I am one of those that thinks the early seventies lineup with Napolean Murphy Brock, Ruth Underwood, The Fowlers, Chester Thompson!, et al. was the beast. I mean the Best. OK, the Beast. Later lineups may have been tighter, more technically proficient, but they can't compare when it comes to musicality, which here is absolutely magical. Zappa sounds completely in control and yet totally relaxed. His furious solos, while blazing fast and sophisticated, are just a bit more soulful. There appears to be more space, air around the notes. Frank seems to be viscerally connecting to every moment, and his pleasure is palpable throughout. Not that any other album has him as anything but convivial, but the lively rhythms here are just so damn soul stirring. I credit much of this to the phenomenal drumming of Chester Thompson, who kept things nicely paced with such funkified beats.