Does Humor Belong in Music? (album)

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Does Humor Belong in Music?
Frank Zappa, Does Humor Belong In Music.jpg
Live album by
ReleasedJanuary 27, 1986
RecordedOctober 8 – December 23, 1984
Genre
Length61:41
Label EMI
Producer Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa chronology
Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
(1985)
Does Humor Belong in Music?
(1986)
The Old Masters Box II
(1986)
Alternative cover
Does Humor Belong in Music.jpg
Cover for the 1995 reissue, by Cal Schenkel.
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Does Humor Belong in Music? is a live album by Frank Zappa.

Contents

Releases

The album features concert recordings from October–December 1984. It was the first album by Zappa to be released on CD only (although it was bootlegged on vinyl for listeners who did not own CD players). [2] In 1995, it was reissued by Rykodisc in an extremely remixed form, with significantly improved dynamic range and new artwork. The 1995 edition includes an extra minute of percussion effects during "Let's Move to Cleveland" that had been excised from the EMI edition. In 2012 the (remixed) album was reissued as a part the Zappa Reissue Program. It was a part of "The 4th set of 12" released on October 30, 2012 and featured the original artwork without the white stain in the bottom left.

A home video (later reissued on DVD) of the same name was released. "Zoot Allures", "Tinsel Town Rebellion", "Trouble Every Day" and "Whipping Post" appear on both, but are different performances. Fragments of "Hot-Plate Heaven" also appear in the video (with only the verses of the song left intact). The cover art of the original CD release and video release, however, are the same.

Track listing

All tracks by Frank Zappa except as noted.

No.TitleRecording venue(s) and date(s)Length
1."Zoot Allures" Hammersmith Odeon, September 25, 1984
Providence Civic Center, October 26, 1984 (guitar solo)
5:26
2."Tinsel-Town Rebellion" Bismarck Theater, November 23, 1984
Queen Elizabeth Theater, December 18, 1984 (ending)
4:44
3."Trouble Every Day" Bayfront Center Arena, December 1, 1984
Hammersmith Odeon, September 25, 1984 (solo)
5:31
4."Penguin in Bondage"Bayfront Center Arena, December 1, 1984
Queen Elizabeth Theater, December 18, 1984 (solo)
6:45
5."Hot-Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel"Queen Elizabeth Theater, December 18, 19846:43
6."What's New in Baltimore" Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 1984
Tower Theater, November 10, 1984
4:48
7."Cock-Suckers' Ball" (Traditional, arranged by Frank Zappa)Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 19841:05
8."WPLJ" (Ray Dobard)Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 19841:31
9."Let's Move to Cleveland"Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 1984 (Intro and out-chorus)
Bayfront Center Arena, December 1, 1984 (Piano solo)
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, December 18, 1984 (Drum solo)
Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, October 28, 1984 (Guitar solo)
15:43
10."Whipping Post" (Gregg Allman)Universal Amphitheater, December 23, 19848:23

Personnel

Production

Notes

  1. Couture, F. (2011). "Does Humor Belong in Music? - Frank Zappa | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  2. Info for Does Humor Belong in Music? at the Zappa Patio