4. Studio - Lumpy Gravy : 3. Release history.

4. Studio - Lumpy Gravy

3. Release history.

The Capitol version was released briefly in the stereo 4-track cartridge tape format in 1967 before MGM threatened legal action. The 4-track cartridge system was an early competitor to the more successful 8-track tape format. According to Zappa himself, the Capitol 4-track of Lumpy Gravy is one of the rarest official Zappa releases - if not the rarest.^{[citation needed]} Capitol had also begun preparation of the vinyl LP record as well as a 7" single from the album ("Sink Trap" b/w "Gypsy Airs") but these did not get past the test pressing stage.^{[citation needed]}. A recording of the all-orchestral version, sourced from a stereo acetate demonstration disc believed to have been stolen from Capitol's vaults, circulated amongst collectors for a number of years. In 2009, the Capitol version was finally released officially (sourced from a mono master tape) as part of the Lumpy Money box set.

The MGM/Verve version of the album was released on LP record and 4-track cartridge in 1968 and later in an 8-track cartridge version also. This was one of only 2 Zappa projects to appear on the black Verve label in the U.S.^{[citation needed]} (Some U.S. copies of Mothermania also appeared on the black Verve label.) At that time Verve's black label was used only for jazz and other "serious" works, while Verve's pop and rock releases used a blue label. There was a mono Verve LP version, though there is still some debate among collectors about whether this is a special mono mix, or simply a reduction of the stereo with equalization and dynamic range compression applied during mastering.

An alternate stereo remix of the album was prepared in 1984, with drum overdubs by Chad Wackerman, bass overdubs by Arthur Barrow, and additional vocal tracks by Ike Willis. An excerpt appeared on the sampler for the first Old Masters box set, but the complete remixed recording remained unreleased until 2009 when it was included in the Lumpy Money box set. The original Verve stereo mix of the album was combined with We're Only in It for the Money for the first CD release on Ryko in 1988. This CD version most closely matches the original stereo vinyl, though the sound is of only average quality by CD standards.^{[citation needed]}

The 1995 CD was reconstructed from various source tapes in an attempt to improve the sound. It was not until the 1995 CD version that "Part 1" and "Part 2" were subdivided into sections with titles. Some of these new titles come from the spoken dialog, while others are names of instrumental pieces. The 1995 version features a few differences in the mix and segment segues. One section of "Oh No" on the 1995 CD used the mono version instead of stereo. These changes were later revealed by remastering engineer Spencer Chrislu to have occurred by mistake.^{[citation needed]} The engineer expressed his regret and had hoped to fix this. However a corrected version now appears to be highly unlikely since this remastered version was approved by Frank himself. (It remains open how Frank could have approved of this 1995 edition when it is also a Wikipedia fact that he died in 1993 ...)

Early versions of the album were credited to "Francis Vincent Zappa" on the front cover. For much of his life Frank thought he shared the legal name "Francis" with his father. Re-issues of the album since 1985 were changed to "Frank Vincent Zappa" after he saw his birth certificate for the first time.