FZ album(s) in which song has appeared

• We're Only In It For The Money (1968), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, recorded at Mayfair and/or Apostolic Studios, New York, NY, July-October 1967
  • same version, censored, on Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention (Transparency) (1975) as Let's Make The Water Turn Black
  • same version on Strictly Commercial (1995)
  • same version, mono mix, on The Lumpy Money Project/Object (2009) as Let's Make The Water Turn Black
  • same version, 1984 remix with overdubs, on The Lumpy Money Project/Object (2009) as Let's Make The Water Turn Black
• Road Tapes, Venue #1 (2012), as part of The Orange County Lumber Truck, performed in Vancouver, BC, Canada, August 25, 1968
• Ahead Of Their Time (1993), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, performed in London, UK, October 25, 1968
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1 (1988) as part of Let's Make The Water Turn Black/Harry, You're A Beast/The Orange County Lumber Truck, performed in Stratford, CT, February 16, 1969
• Road Tapes, Venue #3 (2016), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, performed in Minneapolis, MN, July 5, 1970
• Zappa/Erie (2022), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, performed in Edinboro, PA, May 8, 1974
• BTB I: Unmitigated Audacity (1991), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, performed in South Bend, IN, May 12, 1974
• Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991), as Let's Make The Water Turn Black, performed in Rotterdam, Netherlands, May 3, 1988

 

Tour(s) on which song is known to have been performed (main source: FZShows, v. 7.1)

• September-October 1967 (1st MOI European Tour)—known performances: 1
• October 1967-August 1968 (MOI)—known performances: 3
• September-October 1968 (2nd MOI European Tour)—known performances: 3
• November 1968-May 1969 (MOI)—known performances: 3
• May-August 1969 (MOI)—known performances: 2
• June-December 1970 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• April-May 1974 (MOI 10th Anniversary Tour)—known performances: 8
• June-August 1974 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• April-May 1975 (MOI with Captain Beefheart)—known performances: 3
• October-December 1984 (North America)—known quotations: 1
• February-March 1988 (North America)—known performances: 14
• April-June 1988 (Europe)—known performances: 13

 

Comments

Foggy G, "The Songs That Were Played," We're Only In It For The Touring

1968: Essentially performed as on "Ahead of Their Time"- the instrumental version.

1974: Essentially performed as on "Unmitigated Audacity" from Beat the Boots Volume I.

1975: Funky! A whole different arrangement, with a rollicking funk beat. The music is set up in your standard verse/chorus format, with some extra ooh's and aah's, and a musical bridge segueing either into a short Duke or Frank solo after the second chorus. As the solo peters out, the music enters this repetitive yet interesting funk groove, which gradually fades in volume and leads us to the next tune. Quite a shame this one never got released. Even Brock's vocals- which were frequently annoying by this stage in his Zappa career- were all right on this piece. One of the reasons why everyone needs to track down a tape from this tour.

1988: Essentially performed as on MAJNH- the instrumental version- and always performed as part of the Big Medley.

 

Conceptual Continuity

• The Idiot Bastard Son
• Ronnie Sings?
• Kenny's Booger Story
• Ronnie's Booger Story