25-04-2025
Frank Zappa's Unaired Concert Special to Be Released After More Than 50 Years
In June of 1974, Frank Zappa and his rapturous band, the Mothers of Invention, invited a small audience to the their rehearsal hall on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, Calif. Together, they performed for over two hours while a small film crew captured the evening, and a mobile recording truck picked up on the audio. Unfortunately, the audio and video weren't synchronized.
As a result, the June concert that Zappa planned to pitch to TV networks was never released — that is, until May 9, when the special dubbed 'Cheaper Than Cheep' is set to arrive via Zappa Records/UMe.
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'Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to welcome you to the world's cheapest television special, which is being manufactured for your edification right here in the midst of our Mothers of Invention rehearsal hall at 5831 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California,' Zappa says in the footage. 'Can you all turn around and look at each other so everybody who's watching this can tell where we are and what the inside of this place really looks like. As you can see it's cheaper than cheap.'
Directed by Ahmet Zappa and produced by Frank Zappa, Vaultmeister Joe Travers and Ahmet Zappa, 'Cheaper Than Cheep' will be released exclusively on uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl in a variety of formats. A Blu-ray version (with Dolby Atmos) of the 'Cheaper Than Cheap' concert film will be available for purchase as part of a deluxe box set featuring a 2CD and 3LP of the performance.
The box set also comes with an extensive 12-page booklet with rare images and informative liner notes from Travers alongside a detailed and heartfelt remembrance from musician Ruth Komanoff Underwood who performed percussion that evening. The Blu-ray includes four extras – two performances, a blooper reel, and a deep excerpt from the out-of-print Claymation film, 'The Amazing Mr. Bickford.' Additional options include a Blu-ray video and a 2CD set, in addition to a standalone soundtrack on 180-gram 3LP black vinyl.
Watch the 'Cheaper Than Cheep' trailer below.
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