Lost Episodes Version (1972)
This version clocks in at about 4 minutes and consisting of an opening theme, a violin solo and a variation of the theme By Jean-Luc Ponty.

Like "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary," "RDNZL" was written in 1972 but found its way on record only in 1978. This is one of Zappa's best, most balanced compositions from what could be termed his "complex" period (1972-1978). It required a lot of virtuosity and energy from the musicians (especially at the tempo it was taken during the 1982 tour), but did not fall into gratuity. Serious, it also included a brief moment of comic relief (the bluesy motif over which Napoleon Murphy Brock used to sing the line "We could share a lot"), once again without turning cartoonish.

The piece was first rehearsed and recorded in 1972, probably during the Grand Wazoo sessions. At that time it consisted of only the opening theme, followed by a solo spot aerobically filled by Jean-Luc Ponty, and a variation on the theme as a coda -- this version was released in 1996 on Lost Episodes. "RDNZL" was premiered on-stage in February 1973 and remained a crucial part of the live set throughout the 1973-1974 tour (a live recording is on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2). By then a longer guitar solo had replaced the violin one, a keyboard solo had been added, along with the aforementioned section with lyrics. The official studio version was probably recorded after that tour, during the One Size Fits All sessions.

When this particular incarnation of Zappa's band (with Ruth Underwood, George Duke, Tom Fowler, Chester Thompson, and Brock) scattered, the song was shelved. It was intended to appear on the box set Läther and finally ended up on Studio Tan in September 1978, but was not performed live. Zappa brought it back for the 1982 tour (documented on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5).

About the title: Zappa hinted at the fact that it represents the automatic gear shift sequence (with the Z standing for 2)...Except that it usually is RNDZL, not "RDNZL." Warner Bros. was confused enough to write "Redunzel" instead on the original LP sleeve.

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