FZ album(s) in which song has appeared

• Funky Nothingness (2023), as Sharleena (Unedited Master), recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA, March 4 & 11, 1970
  • same version, shorter edit, on Funky Nothingness (2023) as Sharleena (1970 Record Plant Mix)
    • same version, still shorter edit, on The Lost Episodes (1996) as Sharleena
• Chunga's Revenge (1970), as Sharleena, recorded at Trident Studios, London, UK, June 21-22, 1970
  • same version, different mix, on The Mothers 1970 (2020), as Sharleena (Roy Thomas Baker Mix)
• Road Tapes, Venue #3 (2016), as Sharleena (Show 1) and Sharleena (Show 2), performed in Minneapolis, MN, July 5, 1970
• The Mothers 1970 (2020), as Sharleena, performed in Santa Monica, CA, August 21, 1970
• BTB II: Tengo Na Minchia Tanta (1992), as Sharleena, performed in New York, NY, November 1970
• Carnegie Hall (2011), as Sharleena, performed in New York, NY, October 11, 1971
• BTB II: Swiss Cheese/Fire! (1992), as part of Wonderful Wino/Sharleena/Cruisin' For Burgers, performed in Montreux, Switzerland, December 4, 1971
• The Mothers 1971 (2022), as Sharleena, performed in London, UK, December 10, 1971
  • same version on Playground Psychotics (1992), as Sharleena
• BTB I: As An Am (1991), as Sharleena, performed in Cologne, Germany, May 21, 1982
• Them Or Us (1984), as Sharleena, performed c. September 1981-July 1982
  • same version on Zappa en la Radio (1997)
• Guitar (1988), guitar solo as Winos Do Not March, performed in Memphis, TN, December 4, 1984
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3 (1989), as Sharleena, performed in Los Angeles, CA, December 23, 1984
  • same version on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Sampler (1988) as Sharleena
  • same version, shorter edit, on Guitar Player Sound Page #28 (1987)
• Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show (2021), as Sharleena, performed in Uniondale, NY, March 25, 1988

 

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

• March 1970 (Hot Rats Band)—known performances: 1
• June-December 1970 (MOI)—known performances: 13
• August-October 1971 (MOI)—known performances: 3
• November-December 1971 (MOI European Tour)—known performances: 9
• September-December 1981 (North America)—known performances: 14
• May-July 1982 (Europe)—known performances: 10
• July-September 1984 (North America)—known performances: 11
• September-October 1984 (Europe)—known performances: 15
• October-December 1984 (North America)—known performances: 16
• February-March 1988 (North America)—known performances: 7
• April-June 1988 (Europe)—known performances: 18

 

Comments

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

1970 (Hot Rats Band): This premiere performance of this eventual guitar solo classic appears essentially as it would on "Lost Episodes". This version, or at least this recording of this version, has a harder guitar edge, but nevertheless bounces along at the same frantic pace. Harris and Frank both take solos, with Frank contributing some heavy rhythm support during Harris' violin workout and during a short full-band jam in the midst of these solos. Harris takes the longer of the two solos, though Frank's wah-wah tinged effort still satisfies. This is a worthy performance, and just as enjoyable as the revelatory "lost episode".

1970 (Jun-Dec): Essentially performed as on "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta" from Beat the Boots Volume II, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's end of song guitar solo. This is not a full-blown FZ guitar experience, but is long enough and contains enough energy to warrant being called a solo. Plus, it is an excellent way to end this tune.

1971: Essentially performed as on "Playground Psychotics", with some bursts of guitar throughout, and Dunbar's hyperactive drumming (listen to that bass pedal) bubbling underneath. Note the excellently placed "me" in the first bars of the following "Cruisin' for Burgers", and how that delayed vocal does such a fine job of linking the two songs together.

1981-82: Essentially performed as "As An Am" from Beat the Boots volume one. One of Frank's great "let's-bring-this-tune-back" decisions. Not having seen the light of day since the Flo 'n' Eddie days, this revamped with guitar solo "Sharleena" is one of the guitar highlights of the eighties. Unfortunately, this tour's, along with the '82 tour's, versions have an edge to them that is lost on subsequent tours. While I enjoy the '84 performances and solos, the '81 and '82 "Sharleena's" have a rough quality that really adds to the flavor of the song. Even though this band is obviously well-rehearsed and very professional, they still manage to maintain quite a bit of passion and fury. This tune greatly benefits from this emotional charge.

1984: Essentially played as on YCDTOSA Volume III, with the standard deviation coming in Frank's solo, and with the absence of Dweezil, obviously. Frank must have really liked this vamp, because without fail, every "Sharleena" I have heard from this tour has had an excellent, let's-sit-down-and-listen guitar solo. "Winos Do Not March" from "Guitar" is a "Sharleena" extract.

1988: Essentially performed as on YCDTOSA Volume III, allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with the standard deviation coming in Frank's solo.