Zappa Family Trust Regains Frank's Collection

[SilenceIsACrime]

TIME TO FREAK OUT…
FRANK’S BACK!
ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST
REGAINS CONTROL OF ICONIC MUSICIAN’S
EXTENSIVE CATALOG
GLOBAL LICENSE/DISTRIBUTION DEAL SIGNED WITH
UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES
CATALOG OF 60 RECORDINGS
TO BE LAUNCHED WITH JULY 31 RELEASE OF 12 TITLES

Back home where it belongs, the music of FRANK ZAPPA is now back in the hands of the ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST.

To celebrate this, the estate has signed a global license and distribution deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES to release 60 of the iconic composer’s recordings. The roll-out kicks off July 31 with 12 recordings, with another dozen recordings to be released monthly through the end of 2012.

“The ink is not yet dry on The Zappa Family Trust’s worldwide deal with Universal Music Enterprises,” says Gail Zappa. “They made us the offer we couldn’t refuse–for all the right reasons. It is a win-win for all of us, but mostly for Frank Zappa. Long may his baton wave. We are so ready to go.”

“The artist and composer, Frank Zappa, is one of the most important and influential artists in music history with his prolific body of work, including his breakthrough rock ‘n roll concept albums. We are honored that Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust have entrusted us with his legacy. We intend to honor him and bring high quality releases, digital and physical, for his new and longtime fans,” said Bruce Resnikoff, President/CEO, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

Now fully back in hands of the Zappa Family Trust–headed by Zappa’s widow Gail Zappa–the releases will honor the iconic legacy of the composer, musician, bandleader and filmmaker. ZAPPA was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 (although the family would like to know where it is). The official biography: Frank Zappa, American composer, 1940-1993.

The UME deal is for the entire Zappa Catalog as it appeared on Frank Zappa’s own independent label, Barking Pumpkin Records. Many of the original analog masters have been re-mastered for this occasion. Yes that’s right, you heard right. The entire Catalog, in all its spiffnificent glory will launch July 31, just in time for Frank Zappa’s daughter DIVA’s birthday–an occasion that will be celebrated along with GAIL, sister MOON UNIT and brothers DWEEZIL and AHMET.

For more information, go to Welcome to zappa.com - The Official Frank Zappa Website.

The initial 12 FRANK ZAPPA releases included in the ZAPPA/UNIVERSAL deal set for July 31 are as follows. **Date signifies original year of release.

1. Freak Out! (1966)
2. Absolutely Free (1967)
3. Lumpy Gravy (1968)
4. We’re Only In It For The Money (1968)
5. Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (1968)
6. Uncle Meat (1969)
7. Hot Rats (1969)
8. Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970)
9. Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970)
10. Chunga’s Revenge (1970)
11. Fillmore East, June 1971 (1971)
12. Just Another Band From L.A. (1972)

Zappa Family Trust Regains Control Of Iconic Musician

This is fantastic news! I would love to see Frank's music reach a whole new audience - that man deserves so much more praise than he receives (and he still receives a fair amount).

I'm also hoping for some secret new stuff from the vault Lord knows there is plenty. Who else is stoked for re-mastered music/potentially new stuff from the master? What would you like to see/hear most?

 

[Blasphemer]

Nice!

 

[broj15]

This seriously made my week. I'm hoping this means vinyl re-presses on luxurious 180 gram platters

 

[ArtDecade]

Fantastic news!

 

[Fantomas]

This is nice, still how did they lose the rights in the first place?
Those albums were apparently released on his own barking pumpkin label, and in this ( Interview with Gail Zappa: Copyright, Creativity, Covers, and More | Music Business and Trend Mongering) article it is stated that Gail is overseeing the releases of material from the vault?

Who had the rights for the last few years and how did they get them?

 

[SenorDingDong]

 

[Pushingink]

This just made my day.

 

[ilyti]

Deeoo-diddly-doodoo-da-di-dyeeoo-doo...


This is great!

 

[Alimination]

woah, great news!

 

[guitareben]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Wait... Will we see Zappa on Spotify?!?!?!? oh man, oh yes

 

[shadowlife]

This is nice, still how did they lose the rights in the first place?

Who had the rights for the last few years and how did they get them?

As per Zappa's wishes when he was dying, Gail sold the rights to Rykodisc, who had control until recently.

I'm glad the ZFT has the rights back, hopefully the release schedule will not be plagued with delays like some of their other projects.