Läther Source Codes

[By Zoot <zootorific@aol.com>. First posted on alt.fan.frank-zappa on September 26, 1996, and re-posted on May 27, 1998. Corrected by JWB in January 1999.]

In celebration of the release of Läther, the following document should answer the question of "What's on Läther That Is Not on Anything Else?" [The short answer is that only 6 Läther tracks are precisely the same as other Ryko catalogue tracks.]

The document compares the 1977 Polygram SRZ-4-1500 Läther test pressings (which are the first 26 tracks of Rykodisc RCD10574/76 Läther [1] with the 1995 Ryko compact disc reissue catalogue. This document does NOT compare Läther to any of the intermediate Warner Bros/Barking Pumpkin/EMI/MFN/other releases (although additional differences abound), but focuses solely upon what FZ conceived in 1977 compared to what is presently manufactured and currently available from Ryko.

A Few Other Notes About This Document

  1. The times listed are segment running times and may not match times listed in packaging elements.
  2. The link transcriptions are for reference needed for comparison and may not be completely accurate.
  3. "Duck Duck Goose" is the complete title of one track and is dissected here for comparison only.
  4. Size limitations of newsgroup e-mail may cause some line breaks which are correct in the original document to shift from their proper location. [2]
  5. Läther is, of course, spelled with an umlaut-A, which newsgroup e-mail prevents. [3]
  6. Authoritative comments and corrections are welcomed.

Happy Läther to All!

Cheers,
Zoot

Side One

LINK #1 [0:24]
ee-el-el-ah Father I'm glad you're here...I want you to hear this...
I have a confession to make...
Well, spit it out, son...
ee-el-eel-el-el-ell-leather...
Well, don't be ashamed...
(Line 4 of link, with "ship ahoy" replacing "leather", as later on "Ship Ahoy" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)

REGYPTIAN STRUT [4:12]
Läther basic tracks noticeably remixed with replacement percussion track, brass mixed down, more "jazzy"/less "anthemic" as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.

NAVAL AVIATION IN ART [1:22]
Same track as later, with stereo image reversed, on Ryko RCD10529 ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.

LINK #2 [0:12]
God, that was really beautiful...
ha-uh...
(Same link as later on "Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar Some More" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)

A LITTLE GREEN ROSETTA [0:51]
Unreleased studio version of song later on Ryko RCD10530/31 JOE'S GARAGE CD.

LINK #3 [0:02]
FZ: Whereupon the door closes violently...

DUCK <later SHIP AHOY> [1:57]
Läther contains further edit of the 3:13 to 5:19 portion of track titled "Ship Ahoy" as later on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.

LINK #4 [0:01]
What?...

DUCK <later Läther GOODS> [0:40]
Läther contains the 5:11 to 5:51 portion of track titled "Läther Goods" which remained unreleased subsequent to Läther until appearance as added Bonus Track on Ryko RCD10574/76 Läther CD.

LINK #5 [0:40]
Heh heh heh ye-yes!...
(unintelligible singing to:)....from me...
Pyow!...
Now that you're gone, I miss you so much...
Nice...wheep wheep...
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry?...
oh-ooh-h listen to him go...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Dancing Fool" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. Line 7 of link as later on "We've Got To Get Into Something Real" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)

GOOSE [0:33]
Unreleased subsequent to Läther.

LINK #6 [1:05]
Why don't you take it down to C-sharp, Ernie?...
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry-y-y-y?...
Talk 'em down, Vic...
Come on down, Johnny...
O.K....
ungh...
yeah...
nope...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Rubber Shirt" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. Lines 3 and 4 of link as later on "Soup N Old Clothes" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)

DOWN IN DE DEW [2:57]
Same track as later on 1987 Barking Pumpkin GW002 THE GUITAR WORLD ACCORDING TO FRANK ZAPPA cassette.

LINK #7 [0:04]
Uh-uh-uh-un-ha-ahh!...

FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE [3:11]
Unreleased live recording of song later on Ryko RCD10532 TINSELTOWN REBELLION CD.

LINK #8 [0:01]
FZ: Sick!...

Side Two

LINK #9 [0:22]
Leather!...
ungh...ungh...ungh...
unnh-ooh-oooh...
Leather!...
What?...
Leather!...

TRYIN' TO GROW A CHIN [2:56]
Unreleased live recording of song later on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.

LINK #10 [0:11]
ungh...ungh...ungh...
Whadya say we go down the street for a few minutes?...
No...no go on that...I, uh...
I don't like fag bars...
No...
Well, try 'em...

BROKEN HEARTS ARE FOR ASSHOLES [4:38]
Unreleased live recording of song later, with some different lyrics, on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. The original Läther lyrics, different than the SHEIK YERBOUTI lyrics, are:
[Section after "...and Dagmar was his name"]
- handle-bar johnnys?
HIS WHISKERS STICKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HIS PANCAKE MAKEUP
- alive and living in leather
NEARLY DROVE YOU INSANE
- awlright
SO YOU KISSED A LITTLE SAILOR
- coming up next week at The Grape, something new, something exciting
WHO HAD JUST BLEW IN FROM SPAIN
- get a few of these lovely little sailors to roll the stage back
AND PULL THE CHAIN ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENTLY-ERECTED NIPPLES OF JIMMY
- nice
IN A BOLD SALUTE TO PAIN
- awlright do you remember FiFi Dupree?
YOU SNIFFED THE REEKING BUNS OF ANGEL
- formerly Buddy Love the Baron Of Beef
AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS COCAINE
- and next week a Grape salute to S&M
[Responses in section after "...ram it up yer poop chute"]
cock ring...
leather...knockwurst...
sausage...bockwurst...
scabies...weisswurst...
volume...

LINK #11 [0:03]
Ha-ha...
Yeah...I knew you'd be surprised....
(Same link as later on "Bobby Brown" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)

THE LEGEND OF THE ILLINOIS ENEMA BANDIT [12:28]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

Side Three

LEMME TAKE YOU TO THE BEACH [2:44]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.

LINK #12 [0:02]
(instrumental)

REVISED MUSIC FOR GUITAR AND LOW BUDGET ORCHESTRA [7:36]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.

RDNZL [8:13]
Same track as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.
[Note: Although the 1977 Polygram Läther Test Pressings list the title of this track, correctly, as "RDNZL", the 1978 Warner Bros DSK2291 release lists it, on all formats, as "Redunzl".]

Side Four

LINK #13 [0:08]
It's gone...
What?...
Your talent for sucking...
I never...
(Same link as later on "Heavy Duty Judy" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)

HONEY, DON'T YOU WANT A MAN LIKE ME? [4:14]
Läther contains unedited FZ quote "Fuck you too, buddy. You know what I mean? Fuck you very much." missing from later Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD. [3.5]

LINK #14 [0:38]
What a minute...we gotta get somethin' happenin' here,...
he's in there spendin' thousands of dollars 'n' shit...we should make
this worthwhile....we should, we should get into something real...
ho-ho-leather...
No, man, he's not interested in leather...
Shit, that shit's been fucking rubbed into the ground...hmmm...Christ, that's goin' on two tours old now...
we gotta come up with some new shit...
oh-ho-ho-you don't think so, huh?...
(Lines 1 to 7 of link as later on "Wait A Minute" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. Line 8 of link as later on "Why Johnny Can't Read" on Ryko RCD10533/35 SHUT UP N PLAY YER GUITAR CD.)

THE BLACK PAGE #1 [1:59]
Same track as second half of "The Black Page Drum Solo/The Black Page #1" as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

BIG LEG EMMA [2:12]
Läther basic tracks noticeably remixed with additional reverb, brass mixed down, winds mixed up as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

LINK #15 [0:08]
Whatever happened to all the fun in the world?...
gurh-gurh-gurh-gurhg...
(Line 1 of link as later on "Whatever Happened To All The Fun In The World?" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD.)

PUNKY'S WHIPS [10:45]
Läther contains originally released, and presently unavailable, Warner Bros 2D2290 horn-and-woodwind-dominant version with FZ guitar first appearance at 8:33 and with FZ end comment of "Thank You...Terry Bozzio, Ladies and gentleman..." of track with FZ guitar first appearance at 1:41 of guitar-dominant-throughout version with slightly different lyrics recorded on different night of same series of shows with FZ end comment of "Our birthday boy, Terry Bozzio, sad but true..." as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

Side Five

FLAMBAY [1:46]
Läther contains edited instrumental marimba-and-keyboard-dominant version of 0:00 to 1:33 + 4:43 to 4:54 portions of track substantially remixed and reassembled with lyric-dominant lead vocal, replacement drum track and keyboards mixed way down as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.

LINK #16 [0:18]
There it is...
Bill, look at it...ain't she a beauty...
It's...it's breathtaking...
Sh...sh...she musta cost you a small fortune...whadya pay for it?...
An arm and a leg...Christ, are you kidding?...Shit, I'm in hock up to my godamned eyeballs...

THE PURPLE LAGOON <later THE PURPLE LAGOON/APPROXIMATE> [15:51]
Läther basic tracks noticeably remixed here and there with repositioned horns at 00:00 to 00:20, saxophone not as "defined" with keyboards mixed up and overall "denser" mix at 1:17 to 5:40, percussion mixed up during guitar solo 5:40 to 7:10, percussion and bass mixed up and horns mixed down at 10:20 to 12:55, horns mixed down at 15:22 to 16:13 and with intact unedited original applause at 16:13 to 16:40, and with title "corrected", as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

LINK #17 [0:03]
Tse-heh-heh-heh-heh-ha-ha...

Side Six

PEDRO'S DOWRY [7:41]
Same track as later, with stereo image reversed, on Ryko RCD10529 ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.

LINK #18 [0:05]
Oh God, no, not again...

Läther <later I PROMISE NOT TO COME IN YOUR MOUTH> [3:31]
Same track, retitled, as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

LINK #19 [0:19]
Tsh-nngh-heh-heh...
Ahhhh!...
Ooo-oo-oo-oh, yes!...
What?!
ahhh...smell it...
awwh?...
Oh, hold on...

SPIDER OF DESTINY [2:33]
Läther instrumental guitar-dominant version of track substantially remixed and reassembled with lyric-dominant lead vocal, guitar mixed way down, replacement percussion track and ending "bells" missing at end as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.

LINK #20 [0:10]
Say, uh...you still bowling?...

DUKE OF ORCHESTRAL PRUNES <later DUKE OF PRUNES> [4:20]
Same track, with stereo image reversed and with title "corrected", as later on Ryko RCD10529 ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES CD.

Side Seven

FILTHY HABITS [6:02]
Läther contains edited version of the 0:00 to 4:46 + 6:03 to 7:33 portions of track as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.

LINK #21 [1:11]
Uh...heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh...
Larry's not with us anymore...he went on, y'know...
Yeah...
Yeah, he bit the big one...
ahh-hem...yeah...
Well, he's got his own little piece of heaven now...
Aah, if you'd play something else...
Cause, uh, they're just not gonna stand for it...
(Lines 1 to 6 of link as later on "Whatever Happened to All the Fun in the World?" on Ryko RCD10528 SHEIK YERBOUTI CD. Lines 7 and 8 of link as later on "Easy Meat" on Ryko RCD10532 TINSELTOWN REBELLION CD.)

TITTIES AND BEER [5:20]
Läther contains edited version of the 0:00 to 3:45 + 4:51 to 5:17 + 5:51 to 6:36 portions of track as later on Ryko RCD10524/25 ZAPPA IN NEW YORK CD.

LINK #22 [0:02]
One more time for the world...

THE OCEAN IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION [8:28]
Läther contains the 4:43 to 13:17 portion of track as later on Ryko RCD10527 SLEEP DIRT CD.
[Note: The 1977 Polygram Läther Test Pressings list the title of this track as "One More Time For The World". That title was not used on any released edition of SLEEP DIRT.]

Side Eight

THE ADVENTURES OF GREGGERY PECCARY [20:32]
Läther basic tracks noticeably remixed here and there with multi-track (right + left vs. center) Greggery voice at 0:00 to 0:46, Greggery voice processed as "thought bubble" with music mixed way down at 7:41 to 8:04, 13 seconds of cacophony from 14:17 piano to FZ vocal "What?" edited out, Greggery voice reverb missing and horns mixed up at 15:31 to 15:46 and guitar sting missing at very end as later on Ryko RCD10526 STUDIO TAN CD.

LINK #23 [0:01]
L-le-leather...

In Summation

Unreleased Subsequent to 1977 Polygram SRZ-4-1500 Läther Test Pressings

  • GOOSE [0:33]
  • LINKS #1 lines 1-3+5/#3/#4/#5 lines 2-6/#6 lines 2+5-8/#7/#8/#9/#10/#12/#15 line 2/#16/#17/#18/#19/#20/#22/#23

Unreleased Performances of Songs Later Released

  • A LITTLE GREEN ROSETTA Different recording than RCD10530/31 Joe's Garage
  • FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE Different recording than RCD10532 Tinseltown Rebellion
  • TRYIN' TO GROW A CHIN Different recording than RCD10528 Sheik Yerbouti
  • BROKEN HEARTS ARE FOR ASSHOLES Different recording than RCD10528 Sheik Yerbouti
  • PUNKY'S WHIPS Different recording than RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York

Läther Tracks Substantially Remixed Later

  • FLAMBAY RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
  • SPIDER OF DESTINY RCD10527 Sleep Dirt

Läther Tracks Noticably Remixed Later

  • REGYPTIAN STRUT RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
  • BIG LEG EMMA RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
  • THE PURPLE LAGOON <later THE PURPLE LAGOON/APPROXIMATE> RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
  • THE ADVENTURES OF GREGGERY PECCARY RCD10526 Studio Tan

Läther Has Complete Track Later Edited

  • HONEY, DON'T YOU WANT A MAN LIKE ME? RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York

Läther Has Edits of Tracks Later Restored

  • DUCK [1:57] <later SHIP AHOY> RCD10533/35 Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar
  • DUCK [0:40] <later Läther GOODS> Added Bonus Track On RCD10574/76 Läther
  • FILTHY HABITS RCD10527 Sleep Dirt
  • TITTIES AND BEER RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
  • THE OCEAN IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION RCD10527 Sleep Dirt

Läther Has Original of Track Later with Stereo Image Reversed

  • NAVAL AVIATION IN ART RCD10529 Orchestral Favorites
  • PEDRO'S DOWRY RCD10529 Orchestral Favorites
  • DUKE OR ORCHESTRAL PRUNES <later DUKE OF PRUNES> RCD10529 Orchestral Favorites

Läther Track Same as Later

  • DOWN IN DE DEW GW002 The Guitar World According To Frank Zappa
  • THE LEGEND OF THE ILLINOIS ENEMA BANDIT RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
  • LEMME TAKE YOU TO THE BEACH RCD10526 Studio Tan
  • REVISED MUSIC FOR GUITAR AND LOW BUDGET ORCHESTRA RCD10526 Studio Tan
  • RDNZL RCD10526 Studio Tan
  • THE BLACK PAGE #1 <later THE BLACK PAGE DRUM SOLO/THE BLACK PAGE #1> RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York
  • Läther <later I PROMISE NOT TO COME IN YOUR MOUTH> RCD10524/25 Zappa In New York

* * *

Läther was originally scheduled for release on 31 October 1977 as Zappa Records SRZ-4-1500. It was to have been a 4-LP box set with a suggested list price of $27.92.

[end of original text]

Läther Bonus Tracks

As early as July 20, 1996, Zoot had listened to an advance promo copy and posted a description of it. Here is the part about the bonus tracks:

TRACK 5
00:00 to 00:30 (sound of microphone stand flexing) FZ: "Hey. Awlright. Ladies and gentleman this is Frank Zappa and here comes the Lather album." Voice: "What the hell's going on down there anyway? You kids quit monkeying with that machinery! (unintelligible) the hell on it!" FZ again: "Warner Brothers does not have the rights to this material though it was delivered to them. Y'see this is an eight sided album, y'know, they don't happen very often. I had my nerve didn't I?"
00:30 to 04:42 REGYPTIAN STRUT ('93 REMIX) [Running time 4:12] seems to be the same as the remix on Ryko Sleep Dirt CD reissue. [4]

TRACK 6
00:00 to 00:34 FZ: "Hoopla. This is Frank Zappa as your bogus temporary disc jockey." Voice: "Yeah I left home. I used to sleep in one of those stand up Baldwins."
00:34 to 05:57 LATHER GOODS [Running time 5:23. Previously Unreleased.] is the entire instrumental track from which the Duck Duck Goose segment of the "pile-driver riff" from "Whole Lotta Love" was extracted. This instrumental also includes quotes from "Down In De Dew" and "Dazed And Confused" among others. [5]
05:57 to 06:01 John Smothers: "Sure. You got an upset stomach? I'll give you some Pepto Dismal (sic)"

TRACK 7
00:00 to 02:25 REVENGE OF THE KNICK KNACK PEOPLE [Running time 2:25. Previously Unreleased.] is an instrumental track.

TRACK 8
00:00 to 2:53 TIME IS MONEY [Running time 2:53. Previously Unavailable On CD.] is the original Warner Brothers DSK2292 album instrumental version.
02:53 to 03:01 FZ: "Well there it was. All eight sides of the Läther album. This has been Frank Zappa as temporary bogus disc jockey and, ahh, goodbye."
03:01 to 03:04 Repeat of Lather Side 8 ending guitar sting with the spoken "Läther!"

[end of original text]

Footnotes

1. Zoot posted a separate description of the bonus tracks, which has been added above.

2. This is only corrected to some extent in this HTML version.

3. This HTML version spells Läther throughout for legibility.

3.5. From Román García Albertos:

I have heard the three supposedly different versions of "Honey, Don't You Want a Man Like Me?" (those of the Zappa in New York LP, Zappa in New York CD and Läther), and I can't find any difference between the LP and CD versions, only that stereo is reversed (well, maybe I got some connections wrong in my turntable) and that in the intro four measures are edited out from the CD version (and because of that the vibes entry is so abrupt when Zappa begins to sing). The curious thing is the Läther version. There are parts pretty much faster, but there are other parts that I think they are exactly the same as the Zappa in New York version, so it seems to be a mix of two versions. Just after "the band was tight" (that fast part is full of vibes!) I think it edits to the Zappa in New York version, and after "they discussed the weather" it returns to the other version. Then, after "hockey in the winter," the screams of Bozzio and the others are the same as Zappa in New York, and with "he was duly impressed" it returns to the previous version. Then after "But it made him angry!", once again the Bozzio and O'Hearn screams are taken from the Zappa in New York version and it goes with that version until "in a petulant frenzy!", when it switches to the fast version again until the end. So:

"Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me?" from Läther I think it goes like this:

00:07 not Zappa in New York
00:35 Zappa in New York
01:15 not Zappa in New York
01:43 Zappa in New York
01:48 not Zappa in New York
02:58 Zappa in New York
03:17 not Zappa in New York

4. Spencer Chrislu at the UMRK/zappa.com has confirmed that the tracks are identical, and that it was included on Läther more or less by mistake.

5. "Whole Lotta Love" and "Dazed & Confused" are Led Zeppelin songs.

home - vinyl vs CDs - weirdo discography - bootlegs - misc - hot lynx - e-mail us at zappa dot patio at gmail dot com 2006-04-22 20:02

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