Petit Wazoo Repertoire

They played seven or eight songs per show on the average, so there was considerable variation in the songs played. The order of songs was not at all fixed, but changed from night to night. The only obvious generalizations that can be made are that "I'm Not Satisfied", when played, was usually the opening number, and that "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?", when played, was usually the closing number.

"America Drinks And Goes Home"

"I'd like to play you another oldie but goodie that's been deformed slightly." (FZ, 10/29/72)

Performed as an instrumental. Dumler on soprano sax. Tuba solo by Malone. Trumpet solo. Trombone solo (11/10/72, 12/3/72).

"Chunga's Revenge"

Sax solo. Trumpet solo. Guitar solo by FZ. This tune was played by many of FZ's touring bands, so it is surprising that the only officially-released recording is the studio version on the album of the same name (not counting the guitar solo released out of context as "Pinocchio's Furniture" on Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar). The Petit Wazoo played this tune a little faster than other FZ bands.

"Cosmik Debris"

Sung by FZ. Dumler on sarrusophone. Malone on tenor sax. Guitar solo by FZ. The Petit Wazoo version of this song had lyrics not heard in later arrangements. The chorus had different words each time around:

1.
Look here, brother, who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Look here, brother, don't you waste your time on me.

2.
Look here, brother, I just can't go for what you say.
Well, I've been on the street since Tuesday, so why don't you just go away?

3.
Look here, brother, who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Go lay your story on Dick Barber (10/29/72, 10/31/72 early)
Go lay your story on the Maharishi (10/31/72 late)
Go lay your stuff in San Francisco (11/7/72)
Go spread that stuff around San Francisco (11/11/72 late)
Go sell that jive in San Francisco (12/2/72 early, 12/3/72)
Go lay that stuff in San Francisco (12/2/72 late)
Go sell that stuff in San Francisco (12/12/72 early)
But don't you waste no time [or your time or none of your time] on me.

"Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?"

The rhythm of the Petit Wazoo arrangement of this tune is different than the Roxy/YCDTOSA version, without the long hesitation after the second note. Long guitar solo by Zappa. Short drum solo by Gordon. After the solos, the tune ends with the ending that is heard on Roxy and Elsewhere (from 8:48 on) but missing from YCDTOSA 2. Three of the four known performances were as an encore.

Soundclip: excerpt from the head (12/2/72 late)

"Duke of Prunes"

Performed as an instrumental, much as on Orchestral Favorites. Baritone oboe solo by Dumler. Guitar solo by Zappa. The first time around, the melody is played by the oboe over arpeggios on the guitar; after the solos, the melody is played by the trumpets over arpeggios on the oboe.

"Farther Oblivion"

"This piece features the members of the brass section. Malcolm on D trumpet. Tommy the Tuba on whatever he chooses to play in that special area... And, last but not least, Bruce Fowler, who goes outside on the trombone." (FZ, 10/29/72)
"This is in three sections: part one, part two, and part three. In that order!" (FZ, 10/29/72)

Dumler on English horn. This piece consisted of three parts, each of which was later released in a different context. Part one was the "Steno Pool" section of "The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary", in which Tom Malone would play a solo on piccolo (October) or tuba (November and December). On 11/11/72, FZ played a guitar solo after the tuba solo. Part two was "The Be-Bop Tango", containing a trombone solo by Bruce Fowler and a drum solo by Jim Gordon. Part three was an instrumental version of "Cucamonga". On 10/31/72 (early), FZ announced that Malcolm McNab would take the first solo. There was no improvised trumpet solo, so he was presumably referring to McNab playing the first trumpet part in the written arrangement of "Be-Bop Tango".

"Imaginary Diseases"

Malone on trombone. This instrumental sounds like the theme to a western movie--somewhere between The Magnificent Seven and Run Home Slow. The head starts with massed horns, followed by Zappa's guitar. There's a long guitar solo by FZ, and then a return to the head. It's too bad the 1988 band didn't revive this tune.

Soundclips:	1. excerpt from the head (12/2/72 late)
	2. excerpt from the guitar solo (12/2/72 late)

"I'm Not Satisfied"

Sung by FZ. Dumler on baritone sax. Malone on trumpet. Like all live arrangements I've ever heard, this is based on the Freak Out! version, not the Ruben And The Jets version. When it was played, it was usually the opening song.

"Little Dots"

"If this goes on the record, we'll rename it the 'Bunn Hill Shuffle'. It's the least we can do." (FZ, 10/29/72)
[Bunn Hill Road is one of the access roads to Harpur College in Binghamton, NY.]
"The next item on our agenda is a song that sometimes gets beyond control. Hopefully, this is one of those times." (FZ, 11/11/72 late)

Dumler on oboe. Malone on trumpet. This instrumental begins with the three trumpets and the oboe playing "little dots"--what sound like random notes until you hear them played exactly the same way at the end of the piece. This is followed by a bass and drum duet by Parlato and Gordon. Then Duran comes in with some beautiful rhythm guitar, the rhythm varying from night to night. Then come various solos: guitar by Zappa (10/31/72 late, 11/7/72, 12/2/72 early, 12/3/72), trombone (10/31/72 late, 11/7/72, 11/11/72 late, 12/2/72 early), slide guitar by Duran (10/29/72, 10/31/72 late, 11/7/72, 11/11/72 late), and/or trumpet (10/29/72, 11/11/72 late). On 10/29/72, this piece involved audience participation "somewhat like 'Arrroooo!'" On one signal, they were to snap their fingers lightly, creating a rustling noise like crickets. On another signal, they were to sing "wah" along with the trombones. Before the 10/31/72 (late) performance, FZ announced to the sound man, "Bruce on vocals, Barry", but no vocals are audible in this or other performances (aside from the audience participation mentioned above).

Soundclips:	1. excerpt from the head (12/2/72 early)
	2. featuring "our magnificent rhythm section" (12/2/72 early)

"Montana"

"Montanama. Earle is playing the golden plumbing." (FZ, 10/29/72)

Sung by FZ. Dumler on sarrusophone. Malone on trombone. Gordon on steel drum. Guitar solo by FZ. The song begins with an opening vamp not heard in later arrangements, followed by the familiar riff and drum fill. The horns play sustained chords under the first part of each verse. The horns also play lines that were later assigned to keyboards, percussion, or the Ikettes (e.g. "Movin' to Montana soon/Gonna be a Dental Floss tycoon" ). The hard part ("I'm pluckin' the ol Dennil Floss, etc.) is completely absent, but the pygmy pony's name is worked into the third verse, instead of "By myself I wouldn't have no boss...":

My horse is little but mighty, so I ride him on the middle.
And he's known to the world as Mighty Little.

Soundclip: excerpt from the T-shirt version (10/31/72 late)

"Rollo"

Sung by FZ. Dumler on baritone sax and oboe. Malone on tenor sax. Slide guitar solo by Duran. Oboe solo by Dumler. The end of this piece was performed at the Orchestral Favorites concerts at Royce Hall and later incorporated into the "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" suite. But the first part of the piece was never performed after the Petit Wazoo tour. An early version of a "Zomby Woof" riff appeared between the two verses. The lyrics are:

1.
There was a man and a dog,
Squattin' on a log.
He had him bitin' on a stick
Until the bark was all gone.

Here, little fella. Sit up and beg.
Open your jaws. And lift up your leg.
That little doggie's name was Rollo.
His little doggie dealie was hollow.

2.
Little while later on,
Further down the road,
There was a lady and a man,
Who was about to get blowed.

Here, little fella. Sit up and beg.
Open your jaws. And lift up your leg.
That little husband's name was Rollo.
And his old lady's name was Swallow.

Spoken:
Rollo, if you love me, do like I told ya
And fetch unto me a baroque magnolia.

This was followed by an instrumental version of the portion that was later incorporated into the "Yellow Snow" suite.

On 10/29/72, only the "Yellow Snow" section was performed, announced as "the Rollo Interior Area and Rollo Goes Out". On 10/31/72 (late show), the entire song (including the first portion) was performed as an instrumental.

Soundclips:	1. the beginning, courtesy of splat (12/2/72 early)
	2. the rest of the first verse, including the "Zomby Woof" riff (12/2/72 early)

"Son Of Mr. Green Genes"

Performed as an instrumental. The horn arrangement of the head is sort of monotonous. But the rhythm section provides a relentless, driving vamp for several horn solos and a guitar solo by Zappa.

Soundclip: excerpt from the trumpet solo (12/2/72 late)

"Waka/Jawaka"

Trumpet solo. Guitar solo by FZ. Only one recording of this tune is known. My guess is that it was played a few times early in the tour, and then dropped from the repertoire.

Soundclip: excerpt from the head, courtesy of Jon Naurin

One-time performances

"Caravan"

Performance:	11/11/72 late
Official FZ recordings:	none
Other tours:	7/21/74
Approximate length:	3 minutes

"You really wanna hear 'Caravan' with a drum solo? You really do? Or did you just scream that out so everybody sitting next to you would think you were hep?"

An impromptu response to a facetious request (which was of course a quote from "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and "America Drinks And Goes Home"). FZ even asks the band, "Wanna do it in seven?", but they play it straight. Drum solo by Gordon, and a bit of a bass solo by Parlato. Instead of coming back to "Caravan" after the solos, they return with "When The Saints Go Marching In".

"Johnny's Theme"

Performance:	12/2/72 late
Official recordings:	Just Another Band From L.A., Playground Psychotics
Other tours:	1971
Approximate length:	30 seconds

The theme from the "Tonight Show", as heard in "Billy The Mountain", though they played much more of it here. At the end someone said, "And now, heeere's Frankie."

"Louie Louie"/"Plastic People"

No tapes are in circulation, but read Buddy Webster's review.

"The Mud Shark"

No tapes are in circulation, but read Gary Barone's account.

"Willie The Pimp"

Performed as an instrumental. Slide guitar solo by Duran. Trombone solo. Guitar solo by FZ. Trumpet solo. Sequed into "Montana".

"When The Saints Go Marching In"

Performance:	11/11/72 late
Official recordings:	none
Other tours:	none
Approximate length:	1 minute

Performed as an instrumental after the drum solo on "Caravan".

Improvised pieces

"Oddients"

"Montreal"

"T-Shirts"

No tapes are in circulation, but the song was based on the T-shirt seller at the late show the night before.

"Why Do They Fry Everything In Richmond?"

No tapes are in circulation, but read a description from the Richmond News Leader.

"Columbia, S. C."

"Six Horns In An Airplane Hangar"

Dumler on oboe. Malone on tuba. Guitar solo by FZ. This may have been an interesting improvisation, but the sound quality of the tape is so bad that it's hard to tell.

"Trudgin' Across The Tundra"/"D.C. Boogie" (a.k.a. "Seven/Boogie")

Malone on piccolo trumpet. The tune begins in 7. Oboe solo by Dumler. Trumpet solo. Bass solo by Parlato. Another trumpet solo. Trombone solo. Gordon plays steel drum. Yet another trumpet solo. Another trombone solo. After fourteen minutes, the meter changes from 7 to 4 for a guitar solo by Zappa. After twenty-two minutes, FZ asks the audience to vote on how the song should end: boogie, ballad, march, polka, or dog-food jingle. Boogie wins. Slide guitar solo by Duran. Another guitar solo by Zappa. It appears that all ten band members got a chance to solo in this piece.

"Kansas City Shuffle" (a.k.a. "KC Blues")

An uptempo blues. Slide guitar solo by Duran. Tenor sax solo by Malone. Trumpet solo. Guitar solo by Zappa.

Soundclip: excerpt from Tony Duran's slide guitar solo

"Been To Kansas City In A Minor" (a.k.a. "A Minor Blues")

After introducing the members of the band, FZ announces, "We're just gonna crank off a minor key blues in the key of A". This slow blues is reminiscent of "The Thrill Is Gone" or "Here Lies Love". Guitar solo by Zappa. Trumpet solo. Slide guitar solo by Duran. Trombone solo. Another guitar solo by Zappa.

Soundclip: excerpt from the final guitar solo

"Waiting For The Tenor Sax Blues"

Malone on tenor sax. Guitar solo by Zappa. After introducing the band, FZ announces "Rollo", but there's some trouble with the tenor sax mike. While Dunt corrects the problem, the band plays a short blues.

"Tycho Brahe"

Dumler on oboe. In an attempt to recreate a performance from the soundcheck, FZ tells the story of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe while the band plays the I vi IV V chord progression (cf. "Duke Of Earl", "Quarter To Three", "Please Mr. Postman", etc.). After the monologue, he plays a guitar solo.

Soundclip: the start of FZ's guitar solo

"Hope That It Turns Out Wonderful"

Oboe solo by Dumler. Guitar solo by FZ. Trombone solo. Steel drum solo by Gordon. Tenor sax solo by Malone. Another guitar solo by FZ. Trumpet solo.

Soundclip: the opening

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Hunchentootin' by Charles Ulrich.