1971 was a banner year for cinema with such all-time classics as The French Connection, A Clockwork Orange, Carnal Knowledge, The Last Picture Show, and Shaft.  The highest-grossing film of the year in North America was United Artists' Fiddler on the Roof.  But Fiddler wasn't the studio's only musical of the year. Mere days before the Broadway adaptation hit cinemas, UA opened one of the most wild, inventive, outré, and unhinged films of the year: 200 Motels.  Written, co-directed, and composed by Frank Zappa, the surreal musical chronicled life on the road with Zappa, The Mothers (including The Turtles' Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman), and a cast of characters including Ringo Starr as a dwarf who dresses like Frank Zappa, Keith Moon as a depraved nun, and Theodore Bikel (ironically, a former and future Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof) as the Master of Ceremonies.  While the filmmaking was innovative - the movie was shot with $650,000.00 in just 10 days on videotape at Pinewood Studios and incorporated surreal special effects and animation - its most enduring aspect remains Zappa's ambitious, majestic, and eclectic score.  The original double-album soundtrack to 200 Motels was first released by United Artists Records in 1971 but remained unreleased on CD until Rykodisc teamed with UA successor MGM in 1997 for its slightly-expanded premiere in the format.

Now, almost 25 years later but in time for the film's 50th anniversary, The Zappa Family Trust, UMe, and MGM are delivering the ultimate 200 Motels experience: a whopping 6-CD box set coming on November 19.  There's nothing slight about this package.  It's loaded with previously unreleased demos, outtakes, work mixes, interviews, movie dialogue, and advertisements.  Working from original analog tape sources, Bernie Grundman has handled the mastering for the original soundtrack while John Polito mastered the vault material.  The collection has been produced by Ahmet Zappa and "Vaultmeister" Joe Travers.

Zappa was joined for 200 Motels by Mark Volman (vocals and special material), Howard Kaylan (vocals and special material), Ian Underwood (keyboards/woodwinds), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), George Duke (keyboards/trombone), Martin Lickert (bass), Jimmy Carl Black (vocals), and Ruth Underwood (orchestra drum set).  The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was on hand to bring Zappa's most expansive compositions to dramatic life.  While the soundtrack album included both offbeat rock songs and rich orchestral works, it didn't strictly correspond to the film.  As the composer explained in the original liner notes, "This music is not in the same order as in the movie. Some of this music is in the movie. Some of this music is not in the movie. Some of the music that's in the movie is not in the album. Some of the music that was written for the movie is not in the movie or the album. All of this music was written for the movie, over a period of 4 years. Most of it (60%) was written in motels while touring."

That original soundtrack album sequence as conceived by Zappa hasn't been altered for its remastered appearance on CDs 1 and 2 of the new set.  Disc 2, however, adds demos and demo outtakes including alternate versions of "Tell Me You Love Me" and "Road Ladies" which would have been familiar from their appearance on Zappa's 1970 LP Chunga's Revenge.  (That album marked his first collaboration with Kaylan and Volman, a.k.a. Flo and Eddie.  Underwood, Duke, and Dunbar all played in the band, as well.)

Discs 3 and 4 offer "Dialog Protection Reels" which add up to an early audio version of the film and its wall-to-wall music, as well as a selection of Bonus Swill such as advertisements, various mixes, and voiceover snippets.  The fifth and sixth CDs add previously unreleased outtakes, more alternate versions, rough mixes, and basic backing tracks, all sequenced to follow Zappa's original shooting script.  (The final shooting script would be altered due to both time and financial constraints.)  These discs promise to present the clearest depiction yet of Zappa's original intentions for the film which he co-directed with Tony Palmer, perhaps best-known for the 17-part rock documentary All You Need Is Love.  The final disc is rounded out with more Bonus Swill (rehearsals, album and movie advertisements, etc.).

Joe Travers discovered a number of quarter-inch reel-to-reel tapes recorded at London's Trident Studios in February 1971 from which he could reconstruct previously unreleased parts of the score.  "They reflect raw performances as they happened before FZ would get a hold of the multi-track masters and bring them to Whitney Studios in Glendale for over-dubs and sweetening," the Vaultmeister explains in the press release.  "The Trident tapes allow us to hear music that did not make the film, or the final soundtrack album. They also helped us to reconstruct pieces of music like 'The Pleated Gazelle' or 'What's The Name of Your Group?' into their full sequences per the score. Over the years, even Frank himself forgot the sheer amount of music that actually did get recorded. All of the archiving for this 50th Anniversary set has produced incredible amounts of content that we would never had known existed otherwise."

Everything is packaged within a 64-page hardcover book in a 12" x 12" slipcase. The album's original booklet is replicated and updated with new liner notes from Pamela Des Barres (seen in the film as an interviewer), Ruth Underwood, and Joe Travers.  Patrick Pending's essay from the 1997 Rykodisc reissue has been reprinted, too.  It's all illustrated with film artwork, stills, and images, many of which are previously unpublished.  The box comes with its share of period swag, too: a 200 Motels keychain, a "Do Not Disturb" motel door hanger, and a full-size replica of the original movie poster.

The remastered 200 Motels soundtrack will also be reissued on vinyl as a double-album set pressed on 180-gram black vinyl (standard release) and red vinyl (exclusive to Zappa.com, uDiscoverMusic.com, or TheSoundofVinyl.com). Both vinyl editions will be pressed by Optimal Media in Germany.  The original soundtrack only will also be released as a 2-CD set, and all formats will include a smaller version of the movie poster. Finally, the entire Super Deluxe Edition will be available digitally for streaming and download.  This will be 200 Motels' digital debut in both standard and high-resolution audio.

Want to preview the cinematic, musical madness that is 200 Motels?  Take a listen to the driving, anarchic "Mystery Roach" from the Dialog Protection Reel on CD 3.  It's now streaming on YouTube, Spotify, and all of the usual services.  This mono recording was created before overdubbing took place at Glendale's Whitney Studios.  You'll find the complete track listing and pre-order links below for 200 Motels' 50th Anniversary Edition, due November 19 from Zappa Records, MGM, and UMe.

Frank Zappa, 200 Motels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - 50th Anniversary Edition (United Artists LP UAS-9956, 1971 - reissued Zappa Records/UMe, 2021)

6CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD (Original Soundtrack Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP Black Vinyl (Original Soundtrack Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
2LP Red Vinyl (Original Soundtrack Only): Zappa.com / UDiscoverMusic.com / TheSoundofVinyl.com

CD 1: Original Soundtrack (Remastered)

1. Semi-Fraudulent / Direct-From-Hollywood Overture
2. Mystery Roach
3. Dance Of The Rock & Roll Interviewers
4. This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue)
5. Tuna Fish Promenade
6. Dance Of The Just Plain Folks
7. This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Reprise)
8. The Sealed Tuna Bolero
9. Lonesome Cowboy Burt
10. Touring Can Make You Crazy
11. Would You Like A Snack?
12. Redneck Eats
13. Centerville
14. She Painted Up Her Face
15. Janet's Big Dance Number
16. Half A Dozen Provocative Squats
17. Mysterioso
18. Shove It Right In
19. Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinist & Postlude
20. I'm Stealing The Towels
21. Dental Hygiene Dilemma
22. Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You?
23. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy
24. Penis Dimension
25. What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning

CD 2: Original Soundtrack (Remastered) (continued)

1. A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes
2. Magic Fingers
3. Motorhead's Midnight Ranch
4. Dew On The Newts We Got
5. The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts
6. The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth
7. The Girl's Dream
8. Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Corduroy Ponce
9. Strictly Genteel (The Finale)

200 MOTELS DEMOS, 2ND MOVEMENT - ROCK MUSIC

10. Road Ladies (Alternate Mix)
11. What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening
12. What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are?
13. Bwana Dik
14. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy
15. Do You Like My New Car?
16. Magic Fingers
17. Phyllis & Aynsley
18. What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Alternate Mix)

200 MOTELS DEMO SESSION OUTTAKES

19. Tell Me You Love Me (Mix Outtake)
20. Road Ladies (Alternate Take)
21. What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening (Studio Outtakes)
22. What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening (Alternate Take, Incomplete)
23. "Aynsley Dunbar, Ladies & Gentlemen"
24. Magic Fingers (Version B, Mix Outtake)
25. What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Mix Outtake)
26. Tell Me You Love Me (Alternate Take)

CD 3: 200 MOTELS - DIALOG PROTECTION REELS

1. Scene 1-2: Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture
2. Scene 3: "What's The Deal?"
3. Mystery Roach
4. Scene 32: "It's A Good Thing We Get Paid To Do This..."
5. Scene 14: What's The Name Of Your Group? I
6. Scene 32: "We Haven't Formed The Group Yet"
7. Scene 15: What's The Name Of Your Group? II
8. Scene 17: "When Do We Get Paid?"
9. Scene 18: Went On The Road
10. Scene 19-20: "Special Delivery"
11. Scene 21: Centerville
12. Scene 21: Janet & Lucy
13. Scene 22: This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich
14. Scene 23-24: Tuna Fish Promenade
15. Scene 28: The Sealed Tuna Bolero
16. Scene 29: Lonesome Cowboy Burt
17. Scene 30: JCB & Rance
18. Scene 21: Larry The Dwarf
19. Scene 81: Magic Fingers
20. Scene 47: Larry The Dwarf In The Hotel Room
21. Scene 33: The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts
22. Scene 40-41: The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth
23. Scene 42: Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Courduroy Ponce
24. Scene 45: A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes
25. Scene 57: The Perverted Nun
26. Scene 87: "Penis!"
27. Scene 58: She Painted Up Her Face
28. Scene 60: Janet's Big Dance Number
29. Scene 61: Half A Dozen Provocative Squats
30. Scene 62: Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinist
31. Scene 63: Shove It Right In
32. Scene 67: "I Am Bwana Dik!"
33. Scene 68-69: What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening
34. Scene 77: Daddy, Daddy, Daddy

CD 4: 200 MOTELS - DIALOG PROTECTION REELS (continued)

1. Scene 90: Biff Debris & Jeff
2. Scene 84-85: Penis Dimension
3. Scene 32: Mystery Roach (Acoustic) / "Yeah? Well Fine!"
4. Scene 71: What Will The Evening Bring Me This Morning
5. Scene 92: Jeff Flips Out / I'm Stealing The Room
6. Scene 100: Strictly Genteel
7. Scene 100: 200 Motels Finale

BONUS SWILL, PART I

8. "I Was Gonna Make A Movie One Time..."
9. 200 Motels Movie Ad #1
10. What's The Name Of Your Group? (FZ Edit)
11. 200 Motels Movie Ad #2
12. FZ on Ringo Starr
13. Ringo Starr on 200 Motels
14. 200 Motels Movie Ad #3
15. Motorhead's Midnight Ranch (Mix Outtake)
16. Looking For Newts
17. "They Are Only In It For The Money"
18. 200 Motels Movie Ad #4
19. 200 Motels Commercial Session Outtakes
20. Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You? (Mix Outtake)
21. "I Shall Ruin All The Tapes"
22. Janet's Big Dance Number (Basic Tracks)
23. Martin Lickert Voice-Over
24. Touring Can Make You Crazy (Mix Outtake)
25. Penis Dimension (Instrumental Alternate Take)
26. Centerville (Mix Outtake)
27. Mystery Roach (Alternate Master)
28. Magic Fingers (Mix Outtake)
29. 200 Motels Movie Ad #5

CD 5: 200 MOTELS - ALTERNATES AND OUTTAKES

1. What Is 200 Motels?
2. Theodore Bikel Voice-Over (Alternate Take)
3. Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture (Mix Outtake)
4. What's The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part I)
5. What's The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part II)
6. What's The Name Of Your Group? (Complete Sequence, Part III)
7. Can I Help You With This Dummy?
8. Pianos For The Pleated Gazelle
9. Synth Tracks I
10. Would You Like A Snack? (Alternate Take)
11. Howard Kaylan/Mark Volman Voice-Over
12. Centerville (Rough Mix)
13. This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (Prologue, Mix Outtake)
14. Tuna Fish Promenade (Mix Outtake)
15. The Sealed Tuna Bolero (Alternate Take)
16. Lonesome Cowboy Burt (Mix Outtake)
17. Naval Aviation In Art?
18. Redneck Eats/The Restaurant Scene (Basic Tracks)
19. Mystery Roach (Basic Tracks)
20. I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle
21. Dew On The Newts We Got (Rough Mix)
22. The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts (Rough Mix)
23. Motorhead's Midnight Ranch (Rough Mix)
24. The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth (Rough Mix, Alternate Ending)
25. The Girl's Dream (Rough Mix)
26. Little Green Scratchy Sweaters And Courduroy Ponce
27. Scene 43: A Cardboard Box
28. Scene 44
29. A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes (Rough Mix)
30. She Painted Up Her Face (Compressed Mix)
31. The Secret Stare
32. Half A Dozen Provocative Squats (Compressed Mix)
33. Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinist (Basic Tracks)
34. Shove It Right In (Compressed Mix)
35. Postlude (Basic Tracks)
36. What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning (Mix Outtake)

CD 6: 200 MOTELS - ALTERNATES AND OUTTAKES

1. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy (Alternate Take)
2. Magic Fingers (Alternate Take)
3. Penis Dimension (Basic Tracks)
4. Scene 86
5. Scene 87 (Alternate Take)
6. Synth Tracks II
7. I'm Stealing The Towels (Basic Tracks, Alternate Take)
8. Scene 94: "He's Always Watching Me"
9. Dental Hygiene Dilemma (Part I, Basic Tracks)
10. Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You? (Mix Outtake)
11. Dental Hygiene Dilemma (Part II, Basic Tracks)
12. Strictly Genteel (Basic Tracks)
13. 200 Motels Finale (Alternate Take)
14. 200 Motels Finale (Basic Tracks, Unedited Ending)

BONUS SWILL, PART II

15. Movie Theater Skit (Commercial Session Outtake)
16. 200 Motels Album Ad #1
17. Script Rehearsal Trim
18. Lonesome Cowboy Burt (In Rehearsal 1969)
19. Lonesome Cowboy Burt (In Rehearsal 1970)
20. 200 Motels Album Ad #2
21. Penis Dimension Jingle Music
22. TV Hype (Commercial Session Outtake)
23. 200 Motels Movie Ad # 6