FZ album(s) in which song has appeared

• Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 8 (2010) as Love Of My Life (Original Version), recorded at Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, April, 1963
  • same version, with new overdubbed vocals, recorded at Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, April, 1963, on Greasy Love Songs (2010) as Love Of My Life
    • same version, longer intro, on Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 14 (2010) as "Love Of My Life (Alternate Version)"
  • same version, with overdubbed vocals by Ron Roman, released as the b-side of a single by Ron Roman (Daani D-101, 1963), and credited to Frank Zappa & Dave Aerni
    • same version on Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 1 (2010)
  • backing track of the same version sped up at the end of Lonely Little Girl—The Single, on The Lumpy Money Project/Object (2009)
• Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 13 (2010) as Love Of My Life (Piano Intro), recorded at Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, April, 1963
• Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (original vinyl) (1968) as Love Of My Life, recorded at Apostolic Studios, NYC, 1968
  • same version on Pregnant (1972)
  • same version on Greasy Love Songs (2010) as Love Of My Life
  • same version with overdubs recorded at UMRK c. 1982-83 on Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (1985 remix) (1985) as Love Of My Life
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4 (1991) as Love Of My Life, performed in NYC, May 8, 1980
• Tinsel Town Rebellion (1981) as Love Of My Life, performed in Berkeley, December 5, 1980
  • same version on Son Of Cheep Thrills (1999)

Tour(s) on which song is known to have been performed (main source: FZShows, v. 7.1)

• March-May, 1980 (North America)—known performances: 17
• May-July, 1980 (Europe)—known performances: 31
• October-December, 1980 (North America)—known performances: 20
• September-December, 1981 (North America)—known performances: 2
• February-March, 1988 (North America)—known performances: 12
• April-June, 1988 (Europe)—known performances: 16

Comments

Foggy G, "The Songs That Were Played," We're Only In It For The Touring

1980 (Mar-Jul): Essentially performed as on YCDTOSA Volume IV. When Frank composed the criteria for the YCDTOSA series (listed in the front of each CD booklet), I think he had this song in mind when I wrote #7- "Does the inclusion of this song help the stylistic flow...by providing contrast or relief?" This song is a beacon of musical simplicity amidst a sea of chaotic rhythms and nonsensical juxtapositions. It is the least likeliest of Frank Zappa song titles, and a refreshing breath of air no matter where its put in the canon of Zappa works. In the live context, it provides the ultimate contrast, from the almost sincere lyrics to the heartbroken wail that punctuates the latter half of the proceedings. One of my continual live favorites.

1980 (Oct-Dec): Essentially performed as on "Tinseltown Rebellion." One of my continually favorite songs in Zappa's touring repertoire. No, there's not much to this song, but amidst the humor and chaos of the rest of the tour, this songs appears as a beacon of simplicity and sincerity. Bob Harris' hilarious yet beautiful falsetto achingly floats over the majority of the proceedings, and consistently hits that painfully long note towards the end of the song.

1981: Essentially performed as on YCDTOSA Volume IV, accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation. The perfect example of YCDTOSA Criterion # 7- a song that provides contrast and relief. In a concert chock full of odd time signatures, in-yer-face guitar solos, and offbeat and irreverent humor, this two-minute ditty of love and romance- with a beautiful falsetto floating through the second half- is quite a healthy breath of sincerity (almost).

1988: Essentially performed as on YCDTOSA Volume IV, allowing for obvious differences in instrumentation. As I've said on every page that this song appears on, I absolutely love this song in a live context. While I do not much care for it amid the greasy trappings of "Ruben and the Jets", I find that it provides the perfect contrast and relief (YCDTOSA Criteria #7) in the live chaos that is a Frank Zappa concert.