E per un mix perfetto di mostri, film horror, divertimento adulto e Halloween vien spontaneo ricorrere ai tanti documenti audio e video via via lasciati da Frank Zappa, a testimoniare quanto cara gli fosse la ricorrenza della 'notte dei sacri spiriti', celebrata immancabilmente nel corso degli anni Settanta nei modi di una personalissima tradizione. Soprattutto a New York, da dove ora proviene il mega-box Halloween 78, con lui demonio in maschera e tanto di forcone a luce ultravioletta, album fotografico a tema, memorabilia e note tecniche a profusione, l'audio del concerto di inizio serie e l'integrale del concerto conclusivo (quasi quattro ore di fila). Spooktacular!
Zappa's annual Halloween tradition began at New Jersey's Capitol Theatre in 1972 before moving to Chicago in 1973 and then, finally, New York City in 1974. All Hallows' Eve was his favorite holiday and he knew how special these yearly events were, even filming Baby Snakes: The Movie at the 1977 shows. Sadly, the tradition was short-lived, taking a break in 1979; 1980's show found Zappa beset by health problems before he returned in 1981 with two shows taped for broadcast on MTV and designed as much for the at-home viewing audience as those in the Palladium's seats. In 1982, Frank didn't stage a concert but, instead, introduced The Dub Room Special video (which included some footage from Halloween 1981, his last Palladium run) and hosted a costume contest on Halloween night at The Ritz (a.k.a. Webster Hall). Halloween 78 continues the tradition of giant box sets including a mask which has previously encompassed releases from 1973, 1977 and 1981. This time, the mask is of FZ as a devil, complete with pitchfork.