ROXY: THE MOVIE

I've had the vinyl double album of this performance in heavy rotation on my turntable since it came out in the 70s. I still consider it one of the best live LPs I've ever heard. I won't go too far into the music end of things because you can just read my glowing review of it for yourself. But recently I came across the film version on Amazon Prime and, impossible as it seems, made me even more appreciative of what Frank and his band accomplished that particular night. What the record wasn't able to convey was the pure joy the musicians were exuding while playing some of the most complex material imaginable purely from memory. You'd think they were playing something akin to "Gloria" by their casual mien when, in fact, it's obvious throughout the show they're having the time of their lives. If you are of the younger set and have often wondered what all the fuss is about Mr. Zappa I highly recommend you dial this movie up soon and get ready to pick your jaw up from the floor often. No fancy light show or special effects needed for this uber-talented bunch. In my estimation there's never been anything quite like it in the history of progressive music and I'm tickled pink that it's been preserved for all time to come.