Customer Reviews

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

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

 

 

In 1967 and 1968 (when I was "losing status at the high school") I first heard the Mothers on their brilliant albums "Absolutely Free" and "We're
Only In It for the Money." The words and music of Frank Zappa influenced the way I think more than the Beatles, Bob Dylan or over 18 years of
education (?) So when I read about the release of this DVD, I had to get it immediately! The only thing disappointing about it (though it is not surprising) is that there are only snippets of the MOI onstage. (What I would give for a complete '67 Mothers performance at NY's Garrick Theatre!) But the good news is that those who tell the story of the original Mothers do a very good job, with the contributions of former
Mothers Bunk Gardner, Jimmy Carl Black, Artie Tripp and Don Preston being particularly valuable (too bad they couldn't have gotten Roy Estrada, Ian Underwood, Billy Mundi or Ray Collins.) An in-depth analysis of the Mothers' mid to late-Sixties albums from "Freak Out" to "Uncle Meat" is
very well done, with lots of newly revealed information and anecdotes.
One of the music critics states that this was the best group of musicians that Zappa ever assembled. Well J.C. Black was no Terry Bozzio and Don Preston was no George Duke or Tommy Mars, but, in spirit, maybe they were after all. To this day, I feel that Zappa's most memorable and
iconoclastic music was done with the original Mothers - one critic even suggests that Zappa's music since the late-Sixties was basically a recycling of the ideas he expressed on those great records. That may be going a bit too far, but those first five or six Mothers albums will always be the ones I go back to first. And the members of Frank's band were important components in making the albums and performaces so groundbreaking. These guys were real characters and added so much to the Mothers' output. Especially touching are the words of Jimmy Carl Black (particularly since he passed away recently.) Jimmy Carl clearly loved Frank Zappa and his creativity. But he also makes clear that Zappa was often very demanding and difficult to work with. And after some 35 years,
he is still very hurt that Frank broke up the band at a time when the members interviewed say that the band was peaking. But he also says that he is still buzzed about playing with the "best rock and roll band there ever was." And about that, he just might be correct. I would recommend this to all Zappa fans, especially the ones whose first exposure to Frank Zappa was "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" or "Dinah-Moe Humm." This DVD offers an excellent history lesson into the first years of a musical genius.

really 4 stars but, i wanted to try to cancel that one star rating. i just watched it for the second time & really enjoyed it. 60's mothers is probably my favorite band. even though i am totally familiar with their story, i did not find this boring (like round things). short clips of howlin wolf, edgard varese, ray collins (w/ hair), beefheart, gto's, wild man fischer, commentary by mothers biographer billy james, zappa biographer ben watson, & mothers jimmy carl black, don preston, bunk gardner & art tripp. bonus materials: extended interviews. if you dig the original mothers or are curious about them, check it out. well done & enjoyable.

I knew we were off to a bad start when the first words uttered in this documentary (by some guy in a green-star spangled sweater that I'd never heard of) were "Music wouldn't be what it is today without Frank Zappa." First off, most modern music is crap and it's not nice to blame Frank, secondly this is the most overused cliche in music critique. Especially when dealing with rock. So, the film plods on with some quasi-academic, English "experts" seemingly forever until Jimmy Carl Black finally appears. I must admit that the interviews with J.C.B. , Bunk Gardner, Don Preston and Kim Fowley are interesting enough. However, the bulk of this DVD is endless chatter from self-important know-it alls and very little footage of The Mothers. It would be much nicer to see actual footage than listen to these talking heads for 2 + hours. The Mothers deserve better than this. Save your money!!

Honestly, there is a lot of good information here and some great footage. That being said it drags along. Not nearly as bad as music in review but its along those lines. Were it not for the footage it would be horrid.

You need not agree with everything that is said on this DVD (that the last tracks of Freak Out and We're Only In It For The Money really were not all that important, as suggested, as everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion), but I can't imagine a more entertaining and revealing look into the early M.O.I. Ok, so maybe there are no earthshattering news here, but just to hear these guys tell the story in their own words, bitterness and all (yes, they are still pissed off that Frank killed the band as they were just starting to make serious money) is wonderful. And I do agree with one reviewer, that each incarnation of Frank's band should benefit from an in-depth look like this one, especially the one featuring Ruth & Ian Underwood, Nappy Brown etc etc.

The back of the package on this DVD reads "Not authorized by the estate or family of Frank Zappa," so it would be completely understandable for Zappa fans to steer clear of this DVD as fast as possible. Usually, "unauthorized" means that the DVD has no music by the profiled artist but does have plenty of useless interviews with fourth-rate press hacks and other nobodies cobbled together into a tedious and incoherent mess. In this case, however, fans should reconsider. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in the 1960s is astoundingly good, with contributions from several important members and collaborators from Zappa's original band, the Mothers of Invention. Even more amazingly, the DVD's producers have managed to license many crucial songs from both Zappa and his contemporaries. That this DVD is unauthorized only means there are no interviews with members of Zappa's family, but otherwise, it's of high enough quality to sit comfortably alongside any of Zappa's authorized DVDs.

The high quality of this DVD is matched only by the importance of the story it tells; ...in the 1960s chronicles the early days of Zappa's career and the formation and breakup of his first major band, the Mothers (later known, at their record label's insistence, as the Mothers of Invention). It details the recording of their first six albums: Freak Out! (1966), Absolutely Free, We're Only In It for the Money (both 1967), Lumpy Gravy, Cruising With Ruben & the Jets (both 1968), and Uncle Meat (1969).

Technically, the DVD is decent. The 4:3 full-screen transfer and PCM stereo mix are both decent, getting the job done adequately, even if some of the archival footage is less than great. The main feature is so comprehensive that it's hard to imagine what could be missing.

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in the 1960s is an absolute must for anyone, newcomer or longtime fan, who has any interest in Zappa's music. It's not absolutely free, but it is absolutely not guilty.

Starts from the beginning. An early look at a teenage Frank, from clean cut guy to the Frank we all know. Covers the numerous band lineup changes. Freak Out, Absolutely Free, Were only In It For The Money, Uncle Meat, Lumpy Gravy and Cruisin with Ruben and the Jets are discussed. Burnt Weenie Sandwich and Weasels Ripped my Flesh are mentioned. DVD did a good job putting the recordings into perspective accordingly to the time of their release. Ian Underwood, Jimmy Carl Black, Bunk Garner and Artie Tripp shed light on what was going on at the time. Great job at portraying this wily and elusive ensemble of misfit geniuses. I broke out Mothers records I haven't listened to in years.

Sorry gang but this truly is awful on almost every level. For those expecting new or substantive footage - especially of live performances - be prepared to sit through 2+ hours and get NOTHING.

The overwhelming bulk of this dvd is given over to self important Brits and other marginal "experts" pontificating - boringly and often outright wrongly - about FZ and MOFO. Trust me - I was there from the start - this captures none of the energy or power of the music or the moment.

The only saving grace is the recent inteview footage with Jimmy Carl Black. He's a gem. But the rest? ZZZZZ....

Frank would have hated it.

Well not gonna go off at great lengths but I truly enjoyed this video only because I am a huge Zappa fan. It was informative and would have given it 5 stars had it had more video history. Perfomances to be exact ... but all that aside I would recommend it for any diehard.

The footage of Wildman Fisher on Laugh-in and Zappa on the Steve Allen show are worth the price of admission alone! This is a must for any long time Zappa fan!