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Holistic Guidance - Frank Zappa: Dub Room Special
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $12.99
Your Save: $ 1.99 ( 13% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Eagle Rock Ent
Starring: Frank Zappa
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0801213013890
Format: Best of
Label: Eagle Rock Ent
Manufacturer: Eagle Rock Ent
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Eagle Rock Ent
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-10-18
Running Time: 90
Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
Theatrical Release Date: 1982-10
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Editorial Reviews:
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Previously released on VHS and Beta and only available through mail order, Frank Zappa’s Dub Room Special is an extremely rare TV special comprising two live performances from one of Rock’s great individuals. Zappa’s unparalleled abilities as a composer, guitarist, and absurdist/social commentator run rampant on The Dub Room Special - and it is a unique window on his willingness to push the envelope of what is possible no matter how improbable. Selections from two separate concerts, one, called A Token of His Extreme, shot in 1974 at Los Angeles public television station KCET and one in 1981 filmed at his annual New York Halloween show, are interspersed with then-cutting edge claymation/stop motion animation from Bruce Bickford and assorted comedy bits. Since 1966, Zappa had established himself as perhaps the most fearless musician known to popular music. He incorporated modern classical music, blazing rock and blues and doo wop, guitar solos he called "air sculpture" and an extremely cynical point of view to forge a legacy that remains completely unique 12 years after his death.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: I am torn on how many stars to give this
Comment: "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, obstructung 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 homor, 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 2 of the best Zappa Bands
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Buy
Comment: A lot of Zappa performings. Highly recommended!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Contrasting Zappa
Comment: The contrast between two of the musical periods of FZ's life is excellent. As with every album he produced, the change from the 70's to the 80's also represented a definite shift in FZ's music. Also well represented here is the contrast of his musical genius and irreverant humor.
Just as a side note, Ruth Underwood should recieve some sort of award for her work here as the hardest working woman in a Rock Show.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dub Room Special DVD, which is what you get.
Comment: 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?
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