http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/frank-za ... ovie-video

run time 116m 8s

ZFT originally promised "3 shows, 4 hours uncut" back in the trailer

Nothing yet at either Amazon USA or UK. Will this be receiving a domestic release at all?

Me wants. Me concerned that it's on Eagle, who doesn't have a stellar track record for the audio on dvd's or blus. FZ usually took great care with the audio on his video releases when he was alive; though the Dweezil FZ tribute did have decent sound, so maybe Dweezil will oversee the project & keep Eagle's LAME audio people far far away?.

Frank Zappa’s concerts at the Roxy Theatre in Holywood in December 1973 are legendary. Frank and the Mothers played three nights on December 8th, 9th & 10th and these shows formed the basis of the “Roxy & Elsewhere” album that was released in 1974. However the performances were also filmed in 16mm and this footage has been sitting in the Zappa vault ever since. Now fully restored by the Zappa Family Trust this live concert film is being made available for the first time. It captures Frank and the Mothers at the height of their powers and includes material that is unique to these performances. This is a highly anticipated release for Zappa fans who have waited many years for the concert footage to finally be released.


available from EVO88.com
CD/DVD set $ 20.99
BluRay $ 17.99

DVD Track List

1) Cosmik Debris
2) Medley: Penguin In Bondage / T’Mershi Duween / The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat / RDNZL
3) Inca Roads
4) Medley: Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing / Cheepnis - Percussion
5) Cheepnis
6) Medley: I’m The Slime / Big Swifty
7) Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church)
8) Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
9) Father O’Blivion


CD Track list:
1) “Something Terrible Has Happened…”
2) Cosmik Debris
3) Medley: Penguin In Bondage / T’Mershi Duween / The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat / RDNZL
4) Medley: Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing / Cheepnis - Percussion
5) Cheepnis
6) Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church)

Bonus Features
Additional tracks: (1) Medley: Pygmy Twylyte / The Idiot Bastard Son (2) Dickies’s Such An Asshole


Or Blu Ray version

Track List

1) Cosmik Debris
2) Medley: Penguin In Bondage / T’Mershi Duween / The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat / RDNZL
3) Inca Roads
4) Medley: Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing / Cheepnis - Percussion
5) Cheepnis
6) Medley: I’m The Slime / Big Swifty
7) Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church)
8) Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
9) Father O’Blivion

Bonus Features
Additional tracks: (1) Medley: Pygmy Twylyte / The Idiot Bastard Son (2) Dickies’s Such An Asshole

ANyone ever hear of EVO88.com?

Any idea of the audio sampling/bit rate on the blu?

I just looked at the site, & they state DTS HDMA & LPCM, but no bit or sampling rates. Eagle is usually 48/24 (mediocre for blu).

Trailer now up at Zappa.com

pre-order link for blu ray up on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014RDS6RO/?tag=imwan-20

DVD link is up:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014RDXD18/?tag=imwan-20

The Blu-Ray can be ordered from that link as well.

a review of the premiere - from Zappateers

It. Was. Amazing.

This film is an unbelievable accomplishment. GREAT audio, truly amazing performances, shockingly good video restoration, and a triumph of concert movie editing. Even though it compiles footage from over three shows (sometimes even in the middle of songs), you would never know. It really feels like an intimate experience of being there on one of those legendary nights. Totally immersive.
After the film, there was a discussion/Q&A panel featuring Ahmet, Joe "the Vaultmaster" Travers, John Alberian (who did most of the edit and restoration), someone else who I'm sadly blanking on, but was instrumental in the correcting of the original footage, and Ralph Humphrey and Bruce Fowler themselves! They spoke at length about what a beast this was to actual put together, and confirmed the main reason for the delay was horrible, horrible technical problems when it was recorded in '73, leading to almost un-fixable sync issues. It took literally until the last two years or so for the right people to come along and the technology to catch up to what they needed in order to make it look and sound good enough to release. But man, did they ever do wonders with it. It looks like it was shot yesterday, and sounds incredible.

SPOILERS:

Highlights: Rhythm section only performance of "Cheepnis" leading into the full version, a jaw-dropping solo (and all around excellent rendition) of "Big Swifty", "RDNZL", actually getting to see the audience participation section of "The Bebop Tango".

Notable absences: "Village of the Sun" and "Pygmy Twilight". Joe answered a question about why those were omitted, and he said that the footage and performances were simply not up to par. He mentioned long sections of amazing solos where there was only one camera on, and the whole time it's just showing Frank's foot. Things like that. He also said that the Roxy album version of "Village of the Sun" is chock-full of overdubs, and for good reason.

I asked Ahmet and Joe about the quote he gave Rolling Stone referencing "opening the Vault doors wide open", and what treats we may have in store, and specifically asked if any of the late 70's Halloween shows would see a proper release. Joe's eyebrows went way up on that, and Ahmet pointed it out saying that should be an indication, as those are very close to the family and among their favorite shows, so as an "unofficial answer", it looks pretty damn likely. They also mentioned a soundtrack accompanying the DVD/Blu-Ray release (entirely worth it for the highlights mentioned above), and a comprehensive schedule in place for future releases. Apparently, the relationship with Universal is EXCELLENT right now, and it's a good time to be an FZ fan.

Well, I certainly hope the future releases come to pass, but you'll excuse me for not holding my breath. I will be picking this up in two weeks, though.

Guys
I only have the CD Hot Rats i'm not into his humour. His ability as a musician is brilliant however.
Is this concert up there with Hot Rats?

When I was a teen I hated his humor; so I didn't get into FZ at all until my mid 20's (Zoot Allures & the broadcast Halloween concert) , & didn't get really heavily into him until my 40's.

Ironically, I discovered that much of his humor is political, & I agree with pretty much all of it!. I do think he does go a bit over the top with sexism & toilet jokes occasionally. And I really don't like the Verve/MGM period at all; especially Reuben, but I also don't like any of the MGM's or 200 Motels.

Once he left MGM, i can't say there is a bad one in the bunch (Other then Motels). I suggest try a random sampling; musically the man is a genius. IMO, he's a slightly better than average guitarist, but the ensemble work, arrangements & composing are awesome!

Roughly same era, similar style but different - not drastically. Roxy is admittedly not my favorite era, but it is really good stuff.

The DVD tracklist is rather different from the Roxy & Elsewhere CD I've been so used to.



A couple "humorous" songs in there, although I'd put them in the inoffensive category.

This page has the 32-minute clip that was released a couple years ago:

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/126299/ ... In-October

Might give you an idea of what the band is like. Neither song is on the DVD - why, I have no idea, other than it's Zappa.

I love the Duke era so this dvd is a MUST for me. I was an FZ completist until a year or so ago when I got rid of nearly everything except the two guitar boxes, anything with the 72-74 bands, and the Zappa in NY album. I also have a dozen boots from the Ponty/Duke band which is far and away my favorite of his ensembles. I also made a great compilation of his crunchiest guitar solos from the 1982 Italy tour.

Love crunchy guitar solos!

Well then, chew on this!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2A3q7e1y_g

IMO there is no release anywhere by anyone at anytime that could hold a match to Hot Rats.

There are other tunes/snippets of music from those sessions that pop up in the Zappa catalog - excerts of Little House (Sugercane Harris sections) on Burnt Weeny Sandwich, a couple of cuts are on Weasels also Chungas. Also the Lost Episodes Even studio tan (basic track Lemme Take You To the Beach)

If you like Hot Rats I would suggest Waka Jawakra and also the Grand Wazoo. Also Sleep Dirt.

Uncle Meat is also very very good.


Again IMO this Roxy touring band was his best touring band ever. By the end of their existence they could play these intricate tunes faster than my ears could process the sound. Most of my favorite FZ tunes are either from this band or were redefined by this band.. There is also an extended version of Peaches that Dweasel took and played too/over-dubbed on one of his releases. What I want most in this world is a complete box of the Hot Rats sessions.

T'mershi Dween
E Arf
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing
Village of the Sun
the Be Bop Tango
Kung Fu

all awesome

You might also want to check out all 3 pieces in the Guitar series or the live cd's from 72 - Wazoo and Imaginary Diseases.

Thank you Robert

Very comprehensive reply, much appreciated!

I'm certain FZ is not going to be found in the pirated music shops here in China, but you never know!

I saw some curious copy's of the recent Led Zeppelin remasters in a shop in Pudong, Shanghai on the weekend. Won't touch those.

OK picked up a copy today DVD/cd. (Have both coming from Amazon and that first site that was posted here - Amazon gave me a delivery date of 11/04 - haven't heard squat from the other place although they took my money)

Took day off from work and watched it. Hard to say what is from Roxy & Elsewhere, YCDTOSA or Roxy/Proxy. Too many overdubs on Roxy. Edits all over the place in both the original lp and the movie.

I swear in some scenes Tom Fowler has a cigar it others a cigarette.

Being an FZ fan since Money was released - I have to say this is awesome!!!!

Favorites is the Cheapness instrumental, Bebop Tango (great to see what was going on with the tune we all know for so long - the vinyl/cd does have a lot of edits) and Pygmy Twilight.

Sometimes I notice details in the background are a little fuzzy - the stuff front and center is spot on clear.

The end bits with Yellow Snow/St Alfanso are rehearsal snipets. YS continues until FZ forgets the words. SAPB is a small teaser - maybe someday we will get a warts n all expanded release.

Other thoughts - Ruth was HOT - nice tight jeans - she's a honey.

Unsure how Nappy could continue to sing with Pamela De Barres all over him.

FZ is having a great time throughout.