It all started with a musical comedy project. Thing-Fish is for Broadway. But to say that it's a far cry from Cats would be a mild understatement: Thing-Fish resembles nothing so much as itself. ZAPPA tells the story of a couple, Harry and Rhonda (Terry and Dale Bozzio). White and kindly stupid, they come to see a Broadway show. They end up on stage, gradually becoming willing victims of the general delirium. There are multiple references to Aids which Zappa is convinced is a virus created by the CIA to wipe out part of the population - but also to the racial issue so dear to Americans, and to the music business, all drowned in the depravity of the various characters. It's well worth a listen...Even if this version is stunning! Thank you!!
Zappa is Zappa, just to imagine that most of his solos are done in the moment, makes everything he does just out of this world, not rehersed, just imagined and played🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I love the way Zappa can take the piss out of a genre in a way that shows that he thoroughly understands it and could be a master at that genre playing it straight.
I love this song, the lyrics are incredible and genuine (as all Zappa does). Simply a unique genius, the musical arrangment is awesome. There will not be another artist like Zappa👍😃🤣😃😂👏🏻👌
Zappa does treat music like clay. In his own words, his solos are air-sculptures. "A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians."
Hard to believe that performance was live. So incredibly tight. Thing Fish is a musical. Zappa takes a shit on Broadway. Excellent request and reaction!
Vol 4 is probably my favourite in the "Stage" series and this is a great track from " Thingfish" but out of context the lyrics wouldnt make sense if you haven't heard the "Thingfish" album. There was talk of making it into a Broadway musical. .....and talking of guitar heroes Bill Nelson and the 5 studio Be Bop Deluxe albums are a must listen.
We should probably clarify - The Evil Prince, besides being a theatre critic, is a government scientist involved in a genocidal project to purge America of black people and gay people. Which is the backdrop of the Thing-Fish story, in so far as that makes sense at all. This song explains how killing the gays and blacks will (supposedly) benefit the world of musical theatre (add comment here). The Prince, needless to say, is hoist upon his own petard (making him the Matt Hancock of the Zappa-verse?). This song was originally a module in the Thing-Fish adaptation of The "Torchum" Never Stops - but musically this is clearly the better verion.
check out ‘Brown Moses’ from the Thing-Fish LP which this track was originally from, (which is indeed ‘a musical’), & is similarly vocally astounding throughout with Ike & Ray.
From the proposed off-Broadway stage production called Thing-Fish, and that's a parody of Kingfish, an old stereotype Amos & Andy type show. Interesting note: Ike Willis was Thing-Fish and likely had a lot of creative input into the creation of the story. After the 1978 Zappa In New York album, there were never pictures of anybody other than Frank on album artwork, except for Thing-Fish. Ike is pictured beside Frank wearing his Thing-Fish getup. That's quite an honor. Purists will say that the cartoon artwork on Playground Psychotics and Ahead of Their Time has images of band members, but I'm talking about new music. The first release of The Best Band You Never Heard... has a far-off picture of the stage, but you can't really make out the images of anybody but Frank, so I don't count that.
I'm updating RayWhiteMusic website in a few minutes. After 3 dates in Europe this month "Banned From Utopia" will be doing 40+ dates in the states. That's Chad, Ray, Bobby, and Scott with Jamie Kime and Robbie Mangano.
It all started with a musical comedy project. Thing-Fish is for Broadway. But to say that it's a far cry from Cats would be a mild understatement: Thing-Fish resembles nothing so much as itself.
ZAPPA tells the story of a couple, Harry and Rhonda (Terry and Dale Bozzio). White and kindly stupid, they come to see a Broadway show. They end up on stage, gradually becoming willing victims of the general delirium.
There are multiple references to Aids which Zappa is convinced is a virus created by the CIA to wipe out part of the population - but also to the racial issue so dear to Americans, and to the music business, all drowned in the depravity of the various characters.
It's well worth a listen...Even if this version is stunning!
Thank you!!
Zappa is Zappa, just to imagine that most of his solos are done in the moment, makes everything he does just out of this world, not rehersed, just imagined and played🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I love the way Zappa can take the piss out of a genre in a way that shows that he thoroughly understands it and could be a master at that genre playing it straight.
I love this song, the lyrics are incredible and genuine (as all Zappa does). Simply a unique genius, the musical arrangment is awesome. There will not be another artist like Zappa👍😃🤣😃😂👏🏻👌
The bass playing is INSANE. Scott thunes is a fucking genius, completely unique.
"Mocking to an exceptionable level" is as good a description of Zappa's music as any I've heard😁
Zappa does treat music like clay. In his own words, his solos are air-sculptures. "A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians."
Hard to believe that performance was live. So incredibly tight. Thing Fish is a musical. Zappa takes a shit on Broadway. Excellent request and reaction!
Vol 4 is probably my favourite in the "Stage" series and this is a great track from " Thingfish" but out of context the lyrics wouldnt make sense if you haven't heard the "Thingfish" album.
There was talk of making it into a Broadway musical.
.....and talking of guitar heroes Bill Nelson and the 5 studio Be Bop Deluxe albums are a must listen.
Incredible music, viva Zappa !
We should probably clarify - The Evil Prince, besides being a theatre critic, is a government scientist involved in a genocidal project to purge America of black people and gay people. Which is the backdrop of the Thing-Fish story, in so far as that makes sense at all. This song explains how killing the gays and blacks will (supposedly) benefit the world of musical theatre (add comment here). The Prince, needless to say, is hoist upon his own petard (making him the Matt Hancock of the Zappa-verse?).
This song was originally a module in the Thing-Fish adaptation of The "Torchum" Never Stops - but musically this is clearly the better verion.
Brown Moses
Amazing guitar solo! Love it so much.
Zappa as a guitarist peaked after 1979
This was originally on the Thing-Fish album if you find this funny you should probably check out that album!
check out ‘Brown Moses’ from the Thing-Fish LP which this track was originally from, (which is indeed ‘a musical’), & is similarly vocally astounding throughout with Ike & Ray.
From the proposed off-Broadway stage production called Thing-Fish, and that's a parody of Kingfish, an old stereotype Amos & Andy type show.
Interesting note: Ike Willis was Thing-Fish and likely had a lot of creative input into the creation of the story. After the 1978 Zappa In New York album, there were never pictures of anybody other than Frank on album artwork, except for Thing-Fish. Ike is pictured beside Frank wearing his Thing-Fish getup. That's quite an honor.
Purists will say that the cartoon artwork on Playground Psychotics and Ahead of Their Time has images of band members, but I'm talking about new music.
The first release of The Best Band You Never Heard... has a far-off picture of the stage, but you can't really make out the images of anybody but Frank, so I don't count that.
The Best. Thanks 🎉
Ray White lead vocals, Ike Willis and Bobby Martin backing vocals. Absolutely brilliant tune, so well arranged and crafted.
I'm updating RayWhiteMusic website in a few minutes. After 3 dates in Europe this month "Banned From Utopia" will be doing 40+ dates in the states.
That's Chad, Ray, Bobby, and Scott with Jamie Kime and Robbie Mangano.
Nice, your analogy with clay!
Hey Rory! Is it possible that he’s creating a weird kind of an opera in his music instead of the traditional opera,s ???🤔🤔🤔🤪🤙🏻
Eh buddy ❤
Ray White =)