Customer Reviews

Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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?

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.

Of all of my regrets in life (which are many), my one regret is that I never got to see a live Zappa show (though in all honesty I was born in 82 and so that severely limited my capabilities).

As a teenager I listened to Zappa's albums with fascination (spending hours trying to guess what time signature certain passages where in) and with absolute delight (it's hard to listen to Joe's Garage and not laugh at the reductio ad absurdum the he draws in relation to music censorship).

However, "The Dub Room Special" was my first introduction into witnessing FZ perform live, and I was absolutely blown away. I am still yet to find adequate words to describe it, but I want to world to know that the performances you see here defy all description.

I wish I could go into great detail (i.e. describing each song) about the disk, but I don't want to rant. My best advice to those who are familiar with Zappa's albums, but not his DVD's is to start here. And for those of you who have never gotten to hear him, take a chance and check out the Dub Room Special. You will not leave the same person.

This Dub Room Special DVD seems quite controversial. I purchased the DVD, and feel strongly that this is more enjoyable than watching the "Baby Snakes" or "Does Humor Belong In Music?" DVD's.

It's a little frustrating to find out both of these '74 and '81 concerts are planned to be released on DVD's in the future, as I was thinking I wouldn't have bought this DVD if I had known that. However, just like Frank was the master at putting together the YCDTOSA CD series from various band era's.... I enjoy how he has this DVD going back and forth between the '74 and '81 bands with other stuff in between some songs to break things up.

The song selection from the '74 band is excellent, with "Florentine Pogen" being the highlight. And I enjoyed the claymation during the "Inca Roads" guitar solo, even though I'm a guitarist myself. I was laughing my ass off at the claymation.

There are a lot more songs I would have liked to have heard from the '81 band, but I must say that "Easy Meat" is excellent.... a good example of a vocal/rocker with beautiful instrumental parts too. Steve Vai fans will also appreciate seeing/hearing "Stevie's Spanking". Vai and drummer Chad Wackerman were both only 21 yrs old at the time (1981).


And finally, I must say that the AUDIO & VIDEO quality are excellent. Better than either the "Baby Snakes" or "Does Humor Belong In Music?" DVD's. I have Paradigm Signature series speakers with a Rotel receiver. You must have a hearing problem if you think the audio quality is poor on this DVD.

"The Dub Room Special" is a somewhat interesting, somewhat inconsistent, somewhat annoying, sometimes brilliant film comprised from the 1974 tour, the 1981 tour, some straggler footage from 1982, and some clips from 1968, all spliced together in a documentary(?) film I have never seen on TV, its intended medium, despite some not-so-TV-friendly content.

Of course, the music itself, is always tops in its field, but there are some issues with the editing. Some people complain about several intros missing from the final edit, but I understand this. It is meant to look in on the band while on stage, but why would the solo from "Montana" be taken out? Time constraints? Chronology and continuity are obviously not an issue here, as the skit number "Room Service," which is a dialogue based only on inside jokes taken from lyrics from "Roxy & Elsewhere," features an extremely sweat-soaked Napoleon Murphy Brock, and this is only a few minutes into the film, but the next time you see him, he is dry. This sequence is obviously from the later part of the show. No biggie, just a talking point.

One thing, the 1974 line-up of The Mothers apparently gave FZ a far more enjoyable time on stage than the 1981 band. In 1974, he is laughing and cracking jokes from the stage, and generally having fun. Jump to 1981: he is stone-faced throughout, almost like some field marshall, but with a gaudy jumpsuit. Both of the two bands featured play their material wonderfully, the chops of the players is never an issue. He always used the best musicians he could find at any time.

The animated segments are, in my opinion, incredible. Even though Zappa is briefly shown in a clip toying with the animation process, this is the forte of Bruce Bickford. Some people complain about the segments being too long, obstructing one's enjoyment of the band itself, but I just see it as a visual compliment to the music. But, in my humble opinion, the sound effects in the animations could have been erased, or at least, toned down. This DOES interfere with my enjoyment of the music. But watching these segments, I am astonished.

Some of the "interviews" are superfluous, specious even, but this is pretty much a film of Frank Zappa having fun in the "Dub Room." It is what is said to be. But, I do have to concur with many of this video's critics when it comes to Massimo, the nose-picking journalist. His "song," as it were, is one of Frank's duds. And including it on the Mothers' LP "Uncle Meat," WHY??? And I don't mind peurile humor, but listening to the bridge in "Montana," while seeing him with his finger all the way up in his nose, giving the camera a 'fecal-matter-eating' grin, is simply juvenile. I showed this part to my 6-year old niece, and she just said "...eww." Sometimes the humor just falls flat.

But to sum it up, "The Dub Room Special" is a patchwork of what Frank Zappa was doing in 1981 and 1982, with some gems from 1974, for good measure.

He was definitely a better musician than he was a film maker.

I bought this expecting some excellent concert footage from Frank Zappa. And that's what I got! Yet, I also got footage of a random Italian guy picking his nose and swearing. I know you should expect weirdness from zappa, but the weirdness in this DVD is way over the top. Also, The Dub Room Special was made for laserdisc back in the 70's, so in order to fit in the material he wanted to fit, Zappa had to cut off entire sections of songs. In fact almost every song during the concert had missing footage. For example, Zappa's awesome guitar solo during "Montana" was completely cut out, and to cover it up, Zappa put in a two second clip of the italian guy picking his nose. Lastly, the specific songs from the specific concerts were poorly chosen. There were so many good tunes being played during those concerts sampled in this DVD, and with the capacity of DVD's these days, the Zappa Family Trust should have just included the whole concerts. This DVD is a waste of money.

Frank Zappa was a genius in many fields. Music composition, lyricist, satirist, guitarist. One thing he never excelled at was creating movies, even though he certainly tried hard.
This movie suffers from many bad decisions. For example, mixing footage of Frank's best band playing some of his best material with footage of his worst band playing his worst material was just stupid, at best. Granted, this band is still good; they're all excellent players. They just lack the type of personality his Roxy band did. When you say the names "Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and George Duke" I (and many zappa fans) instantly bring to mind the specific person. Scott Thunes? Chad Wackerman? Granted, Ray White and Steve Vai (!) are recognizeable, but Vai's role in the band is underplayed. He's hardly ever on screen and when he is, it's often when he's not playing guitar! A major annoyance was during his one guitar solo of the DVD, the the camera was never on him. Not even once. Was Frank a little jealous of Stevie Vai?
That's not the biggest problem with the 1981 portion of the DVD, though. It's the song selection. Did Zappa really think these were the songs that best represented this band? Nig Biz, an unreleased song, and rightfully so; pitfully mediocre both in melody and arrangment, it's only partially saved by biting lyrics, which are hurt by their own self pity. Jesus Frank, if it was that bad in the record business, quit the business! Nobody was forcing you to make music, bud. Cocaine Decisions wasn't a bad song to use here: it's a good little biting zappa pop song. The performance is weak though. E.Z. Meat was a bad choice because the lyrics are misogynist (not unusual for frank) but stupid (quite unusual for frank). It should have been an instrumental, as the music is fine, but the lyrics really let the song down. Flakes was good song to have on here, and the performance of the song is great, even if Ed Mann struggles with his Dylan innotations. The fact that this song predates this band is telling; the songs that orginated with this band are obviously weak. Frank also wears a hideous red shirt with short hair, and mostly walks around the stage with his mic, like a frigging Vegas singer.
The earlier footage is much better. Frank's Roxy band just blows away any of his other bands; the complexity of their playing and arrangments, and the humorousness and personalities helped push Frank to new levels at the time. They're obviously having a lot of fun on stage, and they play these great songs with lots of verve. A plus is seeing Approximate, mostly unreleased, played out in three different ways. Easily the best part of the DVD. Unfortunately, Frank screwed up here too; he over uses Bruce Bickford's admittedly stunning claymation much too often during this section. He also utilizes fast paced frame by frame editing, switching them fast enough to give the average viewer an epilitic fit. No doubt he thought this was cutting edge; yeah, maybe in 1945. This type of dumbness in his editing shows how far behind Frank was in making movies. The claymation was also irritating because often during the most interesting sections, Frank would play up to 5 to 6 mintues of claymation, all edited frame by frame. Ugh. In a 9 minute performance of Inca Roads (transcendent), over half of the footage is claymation. If that wasn't bad enough, he overdubs studio sounds (!) onto the claymation sequences louder than the musical performances!
The last nail in the coffin are the parts with the italian journalist. I refuse to say his name. What was this? Was this "funny" to Frank? A guy picking his nose? And singing some stupid "dirty" song in italian? Tengo Na blah blah is probably Frank's worst song, and this italian guy wrote the lyrics and sung it. Quite demenetedly, this song was released on the Uncle Meat remaster, an album Frank recorded over 20 years earlier! How stupid!

Any ways, besides the Roxy band stuff, I was mostly disappointed with this DVD. Frank didn't know how to make a good concert DVD, trying to be "cutting edge" and "funny" and failing. It's a shame, because his 1981 band is actually generally better than they seem on here. Avoid. Get Baby Snakes.

OK, this is not your highly polished, heavily cut, fast pace modern day video. It is a compilation of performaces by two of the best Zappa periods. Napoleon Murphy Brock, George Duke, Ruth Underwood, et al, in one band, the other band is the later incarnation with Steve Vai, Chad Wackerman, Ray White and others. The tunes are cut together with additional, low budget (ala FZ) home video style scenes of FZ in the video dub house. IMO, an A+ archive.

The best part of this film is the concert footage. If you never got the chance to see Frank live (Like me) and you generally dig LIVE music, you'll totally dig this video.

The band with Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson, George Duke, Tom Fowler and Napolean Murphy Brock was always my favorite Zappa band and this video is the ONLY video record of this line-up. For that reason alone, this video is nearly priceless.