In the song "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" most people hear only the words. They don't realize that there is, in the middle of that song, a completely academic and rigorous 12-tone string quartet going on in the background. The other thing that was funny about that song was that by playing "God Bless America," "Star-Spangled Banner," and one or two other patriotic songs at the end, all at the same time, I was making a musical joke about Ives.
1973
One of the treats of this short European jaunt. The song is eesentially performed as on "Absolutely Free", allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation, and with smoother transitions between the many "movements" (a la the Spring '79 version). Unlike either of those other two versions, however, these performances are taken at a much brisker pace, with the post-vocal ending especially taking on a hectic and rather rushed feel. Nonetheless, the song is great to hear, and serves as a major plus in this tour's positive column.
1979
Played as on "Tinseltown Rebellion"- that is, perfectly! Occasional vehicle for secret word usage, but pretty much played note-for-note as on TR. In my opinion, this version has a more fluid and thus more enjoyable sound than the original "Absolutely Free" version. While this is not my favorite FZ band, this '79 ensemble earned a place in my heart and proved their worth for this song alone.
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