Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

Frank Zappa

Overview

"Previously available only though limited mail order, this rare television special offers two concert performances by the late Frank Zappa. In addition to featuring both the 1974 ""A Token of His Extreme"" performance on Los Angeles Public Access station KCET as well as Zappa's legendary 1981 Halloween concert in New York City, this release also offers claymation interludes by Bruce Bickford and a variety of comedy segments featuring the beloved rocker at his satirical best."

Product Details

Release Date:	10/18/2005
UPC:	0801213013890
Original Release:	2005
Source:	Eagle Rock Ent
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	52,308

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Frank Zappa	Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion
Bobby Martin	Saxophone,Vocals,Keyboards
Ray White	Guitar,Vocals
Chad Wackerman	Drums
Napoleon Murphy Brock	Vocals,Saxophone
George Duke	Vocals,Keyboards
Scott Thunes	Bass
Chester Thompson	Drums
Dweezil Zappa	Sequencing
Ed Mann	Percussion
Tommy Mars	Keyboards
Tom Fowler	Bass
Ruth Underwood	Percussion

Technical Credits

Kerry McNabb	Audio Engineer,Engineer
Ray White	Musician
Bob Stone	Engineer,Audio Engineer
Chad Wackerman	Musician
John Frusciante	Liner Notes
Joe Travers	Vault Research
Napoleon Murphy Brock	Musician
George Duke	Musician
Scott Thunes	Musician
Gail Zappa	Liner Notes
Dweezil Zappa	Sequencers,Mastering Supervisor
Frank Zappa	Mixing,Editing,Arranger,Composer,Musician,Producer,Performer,Audio Production
Tommy Mars	Musician
Tom Fowler	Musician
Ruth Underwood	Musician
Steve Hall	Mastering
Steve Vai	Musician

Editorial Reviews

This no-frills made-for-home-video release, by multimedia artist Frank Zappa, contains just over 90 minutes of vintage performances gleaned from a host of film projects, interviews and concert footage. The live music centers on the 1974 incarnation of the Mothers of Invention's in-studio KCET-TV appearance, August 27, 1974 in Los Angeles and the Halloween (October 31) 1981 show at the Palladium in New York City. The '74 band included Zappa (guitar/vocals) supported by George Duke (keyboards/vocals), Ruth Underwood (vibes/marimba/percussion), Chester Thompson (drums), Tom Fowler (bass) and Napoleon Murphy Brock (vocals/tenor sax/duck call); while the '82 configuration featured Steve Vai (guitar), Tommy Mars (keyboards), Ed Mann (percussion), Ray White (rhythm guitar/vocals), Scott Thunes (bass), Bobby Martin (keyboards/sax/harmonica/vocals) and Chad Wackerman (drums). The latter lineup was particularly notable for the fiery on-stage exchanges between Zappa and Vai (guitar) -- such as the ones heard on the incendiary "Stevie's Spanking." Dub Room Special (1982) gets its name from the actual dub room -- which Zappa compares to a closet -- where the various elements are being compiled into a finished product. The artist provides running commentaries, occasionally (and perhaps unwittingly) incorporating hangers-on and employees of Compact Video -- the facility that Zappa is renting out. Among the musical numbers from the '74 outfit are the theme to "Uncle Meat" which is in a medley preceded by "Dog Breath." They also act out the infamous "Room Service" exchange, dance and sing the heretofore instrumental "Approximate" and play exemplary renditions of "Cosmik Debris," "Montana," "Florentine Pogen" -- with road manager Marty Perellis as Chester's Gorilla -- "Stink-Foot" and "Inca Roads." From '81 are the tunes "Nig Biz," "Cocaine Decisions," "Stevie's Spanking," "Flakes" and "Easy Meat." Undoubtedly, in a continued effort to help allay costs, the tape was packaged in a sturdy standard plastic box with only an equally generic white label indicating what is inside. Indeed, no-frills has never looked or sounded this good before. ~ Lindsay Planer