Bongo Fury

Infobox Album
Name = Bongo Fury
Type = live
Longtype = with studio elements
Artist = Zappa/Beefheart/Mothers


Released = October 2, 1975
Recorded = January 1974 (studio); May 20 - 21, 1975 (live)
Genre = Hard rock, progressive rock, proto-punk, blues-rock
Length = 38:55
Label = DiscReet Records
Producer = Frank Zappa
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:e7fe4j370wai~T1 link]
*Robert Christgau (B) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=4155 link]
*"Rolling Stone" (unfavorable) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/frankzappa/albums/album/225957/review/5941193/bongo_fury link]
Chronology = Frank Zappa
Last album = "One Size Fits All"
(1975)
This album = "Bongo Fury"
(1975)
Next album = "Zoot Allures"
(1976)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Captain Beefheart
Type = live
Last album = "Bluejeans & Moonbeams"
(1974)
This album = "Bongo Fury"
(1975)
Next album = "Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)"
(1978)

"Bongo Fury" is a mostly live album released by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart in 1975. The live portions were recorded in May 1975 at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Studio tracks were recorded in January 1974 (during the sessions which produced "One Size Fits All" and much of "Studio Tan)".

The album is a notable entry in his discography. It was the last to feature a majority of Zappa's early '70s band, which had been used extensively on prior albums such as "Apostrophe (')" and "Roxy & Elsewhere". As such, Napoleon Murphy Brock's vocals are featured both on the sprawling "Advance Romance" as well as on the three-part harmonies of "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy". Captain Beefheart, in likely his only tour with Zappa's band, delivers vocals on several tracks, including his two short prose readings "Sam With the Showing Scalp Flat Top" and"Man With the Woman Head." "Bongo Fury" also marks the first appearance of Terry Bozzio, who would become Zappa's featured drummer up through 1978.

Track listing

All tracks performed by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.All tracks composed by Zappa, except tracks 3 & 8 composed by Van Vliet.

ide one

# "Debra Kadabra" (live) – 3:54
# "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy" (live) – 5:59
# "Sam With the Showing Scalp Flat Top" (live) – 2:51
# "Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead" (live) – 3:03
# "200 Years Old" – 4:32

ide two

# "Cucamonga" – 2:24
# "Advance Romance" (live) – 11:17
# "Man With the Woman Head" (live) – 1:28
# "Muffin Man" (live) – 5:34

Personnel

* Terry Bozzio – drums
* Michael Braunstein – engineer
* Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone, vocals
* Captain Beefheart – vocals, harmonica
* George Duke – keyboards, vocals
* Bruce Fowler – trombone, dancer
* Tom Fowler – bass, dancer
* Frank Hubach – engineer
* Kelly Kotera – engineer
* Kerry McNabb – engineer
* Davey Moire – engineer
* Cal Schenkel – design
* Bob Stone – engineer
* Mike Stone – engineer
* Chester Thompson – drums
* Denny Walley – vocals, slide guitar
* John Williams – photography, cover photo
* Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar

Charts

Album - "Billboard" (North America)

References