Listen To Frank Zappa Perform ‘Montana’ Live At 1974 Concert In Edinboro, Pennsylvania
The previously unreleased track appears as part of the forthcoming ‘Zappa/Erie’ box set.
By Scott Bernstein Jun 3, 2022 • 7:52 am PDT
Frank Zappa’s previously unreleased “Montana” performance from a concert held at Edinboro State College in Edinboro, Pennsylvania on May 8, 1974 was issued today. The track appears on Zappa/Erie, a box set featuring three FZ shows played in the Erie, Pennsylvania area between 1974 and 1976 due out via Zappa Records/UMe on June 17.
Zappa/Erie collects over seven hours of previously unreleased live concert audio from three different lineups. The box set features 71 tracks with only 10 minutes from the compilation issued in the past. In addition to the May 8, 1974 concert, Zappa/Erie contains FZ shows held in Erie at the Gannon Auditorium on November 12, 1974 and at the Erie County Fieldhouse on November 12, 1976. Several cuts recorded during the same time period in South Bend, Indiana; Toledo, Ohio and Montreal are thrown in as bonus tracks.
Frank Zappa was joined in Edinboro by Bruce Fowler on trombone and vocals; Chester Thompson on drums and percussion; Don Preston on synthesizer; George Duke on keyboards, synthesizer and vocals; Jeff Simmons on guitar and vocals; Napoleon Murphy Brock on tenor sax, flute and lead vocals; Ralph Humphrey on drums; Tom Fowler on bass and Walt Fowler on trumpet. “Montana” was originally released on Zappa’s 1973 album, Over-Nite Sensation.
Zappa and his band played “Montana” towards the middle of their concert in Edinboro on May 8, 1974. “Now, we have a song about dental floss,” explained the guitarist before adding, “the name of the song is ‘Montana.'” The track cuts near the eight-minute mark and on the box set segues into “Dupree’s Paradise.”
Stream Frank Zappa’s “Montana” from May 8, 1974 below:
