Apparently the video we used is not the entire Suite (unfortunately). Since we are doing legitimate reactions, and don't look up info on the songs beforehand, there is no way we could have know that before you told us! Thanks for letting us know, and please try to be understanding. Thanks for being here everybody, we love you all! Best, S.A.D.
Oh yeah-you gotta here “Any Downers” to cap off the suite. Definitely worth checking out. Great that you’re checking this stuff out-makes me so happy to see people hearing this music
Just got home from seeing The Zappa Band open for King Crimson at the Greek Theater. It's not every day you get go to hear Zappa music under the stars at Griffith Park played impeccably by Zappa alumni.
I had tickets to see that lineup before Covid19. I got my refund and ended up not going once they rescheduled. I regret it now. I did see Crimson a few years ago. Still a great band to see live
As regards Frank being a dad, his kids loved him. Bottom line, he was a very rational and open minded person. His wife said that when he was home, it was like living with Jesus or a monk. He was very quiet and often working. The guy was a workaholic.
@@andrewmantle7674 - Moon was definitely not okay with the extramarital activities Frank engaged in. That and to spend extended time with her dad, she had to go into the studio with him. That's how Valley Girl happened.
The suite does not end there. You are missing two songs that play after Charlie's Enormous Mouth. They are - "Any Downers?" and "Conehead". You can hear the whole suite here if you are interested, starting around 32:50. ruclips.net/video/2yJvmYkqCU8/видео.html
Zappa fans are known as Zappateers There is even a website Zappites is good too. “Interviewer: 'So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman?' Frank Zappa: 'You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?”
As a zappa fan for over 50 years and who was lucky enough to see him 3 times i would say there isn't a bad zappa song. Some are harder on the ear or difficult to get into but overall i would say some tracks are greater than others, lol. Thanks for this
Missed the 88 tour, got into Zappa while the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore and Beat The Boots series were getting out, never stopped since. There is no such thing as a 'bad Zappa song'!
I managed five concerts, each with a different band variation. Roy Estrada and Napoleon Murphy Brock in one. Saw him New Year's Eve at the LA Forum with Captain Beefheart. Saw him with the same basic band from this album. Saw him at Pauly Pavilion UCLA with Adrian Belew where a friend fell asleep drooling in the middle of "The Torture Never Stops". And I was absolutely blessed to get to see him conduct the Abnuceals Emuukah Symphony Orchestra at Royce Hall UCLA, a 37 piece orchestra, the recordings of which became the album "Orchestral Favorites". George Duke was in the seat right in front of me. And...I've been to see Dweezil Zappa once now too. He truly owns his father's name: Zappa. One of the best concerts I've seen out of a long history of great concerts. Blessings.
@@leoscone4036 Oh yea, Dweezil really honors his father with this Zappa Plays Zappa concerts. (not sure if they are still called that after all the legal trouble with his brother :( ) If anybody isn't familiar with them check out the Zappa Plays Zappa concerts on RUclips, they are absolutely amazing shows.
Not sure if you know but the whole "Charlie'" concept in the Society Pages Suits comes from a 1980 ad campaign for Charlie perfume, with Shelly Hack as the front woman. The tag line for the commercials was "Kinda Young, Kinda Wow." This "Suite" mocks the shallow concept of beauty that permeated the 1980s.
You Are What You Is, is chocked full of musical goodies. Drafted Again and Suicide Chump are fantastic musical compositions to check out. Love that you two are choosing rarities by Frank.
I was cracking up right along with them at "where they dumped her box in", LMFAO...this album was released when I was a teen and I got that joke immediately, took my friends a couple more times to get it.
Between Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa I was exposed to so many tempo changes I just assumed that was common song structure. As in I never found it odd, and always thought it was cool to watch people try and dance to it, lol. I think I have noticed Frank use a hook maybe twice. Just wasn't his thing, perhaps because it was "expected".
It's really impressive that you two can point out interesting parts of Zappa songs (suites) after your first time hearing them. For me it took multiple listens to get the feel of the time signature changes, the lyrics, the humour and the layered music. As for his genres, I'm a ridiculous fan of the music from the Mothers, and his 70's line up. I found his mid-late 80's collection sometimes harder to love.
Frank is an amazing musician. The complexity of his music and the orchestration of it is astounding. Just listen to all those voices together! He wrote every single note and all the musicians need to be top notch to be able to achieve what he wants. This is one of my favorite albums. His lyrics are also spot on when criticizing society and so much ridiculousness. Ray White is the other singer. He's got such a fabulous voice. All the musicians Frank chose were incredible - Terry Bozzio, Steve Vai, Ruth Underwood, Adrian Belew just to name a few.
This was the first Zappa album I bought nearly 35 years ago and I have been a fan ever since I even got to see him live on what turned out to be his last tour!!
Holy crap, WT actual F. Never heard that before! Prolific is when a fan of 40 years can hear something new! Loved it too. Like a celebration of the cliched vacuousness of small town life. Thanks again folks
There’s a cut called “Blessed Relief" on a Zappa album ruclips.net/video/x-Qk8VxUwuM/видео.html that comes after one these crazed rambles. It gives the listener a brief respite in some nice, smooth jazz. I always think of it when I hear a Zappa cut like this one. Suggestion for a Zappa and the Mothers reaction: their "Live at the Fillmore East" album. One of the best live albums I’ve ever heard, it is a mini rock opera that is funny, obscene, and wonderfully performed. It’s a favorite of every Zappa fan I’ve ever known. I love it, though I cannot claim to be one of his big fans. His albums generally tire me out, but "Live at…” is pure fun.
What kind of dad? How many dads have Eddie Van Halen come over to the house to give their 12 yr old son guitar lessons ? Check out the Y.Tube video "Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa | Eddie Van Halen speech | Eruption | Raleigh 2012 - RUclips ", where besides playing "Eruption" Dweezil talks about Eddie producing Dweezil' first song, and helping him at a school talent show. Also how Eddie was the first person who phoned when Frank died.
Frank is just on a different wavelength than all of us. Hes letting us look through his lense . If you never heard his art your in for another thing altogether. Joes Garage was my introduction to Zappa around 79'. Hes so far ahead of everyone else in Rock n Roll ......really a Grand Wizard. Love all his bands. All the super talented musicians he cultivated. Tremendous contributions to music. And he did it all straight. No drugs
Great reaction guys, really love his suite on Evangelical religion on this album, Dumb all over (another rap song), Heavenly bank account, The Meek shall inherit Nothing are epic 80"s Zappa. Thanks for keeping him alive. He was 52 when he passed! crazy amount of music he put out. (Jesus Thinks your a Jerk is also 80's Stellar stuff)
This was my 3rd Zappa album. Saw him twice, in this period when Steve Vai was a unknown blue haired, ladies panty wearing ensemble member. Tinseltown Rebellion also stellar IMHO
Zappa was outspokenly anti-drug. "Charlie's Enormous Mouth" was one of Zappa's openly anti-drug songs. If you missed it, Charlie was using Cocaine. Another good example, again from the 80s was a song called "Cocaine Decisions".
One of his best studio albums! Great vocals and sound engineering. There are more songs that follow, they basically all segue. Any Downers, I don't Wanna get Drafted, etc. Also Doreen and Goblin' Girl. So much good stuff!
Frank got better and better as he aged, IMO, although band quality could fluctuate, (though no variation of his bands was EVER bad). But with that quality, he also got more and more complex. I'm still processing and learning to appreciate some of his later Synclavier work. But once he grabs you, he's like the Lays potato chips of astounding musicianship - you always want just one more. On a somewhat related note, by coincidence, after almost 30 years of living in LA and being a Zappa fan and never doing it, I happened to be returning to the valley from Hollywood today and thought, "Eff it, I'm going to drive by Frank's house". I did a quick pass-by, turned around, and did another pass-by on my way back out of the street. Had I gotten out and walked around the sidewalk/driveway, I'm certain I would have probably cried, (even as a grown-ass 50 year old). So I kept driving. Also, I didn't want Lady Gaga's security to come out and beat me up.
Hahaha, comedian Billy Connelly tells a similar story of walking past the Zappa homestead as a fan and Gail inviting him to talk one day! We all miss Frank more daily as music/culture swirls faster down the terlet. ***Viva Zappa!***
Oh you're right I just now saw and heard your reaction to Uncle Remus. very good. Thanks. I think Frank was speaking vicariously to people who had heard or familiar with Uncle Remus and other books like it from the 1800s. I heard a couple of doors down. Thought they were really good. A little bit different but not far out there. I'm going to listen to some more.
What I found telling is that after doing two Zappa Suites, her comments about how she expected Yellow Snow would be longer and Society Pages made 11 minutes fly by points to how captivated she is by his music. Two ten minute plus song groups, and she wanted more...Dan, on the other hand, wears his delight on his face with every Zappa reaction, he's like a little kid on Christmas morning. They are a delight!
There were commercials on TV from a cosmetics brand called 'Charlie' featuring a supermodel who, indeed, had a very large smiling mouth, which Frank is obviously referencing here.
@@JoeContiMusic Carly Simon didn't perform in the "Charlie" cosmetics commercials, though. I'm almost 59 years old, and distinctly remember those "Char-leeee!" commercials, as well as all the other mind-worm commercials that were on TV back in the '70s and '80s. I remember a Zappa live version of a song wherein Ike Willis (I think it was) quoted another commercial, saying, "We're Beatrice!" -- something that NOBODY will 'get' the joke of nowadays unless they've seen the TV ad being spoofed. Having said that, maybe Carly Simon -- who DID have a wide-grin smile -- also had a cocaine addiction, and Frank knew about it, conflating the "Charlie" commercial actress with Carly. She used to be tight with James Taylor -- "Mockingbird" etc. -- and I think I heard somewhere that HE had a major problem with drugs back then. So, maybe Carly Simon, too, had a problem with coke.
I drew the line with the album Thing-Fish which was released over 30 years ago and haven’t listened to it since. I couldn’t handle the vocal from Ike Willis and the subject matter. Maybe today I can.
Frank called going to the unexpected and never letting you get comfortable with a great groove, ‘Putting the eyebrows on it’. Bought my first Zappa album ‘Absolutely Free’ at 14 , it was like being shot by a musical diamond bullet, that was in 1971 so had to get everything he’d done up till then and never stopped being astounded at the proliferation and diversity of a true musical genius composer 🎶 {-
I totally forgot about this suite, and how good it was. - There are a few songs I really don't like, even some eras i'm not crazy about … and I'm a BIG fan.
Would love to see a reaction to the album "We're Only in it for the Money", as I don't think anyone has ever done this and, in my opinion, it's an absolute mind-bending masterpiece. The one song I can point to that I don't care for, at all, is Valley Girl from Ship to Late to Save a Drowning Witch.... which is an album I rarely listen to.
Frank’s catalogue is huge. Frank was big on social commentary. You’ve got what I’d call the book ends. “Hungry Freaks Daddy” at the start of it all. First song, first album. Basically Frank introducing himself to us all with his wisdom. At the other end you have “Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk “ off the last live Tour Album Broadway The Hard Way.. The song has a line of reflection in it where frank says “and if you don’t know by now, the proof of what I’m telling you, then surely I have failed somehow.” Most people just didn’t get it. In between these two Gems, you have what Frank called “The Conceptual Continuity”. This was very conceptual but sometimes you struggled to see the continuity. I guess frank understood the continuity of it all. There are songs in between that on first listen, won’t appeal to you but later on you see or hear the beauty of and get them. Either way you can be guaranteed to hear songs like no one else’s written by a genius, performed by the world’s best musicians and sung by amazing vocalists. Enjoy your musical journey with Frank. Great reactions.👍 Oh and be sure to treat yourself to Charlie’s friends at the side of the grave in “Any Downers” but be sure you listen to Charlie again first. It flows so well and even into Cone Head after that. Andrew
It was great seeing you react to the lyrics, reminds me of when I first heard it. And then the last two songs were missing, Aargh! I see someone has posted a link to the full suite below, you need to finish what you started!
The time Signature changes are redicoulis. When I first heard this 35 years ago I was not impressed. About 5 years ago I listened again and thought damn. That is incredible.
This album "You are what you is" was the first one he produced and recorded in his home studio Utility Muffin Research Kitchen (Now owned by Lady Gaga, who bought his house) and therefore there are so many layers, especially in terms of vocals, because he had all the studio time in the world. I think the whole album is brilliantly composed and produced. As for being a dad, he seemed to be all of the above. He believed in discipline, but wanted to raise kids that could think critically and make sound decisions (it would have been his wife who actually raised them). He was probably somewhat funny, but also an absent workaholic. He used to say that sine his kids weren't in prison or doing drugs, he thought he'd (they'd) done a pretty good job.
There's an African saying that when an old person dies, a library goes up in flames. He was still young then, but I often think about FZ that way: what a treasure chamber. Imagine what we felt when he passed.
Where "Charlie's Enormous Mouth" ends, it goes right into "Any Downers". That's why it sounds like it ended abruptly. This suite ends with the songs "Any Downers" and "Conehead".
You like everything I like. You're weird! What I realize about this suite is how indicative it is of his love of classical music and how it was always there creeping in the background
I know it's an unpopular opinion, but for me this is maybe the best Zappa album. It's way more straight forward and less complex than the 70's albums (sometimes I find some song/pieces a bit exhausting) but the song writing is hilarious, the music is great and catchy, the vocal work is amazing and I love that slick sound. Really I can listen to this album all day everyday, this is too much fun ! My favorite album along with "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" and "Tinsel Town Rebellion". Yes I love 80's Zappa :) Thank you for your reaction !
This album is actually a complete composition which should be experienced from start to finish. It came on 2 LP's when I bought it when it first came out it 1981, now available in the tasty CD format. 67 minutes and 13 seconds of excellence from start to finish. Frank found some things funny like the Coneheads from SNL and he immortalized them in a song on this album. The song "Mudd Club" is about an actual club in New York. And you will never hear the word "dipsh*t" used better in a song that in "Teen Age Wind". When you get some spare time give the whole thing a listen in one sitting, it is a great experience Here is a video of the song "You Are What You Is" that they did for the album ruclips.net/video/BN1HFrBeFb4/видео.html
@@Frunobulax74 Thank goodness the composition can be enjoyed in parts! I haven't tried reading the books, watching the movies and listening to the music all in one continuous event, might be cool to do that over a long period of a month or two. I'm sure I would notice even more connections than I know about now.....
@@Big_Swifty - I think you would enjoy it. I sometimes listen to his catalog start to finish. I've been a fan for over 40 years and have done it many times. There are always new things to be found in his music.
Great review, not my personal favourites, but with such a huge catalogue anyone can find something. The album contains dumb all over which became quite prophetic. Whatever the music Frank gives you masterful arrangements and top drawer production. Keep well great channel
"Why doncha come on over to the house and I'll show 'em to ya?" - Frank Zappa -- During the Senate hearing on pornography in music, when Sen. Paula Hawkins from Florida said ... "I'd like to see what kind of toys your children play with."
Oh, bad Zappa? That's a tough one. He has a huge variety of music I think it's more about what style of Zappa music do you find less appealing. For me I might pick his "Jazz From Hell" album because it's so computer generated synthesized and feels very old style midi to me. The other one I may pick is "Cruising With Reuben And The Jets" which is his 50's Rock style album. It's not bad but it gets to be a little too much for me. There are some songs from this album I love though, like "You Didn't Try To Call Me". Zappa also did a lot of cover songs during his live shows which are great to check out. They did a cover of the classical song "Bolero" which is amazing. He also had a concert where Sting (from the Police) came on stage and sang a killer version of "Murder By Numbers"
Don't forget Zappa's version of "Stairway to Heaven" from the "Best Band you Never Heard in your Life" album, which was mentioned by Led Zeppelin as a favorite cover because of the horn line's rendition of the guitar solo.
@@davidboucher3719 There are some songs on Cruising with Reuben And The Jets album that I love. "Love of My Life", "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" and "Cheap Thrills" are just a few. I guess my feeling about the album is that I like a lot of the individual songs but as a whole, the album isn't my favorite. I think all the songs have a similar sound and playing through the album in one sitting just isn't as enjoyable. I just listened to a number of tracks and I like a lot of them, especially "You Didn't Try to Call Me". OK, I take it back. I do like this album. :D That's why picking bad Zappa is so tough. haha
You Are What You Is is on my Desert Island Five Album list. And to be really appreciated it should be listened to per LP side. Each four sides of the LP, each song segues to the next, and on the last song of the side, with the out chorus reprising all the songs of that side. It is an album production masterpiece imo And to answer your question about when Frank lost me, it is Jazz From Hell. I am completely uninspired by Frank's synclavier material. Frank did not like the unreliability of humans to produce the sounds he wanted to hear. Where it's my opinion that Franks greatest gift, was not his incredible musical imagination, but rather, his ability to pull incredible music out of the people in his bands.
To clear up the abrupt ending there’s another song in that chain called Any Downers which was cut. It’s about Charlie’s burial with stoners selling downers to the crowd. Should have been included.
My favorite part of the You Are What You Is album and sounded great live especially with Arthur Barrow on bass. Check out the live in Rotterdam versions? Would love a reaction to the bass playing on that lol
There is a album called Thing-Fish.(1984) It was a concept record about Franks belief that AIDS was manufactured to eliminate. "er-undesireable peoples" from society. Frank held his beliefs , agree or not, at least he didnt hide them. Many of the songs were taken from You Are What You Is and reworked to fit the story and the music. This is when I personaly end my ZAPPA experience until Broadway the Hard Way in 88
Valley girls kick I have two daughters who were too old by the time they cams along but my oldest. Melissa always asked why there were swears in the music and just said he’s an adult and you have to wait till you are older to say them. She loved waking up to baby snakes girl wound up 6’5 awesome both daughters today have similar love for frank and his henchmen throughout time
Speaking of going to the beach, check out Frank Zappa's song "Let Me Take You To The Beach" . . . but listen to "The Adventures of Greggary Peccary" first -- they're from the same album. You'll thank me later!
Both before and after these tracks there are other ones, and they ALL constitute a suite because one song segues into another - same with side 2 of this album.
@@thelyricologist9568 lol we’re so confused. Did we do the whole suite and people are upset we didn’t do the whole album (thinking it is part of the suite)?
@@SightAfterDark well, I am not sure why the tracks you reacted to were called a suite. "You Are What You Is" is simply an album with tracks seguing into each other. HOWEVER, please bear in mind that originally the album was divided into four sides, and the tracks you reacted to are from Side Two, however even on side two, after the last track you reacted to, there are still two tracks "Any Downers?" and "Conehead" which tiy have not reacrted to. Moreover, indeed, there was another album, "Crush All Boxes", which did include the tracks you reacred to as a separate suite, but again, containing the two said songs you did not react to. Frankly (no pun intended), you need to react to the whole "You Are What You Is" album. You won't regret it, and the sinister and serious (but also sarcastic) lyrics to "Dumb All Over" will show you perhaps a less funny/ridiculous side of Frank Zappa's lyrical capabilitis. And not only that song, but a few more on the album.
Some people believe Frank's creative juices reduced at the beginning of the 80's when he began to re use older songs...pretty much when he built his home studio..He was concentrating on finance/politics and orchestral movement attempts to get it played...
That's not how the suite ends; there's two more songs in the suite, "Any Downers?" & "Conehead". The suite takes up all of side two of the vinyl album.
So yeah you missed Any Downers and Conehead, so that wasn't the full suite and wasn't the end yet. I have been looking for someone to react to this suite for a while and I'm not sure how I missed your reaction earlier. So what can you say, so much going on? Steve Vai impossible guitar parts, killer, killer drumming. The ensemble playing with all the instruments and the incredibly tight and clear drumming does a number on my brain for sure. Seems like some kind of cool drum effect 5:43 for example that really hits home (pun intended). "Playing with my Brain", that describes it. I notice in this, and in the Village of the Sun reaction I just listened to watching Secret Graffiti trying to not laugh, like in an SNL skit when they are trying not to break character. I would still like to hear you react to the Berkeley School of Music Zappa Medley. I'm telling you you're missing out and you could be the first. (Edit; Just saw you did this, will check it out next.) Finally I enjoy Teenage Wind, and Dumb all Over on this album. Teenage wind has some nice playing and is humorous, while Dumb All Over has some great lyrics /social commentary.
Apparently the video we used is not the entire Suite (unfortunately). Since we are doing legitimate reactions, and don't look up info on the songs beforehand, there is no way we could have know that before you told us! Thanks for letting us know, and please try to be understanding. Thanks for being here everybody, we love you all!
Best,
S.A.D.
All good guys. These things happen
Oh yeah-you gotta here “Any Downers” to cap off the suite. Definitely worth checking out. Great that you’re checking this stuff out-makes me so happy to see people hearing this music
Well, the whole album is a suite, so...
no worries
Any Downers and Conehead are the last two.
this..we didnt knew yet..thankx
"Charlie has just left the building'
Just got home from seeing The Zappa Band open for King Crimson at the Greek Theater. It's not every day you get go to hear Zappa music under the stars at Griffith Park played impeccably by Zappa alumni.
Amazing!
I had tickets to see that lineup before Covid19. I got my refund and ended up not going once they rescheduled. I regret it now. I did see Crimson a few years ago. Still a great band to see live
I’ve never heard a bad Zappa song. The compositions are all so different and complex and perfectly written.
📂C:
└📁Music
└📁Frank Zappa
└📁Bad Songs
└⚠This folder is empty
To be fair, there are a couple less-than-necessary tracks (Stick Together, and maybe half of Thing-Fish). But YES, much of it is essential.
As regards Frank being a dad, his kids loved him. Bottom line, he was a very rational and open minded person. His wife said that when he was home, it was like living with Jesus or a monk. He was very quiet and often working. The guy was a workaholic.
A monk who loved groupies. That was Moon his daughter. I think she was quite disturbed by that side of Frank.👍
@@andrewmantle7674 - Moon was definitely not okay with the extramarital activities Frank engaged in. That and to spend extended time with her dad, she had to go into the studio with him. That's how Valley Girl happened.
@Zolar Czakl - I know the whole story but decided not to add all the details and stick with the core point.
You have to be to make that much music!
@@andrewmantle7674 Yeah, I chose not to add that because that's a whole other story. Bottom line, the kids did love him.
The suite does not end there. You are missing two songs that play after Charlie's Enormous Mouth. They are - "Any Downers?" and "Conehead". You can hear the whole suite here if you are interested, starting around 32:50. ruclips.net/video/2yJvmYkqCU8/видео.html
Thank you!
You guys bring it. Even as novices to FZ your understanding of how he works is growing. Better than any other reaction sites.
Appreciate you David!
Great progressive rock album made of 3 suites. It ' s like a movie. It s not just songs as it seems to be. Giant concept album. Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
That guy is the ultimate genius
Oh yeah
Zappa fans are known as Zappateers
There is even a website
Zappites is good too.
“Interviewer: 'So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman?'
Frank Zappa: 'You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?”
As a zappa fan for over 50 years and who was lucky enough to see him 3 times i would say there isn't a bad zappa song. Some are harder on the ear or difficult to get into but overall i would say some tracks are greater than others, lol. Thanks for this
Oh, I'm envious you got to see Frank live. I got into Zappa in the mid 80's when I was in High School but never got to see him live.
Missed the 88 tour, got into Zappa while the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore and Beat The Boots series were getting out, never stopped since. There is no such thing as a 'bad Zappa song'!
I managed five concerts, each with a different band variation. Roy Estrada and Napoleon Murphy Brock in one. Saw him New Year's Eve at the LA Forum with Captain Beefheart. Saw him with the same basic band from this album. Saw him at Pauly Pavilion UCLA with Adrian Belew where a friend fell asleep drooling in the middle of "The Torture Never Stops". And I was absolutely blessed to get to see him conduct the Abnuceals Emuukah Symphony Orchestra at Royce Hall UCLA, a 37 piece orchestra, the recordings of which became the album "Orchestral Favorites". George Duke was in the seat right in front of me. And...I've been to see Dweezil Zappa once now too. He truly owns his father's name: Zappa. One of the best concerts I've seen out of a long history of great concerts. Blessings.
@@leoscone4036 Oh yea, Dweezil really honors his father with this Zappa Plays Zappa concerts. (not sure if they are still called that after all the legal trouble with his brother :( ) If anybody isn't familiar with them check out the Zappa Plays Zappa concerts on RUclips, they are absolutely amazing shows.
Thanks for watching!
Frank Zappa - the mad scientist of Rock and Roll! God, I miss him.....
In my life I'm in Zappa for 40 Years! But some songs are gone - YOU BROUGHT IT BACK!!!
Thank you thank you thank you for this one again! You catch him so well.
Thanks!
Sweet, cool reaction!!! Miss him dearly!!!
Thanks for watching!
Not sure if you know but the whole "Charlie'" concept in the Society Pages Suits comes from a 1980 ad campaign for Charlie perfume, with Shelly Hack as the front woman. The tag line for the commercials was "Kinda Young, Kinda Wow." This "Suite" mocks the shallow concept of beauty that permeated the 1980s.
We didn’t know!
You Are What You Is, is chocked full of musical goodies. Drafted Again and Suicide Chump are fantastic musical compositions to check out. Love that you two are choosing rarities by Frank.
Thanks Carrie!
An absolute genius,never fails to enlighten and surprise.no other artist could carry it off let alone compose it.such a loss.
Indeed
I was cracking up right along with them at "where they dumped her box in", LMFAO...this album was released when I was a teen and I got that joke immediately, took my friends a couple more times to get it.
Between Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa I was exposed to so many tempo changes I just assumed that was common song structure. As in I never found it odd, and always thought it was cool to watch people try and dance to it, lol. I think I have noticed Frank use a hook maybe twice. Just wasn't his thing, perhaps because it was "expected".
It's really impressive that you two can point out interesting parts of Zappa songs (suites) after your first time hearing them. For me it took multiple listens to get the feel of the time signature changes, the lyrics, the humour and the layered music. As for his genres, I'm a ridiculous fan of the music from the Mothers, and his 70's line up. I found his mid-late 80's collection sometimes harder to love.
Frank is an amazing musician. The complexity of his music and the orchestration of it is astounding. Just listen to all those voices together! He wrote every single note and all the musicians need to be top notch to be able to achieve what he wants. This is one of my favorite albums. His lyrics are also spot on when criticizing society and so much ridiculousness.
Ray White is the other singer. He's got such a fabulous voice. All the musicians Frank chose were incredible - Terry Bozzio, Steve Vai, Ruth Underwood, Adrian Belew just to name a few.
I just feel that I have been privileged to have lived to be able to experience this man. That's a lot of haves.
This was the first Zappa album I bought nearly 35 years ago and I have been a fan ever since I even got to see him live on what turned out to be his last tour!!
Great that you got to see him!
Holy crap, WT actual F. Never heard that before! Prolific is when a fan of 40 years can hear something new! Loved it too. Like a celebration of the cliched vacuousness of small town life. Thanks again folks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yeah in his later career Zappa actually made some good Ska. The best Ska is never branded as such 😉
Saw the tour…mind blowing
There’s a cut called “Blessed Relief" on a Zappa album
ruclips.net/video/x-Qk8VxUwuM/видео.html
that comes after one these crazed rambles. It gives the listener a brief respite in some nice, smooth jazz. I always think of it when I hear a Zappa cut like this one.
Suggestion for a Zappa and the Mothers reaction: their "Live at the Fillmore East" album. One of the best live albums I’ve ever heard, it is a mini rock opera that is funny, obscene, and wonderfully performed. It’s a favorite of every Zappa fan I’ve ever known. I love it, though I cannot claim to be one of his big fans. His albums generally tire me out, but "Live at…” is pure fun.
What kind of dad? How many dads have Eddie Van Halen come over to the house to give their 12 yr old son guitar lessons ? Check out the Y.Tube video
"Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa | Eddie Van Halen speech | Eruption | Raleigh 2012 - RUclips ", where besides playing "Eruption" Dweezil talks about Eddie producing
Dweezil' first song, and helping him at a school talent show. Also how Eddie was the first person who phoned when Frank died.
Amazing
Any Downers was next. Love this entire album. Top 5 for sure. 😊
Frank is just on a different wavelength than all of us. Hes letting us look through his lense . If you never heard his art your in for another thing altogether. Joes Garage was my introduction to Zappa around 79'. Hes so far ahead of everyone else in Rock n Roll ......really a Grand Wizard. Love all his bands. All the super talented musicians he cultivated. Tremendous contributions to music. And he did it all straight. No drugs
Young Lady, if you wonder how Zappa was as a father, just watch on RUclips clips when he and some of his children visited talk shows on TV.
Great reaction guys, really love his suite on Evangelical religion on this album, Dumb all over (another rap song), Heavenly bank account, The Meek shall inherit Nothing are epic 80"s Zappa. Thanks for keeping him alive. He was 52 when he passed! crazy amount of music he put out. (Jesus Thinks your a Jerk is also 80's Stellar stuff)
This was my 3rd Zappa album. Saw him twice, in this period when Steve Vai was a unknown blue haired, ladies panty wearing ensemble member.
Tinseltown Rebellion also stellar IMHO
Thanks for watching!
I believe kinda yum kinda wow is from an old commercial
Thanks!
I've never heard a "bad" Zappa song, but all of them are badass. The man was a musical genius, a lyrical genius and a conceptual genius.
For those of us who saw him (many times), there was no one else live that came even close. The music world desperately needs a Zappa today.
TRUTH
FZ is one of a kind, just saying..
I so agree, and 20+ shows around the world just confirmed it!...Zappa Lives!
THAT'S NOT HOW IT ENDS!!! Do the next track PLEEEEEASE😦
ANY DOWNERS!
That's what I said !
I think youmay have hit your caps lock by accident
Zappa was outspokenly anti-drug. "Charlie's Enormous Mouth" was one of Zappa's openly anti-drug songs. If you missed it, Charlie was using Cocaine. Another good example, again from the 80s was a song called "Cocaine Decisions".
You have to remind that period of time but if you never be there that time, you have to listen the one was there. the most as possible. love & peace
5:50 I love that look of trying to decipher those time changes 😂
One of his best studio albums! Great vocals and sound engineering. There are more songs that follow, they basically all segue. Any Downers, I don't Wanna get Drafted, etc. Also Doreen and Goblin' Girl. So much good stuff!
Frank got better and better as he aged, IMO, although band quality could fluctuate, (though no variation of his bands was EVER bad). But with that quality, he also got more and more complex. I'm still processing and learning to appreciate some of his later Synclavier work. But once he grabs you, he's like the Lays potato chips of astounding musicianship - you always want just one more. On a somewhat related note, by coincidence, after almost 30 years of living in LA and being a Zappa fan and never doing it, I happened to be returning to the valley from Hollywood today and thought, "Eff it, I'm going to drive by Frank's house". I did a quick pass-by, turned around, and did another pass-by on my way back out of the street. Had I gotten out and walked around the sidewalk/driveway, I'm certain I would have probably cried, (even as a grown-ass 50 year old). So I kept driving. Also, I didn't want Lady Gaga's security to come out and beat me up.
Thanks Scot!
Hahaha, comedian Billy Connelly tells a similar story of walking past the Zappa homestead as a fan and Gail inviting him to talk one day! We all miss Frank more daily as music/culture swirls faster down the terlet. ***Viva Zappa!***
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@@gnesteck3276 I have "The Radio is Broken" and "The Blue Light" in there.
MORE ZAPPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is actually 2 more. "Any Downers" and "Conehead".
I love your guys reaction to this counting Frank Zappa is like counting tool. I mean damn it is so incredible how close they are in what they do
For real! Thanks for watching!
I think Frank's most accessible song is Uncle Remus. He jumps from the mid-1800s to the late 60s Civil Rights Movement. Absolutely beautiful
ruclips.net/video/dHwmjvp2d5Y/видео.html ;)
Oh you're right I just now saw and heard your reaction to Uncle Remus. very good. Thanks. I think Frank was speaking vicariously to people who had heard or familiar with Uncle Remus and other books like it from the 1800s. I heard a couple of doors down. Thought they were really good. A little bit different but not far out there. I'm going to listen to some more.
I meant to say that I heard a couple of your songs
Great review
Never. Once you get it, young or old, and I'm 65 it's never gettable. Ever but it's incredible.
Definitely the most reaction I've seen from Sifa facially. Usually she's a stone cold poker face 😄
What I found telling is that after doing two Zappa Suites, her comments about how she expected Yellow Snow would be longer and Society Pages made 11 minutes fly by points to how captivated she is by his music. Two ten minute plus song groups, and she wanted more...Dan, on the other hand, wears his delight on his face with every Zappa reaction, he's like a little kid on Christmas morning. They are a delight!
@@Peter-K I love the contrast
@@Chicago_Podcast_Authority me too! They really are a nice complement to each other.
"Dumb All Over", same album. Oh boy!
There were commercials on TV from a cosmetics brand called 'Charlie' featuring a supermodel who, indeed, had a very large smiling mouth, which Frank is obviously referencing here.
Makes sense!
I believe the reference is to Carly Simon!
@@JoeContiMusic Carly Simon didn't perform in the "Charlie" cosmetics commercials, though. I'm almost 59 years old, and distinctly remember those "Char-leeee!" commercials, as well as all the other mind-worm commercials that were on TV back in the '70s and '80s.
I remember a Zappa live version of a song wherein Ike Willis (I think it was) quoted another commercial, saying, "We're Beatrice!" -- something that NOBODY will 'get' the joke of nowadays unless they've seen the TV ad being spoofed.
Having said that, maybe Carly Simon -- who DID have a wide-grin smile -- also had a cocaine addiction, and Frank knew about it, conflating the "Charlie" commercial actress with Carly. She used to be tight with James Taylor -- "Mockingbird" etc. -- and I think I heard somewhere that HE had a major problem with drugs back then. So, maybe Carly Simon, too, had a problem with coke.
I drew the line with the album Thing-Fish which was released over 30 years ago and haven’t listened to it since. I couldn’t handle the vocal from Ike Willis and the subject matter. Maybe today I can.
try it again. Most Zappa ages well with time.
What a musical rollercoaster huh
I love the commentary on class in the opening song
You’re totally right about how he was with his kids for sure.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I'm sure you've heard this before, but for a rock star Zappa was very against drugs.
Yup!
Frank called going to the unexpected and never letting you get comfortable with a great groove, ‘Putting the eyebrows on it’. Bought my first Zappa album ‘Absolutely Free’ at 14 , it was like being shot by a musical diamond bullet, that was in 1971 so had to get everything he’d done up till then and never stopped being astounded at the proliferation and diversity of a true musical genius composer 🎶 {-
He’s the best
I totally forgot about this suite, and how good it was. - There are a few songs I really don't like, even some eras i'm not crazy about … and I'm a BIG fan.
Same here. These songs plus the title track on this album and maybe one or two others are the ones I like.
@@malayali-appreciator-69 I was talking about his entire catalog, not specifically this album, it was a bit confusing i admit
@@stevedotwood I know I was just adding my thoughts on the album
@@malayali-appreciator-69 ah ok
Would love to see a reaction to the album "We're Only in it for the Money", as I don't think anyone has ever done this and, in my opinion, it's an absolute mind-bending masterpiece. The one song I can point to that I don't care for, at all, is Valley Girl from Ship to Late to Save a Drowning Witch.... which is an album I rarely listen to.
FRANK ZAPPA IS THE BEST!!
May I recommend What's New In Baltimore from Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention album. Amazing work in his latter years.
Thanks David!
Frank’s catalogue is huge. Frank was big on social commentary. You’ve got what I’d call the book ends.
“Hungry Freaks Daddy” at the start of it all. First song, first album. Basically Frank introducing himself to us all with his wisdom.
At the other end you have “Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk “ off the last live Tour Album Broadway The Hard Way.. The song has a line of reflection in it where frank says
“and if you don’t know by now, the proof of what I’m telling you, then surely I have failed somehow.”
Most people just didn’t get it.
In between these two Gems, you have what Frank called “The Conceptual Continuity”. This was very conceptual but sometimes you struggled to see the continuity. I guess frank understood the continuity of it all. There are songs in between that on first listen, won’t appeal to you but later on you see or hear the beauty of and get them. Either way you can be guaranteed to hear songs like no one else’s written by a genius, performed by the world’s best musicians and sung by amazing vocalists. Enjoy your musical journey with Frank.
Great reactions.👍
Oh and be sure to treat yourself to Charlie’s friends at the side of the grave in “Any Downers” but be sure you listen to Charlie again first. It flows so well and even into Cone Head after that.
Andrew
Thanks Andrew!
New subscriber here....just come across your content and love your stuff... especially your Zappa..
Keep it up!
Greetings from the UK
Thanks so much! Greetings from NYC!
It was great seeing you react to the lyrics, reminds me of when I first heard it. And then the last two songs were missing, Aargh! I see someone has posted a link to the full suite below, you need to finish what you started!
The time Signature changes are redicoulis. When I first heard this 35 years ago I was not impressed. About 5 years ago I listened again and thought damn. That is incredible.
This album "You are what you is" was the first one he produced and recorded in his home studio Utility Muffin Research Kitchen (Now owned by Lady Gaga, who bought his house) and therefore there are so many layers, especially in terms of vocals, because he had all the studio time in the world. I think the whole album is brilliantly composed and produced. As for being a dad, he seemed to be all of the above. He believed in discipline, but wanted to raise kids that could think critically and make sound decisions (it would have been his wife who actually raised them). He was probably somewhat funny, but also an absent workaholic. He used to say that sine his kids weren't in prison or doing drugs, he thought he'd (they'd) done a pretty good job.
There's an African saying that when an old person dies, a library goes up in flames. He was still young then, but I often think about FZ that way: what a treasure chamber. Imagine what we felt when he passed.
So sad :(
So sad :(
Where "Charlie's Enormous Mouth" ends, it goes right into "Any Downers". That's why it sounds like it ended abruptly. This suite ends with the songs "Any Downers" and "Conehead".
You like everything I like. You're weird!
What I realize about this suite is how indicative it is of his love of classical music and how it was always there creeping in the background
:)
thi's my album too ... early 80's
Classic Zappa album.
I know it's an unpopular opinion, but for me this is maybe the best Zappa album. It's way more straight forward and less complex than the 70's albums (sometimes I find some song/pieces a bit exhausting) but the song writing is hilarious, the music is great and catchy, the vocal work is amazing and I love that slick sound. Really I can listen to this album all day everyday, this is too much fun ! My favorite album along with "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" and "Tinsel Town Rebellion". Yes I love 80's Zappa :) Thank you for your reaction !
But there is a next song, "Any Downers" and "ConeHead" =)
This album is actually a complete composition which should be experienced from start to finish. It came on 2 LP's when I bought it when it first came out it 1981, now available in the tasty CD format. 67 minutes and 13 seconds of excellence from start to finish. Frank found some things funny like the Coneheads from SNL and he immortalized them in a song on this album. The song "Mudd Club" is about an actual club in New York. And you will never hear the word "dipsh*t" used better in a song that in "Teen Age Wind". When you get some spare time give the whole thing a listen in one sitting, it is a great experience Here is a video of the song "You Are What You Is" that they did for the album
ruclips.net/video/BN1HFrBeFb4/видео.html
definitely my favorite Zappa album for sure
@totorotj - Frank said many times that his entire output was one compostion.
@@Frunobulax74 Thank goodness the composition can be enjoyed in parts! I haven't tried reading the books, watching the movies and listening to the music all in one continuous event, might be cool to do that over a long period of a month or two. I'm sure I would notice even more connections than I know about now.....
@@Big_Swifty - I think you would enjoy it. I sometimes listen to his catalog start to finish. I've been a fan for over 40 years and have done it many times. There are always new things to be found in his music.
It doesnt end there!!!!
Great review, not my personal favourites, but with such a huge catalogue anyone can find something. The album contains dumb all over which became quite prophetic. Whatever the music Frank gives you masterful arrangements and top drawer production.
Keep well great channel
this channel is so good. deserves way more subscribers
Thank you!
you only had the first 60%! Where are the last two songs?
"Why doncha come on over to the house and I'll show 'em to ya?" - Frank Zappa
--
During the Senate hearing on pornography in music, when Sen. Paula Hawkins from Florida
said ... "I'd like to see what kind of toys your children play with."
LOL
Frank loved his kids very much, and they knew it - although he worked thru the night, and slept during the day.
That was several songs. Where it stopped it went right into another song.
Oh, bad Zappa? That's a tough one. He has a huge variety of music I think it's more about what style of Zappa music do you find less appealing. For me I might pick his "Jazz From Hell" album because it's so computer generated synthesized and feels very old style midi to me.
The other one I may pick is "Cruising With Reuben And The Jets" which is his 50's Rock style album. It's not bad but it gets to be a little too much for me. There are some songs from this album I love though, like "You Didn't Try To Call Me".
Zappa also did a lot of cover songs during his live shows which are great to check out. They did a cover of the classical song "Bolero" which is amazing. He also had a concert where Sting (from the Police) came on stage and sang a killer version of "Murder By Numbers"
cocksuckers ball is also a cover
as is the closer you are
Don't forget Zappa's version of "Stairway to Heaven" from the "Best Band you Never Heard in your Life" album, which was mentioned by Led Zeppelin as a favorite cover because of the horn line's rendition of the guitar solo.
It was Frank's homage to 50s doo-wop music. Thoroughly enjoyable if in the right mood.
@@davidboucher3719 There are some songs on Cruising with Reuben And The Jets album that I love. "Love of My Life", "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" and "Cheap Thrills" are just a few. I guess my feeling about the album is that I like a lot of the individual songs but as a whole, the album isn't my favorite.
I think all the songs have a similar sound and playing through the album in one sitting just isn't as enjoyable. I just listened to a number of tracks and I like a lot of them, especially "You Didn't Try to Call Me". OK, I take it back. I do like this album. :D That's why picking bad Zappa is so tough. haha
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You Are What You Is is on my Desert Island Five Album list. And to be really appreciated it should be listened to per LP side. Each four sides of the LP, each song segues to the next, and on the last song of the side, with the out chorus reprising all the songs of that side. It is an album production masterpiece imo
And to answer your question about when Frank lost me, it is Jazz From Hell. I am completely uninspired by Frank's synclavier material. Frank did not like the unreliability of humans to produce the sounds he wanted to hear. Where it's my opinion that Franks greatest gift, was not his incredible musical imagination, but rather, his ability to pull incredible music out of the people in his bands.
9:53 ya finally cracked👍 Great
Haha thanks for watching
To clear up the abrupt ending there’s another song in that chain called Any Downers which was cut. It’s about Charlie’s burial with stoners selling downers to the crowd. Should have been included.
Check out 'Teenage Wind,' from the same album (the very first song). It's a hilarious poking-of-fun at teenagers!
Thanks!
As one of the few channels that reacts sincerely to Frank Zappa, im surprised you haven’t covered “Inca Roads” yet!
When you become a patreon, you can suggest it. - Or maybe you are already a patreon?
My favorite part of the You Are What You Is album and sounded great live especially with Arthur Barrow on bass. Check out the live in Rotterdam versions? Would love a reaction to the bass playing on that lol
Sounds cool! Thanks!
There is a album called Thing-Fish.(1984) It was a concept record about Franks belief that AIDS was manufactured to eliminate. "er-undesireable peoples" from society. Frank held his beliefs , agree or not, at least he didnt hide them. Many of the songs were taken from You Are What You Is and reworked to fit the story and the music. This is when I personaly end my ZAPPA experience until Broadway the Hard Way in 88
Valley girls kick I have two daughters who were too old by the time they cams along but my oldest. Melissa always asked why there were swears in the music and just said he’s an adult and you have to wait till you are older to say them. She loved waking up to baby snakes girl wound up 6’5 awesome both daughters today have similar love for frank and his henchmen throughout time
Speaking of going to the beach, check out Frank Zappa's song "Let Me Take You To The Beach" . . . but listen to "The Adventures of Greggary Peccary" first -- they're from the same album. You'll thank me later!
s a musician, I met way too many Charleys to miss the point of the song. This suite was so good, so funny, so sad, so Zappa!
Both before and after these tracks there are other ones, and they ALL constitute a suite because one song segues into another - same with side 2 of this album.
lol so the whole album is a suite?
@@SightAfterDark In princple, yes. With a break between the "sides".
@@thelyricologist9568 lol we’re so confused. Did we do the whole suite and people are upset we didn’t do the whole album (thinking it is part of the suite)?
@@SightAfterDark well, I am not sure why the tracks you reacted to were called a suite. "You Are What You Is" is simply an album with tracks seguing into each other. HOWEVER, please bear in mind that originally the album was divided into four sides, and the tracks you reacted to are from Side Two, however even on side two, after the last track you reacted to, there are still two tracks "Any Downers?" and "Conehead" which tiy have not reacrted to. Moreover, indeed, there was another album, "Crush All Boxes", which did include the tracks you reacred to as a separate suite, but again, containing the two said songs you did not react to. Frankly (no pun intended), you need to react to the whole "You Are What You Is" album. You won't regret it, and the sinister and serious (but also sarcastic) lyrics to "Dumb All Over" will show you perhaps a less funny/ridiculous side of Frank Zappa's lyrical capabilitis. And not only that song, but a few more on the album.
Btw - love your opening!
Some people believe Frank's creative juices reduced at the beginning of the 80's when he began to re use older songs...pretty much when he built his home studio..He was concentrating on finance/politics and orchestral movement attempts to get it played...
That's not how the suite ends; there's two more songs in the suite, "Any Downers?" & "Conehead". The suite takes up all of side two of the vinyl album.
Your non verbal is talkin so high LOL I love it! Thank to be you
Thanks for watching Claude!
@@SightAfterDark It is a pleasure
With Zappa, you never know what's gonna happen next in a song. Never.
Maybe in very deep waters now but the look when Charlies enourmus mouth was shout
So yeah you missed Any Downers and Conehead, so that wasn't the full suite and wasn't the end yet. I have been looking for someone to react to this suite for a while and I'm not sure how I missed your reaction earlier. So what can you say, so much going on? Steve Vai impossible guitar parts, killer, killer drumming. The ensemble playing with all the instruments and the incredibly tight and clear drumming does a number on my brain for sure. Seems like some kind of cool drum effect 5:43 for example that really hits home (pun intended). "Playing with my Brain", that describes it.
I notice in this, and in the Village of the Sun reaction I just listened to watching Secret Graffiti trying to not laugh, like in an SNL skit when they are trying not to break character.
I would still like to hear you react to the Berkeley School of Music Zappa Medley. I'm telling you you're missing out and you could be the first. (Edit; Just saw you did this, will check it out next.)
Finally I enjoy Teenage Wind, and Dumb all Over on this album. Teenage wind has some nice playing and is humorous, while Dumb All Over has some great lyrics /social commentary.