Earlier this year, Zappa Records and UME released Zappa/Erie, a 6-CD box documenting Frank Zappa and The Mothers' shows in the Erie, Pennsylvania area circa 1974-1976.  An upcoming release due October 14 is a bit slimmer - just two CDs - but no less interesting as it chronicles Zappa and the band's visit to an even more far-flung locale in the fall of 1975.  Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana captures The Mothers' first and only concerts in Yugoslavia.  He referred to the dates as "The Mothers of Invention Yugoslavian Extravaganza," and the performances lived up to that mighty moniker.  The shows were staged in Zagreb and Ljubljana, now the capital cities of Croatia and Slovenia, respectively.  He was joined by the short-lived line-up of Andre Lewis (keyboards), Napoleon Murphy Brock (tenor sax and lead vocals), Norma Bell (alto sax, vocals), Roy Estrada (bass), and Terry Bozzio (drums).  Note that this trimmed-down and unique roster lacked any brass and woodwind players to further beef up the muscular sound. (Horn-fueled performances can be heard on the early Zappa/Erie shows.)

When Zappa's fall tour brought him behind the Iron Curtain to Yugoslavia, he was capping off another busy and creative year.  His tenth studio LP, One Size Fits All, reached stores in June, only to be quickly followed by October's Captain Beefheart collaboration, Bongo Fury.  Thankfully in the midst of all this activity, he had the foresight to record the Yugoslavian shows to half-inch multitrack tape.  (It remains a mystery as to why the shows were recorded to half-inch eight-tracks rather than to half-inch four-tracks as was his typical custom.)   Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana has culled the best performances from the concerts to create one composite setlist in the precise order of the original setlist played by Zappa and The Mothers.  Its 27 previously unreleased tracks yield more than 2-1/2 hours of music.  As the Ljubljana performance of "Black Napkins" was included on 1996's Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute, the version heard here is from Zagreb.

In Yugoslavia, Zappa served up an eclectic setlist drawing on his back catalogue of jazz fusion, searing rock, sharp satire, and raunchy mirth.  He led the Mothers through many of the tracks from the current Bongo Fury ("Advance Romance," "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy," "Muffin Man") while dipping far back into the Mothers' sixties catalogue with a number of selections from Freak Out! and We're Only In It for the Money.  The title track to "Chunga's Revenge" (1970) was part of the set, and recent albums were also touched upon, including Over-Nite Sensation (1973), Apostrophe (') (1974), and One Size Fits All.  Future albums, too, would be previewed, such as Sleep Dirt ("Filthy Habits"), Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar ("Five-Five-Five"), Zappa in New York ("The Illinois Enema Bandit"), and Zoot Allures ("Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station," "Black Napkins," and the title track).

Audio for Zappa '75 has been mixed by Craig Parker Adams and mastered by John Polito.  One track, "San Ber'dino" (recorded in Ljubljana), has been sourced from Zappa's Nagra tape recording as it wasn't present on the multitracks.  The 2-CD set includes a 32-page booklet with photos by John Rudiak and the late Gail Zappa as well as liner notes from "Vaultmeister" Joe Travers, recollections from Terry Bozzio, and an interview between Travers and the recording engineer who captured the shows, Davy Moire.  While the album will be available everywhere, uDiscover is offering a limited bundle also including three photo prints by Gail Zappa and John Rudiak.

Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana arrives on October 14.  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.  Amazon links aren't yet active but we will add them once they are.

Frank Zappa. Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana (Zappa Records/UMe, 2022) (Zappa Official Store / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. "Managua" (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
2. Stink-Foot (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
3. The Poodle Lecture (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
4. Dirty Love (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
5. How Could I Be Such A Fool (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
6. I Ain't Got No Heart (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
7. I'm Not Satisfied (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
8. Black Napkins (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
9. Advance Romance (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
10. Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me? (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
11. The Illinois Enema Bandit (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
12. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
13. Lonely Little Girl (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
14. Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
15. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
16. Chunga's Revenge (Part I) (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)

CD 2

1. Chunga's Revenge (Part II) (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
2. Terry's Zagreb Solo (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
3. Zoot Allures (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
4. Filthy Habits (Prototype) (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
5. Camarillo Brillo (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
6. Muffin Man (Live in Zagreb, November 21, 1975)
7. I'm The Slime (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
8. San Ber'dino (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)

Bonus Tracks

9. Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station (Prototype) (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
10. Terry's Ljubljana Solo (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)
11. Zoot Allures (Live in Ljubljana, November 22, 1975)