Like so many of the complicated Zappa songs, this one is an 'acquired taste' for many. For me, those 6 minutes fly by, with no musical space 'wasted'. Some Zappa songs have taken decades for me to truly appreciate... and that's a good thing.
Fifty percent comical and whimsical. Fifty percent dead serious and confounding in its technical depth. What a treasure. Maybe, just maybe, the best Zappa guitar solo? If it's even possible to choose one.
I know I ain't cute And my voice is kapoot Gotta love that. That's Ricky Lancelotti on vocals. He was coming along on the tour following the recording sessions but, alas, he showed up at the rehearsal drunk out of his mind so Zappa sent him home to sleep it off. The tour happened but without Ricky, he may have sat in for one or two shows, probably singing this song. Most performances of this song were all instrumental as the melody itself is quite enjoyable imo. The solo section is totally over the top,
Hmmm...not sure I get ya on this one brother..."A lot"..well...not really...its a standard bluesy arrangement set at a high tempo, with a gritty vocal and firey solos in the middle. ,,actually its quite parred down from many of Zappa's compositions ...( I.E:..Greggory Peccary..now THATS a lot..but I love it!)..this sounds like the band is just having some fun...besides...in the end..."a lot" trumps " not enough" every time....at least in my musical world....Cheers!
Simply classic 70s! When there was a lot of progressive music, progressive rock, progressive jazz rock! For me it's acid jazz 🍏🍏🍏 with progressive elements.
I was ten back in 1975 when my 17 year old Italian cousin played Overnite Sensation for me and I was entranced. Fifty Fifty was my favorite song on the album mainly because of the crazy vocals by Ricky Lancelotti.
I effing LOVE Frank Zappa. He can do no wrong in my eyes. He's in his own lane on the freeway. And that lane is going headlong into oncoming traffic. Brilliant.
Just in case you didn't know, Andy Edwards managed to get an interview with Jean Luc Ponty just the other day. He talks a bit about this part of his career. And in case you didn't know (#2) George Duke was also a conservatory trained musician (Zappa was looking for musicians who could understand his more ambitious ideas, at the time). I found this out in the interview. It's a lot, and I can hear something Steve Vai might've taken from that place in there.
It might interest you to know that this began as an instrumental. He threw those vocals on top for the album but personally I prefer the original when it was just a cool fusion tune with ripping solos.
Aw, come on. You can hang with this song. Good to hear that you realize that another listen is in order so you can assimilate “a lot”. Better to have a lot to feed music appreciation than not enough, which is what we get from the preponderance of commercial, vacuous wallpaper halfheartedly offered via most popular music. This era of Zappa music is another example of commitment to art that delivers satisfaction equal to or greater than the level of attention we give it.
Bass and Drums on this are SO good. Yes, you'll need to hear this several times. I've probably heard it 200 times and I know every single note and drumfill, so I'm not overloaded at all. It's just amazing.
As a long time drummer myself and have had this LP for 45 years the phenomenal abilities of Ralph and Tom is forever inspirational and astounding. Everybody else is beautifully blasting too. An amazing album.
Pure genius at work: nonsensically frantic and humorously silly lyrics to the accompaniment of some of the most technically demanding music that only top-notch and most talented musicians can accomplish.
I feel like I'm as big a fan of Zappa as any (I've listened to every album in his discography a minimum of 3 times through) and I generally love this album, but this is one song of his I could never get into. I can't stand the unhinged, scratchy vocal. I don't like the angular dissonance and "fanfare" element of the end of both the verse and the chorus. Whatever melody exists here is too obstinately random to contain any hook whatsoever. While a lot of Zappa's tunes certainly sound dated to their era (which doesn't bother me much usually) this song really leans a bit too heavily into 70's cheese (I think it's the horn parts that push it too far over the edge for me). George Duke is one of my favorite keys men ever, but that canned sounding pipe-organ effect just kills any appeal his solo might have had for me entirely. Really, all three of the solos in this song just feel like very non-musical technical exhibitions, coming across rushed and busy- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. When this song comes on, I'm sorry to say that the odds are usually upwards of 50/50 that I'll hit the ">>" button, because if it does have something to say, I'm not sure what it is.
Jay Pea! Where you been hiding, buddy? It's been a while. I hope you, Natasha, and Sake are doing well. Zappa is great. You're doing a great service for your country! 😺
Ned from Spain steppin in with some info for ya as well as thank you J. First of all I would like to say Tom Fowler's bass playing is also monumental, super funky and tasty. This song was supposedly based on the screechy larynx lacerations of Alice Cooper, the man and the band, who were given a hand up by Frank when no one else would. The tale I heard is that Frank had seen them play and because the audience literally ran away from them, he thought these guys got something ! He told them to come to his house and audition but they showed up at like 6 or 7 AM and started blasting a surprised Zappa out of bed. Their 1st LP "Pretties For You" is a wild avant psychedelic sonic assault. It sounds that way because FZ decided to release the bands rehearsals and jams for the upcoming LP !!! Sneaky devil that Zappa.
I don't think it's "a lot". The song is pretty straightforward, really. You have a simple verse, a brief chorus, and then an extended groove in the middle where the players take turns playing solos. Nothing more than that. Perhaps the mix is a bit dense?
Zappa's more progressive,jazzy discord stuff is like a complex math equation... takes some studying to fully understand and appreciate the sheer genius of it.
Tom Fowler on the bass is great on this track.
Pipe organ solos like this don't happen too often I reckon.
Jean-Luc Ponty kickin' butt on the violin
He saws that damm thing in half with the bow.
I love the way he screams his vocals. But anyway I love the whole album. IMHO Zappa's best.
Like so many of the complicated Zappa songs, this one is an 'acquired taste' for many. For me, those 6 minutes fly by, with no musical space 'wasted'. Some Zappa songs have taken decades for me to truly appreciate... and that's a good thing.
One of the best guitar solos ever.
I have to admit it took me some time to fully appreciate the true art that is this song.
Very interesting organ solo and lead vocals. Underrated track from Zappa.
Have you reacted to "Evelyn the Modified Dog" by FZ yet? Short but sweet, and I would like to hear your take on it.
This song is a brief description of a dog staring at a doyly draped over a piano and what the dog might possibly be thinking. Brilliant!
This is so great album. Not a single filler in there.
Another classic from ZAPPA!! Overnight Sensation is still one of my favorite albums of all time !! Was it too slow for ya ?
Love this track and the whole damn album! The frame on the cover needs a close look.
Definitely was too much for me on a first listen, but I absolutely loved it after getting to know it more.
Fifty percent comical and whimsical. Fifty percent dead serious and confounding in its technical depth. What a treasure. Maybe, just maybe, the best Zappa guitar solo? If it's even possible to choose one.
I know I ain't cute
And my voice is kapoot
Gotta love that.
That's Ricky Lancelotti on vocals.
He was coming along on the tour following the recording sessions but, alas, he showed up at the rehearsal drunk out of his mind so Zappa sent him home to sleep it off.
The tour happened but without Ricky, he may have sat in for one or two shows, probably singing this song.
Most performances of this song were all instrumental as the melody itself is quite enjoyable imo.
The solo section is totally over the top,
Lancelotti sang on some of the original Banana Splits songs
one banana...
embrace the over stimulation
Hmmm...not sure I get ya on this one brother..."A lot"..well...not really...its a standard bluesy arrangement set at a high tempo, with a gritty vocal and firey solos in the middle. ,,actually its quite parred down from many of Zappa's compositions ...( I.E:..Greggory Peccary..now THATS a lot..but I love it!)..this sounds like the band is just having some fun...besides...in the end..."a lot" trumps " not enough" every time....at least in my musical world....Cheers!
Hear, hear!
The energy is 100%, not 50-fifty
Waka-Jawaka, and Big Swifty... couple of must-play tunes...!
Simply classic 70s! When there was a lot of progressive music, progressive rock, progressive jazz rock! For me it's acid jazz 🍏🍏🍏 with progressive elements.
The solo's on this song are just fantastic! Jean-Luc Ponty and George Duke are incredible on this song.
Too much of everything is just enough
Ricky Lancelotti on vocals.
Must be related to the Captain. Frank mixing it up
Justin is getting closer...
The band burned that tune ....
Sweet Pain!😁
Zappa’s guitar solo is
Especially spastic…😉
For 50 years this song always makes me think of Johnny or Edgar Winter.
I always thought of this song as being a kind of zany tune bookending a massive and incredible jam.
it's never too much
A peek into the mind of Frank Zappa
I was ten back in 1975 when my 17 year old Italian cousin played Overnite Sensation for me and I was entranced. Fifty Fifty was my favorite song on the album mainly because of the crazy vocals by Ricky Lancelotti.
I effing LOVE Frank Zappa. He can do no wrong in my eyes. He's in his own lane on the freeway. And that lane is going headlong into oncoming traffic. Brilliant.
i'm in the car goin toward him
wot should i do?
@@HippoYnYGlaw FREAK OUT! (Did you see what I did there?) 😆
@@groovytribemedia9231 FFab! :>) IWhat are the live albums called ... I dug one of them major league...
Just in case you didn't know, Andy Edwards managed to get an interview with Jean Luc Ponty just the other day. He talks a bit about this part of his career.
And in case you didn't know (#2) George Duke was also a conservatory trained musician (Zappa was looking for musicians who could understand his more ambitious ideas, at the time). I found this out in the interview.
It's a lot, and I can hear something Steve Vai might've taken from that place in there.
Its like I remember it back then: Just play both sides of the record a few times before you can start listen...
It might interest you to know that this began as an instrumental. He threw those vocals on top for the album but personally I prefer the original when it was just a cool fusion tune with ripping solos.
Aw, come on. You can hang with this song. Good to hear that you realize that another listen is in order so you can assimilate “a lot”. Better to have a lot to feed music appreciation than not enough, which is what we get from the preponderance of commercial, vacuous wallpaper halfheartedly offered via most popular music. This era of Zappa music is another example of commitment to art that delivers satisfaction equal to or greater than the level of attention we give it.
피프티피프티인줄...
A 5th Anniversary of this was just released in Various Formats with quite a lot of Extra material. It's an excellent listen.
Bass and Drums on this are SO good. Yes, you'll need to hear this several times. I've probably heard it 200 times and I know every single note and drumfill, so I'm not overloaded at all. It's just amazing.
As a long time drummer myself and have had this LP for 45 years the phenomenal abilities of Ralph and Tom is forever inspirational and astounding. Everybody else is beautifully blasting too. An amazing album.
Like the new camera.....
Pure genius at work: nonsensically frantic and humorously silly lyrics to the accompaniment of some of the most technically demanding music that only top-notch and most talented musicians can accomplish.
I feel like I'm as big a fan of Zappa as any (I've listened to every album in his discography a minimum of 3 times through) and I generally love this album, but this is one song of his I could never get into. I can't stand the unhinged, scratchy vocal. I don't like the angular dissonance and "fanfare" element of the end of both the verse and the chorus. Whatever melody exists here is too obstinately random to contain any hook whatsoever. While a lot of Zappa's tunes certainly sound dated to their era (which doesn't bother me much usually) this song really leans a bit too heavily into 70's cheese (I think it's the horn parts that push it too far over the edge for me). George Duke is one of my favorite keys men ever, but that canned sounding pipe-organ effect just kills any appeal his solo might have had for me entirely. Really, all three of the solos in this song just feel like very non-musical technical exhibitions, coming across rushed and busy- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. When this song comes on, I'm sorry to say that the odds are usually upwards of 50/50 that I'll hit the ">>" button, because if it does have something to say, I'm not sure what it is.
There's Zappa's entire career in one song - hated the vocals, loved the instruments especially the guitar, bonkers though it was.
Beyond your
Jay Pea! Where you been hiding, buddy? It's been a while. I hope you, Natasha, and Sake are doing well. Zappa is great. You're doing a great service for your country! 😺
Indigestion? Try Alka Seltzer.
Ned from Spain steppin in with some info for ya as well as thank you J. First of all I would like to say Tom Fowler's bass playing is also monumental, super funky and tasty. This song was supposedly based on the screechy larynx lacerations of Alice Cooper, the man and the band, who were given a hand up by Frank when no one else would. The tale I heard is that Frank had seen them play and because the audience literally ran away from them, he thought these guys got something ! He told them to come to his house and audition but they showed up at like 6 or 7 AM and started blasting a surprised Zappa out of bed. Their 1st LP "Pretties For You" is a wild avant psychedelic sonic assault. It sounds that way because FZ decided to release the bands rehearsals and jams for the upcoming LP !!! Sneaky devil that Zappa.
I don't think it's "a lot". The song is pretty straightforward, really. You have a simple verse, a brief chorus, and then an extended groove in the middle
where the players take turns playing solos. Nothing more than that. Perhaps the mix is a bit dense?
Perhaps you is
@@Driecnk Take your meds...
@@SpaceCattttt Seems like you took all of them
@@Driecnk And now I'm giving them to you, random troll.
@SpaceCattttt Hey come down to earth theres a bowl of milk waiting for you...meow
This is the only Zappa album I can tolerate listening to all the way through (but only when the moon is in aquarius), but man those vocals suck.
The moon needs to be in Uranus really 😉
@@Masterofparsnips 😆
How about Ship Arriving too Late to Save a Drowning Witch?
Whether you like those vocal or not, they're one remarkable feat. You have a go while staying completely in tune!
"I'm just crazy enough to sing to you any old way", that's kind of the point of the vocals dude. He's telling you in the lyrics.
Zappa's more progressive,jazzy discord stuff is like a complex math equation... takes some studying to fully understand and appreciate the sheer genius of it.