Rare Frank Zappa Recordings to Appear on New Box Set

Crossfire Publications will release a series of rare pre-Mothers of Invention era Frank Zappa recordings on May 28 in a new box set titled Paul Buff Presents Highlights From The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives. Paul Buff served as owner of Pal Recording Studio in Cucamonga, CA from 1957-1964, and also served in the The Pal Studio Band, which included guitarist Dave Aerni and a young Zappa on guitar and drums. Zappa worked at the studio starting in 1961, where he learned basic recording techniques from Buff. Buff later became the sound engineer at Original Sound Records when he sold Pal Recording Studio to Zappa in 1964.

The new 156-track 5-CD collection features 58 early masters by the late Zappa, recorded at Pal and Original Sound Recording Studios. Included are recordings of Zappa as a performer, writer and/or producer. Many of the tracks on the box set with Zappa’s involvement are previously unreleased, including some with original Mothers Of Invention vocalist Ray Collins.

The album’s cover art (shown above) features Zappa’s “A Day At The Beach,” which he created in the early 1960s for his sister Patrice “Candy” Zappa.

The first 200 pre-release orders from Crossfire Publications will be accompanied by two additional CDs, The Tornadoes’ Now And Then and Charge Of The Tornadoes, featuring an additional 11 tracks that Frank Zappa engineered at Pal during 1962-1963.

Visit Crossfire Publications’ website to pre-order the album.