– General Description: Ed Palermo is a saxophonist who went to high school in the 1960’s: “For most of my high school days my favorite musicians were Zappa and Todd Rundgren,” Palermo says. “Rundgren had his songs about self-pity, which were exactly what I needed back then. I’d go out with a girl and whatever party I brought her to she’d go and hang out with another dude. Todd understood. At the same time, Zappa had these snarky songs like ‘Broken Hearts are for Assholes.’ It was tough love. You gotta broken heart? Deal with it.” It’s big band swing-rock alternations of their work. Nuff said (long detailed reviews can be found online for those interested). PLAY THIS! WARNING: Many of these tracks simply cut-off (as noted) for some reason — so you might want to play two or more in a row to have them meld.
– Track Reviews:
1. (0:25) The Solemn Z-Men Credo - freedom
2. (3:19) Peaches En Regalia (Frank Zappa) - upbeat instrumental; cuts off
3. (5:50) Influenza (Todd Rundgren) - upbeat instrumental w/fiddle solo; cuts off
4. (1:27) Yer Fast (Todd Rundgren) - bright with lyrics Yo Fast But I Like It
5. (4:26) Absolutely Free (Frank Zappa) - moderate instrumental
6. (1:38) Breathless (Part 1) (Todd Rundgren) - moderate instrumental; cuts off
7.***(1:16) Big Swifty (Frank Zappa) - really fun; cuts off
8. (3:43) Kiddie Boy (Todd Rundgren) - swinging blues Kiddie Boy Don't Kid Around With Me
9.***(6:42) Montana (Frank Zappa) - brassy with lyrics Movin' to Montana Soon for floss farming; really fun piece; fades out
10.***(1:38) Emperor of the Highway (Todd Rundgren) - Bdwy-song articulation of Silicon Valley drivers
11. (1:45) You Are What You Is (Frank Zappa) - upbeat instrumental w/fiddle; cuts off
12.***(3:54) Echidna's Arf (Of You) (Frank Zappa) [feat. The Louisiana Swindle Singers] - dooby-do lyrics; excellent; cuts off
13. (3:31) Hello It's Me (Todd Rundgren) - lounge cover of a classic; cuts off
14. (1:35) Big Swifty Coda (Frank Zappa) - out of the blue brass
15. (4:00) Wailing Wall (Todd Rundgren) - relaxed instrumental
16. (7:25) Florentine Pogen (Frank Zappa) - whistles! Zappa! Read 'Em and Weep
17. (2:23) Flamingo (Todd Rundgren) - spirited instrumental; cuts off
18.***(3:53) Marqueson's Chicken (Frank Zappa) - fast chicken that might be a stripper (instrumental)
19.***(1:58) Song of the Viking (Todd Rundgren) - I Am A Viking And Yes I Row; Viking rules; cuts off
20. (1:51) Janet's Big Dance Number (Frank Zappa) - dramatic instrumental
21.***(5:13) Broke Down and Busted (Todd Rundgren) - nice swinging big band blues with lyrics
22. (0:51) Breathless (Part 2) (Todd Rundgren) - quick walking tempo instrumental; fades out
23. (2:50) Zoot Allures (Frank Zappa) - Vegas instrumental sound
24. (0:54) Yer Fast (Reprise) (Todd Rundgren) - Yo Fast And I Like It
2.5 (1:44) Why You Bustin' My Balls Today - does not start until 0:13; ballad; uses word "damn"; fades out at 1:40