The Lost Episodes
Cover art designed byGábor Csupó
Compilation album by Frank Zappa
Released	February 27, 1996
Recorded	1958–1992
Genre	Rock
Length	71:14
Label	Rykodisc
Producer	Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa chronology
Civilization Phaze III (1994) The Lost Episodes (1996) Läther (1996)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Guardian	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	(B+)[3]

The Lost Episodes is a 1996 posthumous album byFrank Zappa which compiles (with the exception of "I Don't Want to Get Drafted" and "Any Way the Wind Blows") previously unreleased material. Much of the material covered dates from early in his career, and as early as 1958, into the mid-1970s. Zappa had been working on these tracks in the years before his death in 1993.

The album is also notable for its five tracks which featureCaptain Beefheart (known in early recordings by his birth name, Don Vliet, and later Don Van Vliet): "Lost in a Whirlpool", a blues parody from around 1958–59 in which Beefheart sings of being flushed down the toilet; "Tiger Roach", arhythm and blues track from around three years later; "I'm a Band Leader" from 1969, a spoken word piece written by Zappa and read by Beefheart; "Alley Cat", a blues number in which Zappa plays guitar with two members of Beefheart's Magic Band, and "The Grand Wazoo", a spoken word piece recorded in 1969, to which Zappa added aSynclavier track in 1992[1]. Dan Glaister, writing inThe Guardian, judged the first to be "a passableBessie Smith cover", adding, "while "Alley Cat" could be a missing track fromClear Spot."

Elsewhere on the disc are included a number of alternate, earlier versions of compositions which were later released on Zappa's studio albums.The Lost Episodes' version of "Any Way the Wind Blows", for instance, was recorded inCucamonga in around 1963—three years before its appearance onFreak Out! (1966). And the version of "Fountain of Love" here was recorded around the same time, but not released untilCruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968). Several outtakes include the original versions of: "Inca Roads" and "RDNZL", along with a version ofWino Man featuringRicky Lancelotti on lead vocals. The final track is the original version ofSharleena from the aborted 2ndHot Rats LP recordings in 1970; featuringSugarcane Harris on lead vocal.

"The Big Squeeze" was recorded in 1967 for aLuden's cough drops television commercial.^[4] Zappa's music was matched with animation by filmmaker Ed Seeman and the advertisement won aClio Award for "Best Use of Sound".^[5][6] The edit on this album lacks narration added by Seeman.

Some of the tracks had been previously released on theMystery Disc, which was originally part ofThe Old Masters box set and was released on CD in 1998. "Run Home Slow" is heard in stereo onThe Lost Episodes but in mono onMystery Disc (and probably a different take). "Charva" is heard in mono onThe Lost Episodes but in stereo onMystery Disc. "Wedding Dress Song" and Handsome Cabin Boy" are the same versions as onMystery Disc but on the latter album the two songs feature as one track.

All songs written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa except where noted.

• Frank Zappa – synthesizer, guitar, percussion, piano, celeste, drums, bass guitar, kazoo, vocals, background vocals, synclavier
• Dale Bozzio – vocals
• Terry Bozzio – vocals
• Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) – vocals
• Ray Collins – vocals
• Ricky Lancelotti – vocals
• Ray White – vocals
• Kenny Williams – vocals
• Ronnie Williams – vocals
• Ronny Williams – vocals
• Ike Willis – vocals
• Elliot Ingber – slide guitar
• Elwood Madeo Jr. – guitar
• Bobby Zappa – guitar, rhythm guitar
• George Duke – keyboards
• Tommy Mars – keyboards, vocals
• Don Preston – keyboards
• Danny Helferin – piano
• Terry Wimberly – piano
• Arthur Barrow – bass, bass guitar
• Max Bennett – bass, bass guitar
• Erroneous (aka Alex Dmochowski) – bass, bass guitar
• Roy Estrada – bass, bass guitar
• Tom Fowler – bass guitar
• Jimmy Carl Black – drums
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Aynsley Dunbar – drums
• John French – drums
• John Guerin – drums
• Ralph Humphrey – drums
• Chester Thompson – drums
• Tony Rodriguez – alto sax
• Chuck Foster – trumpet
• Sal Marquez – trumpet
• Bruce Fowler – trombone
• Don "Sugarcane" Harris – violin, vocals, electric violin
• Jean-Luc Ponty – violin
• Art Tripp – marimba, background vocals, vibraphone
• Ian Underwood – percussion, keyboards, saxophone, woodwind, fender rhodes
• Ruth Underwood – percussion

• Frank Zappa – arranger, producer, engineer
• Paul Buff – engineer
• Gary Kellgren – engineer
• Kerry McNabb – engineer
• Bob Stone – engineer, remixing
• Spencer Chrislu – remixing
• Gábor Csupó – artwork
• Steven Jurgensmeyer – design
• Hal Wilson – photography
• Rip Rense – liner notes

• Lyrics and information
• Release details

• 1996 compilation albums
• Compilation albums published posthumously
• Frank Zappa compilation albums
• Rykodisc compilation albums

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