1972: Essentially performed as always, allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with the standard deviation coming in Frank's solo. There are some minor changes in the lyrics, in the second chorus and in the closing vocals, but overall the song is exactly as it would remain for the next 16 years.
1973 (Feb-Jul): Essentially performed as always, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's solo, which is not restricted to the sixteen bars as it is in later years.
1973 (Aug-Sep): Essentially performed as always, with the standard deviation coming in the middle-of-song solo fest, which typically features Duke on keybooards and Frank on the axe, with an occasional Underwood solo thrown in for good measure. For the "price-of-meat" section, we get the rather laid back, keyboard funk groove.
1973 (Oct-Dec): Essentially performed as on "Apostrophe (')", allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with the standard deviation coming in Duke's and Frank's solos. For this tour, we get the keyboard funk "price of meat" section, with bursts of horn thrown in for good measure.
1974 (Feb-Mar): Essentially performed as on "Apostrophe (')", with the standard deviation coming in the assortment of solos. Typically, we get a Brock horn solo, a keyboard solo, occasionally a harmonica solo, and the standard FZ workout. The "price-of-meat" section is the basic '74 funk version—heavy on the keyboards, light on the guitar, and punctuated by bursts from the horn section.
1974 (Apr-May): Essentially performed as always, with the standard deviation coming in the parade of solos. This time around we get Brock, Duke, Simmons (harmonica), and Frank solos, and the horn-heavy funkified "price of meat" section.
1974 (June-Dec): Did this song ever change? Well, the "the price of meat" section did, which for this tour was essentially the "Apostrophe" version. Also, the solo section over the years had its many changes, and for this tour, we got a full-blown, "everybody-gets-a-chance" solo spotlight. Brock would go first, then Duke, and FZ would bring the proceedings to a close.
1979: "Let's rock!" Played as on "Anyway the Wind Blows" from Beat the Boots, with the "heavy metal tinged" price-of-meat section. Frank sat this solo out, and let Sophia Warren Cucurullo prove to the world that he was better off playing written parts. CARLOS SANTANA CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY CLUE: During the 3/26 performance, Frank ad-libs the following line—"Aren't you the same little nerd that Carlos Santana goes to see all the time?" Someone help me—what is Frank's obsession with Carlos all about?
1980 (Mar-Jul): Essentially performed as always, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's guitar solo. For the "price-of-meat" section, we get the aggressive, guitar tinged vamp, as heard on the "Cosmik Debris" from "Anyway the Wind Blows" from Beat the Boots Volume I.
1980 (Oct-Dec): Essentially performed as on "Apostrophe (')", accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with the standard deviation coming in Vai's solo. We get the aggressive, guitar based "piece of meat" section for this tour.
1981-82: Essentially played as always, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's guitar solo. Unfortunately, we get the reggae-tinged "price of meat" section, made so unpopular by the '84 band.
1984: Essentially played as on YCDTOSA Volume III, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's solo. Because this song most commonly occurred in the encore, it quite often fell victim to some serious Secret Word abuse. For this reason, I have always liked this tune live—it makes me laugh—and though Frank's space is limited on this tune, I've always found his "Cosmik" solos to be very worthwhile. Check out the Volume III solo—it's one damn good minute of guitar. Same goes for most all versions of the tune.
1988: Essentially performed as on TBBYNHIYL, with the standard deviation coming in the solo section. Frank has the majority of the solos for this song, but Ike occasionally gets a chance to solo in his very peculiar, inimitable sort-of-way.
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