History Music / TheBestBandYouNeverHeardInYourLife

--> ''And I pump up my sanctified erection''

* SecretWord: Zappa announces "Ring of Fire" as the "secret of word tonight" in "Heavy Duty Judy" and uses it as a RunningGag throughout the album.

** "Sunshine of Your Love" namedrops soul singer Music/IsaacHayes, actor Gabby Hayes [[note]] Windy Walliday in ''Series/HopalongCassidy'' [[/note]], baseballer Willie Mays and actress Helen Hayes, all as an IncrediblyLamePun on "Purple '''Haze'''. Near the end "Jarabe Tapatio" ("The Mexican Hat Dance") is quoted.

* LongTitle: ''The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life''.

* VariantCover: The album has received three over the years. The first one, used in 1991 and pictured above, consisted of a photograph of Zappa and co. performing during the 1988 tour, framed by blue {{underlighting}}. Due to the photograph being used without the permission of photographer Bruce Malone, Zappa opted to simply remove it on later releases, leaving the space in the middle blank. The 1995 reissue by Creator/{{Rykodisc}}, meanwhile, uses [[https://img.discogs.com/tAv2_arlq56pecxYS7P42DhGVAM=/fit-in/600x601/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4424552-1523484207-6274.jpeg.jpg an illustration]] by artist Cal Shenkel (who also did the 1995 cover art for ''Music/DoesHumorBelongInMusic''); the censored version of the 1991 cover would be reinstated on the 2012 [=UMe=] reissue.

* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Musician]]: Music/JohnnyCash was scheduled to perform "Ring of Fire" (similarly to Music/{{Sting}}'s performance of Music/ThePolice's [[Music/{{Synchronicity}} "Murder by Numbers"]] on the CD version of ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay''), but as Zappa explains "his wife got sick and thus he couldn't come tonight." Zappa's band performs "Ring of Fire" nevertheless without him:
--> '''Zappa''': "Johnny, you'll never know what you missed."

# "I Left My Heart in San Francisco?" (0:36)

# "Boléro" (5:19)

# "Theme from ''Bonanza''" (0:28)

# "Ring of Fire" (2:00)

* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Musician]]: Music/JohnnyCash was scheduled to perform "Ring of Fire", but as Zappa explains "his wife got sick and thus he couldn't come tonight." Zappa's band performs "Ring of Fire" nevertheless without him:

# "Who Needs the Peace Corps?" (2:40)

# "Zomby Woof" (5:41)

# "Mr. Green Genes" (3:40)

# "Inca Roads" (8:19)
# "Sofa No. 1" (2:49)

# "Purple Haze" (2:27)
# "Sunshine of Your Love" (2:30)

# "Godfather Part II" Theme" (0:30)

# "The Torture Never Stops, Pt. 1" (5:19)

# "The Torture Never Stops, Pt. 2 " (10:47)

# "Stairway to Heaven" (9:19)

* CoverAlbum: Zappa plays highly unique covers of Music/JohnnyCash's "Ring of Fire", Music/TonyBennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", Music/MauriceRavel's "Boléro", Music/JimiHendrix' "Purple Haze", Music/{{Cream}}'s "Sunshine of Your Love", the traditional "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", the theme from ''Film/TheGodfather'', the theme from ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' and Music/LedZeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven".

''The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life'' is a 1991 [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double]] LiveAlbum by Music/FrankZappa which, much like ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay'' (1991) and the later ''Music/MakeAJazzNoiseHere'' (1991) is a compilation of recordings from Zappa's 1988 tour, the last one he did before his death in 1993. As the title implies, to him it was the most professional band he ever had. Many tracks are older songs by Zappa and [[CoverVersion covers]], all in very intriguing and different arrangements.

* VariantCover: The album has received three over the years. The first one, used in 1991 and pictured above, consisted of a photograph of Zappa and co. performing during the 1988 tour, framed by blue {{underlighting}}. Due to the photograph being used without the permission of photographer Bruce Malone, Zappa opted to simply remove it on later releases, leaving the space in the middle blank. The 1995 reissue by Creator/{{Rykodisc}}, meanwhile, uses [[https://img.discogs.com/tAv2_arlq56pecxYS7P42DhGVAM=/fit-in/600x601/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4424552-1523484207-6274.jpeg.jpg an illustration]] by artist Cal Shenkel (who also did the 1995 cover art for ''Music/DoesHumorBelongInMusic''); the censored 1991 cover would be reinstated on the 2012 [=UMe=] reissue.

* VariantCover: The album has received three over the years. The first one, used in 1991 and pictured above, consisted of a photograph of Zappa and co. performing during the 1988 tour, framed by blue {{underlighting}}. Due to the photograph being used without the permission of photographer Bruce Malone, Zappa opted to simply remove it on later releases, leaving the space in the middle blank. The 1995 reissue by Creator/{{Rykodisc}}, meanwhile, uses [[https://img.discogs.com/tAv2_arlq56pecxYS7P42DhGVAM=/fit-in/600x601/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4424552-1523484207-6274.jpeg.jpg an illustration]] by artist Cal Shenkel (who also did the 1995 cover art for ''Music/DoesHumorBelongInMusic''; the censored 1991 cover would be reinstated on the 2012 [=UMe=] reissue.

''The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life'' is a 1991 [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double]] LiveAlbum by Music/FrankZappa which, much like ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay'' (1991) and the later ''Music/MakeAJazzNoiseHere'' (1991) is a compilation of recordings from Zappa's 1988 tour. As the title implies to him it was the most professional band he ever had. Many tracks are older songs by Zappa and [[CoverVersion covers]], all in very intriguing and different arrangements.

[[AC:Disc One]]

[[AC:Disc Two]]

'''Personnel'''

* SpokenWordInMusic: Zappa's spoken interludes between songs, for starters, and "A Few Moments with Brother A. West" is a protest speech by televangelist Brother A. West against Zappa.

* GenreRoulette: Not surprisingly for a Zappa album, but he plays all his songs in different arrangements and styles. Even the covers aren't safe: "Ring of Fire" is done in a {{Reggae}} arrangement. "Boléro" gets a {{Jazz}} rendition. "Purple Haze" and "Sunshine of Your Love" are backed by a trumpet chorus and frequently interrupted by a Spanish sounding arrangement. "Stairway to Heaven" starts off in {{Reggae}} and ends in a trumpet and trombone performance.

* InTheStyleOf: "[[Music/LedZeppelinIV Stairway to Heaven]]" performed in a {{reggae}} style, with the guitar solo played by the horn section. It's BetterThanItSounds. "[[Music/JohnnyCash Ring of Fire]]" is also given a reggae arrangement, while other songs are given arrangements in other styles; see GenreRoulette above.

'''The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life''' is a 1991 [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double]] LiveAlbum by Music/FrankZappa which, much like ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay'' (1991) and the later ''Music/MakeAJazzNoiseHere'' (1991) is a compilation of recordings from Zappa's 1988 tour. As the title implies to him it was the most professional band he ever had. Many tracks are older songs by Zappa and [[CoverVersion covers]], all in very intriguing and different arrangements.

--> '''Mike Keneally''': ''Love...''
--> '''Background chorus''': ''It's hot''
--> '''Mike Keneally''': ''...Is a burning thing''
--> '''Frank Zappa''': ''That's right, it's the same verse again''
--> '''Mike Keneally''': '' (cracks up briefly) And it leaves a firey ring''
--> '''Frank Zappa''': ''It's one way of learning English.''

** "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" briefly quotes from Julius Fucik's "Entry the Gladiators". The "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" vocals are a reference to Music/LaurieAnderson's hit "O Superman". "Sharkey" is a character in several of songs, thus explaining why Zappa says: "And then Sharkey says..." Mike Keneally:

'''The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life''' is a 1991 [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double]] LiveAlbum by Music/FrankZappa which, much like ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay'' (1991) and the later ''Music/MakeAJazzNoiseHere'' (1991) is a compilation of recordings from Zappa's 1988 tour. As the title implies to him it was the most professional band he ever had. Many tracks are older songs by Zappa and [[CoverVersion covers]], all in very intrigueing and different arrangements.

# "Ring Of Fire" (2:00)

# "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" (2:40)
# "I Left My Heart In San Francisco?" (0:36)

# "Sunshine Of Your Love" (2:30)
# "Let's Move To Cleveland" (5:51)

# "A Few Moments With Brother A. West" (4:00)

# "Theme from "Bonanza" (0:28)

# "The Torture Never Stops, Pt.2 " (10:47)

# "Penguin In Bondage" (5:05)
# "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" (9:18)
# "Stairway To Heaven" (9:19)

!! ''The Best Tropes You Never Read In Your Life''
* [[AbsenteeActor Absentee Musician]]: Music/JohnnyCash was scheduled to perform "Ring Of Fire", but as Zappa explains "his wife got sick and thus he couldn't come tonight." Zappa's band performs "Ring Of Fire" nevertheless without him:
--> '''Zappa''': "Johnny you'll never know what you missed."
* AlliterativeTitle: "The '''B'''est '''B'''and You Never Heard In Your Life".

** "Heavy Duty Judy" (''Music/ShutUpNPlayYerGuitar'') "Cosmik Debris" (''Music/{{Apostrophe}}''), "Zoot Allures", "Find Her Finer" and "The Torture Never Stops" (''Music/ZootAllures''), "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" (''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney''), "Zomby Woof" (''Music/OverNiteSensation''), "Mr. Green Genes", "Florentine Pogen", "Andy", "Inca Roads", "Sofa" (''Music/OneSizeFitsAll''), "Let's Move To Cleveland" (''Music/DoesHumorBelongInMusic''), "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" (''Film/TwoHundredMotels''), "More Trouble Every Day", "Penguin In Bondage" (''Music/RoxyAndElsewhere'') and "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" (''Music/WeaselsRippedMyFlesh'') are all from previous Zappa albums.
** During "Ring Of Fire" Zappa makes an allusion to Senator Paul Hawkins and pyromania, which is a nod to the track "Porn Wars" from ''Music/FrankZappaMeetsTheMothersOfPrevention'' (1985).

** Near the end of "Mr. Green Genes" the line "Isn't it Romantic?" can be heard, a throwback to "Punky's Whips" from ''Music/ZappaInNewYork'' (1977).

** "Lonesome Cowboy Burt", "More Trouble Every Day" and "Penguin In Bondage" satirize televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Zappa poked fun at him before during "What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are?" from ''Music/BroadwayTheHardWay'' (1988) and during the intro of "Stink-Foot" on ''Music/MakeAJazzNoiseHere'' (1991). He also parodied Music/TheBeatles songs "Norwegian Wood", "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" by rewriting the lyrics to refer to Swaggart's sex scandal. Copyright problems have avoided the songs to be included on official Zappa albums, but they can be heard on several bootlegs.
* {{Corpsing}}: Mike Keneally cracks up during "Ring Of Fire" and Zappa too during "Cosmik Debris". During "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" nobody is able to hold a straight face during some of Zappa's adlibs.
* CorruptChurch: "Lonesome Cowboy Burt", "More Trouble Every Day" and "Penguin In Bondage" take potshots at corrupt and hypocritical televangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
* CoverAlbum: Zappa plays highly unique covers of Music/JohnnyCash's "Ring Of Fire", Music/TonyBennett's "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", Music/MauriceRavel's "Boléro", Music/JimiHendrix' "Purple Haze", Music/{{Cream}}'s "Sunshine Of Your Life", the traditional "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", the theme from ''Film/TheGodfather'', the theme from ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' and Music/LedZeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven".

* EpicRocking: The 7:11 "Florentine Pogen", 8:19 "Inca Roads", 10:47 "The Torture Never Stops Part 2", the 9:19 "Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" and 9:21 "Stairway To Heaven".

* FadingIntoTheNextSong: All tracks fade into one another.
* GenreRoulette: Not surprisingly for a Zappa album, but he plays all his songs in different arrangements and styles. Even the covers aren't safe: "Ring And Fire" is done in a {{Reggae}} arrangement. "Boléro" gets a {{Jazz}} rendition. "Purple Haze" and "Sunshine Of Your Love" are backed by a trumpet chorus and frequently interrupted by a Spanish sounding arrangement. "Stairway To Heaven" starts off in {{Reggae}} and ends in a trumpet and trombone performance.

** In "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" Mike Keneally sings "I'll buy a book of Indian lore", whereupon the band intentionally incorrectly imitates a group of Native Americans. In the original context of the song the lore is from UsefulNotes/{{India}}.

* {{Instrumentals}}: "Heavy Duty Judy", "Boléro", "Zoot Allures", "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue".

* {{Lampshading}}: "Ring Of Fire"

* LongTitle: "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life".
* MickeyMousing: Zappa does this during some of the performances. For instance, after the line "there is a songbird who sings" in "Stairway To Heaven" a bird whistle is heard.

** "Ring Of Fire", "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" and "Sunshine Of Your Love" have Mike Keneally impersonating Music/JohnnyCash.
** "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" by Music/TonyBennett is covered, a song Zappa described as "one of the ugliest songs ever written" in "They're Doing the Interview of the Century, Part 1".

* SecretWord: Zappa announces "Ring Of Fire" as the "secret of word tonight" in "Heavy Duty Judy" and uses it as a RunningGag throughout the album.

** "Who Needs The Peace Corps" references ''Series/TheTonightShow''

** "Sunshine Of Your Love" namedrops soul singer Music/IsaacHayes, actor Gabby Hayes [[note]] Windy Walliday in ''Series/HopalongCassidy'' [[/note]], baseballer Willie Mays and actress Helen Hayes, all as an IncrediblyLamePun on "Purple '''Haze'''. Near the end "Jarabe Tapatio" ("The Mexican Hat Dance") is quoted.

** During "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz" is quoted.
** Near the end of "Stairway To Heaven" the trumpets quote from "The Teddy Bears' Picnic".
* SpokenWordInMusic: Zappa's spoken interludes between songs, for starters, and "A Few Moments With Brother A. West" is a protest speech by televangelist Brother A. West against Zappa.
* TimeMarchesOn: "Lonesome Cowboy Burt", "More Trouble Every Day" and "Penguin In Bondage" are all rewritten to poke fun at corrupt televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who, in 1988, was caught in the presence of a prostitute and cried crocodile tears on live television while confessing "his sin to God". In 1989 he was caught red-handed with another prostitute.

* InTheStyleOf: "[[Music/LedZeppelinIV Stairway to Heaven]]" performed in a {{reggae}} style, with the guitar solo played by the horn section. It's BetterThanItSounds. "[[Music/JohnnyCash Ring of Fire]] is also given a reggae arrangement, while other songs are given arrangements in other styles; see GenreRoulette above.

* InTheStyleOf: "[[Music/LedZeppelinIV Stairway to Heaven]]" performed in a {{reggae}} style, with the guitar solo played by the horn section. It's BetterThanItSounds.