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3.0 out of 5 starsA lot seems to be missing
ByA Hermiton April 22, 2009
This is the unedited version of the program shown on VH1 Classic. The only material omitted from the version aired on TV was a more in-depth discussion on "Dinah Moe Hum," for obvious reasons, but it is the same program, nonetheless.
It would be, one would expect, a track-by-track discussion of these two pivotal LPs in Zappa's career, and where there is some discussion of them, it is more a cast of characters telling the viewer what a cut-up Frank was. His wife Gail speaks briefly on his work habits and the burden of doing certain songs he didn't prefer doing over and over and over... while Moon Unit speaks briefly on being embarassed by a lot of his music's toilet humor. But Dweezil, it seems can never tire of talking about, or listening to, his late father's music. He really loved the man, without a doubt. Steve Vai talks about Frank's sensibilities as a composer and performer, Elliot Ingber, guitarist with the original Mothers Of Invention, talks about the music of his time in the band not just being another guitar jam band, and Warren Cucurullo just says what it was like to live in that world.
As for the sessions themselves, several band members from the time give their own thoughts about what it was like making these records, but the final product is far from complete. A lot of the material isn't even mentioned, but as a saving grace, Ruth Underwood (phenomenal percussionist, by the way) uses her marimba to give a brief tutorial about chord structure, and Zappa's approach to it, as well as an impromptu performance of the percussion solo from Apostrophe's "Father Oblivion." She claims afterward to have made a mistake playing it, but it isn't apparent. It's an amazing thing to see, such a complicated line, done with what looks like very little effort, but that's the kind of talent Frank demanded from his musicians.
But, apart from Dweezil toying with the sound board showing how the various arrangements in certain pieces change the piece when accentuated or deleted, there is very little in the way of the music itself. As I said earlier, it's just a bunch of people waxing about how much they liked playing Frank Zappa's music. I'm not sure why, but these interviews include Billy Bob Thornton's thoughts. While what he says is true and obviously heartfelt, I just can't figure why he's even in there. He wasn't on the record, nor was he in the band. Whatever, I just don't get it. At least Alice Cooper, also on this video, got his start because of Frank's efforts.
But, for the real gems, go to "Features," and look for his 1976 appearance on "Saturday Night Live," when the show was worth something, to see him play "I'm The Slime." Also, watch the clip of "Montana," from the show recorded for "Roxy And Elsewhere." It wasn't on the record for some reason, but it couldn't be for lack of good performance. Excellent band. But I got a little sad watching Dweezil's band playing "Camarillo Brillo." They played it well, but something seemed to be missing. Of course, Frank is missing, but it just felt like something was wrong. I can't really explain it, it was like something needed to happen. Whatever it was, they played it well, so maybe it's just me.
The whole thing has some good stuff, it's just not essential.