Terminology for the 1960s concerts:
- Jam = improvised or otherwise loosely composed piece that is not part of a known song or composition;
- Kung Fu (also known as The Jelly) is a different composition from the 1973/74 Kung Fu
- Instrumental = composed but unidentified instrumental;
- String Quartet = A Pound For A Brown + Sleeping In A Jar + Jam.
June 1966 - August 1968
The Mothers with Ray Collins
The Mothers Of Invention, Spring-Summer 1966
FZ, Ray Collins, Elliot Ingber, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black.
1966 06 ?? - Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
5 min, SBD, B+/B
This recording, consisting of Plastic People and some jam, has been edited by FZ from different tapes, and represents a small portion of the unreleased "History & Collected Improvisations Of The MOI", see Unreleased, radio, and weird stuff).
1966 06 24-25? - Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
15 min, SBD, A-
Toads Of The Short Forest, I'm Not Satisfied, Handsome Cabin Boy Jam (q: Funiculì Funiculà)
1967 05 30 - Garrick Theater, NYC, NY
Wrong date and location. See Ann Arbor, 1967 12 03.
The Mothers Of Invention, Fall 1967
FZ, Ray Collins, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Billy Mundi, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood.
1967 ?? ?? - The Bitter End, New York, NY
5 min, B+, from a TV performance
This recording does not feature Ray Collins. Avalaible as video.
Son Of Suzy Creamcheese (lipsynched, from Absolutely Free), improvisation (a.k.a. In Memoriam: Hieronymus Bosch)
1967 09 30 - Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
40 min, FM, A-
This show is available as an officially released bootleg: 'Tis The Season To Be Jelly - BTB1.
intro, You Didn't Try To Call Me, Petrushka, Bristol Stomp, Baby Love, Big Leg Emma, No Matter What You Do (incl. Tchaikovsky's 6th), Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Gee, King Kong, It Can't Happen Here
1967 10 01 - Falkoner Theatret, København, Denmark
35 min, Aud, B-/C+
intro, America Drinks, Jelly Roll Gum Drop, jam (incl. Octandre, Absolutely Free, King Kong), Toads Of The Short Forest, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, King Kong [incl. Ian Underwood Whips It Out, UM]
1967 10 02 - Olympen, Lund, Sweden
25 min, Aud, B+
intro, No Matter What You Do, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Gee (incl. Duke Of Earl), The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley
The Mothers Of Invention, December 1967 - August 1968
FZ, Ray Collins, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood.
1967 12 03 - Fifth Dimension, Ann Arbor, MI
45 min, SBD, A/A-
The first two songs (20 min) are from a different show, most probably from 1969.
Big Leg Emma, King Kong, improvisations, America Drinks, Hungry Freaks Daddy, King Kong, Status Back Baby
1968 ?? ?? - Steve Allen Tv Show, Los Angeles, CA
Two recordings exist, sharing some dialogue, but with different music.
5 min, C
Hungry Freaks Daddy, improvisations, King Kong, interview
20 min, A-
interview (mostly with the other guests, Godfrey Cambridge and Ed Begley), America Drinks And Goes Home, Octandre
1968 ?? ?? - Central Park?, New York?
See 1968 08 03 - Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York, NY.
1968 01 ?? - Family Dog, Denver, CO
Wrong date, see 1968 05 03.
1968 02 ?? - Family Dog, Denver, CO
Officially released bootleg Electric Aunt Jemima - BTB2.
Actually a compilation from 1968 05 03 Denver, 1968 09 28 Essen, and 1968 10 20 Amsterdam.
1968 03 ?? - Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA
15 min, Aud, B
Just the last 3 songs of 1968 10 06 Bremen.
1968 03 ?? - Thee Image, Miami, FL
Wrong date. See 1969 02 08.
1968 04 10 - Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI
Wrong date. See 1968 04 28.
1968 04 20 - Fillmore East, New York, NY
Early show
75 min, Aud, B-
intro, improvisations (q: Octandre, Interlude), Trouble Every Day, Status Back Baby, Dead Air, Brahms Lullaby, ???, Louie Louie / Plastic People / You've Lost That Loving Feeling, ???, America Drinks, King Kong, Hungry Freaks Daddy
Late show
80 min, Aud, C+
Jam (incl. Blue Moon, I'm In The Mood For Love, q: Rite Of Spring), Absolutely Free, Duke Of Prunes, jam, You Didn't Try To Call Me, Petrushka, Bristol Stomp, Baby Love, Big Leg Emma, Mellow Lounge Music (incl. Easter Parade), Hungry Freaks Daddy, King Kong, Hawaiian Music (incl. Hawaiian Eye), Shotgun (q: ???), Holiday In Berlin, Cruising For Burgers (q: Annie Doesn't Live Here Any More)
1968 04 28 - Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI
Early show
Previously listed as 1968 04 10.
60 min, SBD, B+
Mr Green Genes (q: Petrushka), Hungry Freaks Daddy, America Drinks And Goes Home, King Kong, Handsome Cabin Boy / Wedding Dress Song / Dog Breath / Little House I Used To Live In, Status Back Baby, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley (q: Dog Breath)
1968 05 03 - Family Dog, Denver, CO
55 min, SBD, A
Parts of this show are included on Electric Aunt Jemima - BTB2.
Improvisations (incl. Octandre), Plastic People (incl. Octandre, King Kong, America Drinks), Wipe Out, Little House I Used To Live In (incl. Dog Breath, Coquette, Tchaikovsky's 6th, Blue Danube / Hungry Freaks Daddy), Funiculì Funiculà, Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, improvisations, Status Back Baby, Trouble Every Day Variations, Duke Of Earl, King Kong
1968 07 ?? - The Ark, Boston, MA
Wrong date. See 1969 07 08.
1968 08 03 - Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York, NY
Early Show
65 min, Aud, B+
With "Billy Velvet" from the audience (*).
intro, Trouble Every Day, improvisations, Hungry Freaks Daddy, King Kong, improvisations, Mr Green Genes, My Boyfriend's Back / I'm Gonna Bust His Head, Tiny Sick Tears, Hang On Sloopy*, Wipe Out, Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, Octandre
Late Show ?
There are two recordings with different material on it that could possibly be from this show.
45 min, Stage, B
Previously listed as 1968 ?? ?? - Central Park?, New York? Also commonly known as Central Park, 1969 08 02 and even circulating as Montreal, 1969 08. But it is surely from New York. It is also circulating in a short 15 min version with the first two songs only.
Jazz Rock Heavily Influenced By Al Kooper (flute solo), Help I'm A Rock / Transylvania Boogie, Baby Love, Big Leg Emma, Shortly (Holiday In Berlin), Oh No / Orange County Lumber Truck15 min, Stage, B
This recording is also circulating with Fillmore East as location.
Trouble Every Day, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley
September - October 1968
The 2nd European tour
The Mothers Of Invention, September - October 1968
FZ, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood.
1968 09 28 - Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
"Internationale Essener Songtage". This recording is included on Electric Aunt Jemima - BTB2. There's also a short video of In The Sky, which may or may not be part of this performance.
15 min, FM, A-
King Kong
1968 10 ?? - Worcester, UK
A mix of the 1968 10 03 and 1969 06 05 SBDs.
1968 10 01 - Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
40 min, Aud, B-
The tape circulating with this date is a mix of other shows.
1968 10 03 - Tivoli Gardens, København, Denmark
With Don Cherry (*).
85 min, Aud, B-
Improvisations, Hungry Freaks Daddy, Bongo Madness, God Bless America, King Kong, improvisations, Trouble Every Day, Absolutely Free Medley (incl. There's A Small Hotel, Rockabye Baby, Teddy Bears' March), In The Sky, The String Quartet (incl. Oh No, Transylvania Boogie), improvisations*, Octandre
35 min, SBD, A-/B+ and 60 min, SBD, A-/B+
The first part of this tape (before King Kong) is from a different show, the remainder has the same content of the audience recording, with a few cuts. Parts of this tape have circulated as 1968 10 ?? - Worcester.
Improvisations, Help I'm A Rock, Transylvania Boogie, jam, King Kong, Trouble Every Day, Absolutely Free Medley (incl. There's A Small Hotel, Rockabye Baby, Teddy Bears' March), In The Sky, The String Quartet (incl. Oh No, Transylvania Boogie), improvisations*, Octandre
1968 10 06 - The Beat Club, Bremen, Germany
35 min, FM, A+
From a German TV program, called "Liederliches". Full pro-shot video exists.
Improvisations, King Kong, The String Quartet, instrumental, Uncle Meat, Lohengrin, Gas Mask, Let's Make The Water Turn Black, Octandre
1968 10 20 - Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
105 min, Aud, C
80 min, SBD, B+
The SBD cuts in the Orange County Medley and doesn't have the intro and Brown Shoes. Short parts of this show are included on Electric Aunt Jemima - BTB2.
intro, Jam (incl. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes), Help I'm A Rock / Transylvania Boogie / drum duet, jam, Dog Breath, The String Quartet, Gas Mask, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley, Brown Shoes Don't Make It
1968 10 23?, BBC Studios, London, UK
30 min, FM, A+
Previously listed as 1968 10 ??. From a TV program. Full pro-shot video exists.
intro, Improvisations, King Kong, In The Sky
1968 10 25 - Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
45 min, Aud, B
King Kong [parts on AOTT], Gas Mask [WRMF], Hungry Freaks Daddy, Mr Green Genes, improvisations [parts on Transylvania Boogie, AOTT], String Quartet [parts on AOTT]
25 min, SBD, B+/B
Uncle Meat Variations, In The Sky, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley [AOTT]
1968 10 ?? - TV Studio, Paris, France
10 min, FM, A-
From a TV broadcast. Full pro-shot video exists and has been released in France as bonus dvd track of " Let the sun shine in Hair".
The String Quartet, Octandre
1968 10 26 - Olympia, Paris, France
50 min, SBD, A+
Improvisations, King Kong, Plastic People, Hungry Freaks Daddy, Mr Green Genes (q: Rite Of Spring)
November 1968 - May 1969
The Mothers with Lowell George
The Mothers Of Invention, November 1968 - May 1969
FZ, Lowell George, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood, Buzz Gardner.
1968 11 08 - Titan Gymnasium, Fullerton, CA
70 min, SBD/Stage?, B+
Ian Underwood is not present on this recording. With Wild Man Fisher (*).
This show is available on Our Man In Nirvana - BTB2.
intro, Bacon Fat, The String Quartet, The Wild Man Fischer Story*, I'm The Meany*, Valarie, King Kong
1969 02 ?? - The Ballroom, Stratford, CT
A.k.a 1968 02 ??. This tape consists of one segment from "The Impossible Concert" (see Unreleased, radio, and weird stuff) and one from the Amsterdam 1968 10 20 show.
1969 02 08 - Thee Image, Miami Beach, FL
60 min, Aud, B+/B
A.k.a 1968 03. Previously listed as 1969 03 ?? - but this should be the correct date.
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama (instrumental), Lonely Lonely Nights, FZ chat with audience, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley, Toads Of The Short Forest [part two - WRMF], All Night Long, Bacon Fat, Gregorian Chant, Little House I Used To Live In, Interlude, Pachuko Hop, Behind The Sun
1969 02 21 - Fillmore East, New York, NY
Early show
60 min, Aud, B-/C+
intro, Charles Ives, Lonely Lonely Nights, Bacon Fat, Uncle Meat, drum duet [incl. FZ/JCB Drum Duet, YCDTOSA5], Right There, Begin The Beguine, improvisations with Bunk's Tape [incl. Are You Upset?, YCDTOSA4], Run Home Slow, Little March, Right There, King Kong, Octandre
Late show
75 min, Aud, B
Intro And Movie Introduction, Kung Fu, Charles Ives, Improvisation (q. RDNZL, Octandre, Lohengrin), The String Quartet (q: Latex Solar Beef), Snork Fest, Do The Twist With Motorhead, Improvisation (q. some Mozart?, Stormy Monday, Holiday In Berlin), Valarie
1969 02 23 - Rockpile, Toronto, Canada
Early show
65 min, SBD, B+
A.k.a 1969 02 22.
Intro, Bacon Fat, Lonely Lonely Nights, Corrido Rock, Pachuko Hop, Behind The Sun, The String Quartet (q: Petrushka), Charles Ives (q: Rite Of Spring), WPLJ, In The Sky, All Night Long
Late show
55 min, Stage, B+
With André ??? on vocals (*).
A.k.a 1969 05 and 1969 02 23 - Convocation Hall, Toronto.
intro, The Orange County Lumber Truck Medley, instrumental, The String Quartet, Igor's Boogie / Little Doo-wop, Call Any Vegetable, Redneck Eats, Stone City*, Trouble Every Day
1969 02or03 - Convocation Hall, Toronto, Canada
65 min, Aud, B+
Exact date unknown.
intro, The String Quartet, Cruising For Burgers, FZ demonstrates hand signals and conducts the audience, Lohengrin, Trouble Every Day, Hungry Freaks Daddy, Lonely Lonely Nights, Little House I Used To Live In, Aybe Sea, Mr Green Genes
1969 03 ?? - Thee Image, Miami, FL
See 1969 02 08 - Miami Beach.
1969 03 ?? - Hartford Ballroom, Hartford, CT
A.k.a 1968 03 ??. Most of side A of "Columbia YSA6477 test pressing", see Unreleased, radio, and weird stuff.
1969 04 25 - Queens College, NYC, NY
85 min, Aud, B-
Drum soundcheck / improvisations / tune-up, Bacon Fat, Uncle Meat, Eye Of Agamotto, Hungry Freaks Daddy, Redneck Eats, improvisations, Kung Fu, improvisations, Igor's Boogie / Little Doo-wop, Redneck Eats reprise, King Kong (q: My Favorite Things, Nature Boy), Lonely Lonely Nights, Valarie, The String Quartet
1969 05 17 - Ford Auditorium, Detroit, MI
95 min, Aud, B-/C+
Improvisations, Hungry Freaks Daddy, The String Quartet, King Kong, Octandre, Kung Fu, Redneck Eats, Igor's Boogie / Little Doo-wop, A Little Mozart, Valarie, Lonely Lonely Nights, Bacon Fat, Wipe Out, Bacon Fat, MOI Seven-In-One Special (7 songs at the same time, incl. Louie Louie, Call Any Vegetable), Trouble Every Day, Cruising For Burgers
1969 05 19 - Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada
See 1969 05 24 - Rockpile.
1969 05 23 - Lawrence University Chapel, Appleton, WI
80 min, SBD, A-
intro, Some Ballet Music, Uncle Meat, Eye Of Agamotto, My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama, Clap & Vomit (audience participation), Kung Fu, Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue (q: Teddy Bears' Picnic, Tea For Two, It Had To Be You, Octandre), Hungry Freaks Daddy, Little House I Used To Live In, Aybe Sea, Transylvania Boogie, Help I'm A Rock / Transylvania Boogie, King Kong, Igor's Boogie / Little Doo-Wop
1969 05 24 - Rockpile, Toronto, Canada
Previously listed as Massey Hall, 1969 05 19. These are the last known tapes featuring Lowell George.
Early show
55 min, Stage, B+
55 min, Aud, B+
With André ??? on vocals (*).
intro, Interlude, Boogie In G*, improvisations*, My Music* (including Chucha), Uncle Meat, drum duet, Run Home Slow, Gas Mask, Little March, Right There, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Lohengrin, Begin The Beguine
Late show
40 min, Stage, B+
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama, Charles Ives, jam, Some Ballet Music, Uncle Meat, drum duet, Eye Of Agamotto, jam, Lonely Lonely Nights
May - August 1969
The "last" Mothers
The Mothers Of Invention, May 1969 - August 1969
FZ, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Motorhead Sherwood, Buzz Gardner.
1969 06 05 - Guild Hall, Portsmouth, UK
25 min, SBD, B+/B
Part of this tape have circulated as 1968 10 ?? - Worcester.
story of A Pound For A Brown, String Quartet, Transylvania Boogie
1969 06 06 - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
50 min, SBD, A-/B+
105 min, Aud, B-
The Sbd cuts after Interlude.
intro, Uncle Meat, drum duet, Some Ballet Music, improvisation, Big Leg Emma, story of A Pound For A Brown, The String Quartet, improvisation, Interlude, Intro To Music For Low Budget Orchestra, Little Chamber Music I Used To Play, Mozart Ballet [parts on YCDTOSA5], improvisation, Louie Louie, Little House I Used to Live In, Transylvania Boogie, Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue, drum duet, Charles Ives, Cruising For Burgers, Brown Shoes Don't Make It
1969 06 13 - Fillmore East, New York, NY
Early show
45 min, Aud, B
intro, Intro To Music For Low Budget Orchestra, Valarie, King Kong, Uncle Meat, drum duet, Some Ballet Music
1969 06 14 - Fillmore East, New York, NY
Early show
45 min, Aud, B
intro, Bacon Fat, Intro To Music For Low Budget Orchestra, King Kong, Uncle Meat
1969 06 27 - Denver Pop Festival, Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
40 min, Aud, B+
Hungry Freaks Daddy, Downtown Talent Scout (long version, called "The Heat's Out Every Night"), story of A Pound For A Brown, The String Quartet, Some Ballet Music, FZ conducts the audience, backstage interview w/ Bunk and Roy
1969 07 05 - Newport Jazz Festival Field, Newport, RI
40 min, Aud, A-/B+
intro, Igor's Boogie, improvisation (incl. Octandre), Louie Louie / Passacaglia, Sunshine Of Your Love / Passacaglia, improvisation (incl. Gumbo Variations), Some Ballet Music, story of Pound For A Brown, String Quartet
1969 07 08 - The Ark, Boston, MA
60 min, SBD, A-
Circulates under many different dates, but this is the correct one. Most of this recording is available on The Ark" - BTB1.
Big Leg Emma, Some Ballet Music, Status Back Baby, Valarie, My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama (q: The Gumbo Variations), The Uncle Meat, Uncle Meat / King Kong (q: Dog Breath)
1969 08 ?? - Montreal, Canada
45 min, Stage, B
Wrong date and location. See 1968 08 03 - late show?
1969 08 02 - Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York, NY
30 min, Aud, B-
Central Park Jam, Bacon Fat, In The Sky, Louie Louie / Passacaglia
1969 08 06 - Ravinia Outdoor Music Center, Highland Park, IL
25 min, Aud, C-
Piano/Drum Duet, Passacaglia / Louie Louie / Sunshine Of Your Love, The Orange County Lumber Truck medley (q: King Kong)
1969 08 08 - Carousel Theatre, Framingham, MA
25 min, SBD (Stage?), A-
The String Quartet, Bacon Fat
1969 08 10 - Musicarnival, Warrensville Heights, OH
55 min, Stage?, B+
Drum Solo, Some Ballet Music, Right There, FZ explains program music, String Quartet, Jam (q: Funiculì Funiculà, King Kong, The Gumbo Variations), In The Sky, Jam (q: Wedding Dress Song, Petrushka, incl. Chunga's Revenge chords)