comparison: East LA rock is to Nirvana as Miles Davis is to Glenn Miller. So we go on to the CDs themselves-- BARGAIN.. sorry..
We start off with Mexicano Bar Mitvah Rock (Ranchera with soul) ... I feel so chill cruising down the Salvadoreno neighborhoods in DC listening to the first half or so of disc one. And I dig it when I'm at home also drinking Tecate and thanking God I ain't listening to 99.5 the WOLF!!! Whatever. Disc one gets crazy at the end vato.. Why? Los Lobos has done the quality music for a number of movies from Robert Rodriguez to Disney and come on now, here we go: we have the Richie Valens classics and finally los huevos para recordar "I Wanna Be Like You" from the Jungle Book!
I love belting out Louie Prima's classic with creative but refined beats behind it. Get drunk and play it. Latin dancing will never be the same. Disc two is a different story. The disc is filled with different genres I suppose but we have this underlying soul, this Mexican blues that I've never heard anywhere else. There are few masters of blues and they tend to fall into the same category. Mexican blues just works- part of the macabre culture maybe.. I don't know. I just get chills when I hear my favorite song lead up to the sincere cry "I'M TOO WEAK TO LIVE.... (uh uh) BUT TOO STRONG TO DIE." Take these vatos seriously if you can dig that stuff.
In conclusion (just like high school baby)- this is a CD that I cannot remove -- and domestic violence almost occurred when my mom snagged disc two. I would just buy the disc honestly... what?? pay a few bucks more - 5 or so DOLARES - and get one of the best ever than waste your money. I'd love to hear opinions and gettum up on this board.
GE

Good Stuff, but.............2005-07-31

My knowledge about Los Lobos was pretty limited when I bought this. I like the CD but I don't find the R&B, rockin' tunes as compelling as the Mexican music. Those tracks are why I give this compilation 4 stars.

make it a priority purchase.......2005-04-12

if you have never heard this band, you should be pitied, because you don't know what you are missing. One of the best bands to ever grace the contemporary rock scene in the past couple of decades, The Wolves make music that is oriented to blues, electric guitar rock, country, gospel, and many other musical styles mixed together in a way that is truly their own. The band are truly musicians musicians, and should be listened to by everyone because their albums show a lot of consistency over the years, with many high points.

All of the big high points are shown on here, with all of the best from How Will the Wolf Survive? Kiko, The Neighborhood, and other cds. A casual fan who has only heard "La Bamba" (which is included) may not appreciate such a huge amount of material, all of which makes a fairly expensive package. But I say that making a one disc set would do the band a disservice, when they have so much to offer. All of the best songs from the best cds are here; there are no glaring omissions of any kind. For music this good, the cost is worth it. Save up your bucks and go get it now. Also, get Kiko and Good Morning Aztlan. Don't bother with the new live album or cover albums.
Have fun listening!

Average customer rating: Is that a Sears poncho? Call any Vegetable!

Just Another Band from L.A. Frank Zappa & the Mothers Manufacturer: Rykodisc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fillmore East: June 1971 ASIN: B00000E7MW Release Date: 1990-05-14

Tracks:

1. Billy the Mountain
2. Call Any Vegetable
3. Eddie, Are You Kidding?
4. Magdalena
5. Dog Breath

Customer Reviews:

Is that a Sears poncho?.......2006-08-13

Dated? No way. The issues are timeless, as Frank's music can attest. Polyester double knits always have been and always will be cheesy and therefore subject to ridicule, however there will never be anyone as talented and as funny as Frank to mock them.
American white trash will continue to pervade society and it's really a shame that there is no one else around who can come close to disparaging them as well as Frank did.
The essential message here is one that all can relate to-
"And I wanna tell ya, if there is anybody here who doesn't believe that it is F*CKING GREAT to be alive, I wish they would go now, because this show will bring them down so much . . ."

Call any Vegetable!.......2003-12-23

I can't believe that nobody has written a review of this albumn! This little performance gem features the comedy / vocal stylings of Flo and Eddie (a.k.a. the Turtles). The music is funny and the lyrics are tasteless. Billy The Mountain is a rolicking opus about (you guessed it)....a mountain that decides to go on vacation with his wife Ethel (a tree). The story evolves into an anti-war protest. Bizarre? Yes. Funny? Definitely. Call any Vegetable, Eddie are you Kidding and Magdalena round out the evening. The comedy is dated now, but still funny as hell.

Average customer rating: Not the best effort....

Just Another Band from L.A. Frank Zappa & the Mothers Manufacturer: Vido Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tinsel Town Rebellion Waka/Jawaka Man From Utopia (Ltd Lp Ed) ASIN: B00005MIJ5 Release Date: 2002-04-25

Tracks:

1. Billy The Mountain
2. Call Any Vegetable
3. Eddie, Are You Kidding?
4. Magdalena
5. Dog Breath

Album Description

Japanese exclusive reissue of 1972 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Limited LP Style Slipcase Cover. Strictly Limited to 2000 Copies!

Customer Reviews:

Not the best effort...........2006-08-10

This album is another live shot, a la "Live at the Fillmore" with the same basic lineup. Billy the Mountain is fully half of the album, and it isn't that great. Most of the music seems to be thrown together to support a comedy shtick that isn't that funny.

I like Zappa and LOVE Flo & Eddie,but this doesn't do much to showcase either one. I wouldn't make this a priority on your shopping list.

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