The Legendary Stockholm Concert from the Konserthuset, September 30th 1967.

“Americans are ugly. This music is designed for them,” proclaimed Frank Zappa during the Mothers of Inventions first ever European show, their landmark concert at London s Royal Albert Hall. Yet although Zappa s work may have been designed as a critique of his homeland, he would discover that the Mothers output found its most loyal audience on distant shores. That legendary performance occurred on September 23rd, 1967, and seven days later the band were playing to another packed crowd at The Stockholm Concert Hall.
This remarkable performance, broadcast from the Konserthuset in Stockholm, Sweden on Sveriges radio, features favourites such as It Can't Happen Here (from Freak Out!), Big Leg Emma (which had recently appeared as a 45 in Sweden) and an epic rendition of King Kong (in its first known live recording), as well as a couple of Elvis classics.

By the time of the performance Zappa and the first incarnation of the Mothers were at the height of their powers. Their extended residency at New York s Garrick Theatre between April and September, 1967, had given the band a chance to experiment with both their musical repertoire and their unpredictable onstage antics This combination of off-the-wall experimentation and musical dexterity is captured perfectly in the Stockholm performance. With a set-list that includes cover versions of rock and pop standards alongside snippets of Stravinsky and Tchaikovksy, the Mothers run through inimitable versions of Freak Out s You Didn t Try to Call Me and It Can t Happen Here and their classic B-Side Big Leg Emma . The centre-piece of the concert is a remarkable rendition of King Kong , a composition that Zappa would develop and hone for years.

The Mothers of Invention :

Baritone Saxophone, Vocals – Jim 'Motorhead' Sherwood*
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Roy Estrada
Drums – Billy Mundi
Drums, Vocals – Jimmy Carl Black
Keyboards, Electronics – Don Preston
Keyboards, Woodwind – Ian Underwood
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Frank Zappa
Saxophone, Trumpet, Flute – Bunk Gardner
Vocals – Ray Collins

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