1972 (The Petit Wazoo): This tune consists of what would eventually be three distinct musical compositions, namely the Steno Pool section from "Greggary Peccary", the head of "The Bebop Tango", and "Cucamonga". As it appears on this tour, it is essentially performed as on "Piquantique" from Beat the Boots Volume I, allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and minus the opening musical flurry. During the opening "Steno Pool" section, we get a tuba solo, along with an occasional Frank solo. Also, during the written parts, we get random blowing and some subtle FZ soloing underlying the complex melodies. During "Bebop Tango", Fowler takes what would eventually be his calling card solo, once again amazing all those within earshot with the feats that his lips can perform. After this spectacular trombone solo, the drummer would get a little, before the band concluded the affair with a "Cucamonga" run through. These performances averaged about 14 minutes in length
1973: This montsrously composed piece consists of three distinct sections which would later appear as parts of three separate Frank songs. "The Steno Pool" section from "Greggary Peccary" (plus the flurried music that immediately precedes it) comprises part one, the main theme of "The Bebop Tango" comprises part two, and an instrumental rendition of "Cucamonga" concludes the affair and serves as part three. Throughout these proceedings, we get a handful of solos, with Ponty typically taking a lengthy and interesting one during the first part, and Bruce and Ian taking theirs during the extended and frequently jammed-on part two. While these "Bebop" performances come nowhere near the ridiculous extravaganzas of the Fall '73 tour, they do contain some exceptional solos, and occasionally veer off into improvisational madness. In the midst of all this- following the madness that is the "Bebop Tango" and proceeding the climactic ending that is "Cucamonga", the drummer gets a chance to get a little, giving the rest of the Rockin' Teenage combo a much deserved rest. As far as Frank's involvement goes, his guitar is present throughout, inserting tasty licks here and there, and he also, of course, has a major hand in the direction of the "Bebop Tango" festivities.
1973-74: Essentially performed as on "Piquantique" from Beat the Boots Volume I, allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with the standard deviation coming in the solos. This song consists of three parts- the Steno Pool section from "Greggary Peccary", the head of "Bebop Tango", and "Cucamonga"- all performed instrumental. ( Naurin points out that the one difference in this version is that "the Spring/Summer version—as heard on "Piquantique"—starts with the frenetic little melody right after "using all the frightening little skills that science made available" in "Greggary Peccary", while the 10/26/73 skips this bit and starts with "Steno Pool".") There is only one known performance of this tune on this tour- from 10/26- with the first section containing a Brock solo, and the second containing the typically insane Fowler trombone workout, a Ruth percussion display, and a very short drum solo. Unlike versions found on earlier tours, however, the "Bebop Tango" has now become the full-blown spectacle that we get on "Roxy and Elsewhere", complete with dancing and all those tiny little notes. Thus, early in the tour, "Bebop Tango" becomes its own song apart from the year old "Farther O'Blivion" medley, and "Farther O'Blivion"- as it appears here- becomes a thing of the past.
| Sections | Imaginary Diseases (1972) | BTB I: Piquantique (1973) | Other versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Join The March And Eat My Starch (from the Yellow Snow Suite) | 0:02-0:36 | The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary (5:18-5:52, Studio Tan version) | |
| The Steno Pool At Big Swifty's | 0:13-4:17 | 0:36-3:57 | The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary (5:52-9:06, Studio Tan version) |
| Transitional section | 4:17-4:48 | 3:57-4:21 | |
| The Be-Bop Tango | 4:48-11:20 | 4:21-15:04 | Be-Bop Tango (Roxy & Elsewhere) |
| Drum solo | 11:20-14:30 | 15:04-17:39 | Drum Solo |
| Cucamonga | 14:30-15:45 | 17:39-18:43; 19:02-20:20 | Cucamonga (Bongo Fury) |
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