RARELY HEARD 1974 BROADCAST RECORDING FROM A STRIPPED DOWN M.O.I. By early 1974 Frank Zappa was touring with a smaller band of musicians, albeit one still going under The Mothers Of Invention moniker. This ensemble variously included Ian Underwood (reeds, keyboards), Ruth Underwood (vibes, marimba), Sal Marquez (trumpet, vocals), Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute and vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Tom Fowler (bass), Chester Thompson (drums), Ralph Humphrey (drums), George Duke (keyboards, vocals), and Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), the majority of whom also appeared on Zappa s two albums released that year: March s solo LP Apostrophe, and September s Roxy And Elsewhere (largely recorded live at the end of 73). In the latter months of the 1974, he was out again, but now just with Murphy-Brock, Duke, Thompson and Ruth Underwood for reasons unknown husband Ian was not onboard. It was this line-up who performed with Frank at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI on 23rd November, a show which was recorded for live FM Broadcast, albeit only by the University s own radio station, making reception of the gig fairly limited in its geographical scope. This show is now available on this double CD set, a recording rarely heard before and one that Zappa fans will certainly wish to add to their collections.
