1977 Sep-Dec: The majority of this tune is essentially performed as on "Sheik Yerbouti", namely up through the Bob Dylan section. From this point on, however, the song differs, and the degree in which it differs depends on where in the tour you encounter the song. For the majority of the tour, the song essentially ends after the Bob Dylan verses. There is a short instrumental take on the Dylan theme, followed by a return to the opening vamp, and then the end. For the New Year's show, however, the post-Dylan section has attained the instrumental portion of the "Sheik Yerbouti" version, minus the lyrics. In place of the lyrics, Belew takes a restrained yet intense solo, employing excellent use of his volume pedal throughout. The "1,2,3,4" chant is still in place, but instead of heralding the arrival of new lyrics, it serves the purpose of intensifying the Belew-led jam. Listening to this live version, and comparing it to the studio version, one feels inevitable disappointment when one realizes what an overactive imagination and too much time in the studio can do to a song. Essential listening for the die-hard Zappa fan. The Bob Dylan portion of this tune is also used as an instrumental vamp to open the shows (an example of this can be heard on the "Baby Snakes" video).
1978 Jan-Feb: Quite a treat on this tour. The first part of the song is essentially the same as the version on "Sheik Yerbouti", up through the Bob Dylan section. From this point on, however, the song has quite a different feel. On the album track, listen closely to the music that is playing behind Frank's "I'm a Moron and This is my Wife" verse. This vocal part was written by Frank after this tour, and, for the album, was dubbed over a live backing track of this song from this tour. So what you got on this tour was this instrumental backing track as the main course, and no lyrics. During this instrumental portion, Belew plays a slow, eerie guitar solo that highlights his imaginative use of his volume pedal. The "1,2,3,4" yell was present for this tour, but instead of the "we're coming to get you" lines, we got an intensification of the Belew-led jam.
1978 Aug-Oct: Essentially performed as on "Saarbrucken" from Beat the Boots Volume I. This is also essentially the same version as the one found on "Sheik Yerbouti". While the backing tracks for that album were recorded on the Spring '78 tour, that tour's version of this song was not identical to the album version, as it lacked the overdubbed vocals that make up the entire post-Dylan part of the song. This tour's version- and every other tour version of "Flakes"- included these vocals.
1980 Oct-Dec: Essentially performed as on "Sheik Yerbouti", accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation. Ike wins the role of Dylan this time round, thanks to Ed's conspicuous absence. Another tune where Ed's percussion is sorely missed.
1981-82: Essentially performed as on "Sheik Yerbouti", accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation. Ed Mann did the Dylan routine instead of the long departed Belew, with the line about wanting to buy some Mandies actually being "Wanna buy some acid, Bob?"
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