Jazz from Hell
Ostensibly "remixed" in 1990, for the Zappa Records CDZAP 32 release, and the 1995 CD should have the same remix, but few talk about it. Closer listening has revealed few differences. ("Jazz from Hell" is not 20 seconds shorter on the original CDs, it's just the printed track time that is wrong.)
What We Need: Closure, pure and simple. Are there any differences? Does anybody actually own every version of this album?
ESSENTIAL VERSIONS FOR COMPLETISTS: Depends - on how obsessive you are. Any version will do, unless you're real obsessive and want one 1980s and one 1990s version. Read the whole page for details. (The 1995 CD is a remaster.) [completist's guide]
Issues
- Vinyl (Barking Pumpkin ST 74205 in the US, November or January (!) 15 1986; Capitol ST-6553 in Canada; EMI EMC 064 24 0673 1 (?) in the UK; EMI 3521 in Europe; PM 264 24 0673 in France - 1986)
- Dutch vinyl (EMI 2406731)
- Israeli vinyl (Pumpko (?!) EMC 3521, a little Hebrew print on the back cover)
- Brazilian vinyl (EMI 31C 064 240673)
- Argentine vinyl (EMI 58980, with black & white cover)
- Australian promo vinyl (EMI EMC 240673)
- Cassette (Barking Pumpkin 4XT-74205)
- Original US CD (Ryko RCD 10030, April 1987 (imported into Australia by Festival Records and re-stickered Ryko D40709))
- Original European CD, coupled with Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention (EMI CDP 790078-2, 1986)
- Original Japanese CD (VACK 5050 - before or after 1990?)
- European CD re-issue (Zappa Records CDZAP 32, September 1990)
- IRS 970.732 CD (?)
- Russian picture CD (JPCD 9712657 DORA)
- Zappa Records cassette (TZAPPA32)
- 1995 CD (Ryko RCD 10549, May 16 1995; VACK 5134 in Japan, renumbered 5269 in 1998)
- Japanese paper-sleeve CD (Ryko/VACK 1258, November 21 2002 - sticker included - US cover (gray border); European cover variant (blue border) released March 2003)
Track Titles
On the twofer CD, "While You Were Art II" is listed as the number "11" instead of "II" both in the booklet and on the disc itself.
Vinyl
From the November 1993 issue of Record Collector Magazine, quoted by Mikael Agardsson:
The original US and UK LPs of Jazz from Hell differed slightly in cover design, and the variations also applies to the CD artwork. The Barking Pumpkin LP and Ryko CD sport a grey border as opposed to a blue one on the EMI releases. [The Canadian LP, on Capitol Records, also had a blue border - Dan Watkins.]
Cassette
The Barking pumpkin 4XT-74205 release was an XDR Cobalt CS-1 cassette in a clear plastic case, with the same track list as the vinyl:
1. Night School
2. The Beltway Bandits
3. While You Were Art II
4. Jazz from Hell5. G-Spot Tornado
6. Damp Ankles
7. St. Etienne
8. Massaggio Galore
Original US CD
From Corey:
Anyway, as a new fan I've mostly been getting the 95 Ryko issues. However, I managed to find an old Ryko version of Jazz from Hell in a cut-out bin. From what I glean from the Jazz from Hell section of your page, this edition should be the pre-1990 remix, original version. The CD makes absolutely no mention of any remix and Bob Stone is mentioned only as engineer. The latest date on the inlay is the 1987 (C) Copyright to Ryko. The (P) recording copyright is 1986 to Pumpko Industries Ltd. I presume this must mean that the master is the original 1986 version. However, according to the Thing-Fish page, the on-disc art/label style of this disc was not produced until around 1994 (It is the style with the purple Frank face and yellow print). Since this actual CD was manufactured in 94, had the master switched to the remix from 1990 and the artwork just retained? Or did Ryko not have the master to the remix until 1995, even if the remix was present on other labels? (Ed: We wish we knew for sure!)
Original European CD, coupled with Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
The track list, courtesy of Dr István Fekete:
1. We're Turning Again
2. Alien Orifice
3. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano]
4. What's New in Baltimore
5. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson]
6. One Man - One Vote
7. HR 2911
8. Little Beige Sambo
9. Aerobics in Bondage
10. Night School
11. The Beltway Bandits
12. While You Were Art 11 [sic!]
13. Jazz from Hell
14. G-Spot Tornado
15. Damp Ankles
16. St Etienne
17. Massagio Galore
Tracks 1-9 are Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention; tracks 10-17 are Jazz from Hell. "While You Were Art II" is listed as number "11" instead of "II". The front cover was Jazz from Hell and the back cover Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention.
European CD Re-Issue
This release
would appear to have been remixed (the upper right corner of the front cover says "U.M.R.K. digital remix",
and the back cover says "Remixed 1990 by Bob Stone"), but
closer listening has revealed few differences. The 1995 CD has the same
"remix".
MARTIN HIGGS: I have the 1987 Ryko (RCD 1030) and the 1990 Zappa Records (ZAP 25). The latter CD has "U.M.R.K DIGITAL REMIX" added to the front cover art. I can't recall noticing any differences, but then I haven't listened A/B wise. Actually, looking at the timings on both covers, the majority of tracks on the CD ZAP 32 are within a second or two of the Ryko, except for "St. Etienne" which is 20 seconds longer. Don't know what the extra is. The CD is not in the case, hmmm.
PATRICK NEVE: Hmm indeed. I own the 1987 Ryko release. Even though both the label and the printed disc indicate "St. Etienne" as being 06:05 long, it actually plays out to 06:25. So, no extra material. Just a corrected timing sheet, as reported by Ryko's '95 remaster release notes.
Mikael Agardsson also quotes the November 1993 issue of Record Collector Magazine:
The original US and UK LPs of Jazz from Hell differed slightly in cover design, and the variations also applies to the CD artwork. The Barking Pumpkin LP and Ryko CD sport a grey border as opposed to a blue one on the EMI releases.
From Jean-Marc Juilland:
I have a few versions of the album. Original EMI CD (same as vinyl), original Ryko release and ZAP 32. I think the sound on the remix is much improved.
1995 CD
Official Ryko statement: "New master. New timing sheet." [full statement] This is the same 1990 remix that's on the European CD re-issue. If you know anything about this remix, such as how different it is from the older mix, please step forward. ("St. Etienne" is not 20 seconds longer, it's just the printed track time that is wrong on the old CDs:
MARTIN HIGGS: Actually, looking at the timings on both covers, the majority of tracks on the CD ZAP 32 are within a second or two of the Ryko, except for "St. Etienne" which is 20 seconds longer. Don't know what the extra is. The CD is not in the case, hmmm.
PATRICK NEVE: Hmm indeed. I own the 1987 Ryko release. Even though both the label and the printed disc indicate "St. Etienne" as being 06:05 long, it actually plays out to 06:25. So, no extra material. Just a corrected timing sheet, as reported by Ryko's '95 remaster release notes.
From Michael Pierry:
For the benefit of Johan's FAQ, I bought the '95 edition of Jazz from Hell today. It seems to be almost identical to the original CD. Overall the sound is the same, with the '95 mastered with the levels maybe slightly higher. There's about a tenth of a second of silence at the beginning of "Night School" in the new version, and the opening kick drum isn't halfway cut off as it was on the original CD (there is also a shorter pause at the end of the song, making the track length 3 seconds shorter than on the original CD). Similarly, the opening kick drum of "St. Etienne" has been moved from the very very end of track six to the very beginning of track seven, so that when you cue it up to track seven the opening hit isn't cut off as it was on the old CD (try it in case you don't believe me). Same thing with the title track although it's much harder to hear.
This ain't no remix, but it might be worth buying if you're obsessive about wanting to hear the attack of the opening kick drum beat in "Night School". Hey, don't laugh, I never heard it until today and now I can't live without it! ;)
Japanese Paper-Sleeve Version (2001-2002)
Starting in 2001, Video Arts Music released a limited-edition series (2000 copies each) of Zappa CDs in paper sleeves - miniature LP sleeves. There was nothing special about this series other than the covers, which were very well done - inserts and "bonuses" were reproduced, the albums that originally had gatefold covers got little miniature gatefolds, and cover track lists were exactly as on the corresponding LPs, even in cases where the CD has bonus tracks or a different track order. Included in this series were some entries that never had "proper" LP issues, i.e. Läther. Additionally, some rarities--like the "green/gold" cover of Chunga's Revenge--were reproduced as special items in this run.
We need to stress that the sound quality of these discs matches the US Ryko issues, which they are clearly derived from. These are collectors items, not new remastered editions.
Late-2012-update: It appears as if the Japanese may be warming up the mini-LP ovens for a new batch based on the 2012 UMe remasters. We'll let you know if this happens.
Questions
- Huh?
Additional Informants
- Tito Osuna
- Mikael Agardsson
- Jeffrey I Horowitz
- Victor Dubiler
- Gonçalo Falcão
- Steve Jones
- Santiago García, Spain