Does Humor Belong in Music?

DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? was digitally recorded live with no overdubs on a 1984 tour. It is not the soundtrack to the video of the same name. Although it has some of the same songs, they are different versions.
Personnel: Frank Zappa, Ray White, Ike Willis (vocals, guitar); Dweezil Zappa (guitar); Bobby Martin (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Alan Zavod (keyboards); Scott Thunes (bass); Chad Wackerman (drums).
Recorded live between October 8 and December 23, 1984.
Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar); Bobby Martin (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Ike Willis (vocals); Allan Zavod (keyboards); Chad Wackerman (drums).
Audio Remixer: Bob Stone.
Recording information: Amherst College, Lowell, MA (10/08/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (10/08/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (10/08/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (10/08/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (10/08/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (10/08/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (10/08/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (10/08/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (10/08/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (10/26/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (10/26/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (10/26/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (10/26/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (10/26/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (10/26/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (10/26/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (10/26/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (10/26/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (10/28/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (10/28/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (10/28/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (10/28/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (10/28/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (10/28/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (10/28/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (10/28/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (10/28/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (11/10/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (11/10/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (11/10/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (11/10/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (11/10/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (11/10/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (11/10/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (11/10/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (11/10/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (11/23/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (11/23/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (11/23/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (11/23/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (11/23/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (11/23/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (11/23/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (11/23/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (11/23/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (12/01/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (12/01/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (12/01/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (12/01/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (12/01/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (12/01/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (12/01/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (12/01/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (12/01/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (12/17/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (12/17/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (12/17/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (12/17/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (12/17/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (12/17/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (12/17/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (12/17/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (12/17/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (12/18/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (12/18/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (12/18/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (12/18/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (12/18/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (12/18/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (12/18/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (12/18/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (12/18/1984); Amherst College, Lowell, MA (12/23/1984); Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (12/23/1984); The Bay Front Arena, St. Petersburg, FL (12/23/1984); The Bismarcktheater, Chicago, IL (12/23/1984); The Civic Center, Providence, RI (12/23/1984); The Odeon Hammersmith, London, England (12/23/1984); The Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA (12/23/1984); The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA (12/23/1984); The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA (12/23/1984).
Editor: Frank Zappa.
Photographer: Diva Zappa.
Arranger: Frank Zappa.
Who better than Frank Zappa to ask the question DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? Recorded on his 1984 world tour, this disc is a wonderful documentation of one of Zappa's best (and smallest) '80s bands. Long-time Zappa guitarist/vocalists Ike Willis and Ray White, keyboardists Alan Zavod and Bobby Martin, bassist Scott Thunes and drummer Chad Wackerman form an incredibly agile ensemble under the strict baton of their leader. Zappa himself turns in many stunning guitar solos in the midst of continuous shenanigans.
Despite the album's title, the proceedings get off to a serious start with "Zoot Allures," one of Zappa's best rock instrumentals. Segueing directly into the classic "Tinsel-Town Rebellion," the humor factor is in full force as the octet masterfully executes Zappa's middle-finger tribute to the recording industry. The group grooves hard on a wonderful rearrangement of "Trouble Every Day" before cracking themselves up on "Penguin In Bondage." After racing through a very comical "Hot Plate Heaven" and other assorted novelties, the grand finale commences with the epic instrumental "Let's Move To Cleveland" followed by Zappa's rendition of the Allman Brothers' "Whippin' Post," powerfully sung by Martin and featuring a young Dweezil Zappa on guitar.