In this band Patrick O'Hearn, Adrian Belew, Tommy Mars, Terry Bozzio and Ed Mann all contributed vocals. The weee-ooohs are three-part harmony. I like y'all's reactions, you seem like kewl people. Stay groovy in Brooklyn.
it's incredible what he managed to combine with a base of only 2 chords ... what can I say ... an alien! thank you guys for your intervention on this, always very professional and fun... I will continue to follow you
I can't believe it took a year before this one came up, but I admit, I kept thinking...someone is gonna request it. Finally said, enough, I'll do it. There are so many versions of it, from 4 and a half minutes up to a half hour, but I chose this 'shorter' version so you could see it, and yeah those late 70's Halloween shows were legendary. I consider a pick successful when Sifa puts in her top tier, thanks girl! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyou, thank everyone of you, and.. good night YES also been waiting for this one, I tipped this one in previous comments and yes we needed this one. I'd say my absolute favourite Zappa performance of all times. If you're not aware: video is the Baby Snakes release. All concerts from this year's Halloween performances have been released in a special box set by the Zappa Trust. Still one thing left to do for them: release the full concert video without interruption on DVD/blue-ray
@Zolar CzaklI obviously have the Dvd guys, what I am indeed asking is a remastered/enhanced integral live registration, without the animations/backstage footage etc. (So in actual order of the performance, uninterrupted) Sure, happy if they would include the original movie as a bonus!
I’ve been listening to Frank Zappa music for 50 years and it is great watching your reactions to his music. It has been my pleasure to turn many people on to Zappa, including my Son in laws and my grand children. Quoting Frank Zappa, “there aren’t any musicians anymore, they’re all gone!” So sad he died so young. I strongly recommend you listen to “The Deathless Horsey” Unbelievable. As Zappa said…music is the best! Mike Meyer
There's a few of versions of him doing this live, along with this one, I also love. The "Chicago '78" version ( there he plays against Terry doing some really interested "time signature" changing drumming),The Merv Griffin show ( in studio with Merv's band as backup), and the "Zoot Allures" Osaka Japan concert version, which is my fav full throttle version. Always fun to see you cover Frank's music.
Yes, the Osaka version is my favorite too. It is incredible to compare it with the version on Zoot Allures album and make note of all the razor cutting edits Frank made.
It's actually Vinnie on drums on the Chicago '78 version, so it's not surprising there's lots of "interesting time signature changing drumming" going on
Very many things they did on stage, in this 7 show series, Halloween,1977, demonstrated that this was the best Zappa. This series of shows, with tons of mind boggling Guitar solos backed up by the best harmonics his band ever had. Live using two keyboardists, is profound., Not heard by many Released recently from this 7 show series, Halloween week 1977. This black napkins version,praised by Steve Vai on you tube, as the most beautifully constructed guitar solo he ever heard. There were big hints a few years back, when he shuffled the group, and changed up the styles into a more mainstream mix, (which some people claim getting commercialized, and not organic) . However,this group, with two live versatile keyboardists, a percussion,vibes and marimba, played by the more versatile Ed Mann, over Ruth. A powerhouse, state of the art mainstream rock/jazz drummer, with decent heavy metal vocals, mid 75- mid 78 rounded out the best Zappa era, just a year after he peaked worldwide, playing on SNL Channel 4.
Thanks so much guys - One of my very favorite of Frank's melody's! Something very soothing about it. But once the solo begins, he just builds off the crowd and goes off into a whole other story. Mesmerizing...
Hey Dan , I am the guy that you met at the Zappa Band show at Sony Music Hall. It was cool to meet you. That show was very good. I was at the 77 shows at the Palladium when he played this song very memorable as every over 55 shows that I've seen by Frank since 75 to 88. Again it was fun to run into you at The Zappa Band show. Did you like it? By the way the stage at the Palladium was huge. Backing vocals were Tommy Mars , Peter Wolf, Ed Man and Adrian Belew.
All the footage from this concert is part of the Baby Snakes movie. The stage in the Palladium was huge Dan. The band was always back there. I remember watching these shows and Frank would be there conducting or singing then he'd light a cigarette, grab his SG and we just knew he was coming out front to shred. The stage at the Palladium was not but 5ft. ,or so, high. I had some silent Super 8 footage and pics I shot of (guess who?) BOC at some Benefit concert Todd Rudgren had put together. The Palladium was crumbling but it was an excellent concert venue. Saw so many concerts there. Santana, Thin Lizzy, RUSH, RTF, Be Bop Deluxe. Some great life experiences for sure. ✌️
No backing tracks. Real band harmonies. Great version of this track. Other versions I've heard tend to be performed in a much cooler and bluesy style. This was out there.
Frank’s been dead for 25 years (or whatever) and I can still feel him in the ground, wailing away on that SG. Talk about a heavy solo. I don’t know where Frank goes when he solos, but it must be really far…. I attended this tours’ Chicago shows. While intense, it wasn’t as great as this one. Wow.
Love this version. The studio version is fantastic in context to the album, but this live version, Frank gives it eyebrows, lol. I believe of this performance, Steve Vai said it was his favourite live guitar solo, by anyone!.
Hi, The original studio version on Zoot Allures is magnificent, but there is an excellent long version in Phili 76, with vocals, sax, guitars (different sounds from Frank, thanks to his guitar rack) really worth listening too.. it is just magnificent. But there is also a pendant to this great track, and that is Pink Napkins, on Shut up and play your guitar, brilliant.
Fookin' 'ell, naawww, capital 'ELL-ove it!! Astoonishing, assstounding, love his sound, like, WHAAAAAA??????!!!!!!! How cool he singled you out for special attention, Sifa, eh? How could he not? Guess we'll never know. Brilllblbbllbblblblliant. Naptime, or walkabout, don't matter, gotta break a take
Black napkins is surely one of the fan favorites! But Zappa’s repertoire is so large that you don’t hear black napkins at every show. You may not even hear it if you bought tickets for both shows on the same night and then when he does grace you with it It’s always different a great kind of jazz version of the song is on the album Make A Jazz Noise Here . There’s a lot of other instruments taking center stage one of them being the trumpet. Which ever version you hear you know you can’t go wrong! Thank you for this reaction!
This is from ''baby snakes'' video..actually it was a motion picture which did win some French awards for animation and cinematography...Zappa had a hard time finding distribution and followed suggestions to reduce it from 168 minutes to 90 minutes but it made no difference so eventually he distributed independently.
This is one Zappa song I do like...a lot! Wish you freaks would request more like this one. The one guitarist looks like the same guy that played with Talking Heads and David Bowie.
I've always enjoyed O'Hearn as Frank's bassist. Some songs, like this one, it's enjoyable to hear versions done before being put on vinyl & trace the evolution of the tune. Yellow Snow is a great example of this. The one on The Crux of the Biscuit is the earliest Yellow Snow I know of, & I might like it more than the ' one. Chicago '78 is another good one.
@@MusicLover-rt4bs lfn you haven't heard the 2 releases he did with Group 87 are worth seeking out. Early '80's, I think tasty instrumentals. Self titled & A Career in Dada Processing. Love that title.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FRANK WAS HANDING OUT SHEET MUSIC TO THE BAND AND SOMEONE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BLACK NAPKIN AND FRANK SAID I WILL MAKE YOU A BLACK NAPKIN.
Not my favorite version, I prefer the live 1976 version from the Mike Douglas show, basically the version that came out on the Zoot Allures album the same year.
There's a moment in there when you start to think, "Man, this is a long solo, kinda getting bored with it." Then you realize that while Zappa is riffing, the song actually showcases the entire band. There is nothing simple or easy about anything anyone on stage is doing, and they have to do it ON THE BEAT. A well rehearsed, well executed tour de force. Typical Zappa show.
I love the way he explores the lower notes, spending time there and just rooting around without a hurry to get back to the higher frets. Just wondering, does Frank hold his pick with 3 fingers? It looks that way in a few closeups. I would love to know if I can continue holding my pick with 3 fingers or if I have to relearn how to pick, which at my age is not happening. 👴
Surely nobody could think of dancing or singing along to Zappa's best compositions. You must be still and passive and let the complexity register on the otherwise rarely needed part of the brain that is receptive to the truly superlative (for me only two other composers consistently hit on the same part - Wagner and J S Bach).
Bull. At this concert Frank invited audience members up on stage to dance along to the fiddly-didfly little 16th and 32nd notes that he orchestrated impromptu and conducted the band to play. It was gas. Just ask Janet the Planet. (btw- I was there. Steve Vai was right.)
@@bubbernator1 : 'best compositions', I said. You may well be right but I don't think this particular composition is one that you get the best out of by trying to dance to it.
@@indricotherium4802 I agree that there is plenty of Mr. Zappa's music that requires close attention to detail if one is to fully appreciate the comlexity of the composition and I'm sure I overreacted in my initial dismissal of your original post. The time signatures alone would render much of his work undanceable except in the broadest sense of modern interpretive dance. But that's also kind of the point I was making. That night Frank had people dancing to impossible time signatures just because it was fun. That was a side to Frank Zappa that is sometimes forgotten in the historical context. He loved to perform and he loved to laugh.
If you liked this, be sure to check out our Frank Zappa podcast!
ruclips.net/video/qyOpmQ7p-DA/видео.html
Brings tears to my eyes.
Mine too Chris!
understood - this kinda highness unbearable :)
Man, the sound he gets out of that guitar is unreal.. Brilliant.. Thanks guys..
In this band Patrick O'Hearn, Adrian Belew, Tommy Mars, Terry Bozzio and Ed Mann all contributed vocals. The weee-ooohs are three-part harmony. I like y'all's reactions, you seem like kewl people. Stay groovy in Brooklyn.
Thanks Tom!
NICE!
In my humble opinion. One of the best versions of black napkins ❤️❤️
Yes! Finally, Black Napkins!! Incredible solo. You should hear what Steve Vai said about his experience witnessing this solo.
That was Belew, Bozzio, O'Hearn, and Mars on backup vocs probably. Zappa always had great singers. Love this version!
This was my favorite Zappa song when I was in high school 40+ years ago. Glad I saw Zappa play this live 4 or 5 times.
it's incredible what he managed to combine with a base of only 2 chords ... what can I say ... an alien! thank you guys for your intervention on this, always very professional and fun... I will continue to follow you
Thanks so much for being here!
I can't believe it took a year before this one came up, but I admit, I kept thinking...someone is gonna request it. Finally said, enough, I'll do it. There are so many versions of it, from 4 and a half minutes up to a half hour, but I chose this 'shorter' version so you could see it, and yeah those late 70's Halloween shows were legendary. I consider a pick successful when Sifa puts in her top tier, thanks girl! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyou, thank everyone of you, and.. good night YES also been waiting for this one, I tipped this one in previous comments and yes we needed this one. I'd say my absolute favourite Zappa performance of all times. If you're not aware: video is the Baby Snakes release. All concerts from this year's Halloween performances have been released in a special box set by the Zappa Trust. Still one thing left to do for them: release the full concert video without interruption on DVD/blue-ray
Petey babes,not organic enough. :)
@@RemcoLamberts It was released even further back, on VHS in 1987,grandson!
@Zolar CzaklI obviously have the Dvd guys, what I am indeed asking is a remastered/enhanced integral live registration, without the animations/backstage footage etc. (So in actual order of the performance, uninterrupted) Sure, happy if they would include the original movie as a bonus!
@@RemcoLamberts Good idea. Don't forget Bozzio's amazing solo.
I’ve been listening to Frank Zappa music for 50 years and it is great watching your reactions to his music. It has been my pleasure to turn many people on to Zappa, including my Son in laws and my grand children. Quoting Frank Zappa, “there aren’t any musicians anymore, they’re all gone!” So sad he died so young. I strongly recommend you listen to “The Deathless Horsey” Unbelievable. As Zappa said…music is the best! Mike Meyer
It takes an open mind initially to listen to Frank , too many misconceptions about his music …. My Grandchildren love him, Muffin man is their fav
“Art is making something out of nothing, and selling it.”
― Frank Zappa
You can't touch it ! Frank is and always will be a world class artist! Thanks for putting this one out there
Thanks for watching Don!
There's a few of versions of him doing this live, along with this one, I also love. The "Chicago '78" version ( there he plays against Terry doing some really interested "time signature" changing drumming),The Merv Griffin show ( in studio with Merv's band as backup), and the "Zoot Allures" Osaka Japan concert version, which is my fav full throttle version. Always fun to see you cover Frank's music.
Yes the Chicago '78 version is killer! There's also a 20 minute version on the Zappa in New York rerelease that is amazing as well
Yes, the Osaka version is my favorite too. It is incredible to compare it with the version on Zoot Allures album and make note of all the razor cutting edits Frank made.
@@marcribe6483 Yes very true
I think you mean The Mike Douglas Show not Merv Griffin.
It's actually Vinnie on drums on the Chicago '78 version, so it's not surprising there's lots of "interesting time signature changing drumming" going on
Yes, that was the best black napkins I've heard, live or recorded. Great reaction
Thanks Mark!
Very many things they did on stage, in this 7 show series, Halloween,1977, demonstrated that this was the best Zappa.
This series of shows, with tons of mind boggling Guitar solos backed up by the best harmonics his band ever had.
Live using two keyboardists, is profound., Not heard by many
Released recently from this 7 show series, Halloween week 1977.
This black napkins version,praised by Steve Vai on you tube, as the most beautifully constructed guitar solo he ever heard.
There were big hints a few years back, when he shuffled the group, and changed up the styles into a more mainstream mix, (which some people claim getting commercialized, and not organic) .
However,this group, with two live versatile keyboardists, a percussion,vibes and marimba, played by the more versatile Ed Mann, over Ruth.
A powerhouse, state of the art mainstream rock/jazz drummer, with decent heavy metal vocals, mid 75- mid 78 rounded out the best Zappa era, just a year after he peaked worldwide, playing on SNL Channel 4.
Black Napkins is one of those songs that went through lots of brilliant variations and orchestrations, and it's worth listening to every one.
Thanks so much guys - One of my very favorite of Frank's melody's! Something very soothing about it. But once the solo begins, he just builds off the crowd and goes off into a whole other story. Mesmerizing...
Thanks for watching!
Hey Dan , I am the guy that you met at the Zappa Band show at Sony Music Hall. It was cool to meet you. That show was very good. I was at the 77 shows at the Palladium when he played this song very memorable as every over 55 shows that I've seen by Frank since 75 to 88. Again it was fun to run into you at The Zappa Band show. Did you like it? By the way the stage at the Palladium was huge. Backing vocals were Tommy Mars , Peter Wolf, Ed Man and Adrian Belew.
The show was awesome Kevin! There may be a surprise on the channel soon 😊!
What I always like is when he works with the electronic feedback and incorporates it into his solos
All the footage from this concert is part of the Baby Snakes movie. The stage in the Palladium was huge Dan. The band was always back there. I remember watching these shows and Frank would be there conducting or singing then he'd light a cigarette, grab his SG and we just knew he was coming out front to shred. The stage at the Palladium was not but 5ft. ,or so, high. I had some silent Super 8 footage and pics I shot of (guess who?) BOC at some Benefit concert Todd Rudgren had put together. The Palladium was crumbling but it was an excellent concert venue. Saw so many concerts there. Santana, Thin Lizzy, RUSH, RTF, Be Bop Deluxe. Some great life experiences for sure. ✌️
Awesome memories!
thanks for keeping franks music alive.this is the sheik yerbouti band members hard to beat this lineup. waiting for next video
Thanks for being here Scott!
No backing tracks. Real band harmonies. Great version of this track. Other versions I've heard tend to be performed in a much cooler and bluesy style. This was out there.
Thank you Sifa and Dan!
Thanks for watching Ton!
Frank’s been dead for 25 years (or whatever) and I can still feel him in the ground, wailing away on that SG. Talk about a heavy solo. I don’t know where Frank goes when he solos, but it must be really far…. I attended this tours’ Chicago shows. While intense, it wasn’t as great as this one. Wow.
Saw Frank in Chicago in 73 and 74 both on Mothers Day !!!
Outrageous playing! Just fenomenal! And for more gentle version, check the live performance from Philly with Bianca
What an amazing performance..... thanks for your awesome reactions once again guys.
Thanks for being here Sonic Art!
@@SightAfterDark My Pleasure....
Saw Frank several times over the years, including the tiny venue The Electric Factory in Philly. Actually met Jimmy Carl Black that night.
Frank was a phenomenal guitarist yet so underrated..
Zappa was never underrated.
I consider myself so fortunate to have been at this show
I had close seats but not close enough for a handshake
It's an instrumental, but a solo is part of it.
But check out the Baby Snakes movie if you want to see more!
Great review Awesome Zappa
Love this version. The studio version is fantastic in context to the album, but this live version, Frank gives it eyebrows, lol. I believe of this performance, Steve Vai said it was his favourite live guitar solo, by anyone!.
Hi, The original studio version on Zoot Allures is magnificent, but there is an excellent long version in Phili 76, with vocals, sax, guitars (different sounds from Frank, thanks to his guitar rack) really worth listening too.. it is just magnificent. But there is also a pendant to this great track, and that is Pink Napkins, on Shut up and play your guitar, brilliant.
You should also check out his way of using handsignals, and wigling his head while soloing, to instruct the band.
You guys,are,Fun!
Fookin' 'ell, naawww, capital 'ELL-ove it!! Astoonishing, assstounding, love his sound, like, WHAAAAAA??????!!!!!!! How cool he singled you out for special attention, Sifa, eh? How could he not? Guess we'll never know. Brilllblbbllbblblblliant. Naptime, or walkabout, don't matter, gotta break a take
😆right?!
Black napkins is surely one of the fan favorites! But Zappa’s repertoire is so large that you don’t hear black napkins at every show. You may not even hear it if you bought tickets for both shows on the same night and then when he does grace you with it It’s always different a great kind of jazz version of the song is on the album Make A Jazz Noise Here . There’s a lot of other instruments taking center stage one of them being the trumpet. Which ever version you hear you know you can’t go wrong! Thank you for this reaction!
Thanks for being here JG!
Sifa, is Frank your favorite guitar player yet?
He’s not, but I do love him!
@@SightAfterDark holy christ. if it's not frank, just who is it (or are they?)
This is from ''baby snakes'' video..actually it was a motion picture which did win some French awards for animation and cinematography...Zappa had a hard time finding distribution and followed suggestions to reduce it from 168 minutes to 90 minutes but it made no difference so eventually he distributed independently.
You never get bored with Zappa.
Never!
This is one Zappa song I do like...a lot! Wish you freaks would request more like this one. The one guitarist looks like the same guy that played with Talking Heads and David Bowie.
you are correct...Adrian Belew....also with King Crimson...once other artists saw them with Zappa they would poach them from him..for more money.
🤯 we don’t recognize you Joe❤️!
I've always enjoyed O'Hearn as Frank's bassist. Some songs, like this one, it's enjoyable to hear versions done before being put on vinyl & trace the evolution of the tune. Yellow Snow is a great example of this. The one on The Crux of the Biscuit is the earliest Yellow Snow I know of, & I might like it more than the ' one. Chicago '78 is another good one.
The first time I heard The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution, I was blown away. Patrick is so, so good.
@@MusicLover-rt4bs lfn you haven't heard the 2 releases he did with Group 87 are worth seeking out. Early '80's, I think tasty instrumentals. Self titled & A Career in Dada Processing. Love that title.
IMHO Black Napkins is the very best piece he ever made!!
This is definitely the Sheik Yerbouti Lineup with Patrick O'Hearn on bass. Epic!
That is SERIOUS!
Many great variations of this beautiful jam. Check them all out!
What added effect do you think Terry gets by standing up occasionally? :-) Better angle at the high hat maybe?
feelin' it, man
Genius!
Quite possibly my favorite tune from Frank!!! Cause I believe it's from his soul!!! And I love that Zoot Allures album!!!@😉😉😘😉😉
YES.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FRANK WAS HANDING OUT SHEET MUSIC TO THE BAND AND SOMEONE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BLACK NAPKIN AND FRANK SAID I WILL MAKE YOU A BLACK NAPKIN.
I recommend "bamboozled by love" from the tinsel town rebellion album.
When he goes low (on his guitar) we get high
Sifa got the vibes
The Deathless Horsy is on the 2nd Shut up and play yer Guitar album.
You should know by now - Frank doesn't use backing tracks. All those guys you see onstage, they're the backing tracks.
Frank was just from another galaxy
Not my favorite version, I prefer the live 1976 version from the Mike Douglas show, basically the version that came out on the Zoot Allures album the same year.
Same same.
Wow guys love you paying homage to my God
♥
There's a moment in there when you start to think, "Man, this is a long solo, kinda getting bored with it." Then you realize that while Zappa is riffing, the song actually showcases the entire band. There is nothing simple or easy about anything anyone on stage is doing, and they have to do it ON THE BEAT. A well rehearsed, well executed tour de force. Typical Zappa show.
Try Shut Up ´n Play Yer Guitar Some More, from Shut Up ´n Play Yer Guitar cd
Love Black Napkins, but I prefer its follow up, Sanitary Napkins. His leads are so crisp and clean.
I love the way he explores the lower notes, spending time there and just rooting around without a hurry to get back to the higher frets.
Just wondering, does Frank hold his pick with 3 fingers? It looks that way in a few closeups. I would love to know if I can continue holding my pick with 3 fingers or if I have to relearn how to pick, which at my age is not happening. 👴
Surely nobody could think of dancing or singing along to Zappa's best compositions. You must be still and passive and let the complexity register on the otherwise rarely needed part of the brain that is receptive to the truly superlative (for me only two other composers consistently hit on the same part - Wagner and J S Bach).
Bull. At this concert Frank invited audience members up on stage to dance along to the fiddly-didfly little 16th and 32nd notes that he orchestrated impromptu and conducted the band to play.
It was gas. Just ask Janet the Planet.
(btw- I was there. Steve Vai was right.)
@@bubbernator1 : 'best compositions', I said. You may well be right but I don't think this particular composition is one that you get the best out of by trying to dance to it.
@@indricotherium4802 I agree that there is plenty of Mr. Zappa's music that requires close attention to detail if one is to fully appreciate the comlexity of the composition and I'm sure I overreacted in my initial dismissal of your original post.
The time signatures alone would render much of his work undanceable except in the broadest sense of modern interpretive dance.
But that's also kind of the point I was making. That night Frank had people dancing to impossible time signatures just because it was fun. That was a side to Frank Zappa that is sometimes forgotten in the historical context. He loved to perform and he loved to laugh.
Please, watch Baby Snakes! For your own good!
FFFabulous!!!!!
ZAPPA 🎸🔥🙏....TREMENDO GENIO ...DESDE ARGENTINA 🇦🇷✌️
No backing tracks. Everything 100% live.
It's all about the 28 minute version on Zappa in New York. All other versions pale in comparison. This is one of the worst versions I have heard
no tracks at all
Frank considered this song and Watermelon in Easter Hay his greatest guitar work.
We could see that for sure!