Product Details

• Actors: Frank Zappa, George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson, Tom Fowler
• Directors: Frank Zappa, Clark Santee, Dick Darley
• Writers: Frank Zappa
• Producers: Bennett Glotzer, Bill Boggs, Dick Barber, Karen McLaughlin
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
• DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BC8SW4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,421 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Live performances by two very different groups led by the late Frank Zappa are the main attraction of Dub Room Special, a relatively rare DVD offering from one of contemporary music's most prolific and hard-to-classify figures. There were always two sides to Zappa (who died in 1993), from serious composer/musician to potty-mouthed frat boy, from innovator, iconoclast, and provocateur to juvenile shtick-meister. Both are on display here, but while there's plenty of fooling around, onstage and off, in the end it's Zappa's music that makes the more profound impression. The earlier of the two performances, recorded in 1974 and entitled "A Token of His Extreme," finds George Duke (keyboards), Chester Thompson (drums), the zany Napoleon Murphy Brock (woodwinds), and Ruth Underwood (mallet percussion) joining the guitarist for renditions of "Montana," "Florentine Pogen," "Inca Roads," and others, all showcasing both Zappa's warped sense of humor and the remarkable complexity and avant-garde flavor of his compositions; this is arguably the best band he ever assembled, and perhaps the best visual record of a Zappa gig. The second show, from Halloween 1981, is less distinguished. The musicians, though far less prominent than those from the earlier group (with the exception of hotshot guitarist Steve Vai), are excellent, but the material is weaker, and the entire proceeding is marred by "Stevie's Spanking," a moronic ode to Vai's visit with a kinky groupie. Elsewhere, Bruce Bickford's stop motion clay animation (also featured throughout Baby Snakes, a 2003 Zappa DVD release) is clever but somewhat overused; and there's little excuse for the bits featuring Italian "journalist" Massimo Bassoli (whose main talent seems to be picking his nose) or the inclusion of the very dated "Valley Girl" documentary, featuring Zappa's daughter Moon Unit. --Sam Graham

Product Description

For nearly a decade, composer/rock guitarist/musical genius Frank Zappa and his band would descend upon New York City for their annual Halloween concert. A yearly tradition beginning in 1974, Zappa skipped the concert in 1982 even though he had recently scored his biggest commercial hit with the song "Valley Girl." Despite the decision not to tour, Zappa did not disappoint fans that looked forward to their yearly Halloween pilgrimage to New York City. Instead, he premiered a 90-minute documentary titled Frank Zappa's Dub Room Special at New York's legendary Ritz Theater.

The documentary features two concerts - Zappa's 1981 Halloween show at New York's Palladium and the other from KCET Studios in December 1974 for the TV special "A Token Of His Extreme." Paired with performances of Zappa classics such as "Stinkfoot," "Cosmik Debris," "Montana" and "Flakes" is the animation of Bruce Bickford who collaborated with Zappa on his previous documentary, "Baby Snakes."

Originally released on VHS and Beta in 1982, The Dub Room Special! has been a tough find for Zappa fans. Now it is available for the first-time ever on DVD. Featuring audio remixed in stereo, this highly sought-after collectors item was worth the wait.

Track Listing:
1. Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat
2. Room Service
3. Nig Biz
4. Approximate
5. Cosmic Debris
6. Cocaine Decisions
7. Montana
8. Tengo Na Minchia Tanta
9. Florentine Pogen
10. Stevie's Spanking
11. Stinkfoot
12. Flakes
13. Inca Roads
14. Easy Meat

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No improvement since the VHS release, November 22, 2005

By 

Ivan Brantes Salinas "Ivan Brantes" (Santiago, Santiago Chile) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special (DVD)

I've been waiting for this release since it contain the only official performance of Zappa/Mothers in 74 (from the "A Token of his Extreme" show). I have seen it twice and I have to admit I'm quite dissappointed since there's no improvement on the vintage footage and the extra material it's absolutely useless (Moon Valley feature, discography,...). This is the SAME VHS or Beta(max) we all ordered from Zappa's mail order service back in the 80's, but packaged under a DVD mask.

Most of the tracks from 1974 and 1981 are edited, cut and/or mixed with additional images. Also there are lots of "noises" added to some tracks. Bootleggers who used to offer the 1974 performance must be very happy with this edited video.

I wish they had included a CLEAN, FULL and CONTINOUS live performance at KCTTV Culver City Studios on 08/07/1974 with Zappa / Mothers and SEPARATELY the 10/31/1981 New York Halloween Party concert at the Palladium. Also they could have put as a worth - having extra "The Amazing Mr Brickford" video (the man behind those great clay animation).

If you want an in deep review, here is:

- (1974) DOG BREATH (VARIATIONS) / UNCLE MEAT
Uncomplete: no intro. and there's fade at the end. Original film is heavily distorted with additional images (mostly from Brickford), video effects and external "noises". Nevertheless you can see for brief moments Frank playing drums with Ruth Underwood (former Ruth Kammanoff)

- (circa 1974) PORTIONS OF MR BRICKFORD: Formerly shown on Baby Snake VHS / DVD
- DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO (the place where this video was made)
- (1974) ROOM SERVICE
Uncomplete: Maybe introduction is lost and there's CUT at the end. This is a classic Zappa talking - number. Just listen to that funky back up rhythm by Fowler, Duke, Underwood & Thompson.

- (1981) NIG BIZ Uncomplete.
- DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO
- (1974) APPROXIMATE
Perfect. Complete number. Zappa at his most DADA / Experimental phase. Simply great.

- (1974) COSMIK DEBRIS
Right after Approximate comes this number which is sadly cut and glued to Cocaine Decision

- (1981) COCAINE DECISION
Uncomplete number. It's mixed with video images of Massimo Bassoli a man supposed to be funny. Not for me.

- (1982) MASSIMO BASSOLI IN PALERMO / DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO
- (1974) MONTANA: Introduction is lost. Seriously cut at the end.
- (1982) MASSIMO BASSOLI - SINGLE: Useless.
- DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO
- (1974) FLORENTINE POGEN
Beginning of original broadcast is mixed with images at Compact Video. Cut before the number really ends. Edited Frank speech "Thank you. Chester's Gorilla was played by Marty Perellis"

- STEVIE'S SPANKING: This is an edited number from a longer one.

- DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO
- (1974) STINK FOOT
Introduction is lost. Heavily mixed with Mr Brickford clay animation and finally cut and glued to 1981's Flakes.

- (1981) FLAKES: Uncomplete number.
- (1974) INCA ROADS
No introduction. Mixed with Mr Brickford clay animation which at the same time is overdub with studio "noises". The main part of this number was used for "One Size Fits All" album (except guitar solo). Parts of this number were broadcasted on The Midnight Special TV show back in the 70's.

- (1981) EASY MEAT: Uncomplete
- DIALOGUE AT COMPACT VIDEO

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dub Room Special DVD, which is what you get., May 3, 2007

By 

Clem (Somewhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special (DVD)

Before I get started a couple of words to all of the "real Frank Zappa fans" out there. This is the same Dub Room Special you had deteriorating on VHS (either an original or copy) with all of those drop outs and lines running through the solo on "Inca Roads", as a clean DVD. In this day and age of bonus features; extra footage, interviews, and easter egg( the single most annoying feature ever) it seems like too many people expect extras with the VHS to DVD transfers. Plus there is NO fan base with a bigger sense if entitlement than Zappa fans who for some reason feel Gail Zappa should personally consult each and every one of them on what, when, and how things should be released. It's thrilling that the stuff is being released at all considering what a niche market Zappa's catalog is in this day and age of american idol. If you didn't like Dub Room then don't, don't buy it now, but if you did or have always wanted it, this is your golden opportunity. The more product you buy the better chance you have of getting the Holy Grail on DVD (and we all know what I speak of)

And now for my review, this is great stuff, reasonable price, nifty packaging, no episode of Simon and Simon in the runoff at the end. Who could ask for more?

49 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Now a review from someone who bought the DVD..., October 20, 2005

By 

James Simon (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special (DVD)

All these reviews from people who have never seen the DVD of The Dub Room are utterly useless. I actually bought the disc (what a concept) so I can actually review it. Wow.

The disc includes selcection of performances from 1974 and 1982 tied together with bits by Zappa and Massimo Bassoli, though I have no idea why Zappa thought this guy is funny by picking his nose. Lets face it, Zappa is about music. The 1974 selections include a rather ordinary Montana and Cosmic Debris as well as a bit with Napoleon Murphy Brock called Room Service which goes nowhere. As they rip into Inca Road, just as we're trying to enjoy Zappa's great solo guitar work, we're subjected to Bruce Bickford's clay surreal animation which gets annoying really fast. A highlight from the '74 group is Approximate where the band plays the incredibly syncopated melody, then attempts to sing it, then dance it.

The '82 section fairs slightly better from a band perspective as they generally seem more alert and enjoying themselves but the selections are weaker. Florentine Pagen and Steve's Spanking come off as decent. The perk here is Flakes since it has so rarely recorded.

Also included in the disc is a six minute documentary recorded after Valley Girl became Zappa's biggest hit. It's a nice addition but really doesn't any additional insight to who Zappa was. On the plus side, the makers of the disc obviuosly put a lot of time into the audio remixing it in crisp and clear surround sound.

I can only moderately recommend this disc for the die-hard Zappaphite. For everyone else, I would suggest the DVD of "Does Humor Belong In Music?" where the band and track selections are much better and you really get the feel of a full Zappa show.