The person who posted this video should receive some sort of humanitarian award for preserving and sharing this historic and ripping version of mighty Kong. And the In The Sky video, too. But this is Classic. The only thing that could've made these any better would be the velvety croon of Ray Collins.
I love the Ahead of Their Time version...'cause it's probably the closest recorded version there is to this :) Same year, same country...kind of makes sense. Let's be honest the version on Burnt Weeny Sandwich is nowhere NEAR as epic as this version.
BTW, King Kong with the Mothers Of Invention is ALWAYS a welcome piece, brilliant music, cool take, no matter how disillusioned FZ may have been with the band. Love this clip. If anyone out there has a copy of this (and etc.) and would not mind to share as a DVD-R, I'm here.
this was up on youtube a long time ago but it got taken down. Great to see it back up again. Wonder what the hell people were thinking of this stuff back in 68??? ha!
The intro is from "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" as a bit of "Dwarf Nebula Processional March" and then they get into King Kong. "We heard about how people in this land like traditional jazz" is classic from Frank. always great KING KONG
And as an attachment: Ian Underwood played with the Mothers through the summer of 1973 and was the major player (after Frank) on Hot Rats so FZ knew how good he was, and for that matter Don Preston continued through the Flo and Eddie years and was a quest on Roxy and Elsewhere. It is just that the 60's had to end, at some point, my friend.
yeah this is is awesome.. wish the quality was better.. awesome display of the Zappa prowess.. I'm still a HUGE fan of Jean Luc Ponty's version of KK.. and the Sweden 73' ...wow.. dumbfounded.
Agreed... I wish to god I could find an actual recording of this, but all I could get was the version of "in the sky" that precedes this performance. The compositional sections are mind blowing, and the drums sound thunderous in this take.
I wouldn't be surprised if any/all of the Beatles watched it. Paul McCartney and George Martin have both acknowledged "Freak Out" as an inspiration for "Sgt. Pepper", so they at least were aware of and impressed by Zappa at the time.
Esta version de KING KONG es anterior a grabarla en el gran "UNCLE MEAT" y es mas resumida por que es una sesion televisiva pero igualmente es GENIAL, hay una parte (2:23) que Don Preston y su piano electrico se quedan solos y es realmente soberbia (aparte que esa parte no sale en la grabacion de Uncle Meat) aparte en la intro de Zappa es muy chistoso como baila Motorhead Sherwood. "GOD SAVE THE MOTHERS" !!! GRANDE ZAPPA ¡¡¡
Ian Underwood had a BA in composition from Yale, and a masters from Berkeley. Artie Tripp was a percussionist with the Cincinnati Orchestra. Jimmy Carl Black and Roy Estrada may have been the weak links, but Zappa clearly loved them and has mentioned in interviews how they were the two players in The Soul Giants who most impressed him. I think the breakup of the Mothers had more to do with Zappa's dissatisfaction to the way the band was being marketed and/or received by audiences in the states.
@DimensionsofChange in that it blends jazz instrument6ation and improvization with a rock beat yes. or jazz with a rock guitar sound. zappa parodied and aped genres but his compositional fingerprint is so strong that it usually just sounds like zappa music!
It's odd that there are a bunch of comments (including quotes from Zappa himself) about how the original Mothers weren't good enough to play the harder compositions. Don Preston was a respected jazz musician who had played with Elvin Jones and whose father was a resident composer for the Detriot Symphony.
As for the Varese phone call, I once more have to refer to an interview transcript where FZ says that his parents would like to give him fifteen bucks. FZ declined, asked if it was OK to make a long distance call to Varese instead. And so he did, only to talk to his wife, which probably was nice in itself. Unfortunately Varese was in Europe(?) so he couldn't reach him. The closest he got to Varese, was a reply from a letter. As I've understood, FZ had that reply letter in frame up to his death.
@Zuhzuhzombie The two versions from "Uncle Meat" are still pretty darn good classics, especially the one closing the album, which is blessed by an extensive soloing by Underwood. The one from "Make a Jazz Noise Here" is a nice sample of FZ's late big band work, but it's so tongue-in-cheek many would hate it.
Hehe, it could have been, dharmaseed, but it's actually after the original by the late and great Bo Diddley. It is certainly a bonus that Beefheart did a DYNAMITE version of it. Not bad for a debut 45!
I find the reggae version of it to be my favorite. There is a very interesting version on the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore sampler, which is unique to that album i believe. Its got Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals. Amazing.
@dstillermann The one on "Make a Jazz Noise Here" is great, a very unique 'Reggae' version. Has a nice live version of "Porn Wars" stuck in the middle as well, a most epic surprise. The version of "King Kong" on Uncle Meat is disappointing in my opinion, because the sound quality is rather poor.
@Zuhzuhzombie The one on Live In Toronto. I think that's the name of the album. The one on Uncle Meat pales in comparison with this behemoth of a performance!
@Zuhzuhzombie check the "ahead of their time album" It has a great version of this piece!!! And yes what an impact when the tune actualy starts!!! It sends the shivers up and down with some gooses on the top of it.............
Que banda aqui tocan: Frank Zappa Y Jimmy Carl Black (QEPD), Ian Underwood, Bunk Gardner, Art Trip III,Roy Estrada,Don Preston, Y Motorhead Jim Sherwood. Que desde mi punto de vista, fue una de las mejores formaciones de las queridas,.recordadas y extrañadas madres de la invencion
The Roy Estrada claim is probably true,I have no problems with that.I think FZ liked Estrada a lot, due to the fact that he refers to him in "Zappa In New York" and even takes him in again for a short while, which is documented in "Baby Snakes". That never happened to Ray Collins or Artie Tripp. As for the band name, I have an interview transcript where FZ says HE chose the added "Of Invention" because Verve/MGM disapproved of just "Mothers". Whatever, FZ celebrated the Mothers 10 years in 1974.
FZ never joined The Mothers they were a creation of his. He created (and eventually fired) *at least* 3 1/2 iterations of the name. Then his bands became known as only Frank Zappa.
As a completely unbiased viewer, I can safely say that this is the greatest thing I have ever heard.
Well said.
There's just something about his sound from this era. He was really pouring his heart out.
The person who posted this video should receive some sort of humanitarian award for preserving and sharing this historic and ripping version of mighty Kong. And the In The Sky video, too. But this is Classic. The only thing that could've made these any better would be the velvety croon of Ray Collins.
Allways enjoy seeing how he directed those improvisations.
Great misicianship & great humor!!
Absolutely love Zappa.
If it hasn't been said before: The modern day composer refuses to die.
BBC was trippy in 68!
weird effects in the image, that's awesome
Absolutely Feckin Brilliant...........the legend lives
Yet another dope AF "King King" variant. Much-appreciated, Dmitry Stillerman!
the song king kong was one of the first jazz fusion songs ever and not many people seem to recognize that.
indescribable... inimitable... incomparable... inarrivabile... what else?!? WHO can do better??!?!?!!?!?
Love the Jazz Noise Here version. The main theme is done brilliantly.
I love the Ahead of Their Time version...'cause it's probably the closest recorded version there is to this :)
Same year, same country...kind of makes sense.
Let's be honest the version on Burnt Weeny Sandwich is nowhere NEAR as epic as this version.
BTW, King Kong with the Mothers Of Invention is ALWAYS a welcome piece, brilliant music, cool take, no matter how disillusioned FZ may have been with the band. Love this clip. If anyone out there has a copy of this (and etc.) and would not mind to share as a DVD-R, I'm here.
I never heard Frank Zappa's music, and he's a genious. wasted my whole life listening trash but this is REAL MUSIC. I LOVE IT!!!!
Brilliant! The first supergroup. Thanks for posting this rare footage.
this was up on youtube a long time ago but it got taken down. Great to see it back up again. Wonder what the hell people were thinking of this stuff back in 68??? ha!
The intro is from "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" as a bit of "Dwarf Nebula Processional March" and then they get into King Kong.
"We heard about how people in this land like traditional jazz" is classic from Frank.
always great
KING KONG
No one like Frank Zappa..Music is the Best!
Absolutely brilliant
And as an attachment:
Ian Underwood played with the Mothers through the summer of 1973 and was the major player (after Frank) on Hot Rats so FZ knew how good he was, and for that matter Don Preston continued through the Flo and Eddie years and was a quest on Roxy and Elsewhere.
It is just that the 60's had to end,
at some point,
my friend.
yeah this is is awesome.. wish the quality was better.. awesome display of the Zappa prowess.. I'm still a HUGE fan of Jean Luc Ponty's version of KK.. and the Sweden 73' ...wow.. dumbfounded.
Tremendous !
We had three TV channels then and this was on one (BBC2). Ohmihgod
That hit at 1:48
Electric!
a supergroup is a band formed by members of previously existing famous bands. the travelling wilburys. audioslave. etc...
Hi..and welcome to Jazz Club!
Just awesome.
motorhead sherwood is playing the tambourine, bunk gardner is playing baritone sax
i wish this was released on a album.
Agreed... I wish to god I could find an actual recording of this, but all I could get was the version of "in the sky" that precedes this performance. The compositional sections are mind blowing, and the drums sound thunderous in this take.
Qui pourrait faire mieux ? C'est juste énorme...
I wouldn't be surprised if any/all of the Beatles watched it. Paul McCartney and George Martin have both acknowledged "Freak Out" as an inspiration for "Sgt. Pepper", so they at least were aware of and impressed by Zappa at the time.
We are not worthy of His Genius.Our Master!
Thanks!
Brilliant !
Esta version de KING KONG es anterior a grabarla en el gran "UNCLE MEAT" y es mas resumida por que es una sesion televisiva pero igualmente es GENIAL, hay una parte (2:23) que Don Preston y su piano electrico se quedan solos y es realmente soberbia (aparte que esa parte no sale en la grabacion de Uncle Meat) aparte en la intro de Zappa es muy chistoso como baila Motorhead Sherwood.
"GOD SAVE THE MOTHERS"
!!! GRANDE ZAPPA ¡¡¡
✌️♥️🎶☯️🖖😎
The only Zappa period I'm interested in hearing..🎶🎵🎼🎵🎶🎶
Ian Underwood had a BA in composition from Yale, and a masters from Berkeley. Artie Tripp was a percussionist with the Cincinnati Orchestra. Jimmy Carl Black and Roy Estrada may have been the weak links, but Zappa clearly loved them and has mentioned in interviews how they were the two players in The Soul Giants who most impressed him. I think the breakup of the Mothers had more to do with Zappa's dissatisfaction to the way the band was being marketed and/or received by audiences in the states.
Grazie MAESTRO
your music make me feelin'good.
:0 wow! i love the way this song breaks down into jazzy...kinda...stuff.,,hehe
wow, I've never seen such tambourine playing! - but seriously, oh Frank - so good, so good.
Awesome.
Many thanks for recommending this!!!
@DimensionsofChange in that it blends jazz instrument6ation and improvization with a rock beat yes. or jazz with a rock guitar sound. zappa parodied and aped genres but his compositional fingerprint is so strong that it usually just sounds like zappa music!
It's odd that there are a bunch of comments (including quotes from Zappa himself) about how the original Mothers weren't good enough to play the harder compositions. Don Preston was a respected jazz musician who had played with Elvin Jones and whose father was a resident composer for the Detriot Symphony.
love it, big time.
epic to the max.
There was a lot of chemistry with the early Mothers, whether they were getting along or not.
such an awesome composer!!!!
aw man i wish theyre were more vids from this show/era
King Kong is the top of the early stuff.
Genius!!!!
best FZ song ever
The BBC couldn't do this again; unless it had a time-machine!
As for the Varese phone call, I once more have to refer to an interview transcript where FZ says that his parents would like to give him fifteen bucks. FZ declined, asked if it was OK to make a long distance call to Varese instead. And so he did, only to talk to his wife, which probably was nice in itself. Unfortunately Varese was in Europe(?) so he couldn't reach him. The closest he got to Varese, was a reply from a letter. As I've understood, FZ had that reply letter in frame up to his death.
Maestro el GRAN ZAPPA
Gotta love the "consult a psychiatrist" subliminal message
From my point of view...best song of Frank Zappa...With Uncle Of Meat, Black Page, Peaches and Regalia and Dog Breath Variations...
la cabeza q tenia el chabon era unica... no era un musico de rock... estaba mas alla de todas las definiciones posibles... simplemente ZAPPA
babe ruth covers this song on first base. 5 stars to zappa and the mothers
them drums them drums!! that sea shanty! fucking psychedelic hip hop sea shanty rock and roll!! yes yes yes!!
@Zuhzuhzombie The two versions from "Uncle Meat" are still pretty darn good classics, especially the one closing the album, which is blessed by an extensive soloing by Underwood. The one from "Make a Jazz Noise Here" is a nice sample of FZ's late big band work, but it's so tongue-in-cheek many would hate it.
Hehe, it could have been, dharmaseed, but it's actually after the original by the late and great Bo Diddley. It is certainly a bonus that Beefheart did a DYNAMITE version of it. Not bad for a debut 45!
Very true.
@aeronpanick Agreed, and also not a bad one on "'Tis The Season To Be Jelly".
Impresionante.
DIG it...
@Zuhzuhzombie ahead of their time album
that saxophone solo is...
Only Frank could do this!
Pretty cool
I find the reggae version of it to be my favorite. There is a very interesting version on the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore sampler, which is unique to that album i believe. Its got Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals. Amazing.
nice
@dstillermann The one on "Make a Jazz Noise Here" is great, a very unique 'Reggae' version. Has a nice live version of "Porn Wars" stuck in the middle as well, a most epic surprise. The version of "King Kong" on Uncle Meat is disappointing in my opinion, because the sound quality is rather poor.
Also props to the Gold Top LP.
Uncle Frank...
@Zuhzuhzombie The one on Live In Toronto. I think that's the name of the album. The one on Uncle Meat pales in comparison with this behemoth of a performance!
@zootallurez ,unfortunately not Chinese but i wonder hw many Chinese fans of Frank there are? lol..
Music is the Best..
i read these racist comments and thank god i was born british and raised with tolerance
0:00 - 9:07 = EPIC!!
@Zuhzuhzombie check the "ahead of their time album" It has a great version of this piece!!!
And yes what an impact when the tune actualy starts!!!
It sends the shivers up and down with some gooses on the top of it.............
Is there a version of King Kong as good as this that's on an official release?
Que banda aqui tocan: Frank Zappa Y Jimmy Carl Black (QEPD), Ian Underwood, Bunk Gardner, Art Trip III,Roy Estrada,Don Preston, Y Motorhead Jim Sherwood. Que desde mi punto de vista, fue una de las mejores formaciones de las queridas,.recordadas y extrañadas madres de la invencion
The Roy Estrada claim is probably true,I have no problems with that.I think FZ liked Estrada a lot, due to the fact that he refers to him in "Zappa In New York" and even takes him in again for a short while, which is documented in "Baby Snakes". That never happened to Ray Collins or Artie Tripp. As for the band name, I have an interview transcript where FZ says HE chose the added "Of Invention" because Verve/MGM disapproved of just "Mothers". Whatever, FZ celebrated the Mothers 10 years in 1974.
@dstillermann And the Live In Toronto album, that's pretty close--the album which has John Lennon and Yoko Ono on it....
Muziek ist het beste!
give it up for Motorhead Sherwood y'alll
Ahahahahaha yeah, Franktastic!
FZ never joined The Mothers they were a creation of his. He created (and eventually fired) *at least* 3 1/2 iterations of the name. Then his bands became known as only Frank Zappa.
not quite, motorhead is playing both bari and tambourine... Bunk is the older looking guy playing tenor
2:33 al 4:45 maton que saxes tan fregones y mas me encanta el solo de sax de motorhead
do they change the tempo in the middle of the song?
Why can't America have the same taste in music as the UK does?
@gtr1359 I'm gonna go ahead and count that as a yes. Compositional fingerprint eh? I'm taking that term if i's not already widely used by everyone.
I apologize if this has been mentioned previously but who is who in the video?
@cmadera100 tapecity has disappeared, any chance anyone here can upload it to a new torrent?
Nice name there, diddywahdiddy. Would it by any chance be named after a Beefheart tune?
This sort of reminds me of Green Day.
consultant psychiatrist at 3:21? WTF? its only one frame but it stopped to cache right on it.
How'd they get that phonetic electric belch at the end?!
this is just awesome. unfortunately the sound quality is too bad to enjoy this quintessence of the 60's