Originally released in 1978, one of three albums (with SLEEP DIRT and ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES) comprised of material originally intended for the unreleased box set LATHER, recorded between 1974-1976. This material was originally lost in Zappa's contractural disputes with Warner Brothers; it's now here in fully-authorized form. This album's centerpiece is "The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary," a 24-plus minute mini-opera (written in 1972) that's a sequel of sorts to "Billy the Mountain" on JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM L.A. Also here is "Lemme Take You to the Beach," the closest thing to a Jan & Dean song that FZ ever wrote.
Studio Tan is the twenty-fourth album by American musician Frank Zappa, released in September 1978 on his own DiscReet Records label, distributed by Warner Bros Records. It reached No. 147 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States.
Though it was on his own label, Zappa did not authorize the original 1978 release of this album. Warner did no promotion and it was largely overlooked by fans upon release. At the same time Zappa gave interviews which described his legal problems with Warner and former manager Herb Cohen. The 1991 CD re-release was the first time the album was issued with Zappa's authorization.
Frank Zappa – guitar (Tracks A1–B3); vocals (Tracks A1, B1); percussion (Track B2) Davey Moire – vocals (Track B1) George Duke – keyboards (Tracks A1, B2, B3) Eddie Jobson – keyboards & yodeling (Track B1) Tom Fowler – bass guitar (Tracks A1, B2) Max Bennett – bass guitar (Tracks B1) James "Bird Legs" Youman – bass guitar (Tracks B3) Chester Thompson – drums (Tracks A1, B2, B3) Paul Humphrey – drums (Track B1) Don Brewer – bongos (Track B1) Ruth Underwood – percussion & synthesizer (Track B3) Michael Zearott – conductor (Track B2) John Rotella – woodwind instruments (Track B2) Mike Altschul – flute (Track B2) Ray Reed – flute (Track B2) Earle Dumler – oboe (Track B2) Victor Morosco – saxophone (Track B2) JoAnn Caldwell McNab – bassoon (Track B2) Graham Young – trumpet (Track B2) Jay Daversa – trumpet (Track B2) Malcolm McNab – trumpet (Track B2) Bruce Fowler – trombone (Tracks A1, B2) Don Waldrop – trombone (Track B2) Jock Ellis – trombone (Track B2) Dana Hughes – bass trombone (Track B2) Murray Adler – violin (Track B2) Sheldon Sanov – violin (Track B2) Pamela Goldsmith – viola (Track B2) Jerry Kessler – cello (Track B2) Edward Meares – upright bass (Track B2) John Berkman – piano (Track B2) Alan Estes – percussion (Track B2) Emil Richards – percussion (Track B2) Mike D. Stone of the Record Plant – engineer
