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Amazon.co.uk Review
For longtime fans and un-Zapped neophytes alike, Frank Zappa Live: Does Humour Belong in Music? presents the late, great Frank Zappa at his mischievous best. Unlike the infamously rambling Baby Snakes, this hour-long, digitally remastered 14-song set (culled from FZ's performance at the Pier in New York City on August 26, 1984) is 95% music, punctuated with brief interview clips (including the inane titular question and Frank's expectedly affirmative response) and featuring one of the tightest bands that Zappa ever assembled. Everybody participates in Zappa's unique parade of musical fusion, street theatre, and defiant anti-establishment sarcasm, with Zappa playing masterful conductor when he's not riffing with nimble-fingered fretwork (notably during "Zoot Allures", "Cosmik Debris" and Greg Allman's "Whipping Post", the set's only cover song). His trademark humour extends to all of his bandmates, especially Ray White and Ike Willis (guitars, vocals) and Bobby Martin (keyboards, vocals). Any topic is fair game for Zappa's skewering, frequently explicit lyrics, from pop-culture sell-outs and corrupt recording executives ("Tinsel Town Rebellion") to greedy politicians ("Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel"). Each song is performed to perfection while espousing FZ's impassioned philosophy of taking nothing seriously except the music. In that regard, Frank Zappa Live represents pure genius at work, having fun and taking no prisoners. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Description
Track Listing:
- Zoot Allures
- Tinsel Town Rebellion
- Trouble Every Day
- Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel
- The Dangerous Kitchen
- He’s So Gay
- Bobby Brown
- Keep it Greasey
- Honey, Don’t You Want a Man Like Me?
- Dinah-Mo Humm
- Cosmic Debris
- Be in My Video
- Dancin’ Fool
- Whippin’ Post
- Tinsel Town Rebellion
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
For someone who wants to learn about one of the (different) faces of Frank Zappa's music, this video is a must! Most of the footage is about one of his concerts in the USA (NYC, 1984) and demonstrates the greatness of the composer and guitarist. Zappa and his band are showing off in some complicated compositions, but the amazing guitar solos make a lot of the flaws in the video worth while. Overall, it is a great document, full of humor, interesting stuff about Frank Zappa and a lot, lot, lot of "fine music for fine people".
Excellent!
Excellent!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am a complete Zappa obsessive, and for me at least, this DVD is wonderful. The picture quality is good, definitely better than VHS, as is the sound. Admittedly, the camera work leaves something to be desired, but generally, this is a wonderful DVD. The only drawback is that there are no extras. I was also somewhat chagrined to find that there is only 1:01 of "Hotplate Heaven at the Green Hotel", and 90% of that is cut with interview. However, the band plays outstandingly throughout (as you would expect from Zappa), and there are a couple of great solos from Frank. Scott Thunes and Bobby Martin give particularly good performances, and 'Tinsel Town Rebellion', 'He's So Gay' and 'Whippin' Post' are highlights (all capable of sending a shiver down my back and sending me into temporary ecstasy)
This is a good documentation of Zappa's later bands, and career. If you prefer The Mothers, buy "200 Motels", if you prefer his 70's stuff, then buy "Baby Snakes". Personally, I prefer Zappa's later work (and also his later bands), and because of this, "Does Humour Belong in Music?" is my favourite of the currently available Zappa DVDs/Videos. It is an essential purchase for any Zappa fan.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Get one thing straight, this DVD presents the main feature - Does Humour Belong In Music - 60 mins of concert and soundbites. The picture and sound are at least half decent, but there are no extras at all. For the DVD package it must be a nice round zero out of five for effort. However, stay positive, it is worth buying for the show itself. If you wait for a better package I suspect you will wait in vain. So if you like Zappa, buy it and be thankful you not only get to see the show but get to take it home and put it on the shelf.
And what a show. Zappa was a genius (wonder how many times that has been said). There were many, wildly varying sides to his output, all sublime. He crossed genres more than any other song-writer or musician in history, and invented a few along the way. This show presents just one side. It is the cheesy, overtly offensive side that many people have a problem with. It is also terrific fun.
The band are hugely talented (Bob and Ike, say no more) but decide to entertain rather than vanish up the arse of their collective greatness. I kind of like the fact that Zappa, the greatest guitarist that ever lived, only plays guitar on two tracks rather than constructs the whole show around his virtuoso skill. It shows a justified confidence in the strength of his material that it doesn't have to revolve around just one aspect of music.
Are these Zappa's strongest compositions? No. The track list might not enthuse the weathered fan. Are they compelling when seen performed live? YES! You get to appreciate the works as you never could in audio alone.
Great fun. Buy it, dig the cheepnis, and love it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful stuff - the best band in the world you've never heard !
I can't believe the other reviewers - this is one of the best gigs on film, ever ! Combines noodling guitar with funny socail commentary songs and some great stright ahead rock. Read more
Published on 15 May 2008 by Mick
Excellente DVD!!
I am a devoted Zappa fan (as most of us Zappa fans are), and this is the only DVD I have of the master, and I must say I adore it. Read more
Published on 13 April 2006 by El
sleep dirt from the Z Family Trust
It's good that it's here but since FZ died the owners of his material (Zappa Family Trust or something) didnt honour his work too well. Read more
Published on 2 July 2004 by MC Skina
Not Great, But It's There !
I've been a Frank Zappa fan for many years but never had the opportunity to see him live. So a FZ DVD is something I couldn't miss. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2003 by effe
Yes - humor does belong in music.
Frank Zappa was a man who was able to work in many interesting musical styles. Fusion-jazz of the highest quality, free-form, musical satire (Broadway the hard way, Absolutely... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2003
Keep it cheesy??
Let me state I love Zappa and all his output is stunning, in my humble opinion.
This DVD fails to deliver. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2003 by Mr. D. Shearer
Zappa Vocalist
I was a bit disappointed with this DVD.
Zappa plays guitar on just two tracks, prefering to take on vocal duties. Read more
Zappa plays guitar on just two tracks, prefering to take on vocal duties. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2003 by Mr. S. J. Thorpe
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