I would put Zappa at his best ahead of everything else in my music collection. Eccentric, but undeniably gifted. Some of his music is painfully beautiful.
There were no 'video versions' back when this was recorded, it was an actual live show taped for a never to occur TV show. It is a great DVD now. The 'claymation' was edited over the performance. Pity that it obscured Frank's gymnastics on the guitar. A cleaner picture of this band can be seen in the song Florentine Pogen...I'll attach the link ruclips.net/video/KlAZnvNSGHo/видео.html
I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this brilliant musical masterpiece, but I never get tired of it. It's just one example of the creative genius of Frank Zappa.
Zappa and crew have played this live with the arrangement just as you hear it now. Can you imagine explaining to the band the arrangement and then for them hold it in their head to pull it off live.
His band members are ridiculous. They play the most complex pieces live and sound like studio recordings. Always fun to watch live. It was rock theater.
The claymation is by Bruce Bickford, who worked alone, animating at 24 fps. It's a mix of things Bruce produced, there are a few scenes from the unfinished video for Greggary Peckary, a lot from his independent projects. Zappa owned the rights to everything Bruce produced at the time. When they parted ways, Frank kept all figurines in his likeness, except for a small ensemble of the Mothers of Invention we unearthed when we did the Bruce Bickford exhibition here in Germany shortly before Bruce passed away. He was a very gentle and humble, if slightly troubled soul.
@@AceofBadeReacts I cherish the experience to this day. 6 years ago now. 10k people came to see the exhibition. Glad he got at least a little of the appreciation he deserved.
Some useless facts: (1) The animation was by Bruce Bickford. (2) This same live performance - filmed and recorded for an unbroadcast TV special - was re-used as the basic track for the album version (which has overdubs, and a guitar solo spliced in from a different gig). (3) This started as an instrumental in early '73 - but once the lyrics were added the arrangement started evolving...a lot! It took about 18 months to reach its final form musically. (4) Slight error in another comment - actually Frank's guitar solo, George's keyboard solo, and those early spoken-word breaks are all improvisatory. And now, just to go against the grain, I'm going to recommend this specific version of this song - ruclips.net/video/iWD9s8j_3n4/видео.html (Frank is out of the spotlight here)
The instruments do sound improvised. I feel like it would be incredibly hard to replicate note for note and beat for beat. Insane they worked on it continuously for 18 months. I'll add that one to the list
@@AceofBadeReacts It was all practiced. Everything is on score paper, except the guitar improvisation and some of the extended keyboard bits. All the rest was practiced. It was a composition, not free-form.
I can add that said "unbroadcast TV special" (called _A Token of His Extreme)_ is now available on DVD and soundtrack CD (and on youtube in its entirety, not just this clip).
The Frank Zappa rabbit hole is extremely deep, challenging, massively creative, colourful, unique, imaginative, they'll be nothing to compare with it. FZ was a creative musical genius. Love his approach to guitar playing and writing music 👍
Icl, thought your face at 6:28 was hilarious Not bad. Felt the vocals & the music suited 2 different songs at the beginning but it got pretty good as it went on. Felt like a massive drug trip lmao
somebody out there in that audience knows what we are doing, and that person is getting off on it beyond his or her wildest comprehension. - Frank Zappa. come on down and get some onya!
I wish there was a version w/o the claymation. Not that it is bad, it just seems out-of-context here.I'd rather be watching Frank's solo. Any video of Frank playing the guitar is precious gift to the eyes and ears of humans every where.
Instrumental: Blessed Relief, Watermelon In Easter Hay, Black Napkins, The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution, Apostrophe, peaches En Regalia One of a kind musical piece: Gregory Peccary Live video: Cheepnis, zappa and the Ikettes Recording at Bolic Sound 1973, Son of Orange County + Trouble Every Day, Muffin Man I Am the Slime, City of Tiny Lights, You Are What You Is, Bobby Brown Goes Down, Uncle Remus, Flakes, Cosmic Debris
Old Zappa fan here. The lyrics depict a possible alien encounter. Not that it matters. Zappa would write lyrics about anything that he fancied. Try "Montana" with the same band. He used this clay animator to accompany a number of his works: Obsessive but talented. I don't happen to like the editing of them in this video. I know of no one who was as talented and unique as Zappa. He made his own world. If you want guitar solos, "Muffin Man", either the live video or the studio version), Watermelon in Easter Hay (I prefer the studio version) are good places to start. There's a number of good instrumentals on the "Hot Rats" and "Grand Wazoo" albums. He was very prolific. There's tons of great music but also a sizeable portion that people consider offensive and crass. He did what he wanted. He didn't care about hurting anyone's sensibilities.
Hi. Sorry. I may have missed or forgotten that you did Montana first. Sorry. Zappa is so old for me so I long to see others that listen to him new and I sometimes forget who I see reacting. If you like that same band (it was an incredible one) Try Florentine Pogen.ruclips.net/video/KlAZnvNSGHo/видео.html. The lead singer Napoleon Murphy Brock is hilarious and the rest of the band is supurb. As usual, the lyrics are not serious. I've always been fond of G-Spot Tornado, performed by a classical ensemble with Zappa conducting just before he died. It has a male/female modern dance. I happen to think the G-Spot Tornado is the woman's energy. The man tries to control. She rejects. When he accepts her energy, they have the beginning of a relationship. ruclips.net/video/AyitnY3Rt9c/видео.html
The lyrics are an (ironical) comment to a book about aliens by Erich van Däniken in 1968. Otherwise there are probably not much MEANINGS to find, other than an excuse to compose this wonderful unique music. All exept the guitar solo is carefully composed om paper and rehearsed. Take an audio next time, like "Zomby Woof" or "Little house I used to live in" or "What's new in Baltimore"
Ok so it was about aliens. I thought I remembered someone saying that, I just didn't want to be wrong in the reaction video. Just 100% instrumental? I'm down
Frank Zappa is slowly becoming the most entertaining thing I've seen in a while. What are your thoughts on this performance?
he is music's best kept secret.
@@HakanTunaMuzik it's unfortunate because I didn't grow up with any of it. Better late than never, right?
@@AceofBadeReacts I was lucky got into him at aged 14 and got to see him on the last tour twice when I was 19. But better late then never :-)
I would put Zappa at his best ahead of everything else in my music collection. Eccentric, but undeniably gifted. Some of his music is painfully beautiful.
There were no 'video versions' back when this was recorded, it was an actual live show taped for a never to occur TV show. It is a great DVD now. The 'claymation' was edited over the performance. Pity that it obscured Frank's gymnastics on the guitar. A cleaner picture of this band can be seen in the song Florentine Pogen...I'll attach the link ruclips.net/video/KlAZnvNSGHo/видео.html
I've been listening for more than 50 years. It gets less confusing
Alright. Give me about 49 more years
I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this brilliant musical masterpiece, but I never get tired of it. It's just one example of the creative genius of Frank Zappa.
It's a one of a kind experience
@@AceofBadeReacts Indeed it is!
It's all about the music
😮” wow , WTF - did I just see “😮
Haha yeah
Zappa and crew have played this live with the arrangement just as you hear it now. Can you imagine explaining to the band the arrangement and then for them hold it in their head to pull it off live.
I cannot
His band members are ridiculous. They play the most complex pieces live and sound like studio recordings. Always fun to watch live. It was rock theater.
They are insane. I talk about it in a future video coming out actually
The claymation is by Bruce Bickford, who worked alone, animating at 24 fps. It's a mix of things Bruce produced, there are a few scenes from the unfinished video for Greggary Peckary, a lot from his independent projects. Zappa owned the rights to everything Bruce produced at the time. When they parted ways, Frank kept all figurines in his likeness, except for a small ensemble of the Mothers of Invention we unearthed when we did the Bruce Bickford exhibition here in Germany shortly before Bruce passed away. He was a very gentle and humble, if slightly troubled soul.
If anyone is interested, I still have copies of the exhibition catalogue we produced. 😁
That's awesome that you were able to do that
@@AceofBadeReacts I cherish the experience to this day. 6 years ago now. 10k people came to see the exhibition. Glad he got at least a little of the appreciation he deserved.
Very deep . Very enjoyable rabbit hole. Music will never sound the same to you.
I believe it for sure
Zappa personally kept to chaos within his volume of music.
It makes for an entertaining show for sure
Some useless facts:
(1) The animation was by Bruce Bickford.
(2) This same live performance - filmed and recorded for an unbroadcast TV special - was re-used as the basic track for the album version (which has overdubs, and a guitar solo spliced in from a different gig).
(3) This started as an instrumental in early '73 - but once the lyrics were added the arrangement started evolving...a lot! It took about 18 months to reach its final form musically.
(4) Slight error in another comment - actually Frank's guitar solo, George's keyboard solo, and those early spoken-word breaks are all improvisatory.
And now, just to go against the grain, I'm going to recommend this specific version of this song - ruclips.net/video/iWD9s8j_3n4/видео.html (Frank is out of the spotlight here)
The instruments do sound improvised. I feel like it would be incredibly hard to replicate note for note and beat for beat. Insane they worked on it continuously for 18 months. I'll add that one to the list
well said, mr., you know the deal! thanks
@@AceofBadeReacts It was all practiced. Everything is on score paper, except the guitar improvisation and some of the extended keyboard bits. All the rest was practiced. It was a composition, not free-form.
I can add that said "unbroadcast TV special" (called _A Token of His Extreme)_ is now available on DVD and soundtrack CD (and on youtube in its entirety, not just this clip).
@@donaldb1 Interesting
Your face watching... Priceless
I was trying to make sense out of what I was watching
This is a song about the Nazca lines in southern Peru
You know based on the title, that makes sense
Frank Zappa music is like a movie for your ears, you must pay attention.
There's a lot happening. I think it warrants multiple viewings to really catch everything
The Frank Zappa rabbit hole is extremely deep, challenging, massively creative, colourful, unique, imaginative, they'll be nothing to compare with it. FZ was a creative musical genius. Love his approach to guitar playing and writing music 👍
It is definitely unique and a fun watch
It's a completely live performance, with claymation interspersed.
It's really interesting
Icl, thought your face at 6:28 was hilarious
Not bad. Felt the vocals & the music suited 2 different songs at the beginning but it got pretty good as it went on. Felt like a massive drug trip lmao
Frank Zappa material gets chaotic and flows very well at the same time. It's an odd combination
@@AceofBadeReacts Yeah pretty much
somebody out there in that audience knows what we are doing, and that person is getting off on it beyond his or her wildest comprehension. - Frank Zappa. come on down and get some onya!
Frank Zappa is doing some great things
listen to Franks Watermrlon in Easterhay..........killer solo
I'm here for a killer solo
I wish there was a version w/o the claymation. Not that it is bad, it just seems out-of-context here.I'd rather be watching Frank's solo. Any video of
Frank playing the guitar is precious gift to the eyes and ears of humans every where.
It was an odd choice, but Frank was an eccentric dude
Instrumental: Blessed Relief, Watermelon In Easter Hay, Black Napkins, The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution, Apostrophe, peaches En Regalia
One of a kind musical piece: Gregory Peccary
Live video: Cheepnis, zappa and the Ikettes Recording at Bolic Sound 1973, Son of Orange County + Trouble Every Day, Muffin Man
I Am the Slime, City of Tiny Lights, You Are What You Is, Bobby Brown Goes Down, Uncle Remus, Flakes, Cosmic Debris
I'll add them to the list
Glad you like Zappa, its unique right?
It's uniquely chaotic. I'm here for it
Old Zappa fan here. The lyrics depict a possible alien encounter. Not that it matters. Zappa would write lyrics about anything that he fancied. Try "Montana" with the same band. He used this clay animator to accompany a number of his works: Obsessive but talented. I don't happen to like the editing of them in this video. I know of no one who was as talented and unique as Zappa. He made his own world. If you want guitar solos, "Muffin Man", either the live video or the studio version), Watermelon in Easter Hay (I prefer the studio version) are good places to start. There's a number of good instrumentals on the "Hot Rats" and "Grand Wazoo" albums. He was very prolific. There's tons of great music but also a sizeable portion that people consider offensive and crass. He did what he wanted. He didn't care about hurting anyone's sensibilities.
Interesting. I actually did react to Montana first. That's where I started. I have a feeling there will be more Frank Zappa in the future sometime
Hi. Sorry. I may have missed or forgotten that you did Montana first. Sorry. Zappa is so old for me so I long to see others that listen to him new and I sometimes forget who I see reacting. If you like that same band (it was an incredible one) Try Florentine Pogen.ruclips.net/video/KlAZnvNSGHo/видео.html. The lead singer Napoleon Murphy Brock is hilarious and the rest of the band is supurb. As usual, the lyrics are not serious. I've always been fond of G-Spot Tornado, performed by a classical ensemble with Zappa conducting just before he died. It has a male/female modern dance. I happen to think the G-Spot Tornado is the woman's energy. The man tries to control. She rejects. When he accepts her energy, they have the beginning of a relationship. ruclips.net/video/AyitnY3Rt9c/видео.html
The lyrics are an (ironical) comment to a book about aliens by Erich van Däniken in 1968. Otherwise there are probably not much MEANINGS to find, other than an excuse to compose this wonderful unique music. All exept the guitar solo is carefully composed om paper and rehearsed. Take an audio next time, like "Zomby Woof" or "Little house I used to live in" or "What's new in Baltimore"
Ok so it was about aliens. I thought I remembered someone saying that, I just didn't want to be wrong in the reaction video. Just 100% instrumental? I'm down
I second all the songs recommended, especially the latter two. 'What's New in Baltimore' has arguably Zappa's most emotional guitar solo.
@@chaosmos24 Looking forward to it
I find the animation a distraction from the music
Understandable. I also have a hard time focusing sometimes and the animation helped me a bit