After over half a century in the vaults of the legendary Frank Zappa, a previously unreleased television special featuring Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention from 1974 is set to make its highly anticipated debut. This rare gem, which has remained unseen until now, offers fans a unique glimpse into the creative genius of Zappa and his band.

The extensive two-hour concert film, along with a companion live album titled Cheaper Than Cheep, will officially be launched on May 9, available for purchase as a CD and Blu-ray set, as well as on vinyl. To get a taste of this special release, be sure to watch the trailer embedded below.

On June 21, 1974, Zappa and his exceptionally talented band welcomed fans into their rehearsal space located in Hollywood for an incredible performance lasting over two hours. Although a film crew recorded the event, Zappa found that the audio and video were out of sync, leading him to abandon the project entirely. This decision left fans without access to this extraordinary material for decades.

READ MORE: Explore the intricate layers in Frank Zappa’s ‘Funky Nothingness’ Album Review

As a result of this abandoned project, viewers were instead treated to The Dub Room Special, which was produced in collaboration with a Los Angeles PBS station. Meanwhile, Zappa’s original television special—the one he had envisioned for audiences—remained untouched and preserved in the archives for fifty long years.

During that memorable night in June, Zappa warmly welcomed the audience with a humorous introduction: “We’d like to welcome you to the world’s cheapest television special, which is being manufactured for your edification right here in the midst of our Mothers of Invention rehearsal hall at 5831 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California.” His playful invitation set the stage for an unforgettable experience.

He continued, “Can you all turn around and look at each other so everybody who’s watching this can tell where we are and what the inside of this place really looks like? As you can see, it’s cheaper than cheap.” This engaging interaction exemplified Zappa’s unique approach to performance and audience engagement.

Discover the Exciting Tracklist of Frank Zappa’s ‘Cheaper Than Cheep’

Featuring a refreshed lineup of the Mothers of Invention—consisting of renowned musicians such as drummer Chester Thompson, keyboardist George Duke, guitarist Jeff Simmons, saxophonist and flutist Napoleon Murphy Brock, percussionist Ruth Underwood, and bassist Tom Fowler—the concert showcases a variety of Zappa’s beloved compositions. Iconic tracks such as “Cosmik Debris,” “Montana,” “Wowie Zowie,” and “Dupree’s Paradise” were all part of their setlist during this vibrant era.

In addition to the electrifying music, the concert film also features unique segments contributed by artist Cal Schenkel, who designed many of Zappa’s renowned album covers, and Bruce Bickford, a talented Claymation animator and director who frequently collaborated with Zappa. These creative elements add an extra layer of artistry to the concert experience.

The exclusive CD also includes four bonus tracks, featuring excerpts and outtakes that provide further insights into the creative process behind the music. You can find the detailed track listing for the highly anticipated Super Deluxe box set displayed below.

The eagerly awaited Cheaper Than Cheep will be available solely on Zappa’s official website, and fans can pre-order their copies now to ensure they don’t miss out on this historic release.

Track Listing for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention’s ‘Cheaper Than Cheep’ Super Deluxe Box Set
CD1:
1. “Cheaper Than Cheep”
2. “Cosmik Debris”
3. “Band Introductions”
4. “RDNZL”
5. “Village of the Sun”
6. "Montana"
7. “Duke Goes Out”
8. “Inca Roads”
9. “Get Down Simmons”
10. “Penguin In Bondage”
11. “T’Mershi Duween”
12. “The Dog Breath Variations”
13. "Uncle Meat"

CD2:
1. “How Could I Be Such a Fool”
2. “I’m Not Satisfied”
3. “Wowie Zowie”
4. “I Don’t Even Care”
5. “Let’s Make The Water Turn Black”
6. “Dupree’s Paradise Introduction”
7. “Dupree’s Paradise”
8. “Oh No”
9. “Son of Orange County”
10. “More Trouble Every Day”
11. “Apostrophe'”
12. “Camarillo Brillo 5:53”

Disc 3: Blu-ray
Audio Formats: Dolby Atmos (48k24b) / Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (96k24b) / PCM Stereo (96k24b)
1. “Intro / Cheepnis – Percussion / Cheaper Than Cheep”
2. “Cosmik Debris”
3. “Band Introductions”
4. “RDNZL”
5. “Village of the Sun”
6. “Montana”
7. “Duke Goes Out”
8. “A Visit to the Art Studio”
9. “Inca Roads”
10. “Get Down Simmons”
11. “Penguin In Bondage”
12. “T’Mershi Duween”
13. “The Dog Breath Variations”
14. “Uncle Meat”
15. “How Could I Be Such a Fool”
16. “I’m Not Satisfied”
17. “Wowie Zowie”
18. “I Don’t Even Care”
19. “Let’s Make The Water Turn Black”
20. “Dupree’s Paradise Introduction”
21. “Dupree’s Paradise”
22. “Oh No”
23. “Son of Orange County”
24. “More Trouble Every Day”
25. “Apostrophe'”
26. “Camarillo Brillo”

Bonus Features
1. “Time Is Money (excerpt)”
2. “Echidna’s Arf (Of You) – Incomplete”
3. “Art Studio Outtakes”
4. “The Amazing Mr. Bickford (excerpt)”