13 Comments
Aug 15, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

“ If Mel Lewis had been a rock drummer…” You nailed it.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Mark!

Expand full comment
Aug 14, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

Nice piece. One note that the solo on the Zappa CD wasn't the only recorded Jim Gordon solo. He played one on the Derek and the Dominoes live album ("Let It Rain").

Expand full comment
author

Nice catch! Thanks pb…I guess I did NOT hear the whole D&D Fillmore album…thanks for reading and I shall update accordingly.

Expand full comment
Aug 14, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

thanks! i was unaware of this particular zappa live recording with jim gordon on it.. listening now.. reminds me a bit of some of my favourite zappa albums - grand wazoo being right up there and in a similar time frame.. regarding the layla credits, in rita coolidges autoboigraphy - her and gordon were going out ( bonnie and delaney tours and etc ) until he punched her in the face - she claims she wrote an important part of that song which she never got the credit for... jim gordon ripped her off essentially.. the story sounds believable... regardless the guy got around the block and some! sad life though and i wouldn't wish that on anyone..

Expand full comment
author

Yes, I came across that story multiple times. It stands to reason that he stole the tune, and that he was violent. It's simply awful.

Expand full comment
Aug 14, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

ps - i used to listen to traffic as a young person - favourite album - john barleycorn must die... jim capaldi - fantastic drummer from that era and generally always overlooked..

Expand full comment

same time frame - grand wazoo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Wazoo

Expand full comment
author

Big fan of Grand Wazoo, great writing, great playing. Thanks James!

Expand full comment
Aug 15, 2023·edited Aug 15, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

Thanks for the great article! You missed another appearance on a Zappa release - the concert included in the recent Waka/Wazoo box set is the final concert by the 10-piece band, and thus the final concert with Gordon. It was recorded at Winterland Ballroom on December 15, 1972. I highly recommend it.

A complete chronology of his appearances on Zappa releases can be seen here, starting September 1972: http://www.donlope.net/fz/chronology/1970-1972.html

Expand full comment
author

Another good catch! Thanks!

Expand full comment
Aug 14, 2023Liked by Vinnie Sperrazza

Thanks for this! As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, I’m big on Zappa and Gordon was a great fit for this era of his music

Expand full comment
author

Hi Roz! Love your writing, greatly appreciate your FZ writing in particular. Gordon and Frank really were great together, and this was such a creative moment for FZ. Thanks for reading, thanks for writing, and best wishes!

Expand full comment