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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.............
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 ¡¡¡
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.
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!
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!
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
@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!
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 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.
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.
As a completely unbiased viewer, I can safely say that this is the greatest thing I have ever heard.
Well said.
BBC was trippy in 68!
weird effects in the image, that's awesome
There's just something about his sound from this era. He was really pouring his heart out.
Allways enjoy seeing how he directed those improvisations.
Great misicianship & great humor!!
Absolutely love Zappa.
Yet another dope AF "King King" variant. Much-appreciated, Dmitry Stillerman!
Brilliant! The first supergroup. Thanks for posting this rare footage.
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!!!!
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!
Absolutely brilliant
indescribable... inimitable... incomparable... inarrivabile... what else?!? WHO can do better??!?!?!!?!?
If it hasn't been said before: The modern day composer refuses to die.
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.
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.
Absolutely Feckin Brilliant...........the legend lives
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.
Grazie MAESTRO
your music make me feelin'good.
Hi..and welcome to Jazz Club!
the song king kong was one of the first jazz fusion songs ever and not many people seem to recognize that.
aw man i wish theyre were more vids from this show/era
The only Zappa period I'm interested in hearing..🎶🎵🎼🎵🎶🎶
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
Tremendous !
wow, I've never seen such tambourine playing! - but seriously, oh Frank - so good, so good.
i wish this was released on a album.
We had three TV channels then and this was on one (BBC2). Ohmihgod
Thanks!
Just awesome.
such an awesome composer!!!!
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.
Many thanks for recommending this!!!
That hit at 1:48
Electric!
No one like Frank Zappa..Music is the Best!
Qui pourrait faire mieux ? C'est juste énorme...
epic to the max.
@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.
a supergroup is a band formed by members of previously existing famous bands. the travelling wilburys. audioslave. etc...
:0 wow! i love the way this song breaks down into jazzy...kinda...stuff.,,hehe
Awesome.
love it, big time.
There was a lot of chemistry with the early Mothers, whether they were getting along or not.
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!
Also props to the Gold Top LP.
motorhead sherwood is playing the tambourine, bunk gardner is playing baritone sax
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.
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.
@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.............
la cabeza q tenia el chabon era unica... no era un musico de rock... estaba mas alla de todas las definiciones posibles... simplemente ZAPPA
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 ¡¡¡
✌️♥️🎶☯️🖖😎
Genius!!!!
King Kong is the top of the early stuff.
best FZ song ever
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.
Impresionante.
Gotta love the "consult a psychiatrist" subliminal message
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.
babe ruth covers this song on first base. 5 stars to zappa and the mothers
Maestro el GRAN ZAPPA
The BBC couldn't do this again; unless it had a time-machine!
Only Frank could do 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!
nice
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!
DIG it...
Pretty cool
them drums them drums!! that sea shanty! fucking psychedelic hip hop sea shanty rock and roll!! yes yes yes!!
From my point of view...best song of Frank Zappa...With Uncle Of Meat, Black Page, Peaches and Regalia and Dog Breath Variations...
Ahahahahaha yeah, Franktastic!
that saxophone solo is...
Very true.
@aeronpanick Agreed, and also not a bad one on "'Tis The Season To Be Jelly".
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
This sort of reminds me of Green Day.
@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 ahead of their time album
this is just awesome. unfortunately the sound quality is too bad to enjoy this quintessence of the 60's
That was an interesting 9 minutes of my life..
give it up for Motorhead Sherwood y'alll
@dstillermann And the Live In Toronto album, that's pretty close--the album which has John Lennon and Yoko Ono on it....
Uncle Frank...
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.
load it down via filsh ;-)
Is there a version of King Kong as good as this that's on an official release?
@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.
consultant psychiatrist at 3:21? WTF? its only one frame but it stopped to cache right on it.
Am I right in thinking this is from the Late Show Zappa comilation shown when Frank died?
@cmadera100 tapecity has disappeared, any chance anyone here can upload it to a new torrent?
do they change the tempo in the middle of the song?
How'd they get that phonetic electric belch at the end?!
@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.
They think they're Lawrence Welk. :D
not quite, motorhead is playing both bari and tambourine... Bunk is the older looking guy playing tenor
i read these racist comments and thank god i was born british and raised with tolerance
@zootallurez ,unfortunately not Chinese but i wonder hw many Chinese fans of Frank there are? lol..
Music is the Best..
Nice name there, diddywahdiddy. Would it by any chance be named after a Beefheart tune?
2:33 al 4:45 maton que saxes tan fregones y mas me encanta el solo de sax de motorhead
Muziek ist het beste!