Released: 16 September 2022
LC guitarist Vernon Reid said of the track, “In celebration of 30th anniversary of Living Colour’s first appearance in Brazil, which also was Doug Wimbish’s first live appearance with the band, we are releasing a special edition version of ‘Cult Of Personality’ featuring our special guest in Rio de Janeiro, our dear friend, the extraordinary Mr. Steve Vai on additional guitar. Engineered and mixed by the original producer of the song Mr. Ed Stasium.”
Steve appears on the track “Eco Warrior Goddess”.
Release Date: 15 July, 2021
Jonah Nilsson is one of those new breeds of wildly talented musical prodigies. He is originally from the band Dirty Loops. I’ve been following them for some years now. They are freakishly good players. Jonah had reached out and asked if I would be interested in doing a guitar solo on the first single off his new solo album (that’s out today). I also appear in the video at the end. It’s fascinating to see this kind of talent emerging.
Release Date: 2 October, 2020
Recorded live at The Palladium, NYC, October 31st and November 1st, 1981.
Players:
Frank Zappa – Lead Guitar, Vocals, Baton
Ray White – Guitar, Vocals
Steve Vai – Stunt Guitar, Vocals
Tommy Mars – Keyboards
Robert Martin – Keyboards, Sax, Vocals
Ed Mann – Percussion, Vocals
Scott Thunes – Bass, Vocals
Chad Wackerman – Drums
Release Date: 2 October, 2020
Recorded live at The Palladium, NYC, October 31st and November 1st, 1981.
Players:
Frank Zappa – Lead Guitar, Vocals, Baton
Ray White – Guitar, Vocals
Steve Vai – Stunt Guitar, Vocals
Tommy Mars – Keyboards
Robert Martin – Keyboards, Sax, Vocals
Ed Mann – Percussion, Vocals
Scott Thunes – Bass, Vocals
Chad Wackerman – Drums
Mohini dey,India,24 yrs old has been working professionally in the music Industry for the past 16 years.She is the current bass player for Mr.A R Rahman and a Japanese Band called B’z.She has also played on over 60 movies and albums worldwide.
My good friend Mohini Dey debuted her first solo release. I first heard Mohini playing bass in 2015 and was instantly aware that she was an inspired player. The work she did on my song “Bop!” from Modern Primitive is an example of her amazing musical instincts and performance ability. And now with her new solo release, you can experience her splendors. Of course I was eager to throw something down on this track “Can You Feel Me?”. I actually get to trade fusiony runs with a sax! Enjoy
Release Date: 2018
Steve appears on the track “Valley of Fire”
It’s an honor for me to have had the opportunity to contribute to this record. Jason is an incredible phenomenon. His inner musical ear is inspired, and in the face of incomprehensible limitations he has managed to manifest this beautiful music with a patience and joyfulness that is humbling to us all, with overtones of stunned disbelief. His accomplishments will be of historical inspirational value and the light that shines from his face is a testament to his connection with inner peace. Oh, and… he’s a really fun guy too! -s
Release Date: October 30 2015
Asian-only two CD collection
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Ponder the mistery, With William Shatner
Link to video: Youtube Official William Shatner Channel
Release Date: 29 October 2013
From Wikipedia:
In November 2011, after performing a series of special Devin Townsend Project shows, Devin Townsend revealed his plan to perform a one-off concert in London, England, that would cover his musical career from mid-1990s up to that point. Townsend stated that he wanted to create a “more than musical” show which included a storyline, multiple performers and special effects. Later he said that the concert would be recorded for future release.
The concert lasted approximately two and a half hours, and it was divided into two parts, with an intermission in between. The band consisted of the same personnel as the recent years’ Devin Townsend Project line-up, and the special guests were Anneke van Giersbergen and Jed Simon, with Steve Vai hosting the show via pre-recorded video projected onto screens. The setlist was focused heavily on material from Epicloud and a few other albums from Townsend’s catalogue; the setlist included no songs from Terria, Accelerated Evolution, Ki and Ghost. Townsend also performed, against his current principles, two Strapping Young Lad songs. He later stated that this was because of the career-spanning nature of the concert, and playing those two songs was a “closure for him and Strapping Young Lad”. He also wanted to “respect the legacy of the band” and to reconnect and perform again with Jed Simon.
Release Date: 26 January 2010
Release Date: June 4, 2007
Steve performs spoken words on the track “Repentance”.
Release Date: July 28 2005
Release Date: January 21, 2005
This album was released exclusively over Apple’s iTunes Music Store. Steve is featured on the previously unreleased track “Rush”. The soundtrack also features the work of Vai collaborator Niels Bye Nielsen.
Release Date: Noveber 16, 2004
Light Without Heat LWH1005-2
This sixth installment to the Secret Jewel Box features 11 of Steve’s compositions re-interpreted for solo piano by the incredible Mike Keneally. Included are the tracks: All About Eve // Die To Live // Salamanders In The Sun // Bledsoe Bluvd // Ballerina 12/24 // Dyin’ Day // Touching Tongues // Kill The Guy With The Ball/The God Eaters // Sisters // Pig // Junkie. Click here to buy this album.
Release Date: November 9, 2004
One of the most anticipated soundtracks of 2004! This album, produced by legendary award-winning producer Nile Rodgers features all new music composed by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori, and of course, an incendiary guest appearance by Steve Vai on the tracks “Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix” and “Never Surrender”
Release Date: September 7, 2004
Favored Nations
An intimate piano album that is all at once moving, spontaneous, and deeply personal by Grammy and CMA award winning pianist, singer and composer, Bob Carpenter (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). This CD features a piano interpretation of “Whispering a Prayer”. It also features Steve Vai on acoustic guitar and Pia Vai on harp.
Release date: October 21, 2003
Shrapnel Records
Produced by the Crumb Bros., Glenn Hughes and Joe Lynn TurnerSteve Vai appears on the track “Losing My Head.”
Release date: June 6, 2003
Light Without Heat 1003-2/Favored Nations
Archives Vol. 3 is a compilation of Steve’s bonus tracks featured on Japanese releases of his CDs, along with promotional tracks, songs featured on other albums and unreleased/demo tracks.Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Release date: June 6, 2003
Light Without Heat LWH 1004-2/Favored Nations
Archives Vol. 4 is a collection of songs Vai has contributed to other projects and records including Public Image Ltd., tracks from the Hendrix tribute In From The Storm with the London Symphony Orchestra, and a collaboration with Chick Corea from The Songs Of West Side Story, among others.Click here for more detailed info on this record .
Only available in the Secret Jewel Box set, Vai reflects here on his three years as a member of Zappa’s ensemble where he was credited not just as “guitarist” but as wielder of “strat abuse” and “impossible guitar parts.” These are Frank Zappa recordings, written and produced by the late musical innovator, and authorized by the Zappa Family Trust.The booklet contains the original liner notes for each Zappa track, along with Steve’s comments on each track.
Produced by Steve Vai
Release date: December 11, 2001
Light Without Heat
Eventually containing 10 CDs, The Secret Jewel Box ships with three discs inside: The Elusive Light and Sound; Alcatrazz : Disturbing the Peace, and Archives Vol. 2 : Original Recordings of Frank Zappa. The remaining 7 CDs will be released and sold separately over the next couple of years. Only 10,000 boxes have been made and all 10 of the CDs will fit into it, spelling out a secret phrase on the CD spines.
To read more about the Secret Jewel Box, visit our special Mini-site.
Release date: 2001
Roland Corporation
A promotional CD featuring some of the world’s premier guitarists performing original music on the Roland VG-88 V-Guitar System and the GR-33 Guitar Synthesizer.Steve performs the tracks “Cliffs of Insanity” and “Misfits”.
Release date: September 18, 2001
Vareèse Sarabande Records #: 302 066 286 2
Steve Vai performs on 2 tracks: “Ghosts of Mars” and “Ghost Poppin’.” Other performers include Buckethead, Elliot Easton, Scott Ian and Robin Finck.*Also check out the DVD to see studio footage of Steve recording the tracks, which appears within the Special Features menu.
Produced by Steve Vai
Release date: Nov 11, 2000
Epic Records / Sony Music EK85220
Release date: March 17, 2000
This is a special collector’s edition, Italian reissue pairing 1989′s “Slip of the Tongue” (with SV on guitars) and 1987′s “Whitesnake” CD, plus 7 bonus tracks (including SV on the track “Sweet Lady Luck”). Also features a 36 page booklet with biographies and exclusive photos, inside a digipak with embossed cover.
Produced by Steve Vai
Release date: Sept 7, 1999
Epic Records / Sony Music EK69817
Click here to order this record.
All tracks Produced by Frank Zappa
Release date: April 27, 1999
Rykodisc RCD10581
Steve appears on “Ya Hozna” and “What’s New in Baltimore?”
Release date: March 16, 1999
Epic Records / Sony Music
Where else can you get Steve Vai, James Brown, Donny Osmond and MC Hammer on the same disc? Nowhere else. Steve performs the track “Wipe Out.”
Produced by Steve Vai
Release date: Nov 10, 1998
Epic Records / Sony Music EK69703
Click here to order this record.
Produced by Steve Vai, Co-Produced by Robin Dimaggio
Released 1998
A promo CD from Morley to promote the Bad Horsie wah pedal designed by Steve. There are two tracks: “Bad Squad” (with a short spoken introduction from Steve) and “Naked Morley Vamps” (“Bad Squad” backing tracks.) These were given away for a limited time at Guitar Centers with a purchase of the Bad Horsie pedal.There were two releases of “Bad Squad” with slightly different cover artwork. Both releases came in a cardboard sleeve.
All tracks Produced by Frank Zappa
Release date: April 28, 1998
Rykodisc (RCD10579)
Steve performs on “We Are Not Alone”, “You Are What You Is”, “Zomby Woof.”
Produced by Gregg Bissonette, Matt Bissonette
Release date: February 10, 1998
Shrapnel 11162
Steve performs on “Common Road.”
Release date: October 28, 1997
Rhino/WaWaZat R2-72941
Steve performs on a little over half of the songs on this disc, including “Yankee Rose”, “Just Like Paradise”, “Big Trouble”, “Hot Dog and a Shake”, “Skyscraper”, “Shy Boy”, “Stand Up”, “Tobacco Road”, “Goin’ Crazy”, and “Ladies’ Nite in Buffalo?”
Release date: October 28, 1997
WEA/Atlantic 83048
Steve performs on “Der Holle Rache (Queen of the Night)”. This album also features Steve Stevens and Eric Johnson.
Executive Producer: Steve Vai
Released Oct 14, 1997
Epic/Sony EK67775
Steve performs on the gorgeous “Christmas Time is Here”. Other performers include Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson and more.
I had the desire to make an instrumental guitar Christmas record performing traditional Christmas songs with a twist. It would have taken many months to complete a project like this myself so I thought it would be nicer to use various artists, musicians who have brought a unique voice to the guitar.
I took the concept to Epic Records an they were thrilled with it. I got together with John Kalodner and between him, myself and Ruta Sepetys (my manager) we put it together.
It was difficult at first to pick the players to call. There are so many great ones. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Brian Setzer, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Joe Perry, Richie Sambora, Alex Lifeson and Hotei are the players that delivered stellar Yuletide guitar on a silver platter.
Produced by Mike Fraser
Release date: June 3, 1997
Epic Records / Sony Music EK67920
Click here to order this record.
Release date: March 12, 1997 in Japan
BMG Japan BVCR781
Steve plays guitar and bass on the track “Speed.”Free World is a project coordinated by Munetaka Higuchi, drummer for the Japanese band Loudness. The record also features Billy Sheehan, Terry Bozio, Stevie Salas, Don Dokken, Ronnie James Dio, Ty Tabor, Tracy G, Jeff Pilson, TM Stevens, Stanley Clarke and Michael Thompson.
Release date November 1, 1996 in Japan
Sony Music ESCB2208
Steve performs on “Let It Go.”
Produced by Steve VaiRelease date Sept 17, 1996
Epic Records / Sony Music 485062-2
Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Produced by David Pack
Release date: January 30, 1996
BMG/RCA Victor 09026-62707
Steve appears on “The Rumble” (Steve Vai’s Monsters vs. Chick Corea’s Elektric Band)
This was a milestone event for me, considering that Leonard Bernstein had such a tremendous influence on my musical awareness. As a child I would watch this film every time it was on TV. My parents actually had the soundtrack record, I must have been 4 or 5 years old and would sit when nobody was around and just listen to it over and over again. It was stunning how the pieces had such attitude, the orchestra was so pumping, and the performers were so aggressive, and yet it was so melodic and captivating.
David Paich was the producer and mastermind behind this record. The line-up consisted of serious heavy hitters like Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Selena, and many more. I remember speaking to Selena over the phone when she was in the studio recording her track for the record. This was her last recording.
The piece on which I performed is called “Rumble”. The concept was to bring together two bands in a dueling musical atmosphere (I know… how unlike me, right?)
In the film, “Rumble” is sort of the do-or-die dance that takes place between the Jets and the Sharks. The arrangement was done so 2 bands would face each other. The bands were Chick Corea’s Elektric Band (Chick Corea – keyboards, Dave Weckl – drums, Frank Gambale – guitar, Jimmy Earl – bass, Eric Marienthal – saxophone) vs. Steve Vai’s Monsters (Steve Vai – guitar, Simon Phillips – drums, John Pena – bass, David Paich – keyboards, Lenny Castro – percussion.)
It was staggering to be in that kind of a musical atmosphere in the studio. It was this incredible wall of sound from some of the most talented musical giants on the face of the planet.
At one point, Chick went to the piano to do an improvised intro for the piece. Never in my life have I ever seen a man so divinely inspired on an instrument. When he finished, the rest of us could hardly play, feeling that we were benevolently granted the musical stimulation of what the history of man has evolved into in it’s most refined and profound melodious awareness.
We just looked at each other like idiots.
Produced by Eddie Kramer
Released Oct 24, 1995
RCA Victor 09026-68233
Steve appears on “Drifting” and “Bold as Love”
Release date: August 27, 1995
Rykodisc RCD40500
Steve performs on “Sexual Harrassment in the Workplace”, “Fine Girl”, “Valley Girl”, and “Be In My Video”.
Produced by Steve Vai Originally released March 21, 1995 on Relativity/Sony
Epic Records / Sony Music 88561-12452
Click here to order this record.
Release date: May 10, 1994
Arista 11017
Steve scored this film, and contributed the track “Now We Run” to this soundtrack.
Release date: September 21, 1993
Verve/Polygram 513575
Joel Thome is a prominent contemporary composer that spearheaded this tribute concert to Frank. He constructed a 30-piece orchestral ensemble who went by the name “Orchestra of Our Time”. I very gleefully accepted the offer to go to New York and play at the tribute. Frank was actually going to attend, but at the last minute his illness prevented it.
Performance-wise, I had my choice of Frank’s repertoire to pick from. “Can’t Afford No Shoes”, “Sofa” and “I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth” were the choices. Later I joined Dweezil and the band for a sinister rendition of “Dirty Love.”
After listening to the tapes of “Sofa”, I realized my guitar was a little bit out of tune from the band and I wanted to spiff up the part. So, I took the tracks into the studio and brushed them up a bit. I’m happy with this performance, but then again, the melody to that song is so absolutely touching and beautiful, it would sound glorious performed on a kazoo (as long as they play the right notes). The truly amazing thing was that we actually won a Grammy Award for this performance in the category of “Best Rock Instrumental Performance.” For a good part of my career I had wanted to impress Frank with the way I performed his music. It seems like such divine karmic irony that so shortly after his passing, I would receive such an honorable award for a song that he wrote. It’s really the industry’s way of showing respect and tribute to Frank.
Produced by Steve Vai
Originally released July 27, 1993 on Relativity/Sony
Epic Records / Sony Music 88561-1132-2
Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Released July 1992
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10571/72
Steve performs on “Magic Fingers”, “The Madison Panty-Sniffing Festival”, “I’m So Cute”, “Ms. Pinky”, “Tracy Is A Snob”, “Emperor Of Ohio”, “Alien Orifice”, “Lisa’s Life Story”, and “Strictly Genteel”.
This is the final volume of the You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore archives. There are some stimulating sparks on this record. A whipping version of “Alien Orifice” and a very playful piece called “Lisa’s Life Story”. Lisa Popeil was a musician who had auditioned for Frank’s band in 1981.
When we played at the Santa Monica Civic Center in 1981, she came out on stage and did this improv where she told the story of her life through operatic meanderings. Lisa Popeil is of the famed Popeil family, you know… the inventor of Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman. Her father is Ron Popeil of Ronco. So, it was delightful to hear her tell the story of her life as we followed Frank’s conducting.
There is also a beautiful version of “Strictly Genteel” on this record. I had heard Frank mention that it was one of his favorite songs that he’d written.
Released July 1992
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10569/70
Steve performs on “Easy Meat”, “The Dead Girls Of London”, “Shall We Take Ourselves Seriously?”, “What’s New In Baltimore?”, “Moggio”, “Dancin’ Fool”, “RDNZL”, “Advance Romance”, “City Of Tiny Lites”, “A Pound For A Brown (On The Bus)”, “Doreen”, “The Black Page #2″, and “Geneva Farewell”.
The second disc of this two-disc package contains recordings from Frank’s 1982 European tour. I was in this band and that tour has special memories for me. I went through some major emotional and personal development during that period. Some major pivotal physiological expansion.
Frank was one time quoted as saying “The ’82 band could play beautifully when it wanted to.” Some of my favorite Zappa songs were performed at these concerts and appear on this disc. A few of the more challenging ones are “What’s New In Baltimore?”, “Moggio”, “RDNZL”, “Advance Romance” and “Black Page #2.”
There’s one piece on there called “Geneva Farewell”. It was the third song of the set from the show in Geneva and Frank pointed to me, surprisingly, to do an ad lib guitar solo on the spot. I waited a long time for that moment. The band was grooving and I was gearing up. I had the “blow away factor” on ten. The “blow away factor” is a personal indicator of the forthcoming event, that reveals to you the inspiration and knowledge that you’re gonna kick some major ass in the next few moments.
I played three notes and somebody threw a cigarette butt on the stage and Frank stopped the show. He then went up to the microphone and said something to the effect of…”Do not throw anything up on the stage and whoever threw that must come up and show themselves, and then be escorted out of the building and then we will continue the show.”
We sat for a few moments in silence, then somebody threw something else on stage. I don’t know if it was a coin or a bottle of water, but Frank abruptly got up said “Show’s over”, walked off the stage, got in a car and drove away. The band ran backstage and the audience proceeded to destroy the stage by throwing stuff at it and then finally attacking it. As we were driving away, we could hear them yelling, in broken English, “ZAPPA GO HOME!!!”
Oh, well. Farewell, Geneva.
Release date: May 19, 1992
Universal/Hollywood Records 61330
Steve performs the track “Get The Hell Out Of Here.”
Release date: June 21, 1991
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10567/68
Steve performs on “Approximate”, “Church Chat”, “Steve’s Spanking”, “Disco Boy”, “Teen-age Wind”, “Truck Driver Divorce”, “The Man From Utopia” and “Mary Lou”.
This, like most of Frank’s other You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore volumes, has material on it from different bands. For people who get off on twisted guitar parts (the impossible kind), there’s a song called “Approximate” on this record. Frank composed this song with indefinite pitches, basically just rhythms and note directions. We had several different versions worked up. In one performance we were to add our own pitches to the rhythms, in another we would add our own words to the rhythms and sometimes we would dance the rhythms. Yes, that’s Frank.
This particular night the performance involved notes and the tempo was frighteningly fast, very fast. Unlike many of the other performance pieces I recorded while with Frank, my guitar is mixed very loud in this one.
This piece of music is one of hundreds of examples of Frank’s uncompromising compositional genius. No other contemporary composer can bring together so many different techniques, genres, skillfulness and comic relief.
Release date: July 9, 1991
Universal/Interscope Records CD91725
Steve performs the tracks “The Reaper” and “The Reaper Rap”.
I was first asked to do some of the air guitar tricks in this film, and then the director asked if I would be interested in scoring a couple of the scenes. At the end of the film there was a climactic scene that was supposed to bring together both the first film (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure) and this sequel. The climax of the two films was to take place during this intense guitar piece. It was originally recorded by the guitarist for Faith No More, Jim Martin, but at the last minute the movie studio decided to change the entire ending of the film. They called one week before the world premiere (and I mean the very last minute). They needed a re-score of the entire climatic ending scene.
The trick was that the actors had already played to what Jim Martin’s original part was, but the director needed more flailing guitar.
That was the underscore music for the film. The pieces that appear on the soundtrack recording (“The Reaper” and “The Reaper Rap”) were put together quite differently. First was the creation of this groovin’ track, then I spent ten 18-hour days editing dialog bits from the film and flying them into the song.
Release date: July 2, 1991
Epic/Sony EK46786
Steve performs with Joe Satriani on “Feed My Frankenstein”.
Growing up I went through an intense Alice Cooper phase. I knew all his music and worshipped it as a way of life. When Alice asked me to play a solo on his record, it was like a cosmic convergence taking place before me (or something like that). I had to chuckle at the odds of it all. When it was complete, Alice sent me this terrifically gnarly turquoise ring as a gift. Joe Satriani and I both play solos on this song. Some nice harmonies.
Produced by Steve Vai
Originally released September 1990 on Relativity/Sony
Epic Records / Sony Music 88581-1037-2
Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Release date: May 16, 1988
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10561/62
Steve performs on “The Mammy Anthem”, “Fine Girl”, “Zomby Woof”, “Dumb All Over”, “Heavenly Bank Account”, “Suicide Chump”, “Tell Me You Love Me” and “Sofa #2″.
The You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore series of discs is a concept that Frank had, to release a series of discs with live music and no overdubs. This series spans many different bands with whom Frank toured. I appear periodically throughout these volumes.
On this record, there’s a pretty good version of “Sofa #2” and “Zombie Woof”. “Zombie Woof” was performed on the 1982 European tour. I used to use Frank’s Hendrix guitar, it’s the actual guitar that Jimi Hendrix burned in Miami. I used it as a spare and was always a little nervous to play it, but I remember the second show of the tour we had a new guitar tech and my guitar went out of tune so I had to switch guitars. The tech handed me a guitar that had the E string tuned to F. Then he handed me one of Frank’s guitars that was missing a string. So, I had to put the guitar down and wait for him to tune my guitar. Frank turned to me to start “Zombie Woof” because I was the one who started the song when he gave the cue. He looked at me and I had no guitar in my hand, and the look on his face was that of surprise, confusion, yet disappointment (and in a way that only Frank could do it). I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, and they started the song without me. The guitar tech was on a plane home the very next day. Oh, well.
Produced by David Lee Roth & Steve Vai
Release date: January 21, 1988
Warner Bros. Records 9256711
Steve performs throughout this CD, which spawned several hits including “Just Like Paradise”, “Damn Good” and “Stand Up”.
Dave made a conscious effort to move in a different direction and wanted to try his hand at producing, with me as co-producer. Although it’s very different from the previous record, Eat ‘Em And Smile, there are some fine nuggets here.
Produced by Frank Zappa
Released April 1988
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10079-80
Steve performs on Steve appears on “Sexual Harassment In The Workplace”, “Which One Is It?”, “Do Not Pass Go”, “Chalk Pie”, “When No One Was No One”, “Jim & Tammy’s Upper Room”, “That Ol’ G Minor Thing Again”, “That’s Not Really A Shuffle”, “Move It Or Park It”, “But Who Was Fulcanelli?”, “Swans? What Swans?”, “Too Ugly For Show Business”, “Do Not Try This At Home”, “Things That Look Like Meat”, “Is That All There Is?” and “It Ain’t Necessarily The Saint James Infirmary”.
Released 1987
MCA Records MCA6212
Steve performs “Amazing Grace”.This record is long out of print, but “Amazing Grace” now appears on The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol 1.
Produced by Frank Zappa
Released Nov 15, 1986
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc 10549
Steve performs on “St. Etien”
One of Frank’s most brilliant records, a totally unique gift. It’s Zappa at his compositional genius. I only play rhythm guitar that’s buried in the background of one song that Frank plays solo guitar through. I highly recommend this challenging record. I never leave home without it, but if you’re looking for prophetic Vai tidbits, you will not find them here.
Produced by Marty Schwartz
Released 1986
Akashic Records / Muffin USA 904
Steve performs on the track “Western Vacation” (under the name Reckless Fable).
Marty Schwartz is a very dear friend of mine and a great guitarist. He converted the garage at the Sylmar house (see Flex-Able) into a den of musical inequity, and lived in it. He would occasionally duck into my studio and record. This record he made is inspired. It’s a fine collection of alternative entertainment. I did this wild solo on the song “Western Vacation” on my portastudio while on tour. If you like the the more stretched and bizarre side of guitar playing, you will surely get a kick out of this.
Produced by Steve Vai
Released 1986
TPL Record TPL1001
Steve performs on the track “Funk Me Tender”. This track can also be found on The Best of Randy Coven.
Randy Coven is an exceptional bass player with whom I went to school in Boston. We were in a band together around that time called “Morning Thunder”. We would write all this ridiculously complex music and then try to play it. Dave Rosenthal was the keyboard player and Eddie Rodgers the drummer. There is voluminous material written from the days with this band and someday a record of these brutally complex, ragingly nonsensical pieces may be available. On Randy’s record I played on a song called “Funk Me Tender”. We used to play it back in Morning Thunder around 1977.
Released 1986
Warner Bros. Records 125470
Steve plays guitar throughout this CD. This CD spawned hits including “Goin’ Crazy!”, “Yankee Rose”, and “That’s Life”.
Some people believe this to be one of the great rock records of the decade. It was a ground-breaking event for a skinny kid from Long Island. It actually made me a guitar hero overnight thanks to the steady eye of all the Edward Van Halen fans that were waiting to see what the guitar under the voice of David Lee Roth was going to sound like.
We rehearsed long and hard on it. Great memories of this record are of hanging out with Billy, Dave and Gregg, especially in New York. Dave and I went jogging through Central Park almost every day and sometimes late at night (with security). It’s a grand memory, a mighty record with a glorious band. I’m fiercely proud of that record and grateful that I had the chance to be part of such a gig at such an early age.
The tour is what notorious rock and roll gossip is made out of. It was not uncommon to have naked women dancing on the dinner table and then having oral sex with each other over a bottle of white wine, or with a bottle of white wine.
Released 1986
ECM Records
Steve Vai plays guitar throughout this CD.
This is a band that the great Indian violinist L. Shankar had put together in the 80s. Although he is probably the most stunning classical Indian violin virtuoso known to man, this project was more of a new wave pop record. The guitars were recorded in about 2 days. The studio was in New York City in a little loft-type apartment. Shankar had endless energy. At the end of a 35-hour session, I had to catch a train at 9 in the morning but still had one more song to do. Luckily I whisked through the song quickly but by the end my brain felt like wet bread. I remember Shankar, who was up the whole time with me, saying that he was totally prepared to do all his solos right then and right there because he wasn’t tired at all. Meanwhile, everybody else’s eyeballs were dragging around the concrete.
Released 1986
Mastahna Records MA419
Steve performs on the track “Autumn in Nepal”. This record was recorded in Steve’s first personal studio Stucco Blue, while Bob Harris and Steve Vai lived in the same house.
Bob is one of the most talented musicians I know. I worked with him in the 1981 Frank Zappa band. He and his wife, Suzannah, are also dear friends of mine. Some of The Great Nostalgia was recorded at Stucco Blue Studios in Sylmar. It’s very “new agey”, and very inspired. I play sitar on a track called “Autumn in Nepal”. The music on this record is deeply devotional which is quite possibly the most profound form of inspiration for the birth of an artistic statement.
Produced by Bill Laswell and John Lydon.
Released 1985
Virgin Records CDV 2366
Steve performs throughout this CD (Public Image Limited was fronted by Johnny Lydon of the Sex Pistols) — the LP version was simply titled “Album” and the cassette was titled “Cassette”
This was Johnny Lydon’s band. Bill Laswell, the producer, called and I flew in & out of New York from Alcatrazz shows to cut the parts. I did basically all the guitar parts in 2 days. Bill Laswell took a very interesting approach to the production of this disc. Some of the material I’d never heard and just went in and started playing on it. At the end, Johnny Lydon came in and liked it.
Hanging out with him is a unique pleasure. There was the consideration of putting a band together — him, myself, Bill Laswell on bass and Ginger Baker on drums. Would have been quite a band. One of my favorite memories of this time is of walking through downtown Soho Village in New York with Johnny Lydon. He’s a complete celebrity and his fans are fiercely devoted. We were sitting in a restaurant and some guy came up to him with some lyrics he wrote. The first line read “I fucked Christ”. Hmmm, very New York?
Another interesting thing I noticed about Lydon is this wonderful habit he has — no matter where he is, no matter who he’s with, whether he’s in an expensive restaurant, an elevator or any place… he’ll just blow snot right out of his nose. It was quite interesting to watch the reactions of the passers-by or gourmet diners. His attitude and drive in the face of adversity is intense. It’s a brilliant record.
Released 1985
Toll House Records TOL101
Steve performs on “London: 1941″ and “Wasted Moments”.
Released 1984
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10544/45
Steve performs on “The Mammy Nuns”, “Galoot Up-Date”, “You Are What You Is”, “Mudd Club”, “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing”, “Clowns On Velvet”, “No Not Now” and “Won Ton On”.
Have you ever heard it? It’s “very Frank.” He took some tracks that were recorded at live shows and overdubbed completely different songs on top of them to get some of the material for Thing-Fish. I’m on there, but it’s pretty much buried in the mix — as with a lot of the other Frank records — just adding texture. I’m sort of the color Travertine on this record.
Produced by Steve Vai
Released 1984
Akashic Records / Urantia Records IM77710″
These versions of “Flex-Able Leftovers” are out of print.
vinyl EP; eight songs.2 versions of artwork, limited edition.
Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Produced by Steve Vai
Released 1984
Akashic Records / Urantia Records UR777
3 versions of artwork, various edits exist worldwide.
Click here for more detailed info on this record.
Released 1984
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10543
Steve performs throughout this record.
This is one of my favorite Frank records. There are such innovative recording techniques on it. A lot of it was recorded live, then edited together in the studio. Frank did that often. He was sort of a Sonic Chef that could blend ingredients from all the different food groups to give you an audio tapestry that tasted good enough to dance to. Whips up a mean Beef Yogurt too!
Released 1983
Lisa Popeil Records LP1001
Steve performs on “What You’re After”, “You Can’t Take It Away”, “For A Time”, “Don’t Turn Me Off And On”, “I Don’t Get It”, “The Viper”, “Love In My Life” and “Perfect Woman”.
Lisa Popeil is primarily a singer who was almost in the 1982 band that almost went to Europe. Soon after that she started work on a solo record and invited me to lay down some tracks for it. I don’t recommend this record to fans who are looking for Steve Vai nimble-fingered diddley-dits, but if you wanna dance, break a leg.
Released March 1983
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10538
Steve performs throughout this record.
After the Zappa band toured Europe in 1982, we all assumed Frank would release tapes of those shows as The Man From Utopia. As it turned out, Frank took studio tracks he already had, spiffed them up and that was the content of this record.
When it comes to courage under the fire of society’s mediocrity, we all drown in it’s insipidness at times. But when it comes to rising above the dreck, God didn’t make us inferior to Frank, He just gave Frank bigger BALLS.
Released May 1982
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10537
Steve performs throughout this record.
Much of this material was recorded on the 1981 tour, then some overdubs were done in the studio. On the song “Envelopes,” my live guitar track had some hairy sounds on it, and, by accident, Frank erased it. He put his head in his hands and said, “Boy, sometimes I’m such a dumb guy.” I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll run around in the studio and create a live ambient sound like an audience and play the part.” He chuckled, we re-recorded it, and it came out better. Guess you can’t fool fate.
Originally released 1981, reissued 1986
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10533/34/35
This is the 3CD reissue of the original 3-LP box set, which was comprised of the records “Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar”, “Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar Some More”, and “Return of the Son of Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar”. Steve appears on “Hog Heaven”, “Heavy Duty Judy”, “Soup ‘n Old Clothes”, “Variations on the Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression”, and “Beat It With Your Fist”.
I basically played background rhythms on these records. The trilogy consists of Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar, Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar Some More and The Return of the Son of Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar. The first time I met Frank, he gave me two cassettes filled with material that ended up on these records. He asked me to transcribe the compositions, both the guitar and drum parts. Some of these transcriptions were released in a book called The Frank Zappa Guitar Songbook. The notation is devastatingly complex, and I definitely acquired some gray hairs with the name of that book on it. These three records are wonderful treats for lovers of the six string crying machine. They really show Frank’s unique approach to soloing and guitar arrangements. His grinding extractions of melodies from the multi dimensions of his genius.
Released September 1981
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10536
Steve performs throughout this record.
This was the first real studio album on which I ever played. I remember going up to Frank’s house one night and staying for nine days. When you worked with Frank in the studio, you could just record and record until you couldn’t stand it anymore. Then you sleep a little bit, you get up, maybe eat some Raisin Bran with room temperature milk and record, then record some more. Then there will be material out with you on it for many years to come. You Are What You Is was a challenging record to make. Some of the material was very hard for me and I was surprised at how patient Frank was. I remember how he would sit directly next to me at the console, punching me through the guitar parts. Moments like that are blazed into my memory, never to be forgotten.
Released May 17, 1981
Barking Pumpkin / Rykodisc RCD 10532
Steve performs throughout this live record : the very first record released with a young Steve Vai in the credits.
This was my first professional recording. I first arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 1980 and started recording the material for the album You Are What You Is at Frank Zappa’s studio in his house. Shortly after that I was invited to play on the 1980 American tour, from which Tinseltown Rebellion (a live record) was recorded. I wonder whatever happened to the quilt Frank had made from all those feminine undergarments collected onstage? There’s some voodoo butter for ya…