If there is anything more eclectic than a Frank Zappa concert, it is a Frank Zappa rehearsal for a concert.
The Lost Performance: The Full Performance is a film of a Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention rehearsal recorded October 6th, 1968 in Germany. As Zappa’s career progressed, he recorded dozens of performances, but there is surprisingly little footage and documentation of the early Mothers Of Invention.
The rehearsal is a long, continuous performance. Zappa plays director and the band occasionally breaks into recognizable songs such as “King Kong,” “A Pound For A Brown On A Bus,” “Sleeping In A Jar,” “Let’s Make Water Turn Black,” and “Uncle Meat.” A brass section consisting of Ian Underwood, Bunk Gardner, and James Sherwood, bassist/vocalist Roy Estrada, keyboardist Don Preston, and drummers/percussionists Art Tripp and Jimmy Carl Black were one of Zappa’s tightest units, and they were well able to follow his directions and signals. The atmosphere is relaxed and there is a lot of banter back and forth.
This is a release that will basically appeal to fans of Zappa, and especially those who loved his early career. However, the lack of structure makes it difficult to follow unless you are familiar with the music. There are also issues with the sound and picture at times and it is certainly not up to modern day standards, so beware.
The Lost Broadcast: The Full Performance is more of a historical document than a release you will want to play continuously. Still, it is an interesting look into the mind of Frank Zappa and how he plotted his concert approach.
