Title: The Yellow Shark Artist: Frank Zappa Release Date: 11/2/1993 Label: Barking Pumpkin/Rhino, Rykodisc UPCs: 014431056024, 014431056048, 081227160043 Genre: Rock Styles: Classical, Avant-Garde, Modern Composition, Experimental Moods: Acerbic, Confrontational, Eccentric, Knotty, Uncompromising, Brash, Elaborate, Freakish, Freewheeling, Humorous, Ironic, Rousing, Sardonic, Snide, Theatrical, Whimsical, Witty, Clinical, Complex, Dramatic, Energetic, Outrageous, Playful, Sleazy, Visceral, Wry, Rowdy, Sexual, Party/Celebratory, Cerebral, Cynical/Sarcastic, Irreverent, Provocative, Quirky, Silly Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 2 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Intro
2. Dog Breath Variations
3. Uncle Meat
4. Outrage at Valdez
5. Times Beach II
6. III Revised
7. The Girl in the Magnesium Dress
8. Be-Bop Tango
9. Ruth Is Sleeping
10. None of the Above
11. Pentagon Afternoon
12. Questi Cazzi Di Piccione
13. Times Beach III
14. Food Gathering in Post-Industrial America, 1992
15. Welcome to the United States
16. Pound for a Brown
17. Exercise, No. 4
18. Get Whitey
19. G-Spot Tornado

Year Type Label Catalog # 1995 CD Rykodisc 10560 1995 CD Rykodisc 40560 1993 CD Barking Pumpkin/Rhino 71600 ------ CD Barking Pumpkin/Rhino R2-71600

No other editions were found for this album.

During his last years, Frank Zappa concentrated on his "serious music," trying to impose himself as a composer and relegating the rock personality to the closet. His last two completed projects topped everything he had done before in this particular field. The Yellow Shark, an album of orchestral music, was released only a few weeks before he succumbed to cancer (the computer music/sound collage album Civilization Phaze III was released a few months later). This CD, named for a plexiglas fish given to Zappa in 1988, culls live recordings from the Ensemble Modern's 1992 program of the composer's music. The range of pieces goes from string quartets ("None of the Above") to ensemble works, from very challenging contemporary classical to old Zappa favorites. The latter category includes a medley of "Dog Breath Variations" and "Uncle Meat," "Pound for a Brown," "Be-Bop Tango," and the Synclavier compositions "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" and "G-Spot Tornado" transcribed for orchestra. Being more familiar, these bring a lighter touch, but the real interest of the CD resides in the premiere recordings. "Outrage at Valdez," the piano duet "Ruth Is Sleeping," and "Food Gathering in Post-Industrial America, 1992" are all the gripping works of a mature composer, strongly influenced by Varese and Stravinsky but overwhelmed by them. But the crowning achievement is "Welcome to the United States," a more freeform piece based on the U.S. visa form. Zappa shined when ridiculing stupidity. The average fan of the man's rock music will most probably feel lost in The Yellow Shark, but for those with interests in his serious music it is an essential item, more so than the London Symphony Orchestra and Orchestral Favorites albums. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ali N. Askin Arranger Andreas Bottger Percussion Brian Johnson Art Direction, Design Claudia Sack Violin Daryl Smith Tuba Dave Dondorf Coordination, Engineer Detlef Tewes Mandolin Dietmar Wiesner Flute Ellen Wegner Harp Ensemble Modern Main Performer Franck Ollu Horn Frank Zappa Performer, Producer, Conductor Friedemann Dahn Violoncello Fritz Brinckmann Photography Hans Jörg Michel Photography Harry Andronis Engineer Henning Lobner Photography Herman Kretzschmar Celeste, Voices, Piano, Harpsichord Hilary Sturt Violin, Voices Jesse Di Franco Art Direction, Design Jürgen Ruck Banjo, Guitar Mathias Tacke Violin Michael Gross Cornet, Piccolo Trumpet, Trumpet, Flugelhorn Michael Svoboda Trombone, Didjeridu, Euphonium, Alphorn Peter Rundel Violin, Conductor Rip Rense Liner Notes Rumi Ogawa-Helferich Percussion, Cymbalom Spencer Chrislu Mixing, Engineer Todd Yvega ?, Synclavier Assistance Ueli Wiget Harpsichord, Piano, Harp, Cello Uwe Dierksen Trombone Veit Scholz Contrabassoon, Bassoon William Formann Cornet, Piccolo Trumpet, Trumpet, Flugelhorn Wolfgang Stryi Clarinet, Sax (Tenor), Clarinet (Bass), Contrabass Trombone