FRANK ZAPPA -- Baby Snakes (Rykodisc)

Without a doubt, this has got to be the most underrated title in the Zappa catalog. The album was orginally made available by mail order on a 12" picture disc. Recorded on 10/31/77 at the Palladium in New York in front of a crowd of costumed Zappa fans, Baby Snakes contains live versions of Titties & Beer, Disco Boy, and possibly the best version of Dinah Moe Humm commercially available. Plus, as if the material alone wasn't enough, the CD sounds great.

There are a few differences between the reissue & the original Barking Pumpkin release - all for the better. You can hear the percussion much more clearly now. The whistling during the first instrumental break in Punky's Whips is much clearer as well. The booklet is identical to the Barking Pumpkin version (the lyrics in Titties & Beer are still wrong), only Ryko added the artwork from the B-side of the picture disc for the reissue.

Baby Snakes is a great album that should be a part of every Zappa collection. Run, don't walk, to the store and buy this CD!