| Album notes by Todd Yvega - extract
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| It is remarkable that Frank was able to construct such a cohesive arc, juxtaposing and superimposing such disparate materials, some of which had been in the works for years, while others were the fruit of the previous week’s happenstance. Thrown into the creative mix were the incidentals (it was FZ’s bent to be open to changing course and making use of whatever happens along). Earlier that year, the Zappas were graced with a visit from a trio of throat singers from the Republic of Tuva in southern Siberia who were on a US concert tour. Naturally a recording session ensued, and the Tuvans’ vocals ultimately became prominent on several tracks. Dweezil had set up his guitar rig in the studio, and Frank decided to take it for a spin overdubbing on the piece we were tracking that day. As far as we know, that was the last time he played guitar.
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| Album notes by Ralph Leighton
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| January 2, 1993 - Caltech, in Pasadena, California. The audience is ecstatic, transported to another world by the ethereal sounds of throat-singers from the lost land of Tannu Tuva - that Siberian Shangri-La once famous for its triangular stamps collected by a young Richard Feynman.
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| An earnest bearded man wearing glasses, with a determined look in his eyes, approached me after the concert: “My name is Matt Groening. Frank would like to meet the Tuvans”.
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| “Frank?”
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| “Zappa”
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| The next night, the Tuvans entered the UMRK. The Chieftains and Johnny “Guitar” Watson were already there. What ensued was captured by BBC TV which was producing a documentary about the living legend Zappa, who not only charmed the guests, but also managed to make the first studio recording of Tuvan throat-singers in the United States. (Frank’s ensuing composition “Calculus”, featuring the voice of Tuvan throat-singer Anatoli Kuular, is mind-bending!). The magical evening peaked with the Tuvans playing ♫ “The camel caravan song” - The Chieftains and L. Shankar adding Irish pipes and an Indian violin to the mix, while Johnny “Guitar” Watson chanted “Bringin’ home the sheep! Bringin’ home the sheep!” and Frank strummed happily on his guitar.
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 Art by Dan Eldon.jpg "(Front) Art by Dan Eldon")
.jpg "(Booklet)")
Songs list
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Title origin
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