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I do believe I've heard a strong rumour that Beat the Boots vol IV is in the process of being compiled.

(A book project I was attempting to partake in has evolved into the proposed scrapbook to accompany the set, that Ahmet is currently working on.)

I suppose this is where we try to guess what stage the production is at and what form it will take -

a) just about to be released
b) still gathering the bootleg albums
c) maybe built from original sound recordings rather than shitty boots
d) not happening at all, just an excuse to kill the book idea
e) other (please specify).

If it is to happen, what do you hope is in it? It'd be cool if it followed on from 'Road Tapes' - based on popular boots (with the popular boot artwork) but much better recordings - sourced from best quality fan tapes/vault recordings. For example, that double album 'Could this be Joe's Garage Acts IV & V', and the 'Eyes of Osaka' recording.

Your turn.

And the correct answer is... E!

I believe this will be a full concert reissued. Similar to the past two CD releases Roxy and ZINY. The reason they will call this Beat the Boots Vol IV will be because they want it to feel like FZ himself created this project by keeping the title consistent with his previous projects.

It simply will be another concert reissued. I have no idea which concert or how it will be presented. Regardless, I'm stoked for the next release! I have yet to be disappointed with these reissues/releases. They sound great (even on my shitty turntable and Toyota speakers.)

What a great time to discover Frank Zappa! I feel very lucky to have all of this music getting 5 star treatment and being available for me.

So maybe replacing the Road Tapes series?

As long as it isn't download only, I'm happy. I like to own the artifact.

Never got 'Beat The Boots Vol 3' and there doesn't seem any way possible to obtain it. If I'm not mistaken it was a download only release from the Zappa site, it's still listed but you don't seem to be able to listen to any of the tracks anymore.

Maybe Beat The Boots Vol 3, will be bundled with Beat The Boots Vol 4.

Look forward to it in any case. Sure there not the greatest of quality in the Zappa live canon but new Zappa to listen to is better than .................................

i guess I could get behind this if it was Vault sourced upgrades to classic bootlegs and only if it were the complete shows (or as complete as they have) and not merely what was on the bootleg. So basically a new Vault release that just steals the title and cover from an old bootleg. As much as I’d say I’d like the ZFT to prioritize shows that are uncirculated in any form...I would really like to get official releases of some famously booted shows like Fullerton 1968 and Appleton 1969 just to name two.

I’m kind of skeptical of this rumor but I could see Ahmet wanting to pull one on the bootleggers like his old man did, maybe targeting some of the more recent and popular ones that have flooded the market in recent years like Wollman Rink 1969 and The Ritz 1981. But if they weren’t sourced from the Vault than I’d consider it a wasted effort.

I always thought the Beat The Boots series was Frank's way of releasing full shows warts n all that he could distance himself from. Once the Vault started releasing full shows that had been cleaned up, the Boots series sort of went away...or was replaced by the Road Tapes in that some recordings were poorly recorded, but contained historical significance and should be heard at your own risk.

The Beat The Boots series was created as a way for FZ to undercut the bootleggers at that time.


I got the download when it was available but I have wondered the same thing. It would be nice the have a tangible official copy.