Album of Yesterday

The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, by Frank Zappa (1991): Although it's legendary implosion had earned the 1988 band an infamous reputation, it's an appropriate ensemble to be Zappa's last to go on the road. After several tours with smaller ensembles, 1988 brought a return to the "big band," complete with a deep and exceptionally talented horn section. In addition, the 1988 band helped launch the career of one of Frank's most impressive alums, Mike Keneally. The band gets represented on three albums of its own (the other two being Broadway the Hard Way and Make a Jazz Noise Here) and in the YCDTOSA series, as well. Best Band . . . is more scattered than the other two, throwing in several oddball covers as well as traditional Zappa favs. Of particular note is the One Size Fits All hunk on disc 1 and the cover of "Stairway to Heaven" (with the horn section tackling Page's famous solo) to round things out.