“A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians.” Frank Zappa On the Mt. Rushmore of American composers.
@@triplelowman I live in a terraced house in Liverpool and one of the guys living across the street from me had Joe's Garage on one day as I was going to the shop. Didn't really know him other than he was called Joe himself of all things lol but anyway, I knocked and told him I had a ton of Zappa if he ever wanted to borrow an album or two. Good friends to this day. It is like there's a bond between Zappa fans.
I really can’t imagine he’s far in the music as is represented and he hasn’t run across Zappas music. He knows G.Duke (who we know is a wonderful artist)
I'm 10 years behind you but also was introduced to Frank at 15. A friend's sister's boyfriend played us Excentrifugal Forz and my life was instantly changed forever. Been a raving Zappa fanatic since that moment. And his family continues to discover amazing unreleased treasures in his vault to this day.
Same age. Art school, big hair, Afghan coat that stunk to high heaven, more than my fair share of acid and Zappa embedded in my brain. A very profound time for a lad from Southend on Sea in the UK.
Ruth is undoubtedly the best mallet artist in the business. And there are some amazing players out there, but she is a uniquely brilliant musician. And, a lovely person too!
@@JohnTLyon he and Ruth divorced in 1986. I don’t really know what he’s been doing but I do know he was doing some work in the movies with composers like James Horner. But that will have been a long time ago already.
This stupid man who admits that he has a limited intelligence concerning a person like Frank Zappa, and the music that he doesn't know anything about. Just boils my butt. Just keep interrupting the music, and place your stupid opinions concerning something you do not know or understand. Where are the real music people?
@@manicaimlessafaik straight edge means no drugs, no alcohol, no nicotine, no pre-marital sex, vegan diet. So, FZ wasn't straight edge like that. He'd probably go:"hold my coffee!" as he drank lots of strong, black coffee every day.
I was a first-year music major in 1965 when I went to SF's Fillmore Auditorium to hear Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention... 4 hours later I stumbled out completely astounded and utterly changed. Life hasn't been the same. The idea of going to Broadway to do musicals was out the window and 4 years later I was gigging with a Grateful Dead offshoot, the genesis trio of NRPS, in coffee houses south of SF. There will never by anyone to equal Zappa in imagination and scope.
Crazy story. He changed my life when I was 14. It was the early 90s and the first time I dug into his record Mystery Disks that was it. Hooked for life!!!!
His best commentary consisted of long silent pauses afterward. There are no words worthy of Zappa’s catalog of talent, creativity and ambition. RIP FZ.
The album "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" there is a song called "Toads of the Short Forest" being played live. Frank makes an announcement in the middle: "At this very moment on stage we have member A playing in 7/8 time, member B playing in 3/4, the bass playing in 3/4. the organ playing in 5/8, the tambourine playing in 3/4 and the alto sax blowing it's nose". The dude was fearless.
It's amazing what kind of a people's skill Zappa had. He got Ruth out of a New York show where she came regularly. How did he know? Similar stories with George Duke and Steve Vai, Zappa got out of them what they even didn't know they had.
I dreamt of rehearsing with Zappa and Ruth. It was the most intimidating dream I have ever had. After I shared my insecurities with her and she said "You know, he would admit any of us are any good ever. What matters is the trust you fell within yourself whilst expressing yourself, through your instrument and body."
Ruth Underwood is a national treasure as a percussionist. Welcome to the Zappa rabbit hole....I've been hooked since the Freakout album first came out and I bought my copy at the local furniture store...where stereos were actual coffee tables. I was lucky to stumble onto Zappa in the early years because he gave me hope in music....you should listen to Peaches and Regalia next. You'll love it.
When I was eleven years old in 1966 my dad came home from his studio in Yorkville one day (he was an indie filmmaker, graphic artist and photographer) and I heard him yell for me as soon as he came through the front door. I thought 'Oh oh...I must be in trouble'. I came into the living room and he was sitting on the floor in front of our Clairtone Stereo with the Freak Out album in his hands. He said "Sit down, I've been listening to this all day in the studio! You've got to hear this!" It's fucking brilliant! It's insane, it's funny, it's wild, it's like nothing I've ever heard!" And so we sat and listened until about 11 pm. Mom brought dinner in for us and we sat on the couch in awe. I didn't really absorb and appreciate it until a few years later, and then Freak Out became my most prized album. I still have the original vinyl, and a newer copy I bought in the 80's, and I still listen to it today. When I played it for my two sons and a few of their friends when they were in their early teens (late 90's) it blew their minds. I have most of Zappa's albums including some rare bootlegs. I often wonder what he would have to say about the world today if he were still alive. And yes, Underwood is a phenomenal percussionist! Cheers from Canada!
Thats a good or bad thing. I personally can't listen to Zappas music. Its terrible. Not to take anything away from Frank. He's a musical genius. His music is just to far out there for my taste.
Your observation of Zappa’s music being “amazing, beautiful and unconventional all at the same time” is spot on. You could spend the rest of your life analysing Zappa’s music… seriously. He left thousands of unrecorded scores in addition to his prolific studio recordings. But as Zappa himself said “Talking about music is like dancing to architecture”. So get listening and prepare to be continuously amazed by his meticulously scored body of work. Frank was a unique human being and true genius.
The claymation animation was created by legendary artist Bruce Bickford. Bickford climbed over the fence of Zappa’s compound one day with two reels of film to show Frank and asked Zappa if he could help him. Bickford was something different for sure!
@@KyriDemetriades Damn! You should post that to the internet. I for one would love to see that. I have seen a few snippets of Bickford working clay, but to see more would be nice.
Hi again, The dvd I have with the animation is Baby Snakes and my friend who seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Zappa referred me to" The Amazing Mr Bickford." by Zappa. @@yankeedyehard
Absolutely! Tom Fowler played with Zappa from the 60s all the way through to the end. Phenomenal how he could hold down any piece Zappa composed. Fowler and Ruth Underwood stayed with Zappa throughout his career, incredible musicians , both of them.
Zappa will STILL sound “futuristic” 50 years from now…his understanding of music was, is and will be something we can only appreciate in limited ways. I “re-hear” something years later that impacts me differently each time I hear it, even as years go by.
I heard shades of Zappa and the "Mothers of invention " recently while rewatching the Chris Stapleton/Justin Timberlake 2015 CMA Performance... just say'n...
Frank Zappa remains one of the most brilliant musical creators of all time. It's not just music. It's a conjunction of concepts and experiments so complex that really few can understand. I've only been a fan since forever and I believe that Zappa music should be studied in a very particular way. R.I.P. , Frank. I miss you, man.
This band with George, Ruth, Chester, Napoleon, and Tom was Frank's favorite in many ways. He said it was the last time he felt like the band members were his friends, rather than employees. I'm happy that you liked this, and I see that you did The Black Page (probably my personal favorite of Frank's compositions), so that's where I'm headed next!
The album "Hot Rats" is what you really need to hear. Some of the best music ever. Look up "it must be a camel" and tell me I'm wrong. Actually the whole album is some of the best anything.
Hot rats was the first Zappa album I heard as a kid. "Peaches En Regalia" has always been a top fave of mine. The melodies and the orchestration particularly spoke to me at that time on my life. But there are so, so many...
I absolutely love when folks listen to FZ for the first time and are as blown away and excited afterwards.... Frank was a national treasure, was lost too soon and can never be replaced. Its amazing to this day how much FZ has influenced music still to this day. Watching this video honestly and truly made my heart happy.
I would recommend Peaches En Regalia from Zappa’s “Hot Rats” recording. It’s an early example of the expansion of his compositional palette via hiring more advanced musicians, including Max Bennett and John Guerin.
My intro to Frank was “Just Another Band From LA”. My dad walked in as the phrase “…and then he shut the fucken door!” was playing. He swiped the record off the turn table and snapped it in two. I was hooked and have been listening for nearly 50 years. Frank said he wrote provocative lyrics to get his music in front of people. Hooked initially by the lyrics it became the music that has held me. On a side note, Dweezil plays his music nearly perfectly…he is worth the cost of admission if he plays in your area.
@@sledgehammer67 I've seen Dweezil in L.A. and the band was amazing. Almost felt like I was at one of Frank's shows. When I was a kid, it was Frank's "silliness" that got me into him, but in my later years I've found myself gravitating more to the instrumental works. It also exposed me to jazz which I really enjoy.
And yet I don't think he discounts the possibility of an extraterrestrial visit. He may wonder about it as much as Jon Anderson. He's just gonna be a lot less precious and pretentious about it.
It was a satirical take on "The Chariots of the Gods", theorizing that all the ancient construction marvels were the work of aliens. The animation is from a stop-motion video collaboration, "A Token of his Extreme", which only showed on European TV (us tv being too uptight). There are interviews on RUclips of Ruth Underwood and George Duke that are worth watching for how two classically trained musicians came to perform with one of the most gifted and and VERY unorthodox musician/composer's they had probably ever met. There really is no one label, no one musical genre or style to be ascribed to him. I read somewhere he said that, essentially he was a serious composer, but rock'n roll paid the bills. He liked Edgar Varese/Anton Webern et al--at the same time he "always had a soft spot" for Doo Wop/R & B.
Frank always talked about the issues of the day. Must be impossible to listen to his music not being plugged into the times in which he composed. I feel lucky to have been a kid when Freak Out was released.
Who said its a satire? Frank said he saw a UFO before in an interview. I think he just liked making lyrics about interesting subjects. A lot of people pigeon hole him as overly rational atheist but he was pretty open minded. In particular, I remember reading about how in the 60s he consulted some guy about astrology. He definitely had a minor interest in esoteric stuff even if he didn't take it so seriously
I get it , but I have problems with it. With his ability he certainly could have put weird to the side at least temporarily and made some epic tracks with mass appeal that everyone could enjoy for a long time. The barrier to entry for enjoying his work is too high.
@@NickKautz he had epic tracks that they allowed on some radio stations. But for the most part, you either loved him or you didn't. A treat in concert for sure!!! And he played the music as he was called to...without mainstream red tape bull-crap.
@@cherylpump3372 His vibe doesn't seem to have a destination , although one would assume it does with all the deliberate complication and his meticulous preparation suggest he was fond of organized elements that stand individually rather than just a constant stream of bizarre with no end game. There's order behind the chaos, but he doesn't want you to know.
To add to this, he wrote every piece of music for every member. For every song. For every one of the sixty plus albums. Welcome to the family, Doug! Zappa is the savior of my auditory senses.
Zappa's last album was "The Yellow Shark" where Ensemble Modern performed his compositions. Zappa was an absolute giant. A composer. A social/political satirist. And absolutely one of the most unique and talented guitarists ever. EVER. You've got your work cut out for you, and by gawd I'm looking forward to it!
Ruth is so amazing. She was studying in New York when she first heard Zappa and it changed her life. Zappa recognized her talent and put her at the center of many compositions during that period. I’ve seen numerous interviews with Ruth and she has a special sparkle in her eyes when she talks about the years with Frank. Check out the Album “Hot Rats”. Some critics cite it as the first “fusion” record.
If you look through comments on Ruth in various videos on RUclips with her playing, you will note how many men are completely in love with her for her sparkling energy and sweet smile. Me too , I have to admit. A lovely person and musician in every way.
Im 61 now and its fun to watch someone who understands and appreciates music review my favorite musician. Most of my life my freinds were not enthused when I put Zappa on thinking I was weird. In my old age I will still take him for a spin once in a while.
Piranther - I think she said she was at Julliard when she first heard Frank, and he made her realize there was a place for excellent musicians outside the "stuffy conservatory environment" (her words) she was a part of. If i remember correctly that is.
Thank you! I've been requesting your reaction to this song for a long time, and it is on point to what a Frank Zappa first experience has caused on all of us big fans. I've been living in Zappaland for almost 20 years, and I am still learning and being surprised every now and then about some new detail. Zappa is one of the greatest composers ever.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to see a classical composer who still appreciates, gets into and dives deep into other genres and is an educator along with whilst not being a snob or elitist. Your channel is a great breath of fresh air and you earned another subscriber. Cheers Doug
Decides to react to Zappa, picks Inca Road. This will be GOOD! And by the thumb looks like you picked a very much excellent live recoding (token of his extremes) with one his best assembles: The Mothers Of Invention: FZ-guitar, percussion, vocals Napoleon Murphy Brock-sax, vocals George Duke-keyboards, finger cymbals, tambourine, vocals Ruth Underwood-percussion Tom Fowler-bass Chester Thompson-drums
My first Frank was "Apostrophe" and i always send folks there first when asked where to begin, But Frank Zappa changed groves and bands quick frequently so listening at different eras reveals a different facet of the body of work. What most folks thought odd was what drew me in. I have been a fan for 45 years. Begin at the beginning and enjoy the ride. try Black napkins, Wakajawaka, or Eat that Question, for future reactions.. Love the channel, and your reactions and reviews.
"Apostrophe" was also my intro to FZ. I agree w you: that's a good place to begin the journey into his music. It leaves you wanting to explore n hear more, n as you hear more you begin to see that he was a genius.
I think it was the only pure rock instrumental he has ever done, but then there was Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. Still listen to all his stuff today, some for the humor , some for the pure joy of it.
As a guitar player he himself considered himself just average, a blues player, but with all the music in his head, he’s still a transformational guitarist.
@@ronniefarnsworth6465 Frank? Insecure, no, that was not his issue! I didn’t remember the reason he said it, thank you. he allowed inspiration to take him where ever it did, all he was saying is, he doesn’t practice the guitar, doesn’t try to improve his technique in that way, he just plays it! But his vast compositional ability showed up in his improvisation, as a composer, he was as comfortable with musical notation as say Beethoven or Brahms, he could hear the notes in his head as he wrote them, I’m sure, But he was not at all tied to notation when he improvised, his stream of consciousness musical outlet. As a guitar player I think a huge influence was Jimi Hendrix, he didn’t play Hendrix licks, he had his own very singular style, but was impressed by how Jimi could get in that zone, where what came out had this incredible magic, emotion and power….,that transcended the actual notes being played. Jimi really only played in 2 keys, but you’d never know by listening, because he could get so far outside the box, while using relatively simple tools. In that sense Frank channeled that, but could play in time signatures and keys Jimi could not, at least not at age 27, had Jimi lived, he would have continued to break musical ground, Miles Davis was interested, the great jazz arranger of the time, whose name I cannot quite recall, Bill Evans? also wanted to work with Jimi. And Frank ended up with the remains of the Monterey concert Strat that Jimi lit on fire, and played it for years, before Dweezil ended up with it. So he definitely wanted to channel Hendrix. Yet, nobody played like Frank, faster cleaner sure, but he went far deeper into the unusual and inspiring than most guitar players ever went.
In an interview with Tom Mulhern in 83', Frank was asked if he spends much time working with his guitar. Frank responded, "hardly ever touch it. The only time I play my guitar is when I know I'm going to tour. I practice a little bit before we go into rehearsal to get the calluses built up again (on fingers). Then I play during rehearsals, and when I get out on the road, I usually practice an hour a day before each show. Once the tour is over, I don't touch it. I haven't touched my guitar for about 6 months." Knowing how talented and musically smart Zappa is, it's pretty interesting. He said he has a business to run and can in no way have time to practice as much as other guitar enthusiasts would imagine he could.
Re: Armadillo and Guacamole Queen. Been an Austinite since the late 60’s. Armadillo refers to the Armadillo World Headquarters, a prime music spot in the 70’s , and one Zappa played multiple times, even recording a live album there. The Guacamole Queen referred to character in a mural at the Armadillo.
Actually, Frank said he referred to a restaurant the band used to eat Guacamole in Austin and as the cook was formidable, she was called Guacamole Queen...
Frank's relationship with lyrics is really interesting. He had a lot to say, but I think he found most lyrics to be wildly self-important. He seemed to consider the lyrics almost disposable, which...you know how many people actually pay attention to the lyrics of the songs they love? So Frank seemed to prefer to just play with words and write down whatever he felt like, as long as it was authentic. So there's a lot of sex, sarcasm, political commentary. Tons of in-jokes from the band's experience touring. It definitely obscures the seriousness of his composing chops, and I sorta wish...he just relied more on instrumentals. Lotta people out there, I think, who would LOVE Frank, but who bounce off his lyrics. But at the end of the day, I don't think Frank wanted to write anything else. Maybe he wasn't comfortable trying to write "normal" lyrics. Roger Waters talks about how HARD it is to say something meaningful, simply. Took him years and several albums to get away from fantasy and mystic nonsense.
Trouble Every Day might be the one exception. I revisited Zappa recently after many years not listening and I felt the same thing, that the lyrics kind of take away at times from the music.
...That woman named Ruth on the marimba... She's incredible. Forget about the lyrics. It's all for laughs. Recorded partially up n the mountains west of Boulder, outside of Nederland Colorado, among the first at the famous Caribou Ranch studio. Look at the cover, Saturn with square rings, God saying "don't work"...
Finally, Zappa! We're getting to the good stuff now... If you're jumping down this rabbit hole, I think one of the first listens should the "don't eat the yellow snow suite". It's the first 4 songs off the apostrophe album, and is bloody amazing. Also really diverse and gives a broader overview of what they can do as it's spread over 4 songs, and Frank doesn't like playing one genre at a time haha
The yellow snow suite is a definate thumbs up .That said I think the whole suite needs to be listened to together just so the story fits together and I think that might be a bit long for this format. So my recomendaion would be Montana which has most of the elements of this style of zappa song but is a 5 minute tune that fits into into this format a lot better.
If you want to hear the 20 min. killer version of "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", you got to check out "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" , volume one... And the proper prelude for that is "Big Swifty" which is right before. Even Zappa took time in the liner notes to point out how well played that performance really was.
@@sPi711 Honestly I prefer the album version haha. The You Can't Do This volumes are great though. I think number 2 is my favourite, the late 70s early 80s line ups kick ass.
Five classic instrumental pieces on Zappa's repertoire: Peaches en Regalia, Sons of Mr. Green genes, Chunga's revenge, Twenty smalls cigars and, last but not least, Watermelon in Easter Hay.
First time on your channel and what a wonderful reaction!! Much like my first time *really* hearing Zappa music when Dwezel toured his work. An absolute jaw on floor moment. You had me practically in tears by the end. You nailed many of the technical issues musically and your surprise was just a blast to watch. Very well done Sir, I'm excited to check out more of your videos. Great thanks!!!
The animator was Bruce Bickford. Frank was infatuated with him and his style of morphing things into other things. This was an excerpt from the movie "Baby Snakes" which features a lot of Bruce's work. And what a perfect introduction to Zappa for you. The "One Size Fits All" album is not only serious, complex music, it's also friendly to the ear. A lot of great stuff on that album. "Andy" is one of my favorite tracks. For percussion and musical instruments, search out "The Black Page Pt 2" as part 1 is percussion only. Known as the most difficult piece of music ever written. Oh, and Ruth is a beast of a percussionist. You should look up interviews with her talking about her time with Frank Zappa. She's such a wonderful person.
There are other videos out there of this song that doesn't include the claymation. I love the claymation, but it interferes with intense listening. It's difficult enough to deal with the music density of Zappa pieces without having compelling visuals. However, since this isn't the only live version of this song, it is acceptable that the diversion of clay visuals horn it. So, I encourage listening to this song from the DVD and compare that to a video without the clay. Full disclosure: I'm allergic to Nixon, so anything with Nixon in it is not going to fare will with me, except this claymation, which I did enjoy and The Big Lebowski.
@@runtt01 - Oh yeah, the lounge version. I really like it. I've heard another lounge version on a Utube video, so they must have had fun with the lounge version around that time.
every time i hear ruth's name it makes me smile, what a beautiful glowing soul she has. and man what a musician and she has the most infectious love of frank's music.
Ruth was studying at Juilliard when she first heard Frank, who was at that time doing a residency at the Garrick Theatre in New York. She petitioned him to join the band, because she was bored with the college curriculum. It took a year or so, but Frank eventually invited her to an audition. Needless to say, she was IN. At the Garrick shows, she had immediately recognised Frank’s incredible musical genius, particularly on the track ‘Oh No’, which she rhapsodises about in a RUclips clip. His music is a multiverse. Go deep, Doug. Frank will blow your mind, and make you laugh. Cheers.
I saw Frank over 25 times from 73-88,every Halloween from 74 on,and was standing right in front of him at his most famous the was at the Ritz in NYC,a small little club that was SRO, it's on RUclips and considered to be his great performance which I totally agree with,he was literally on fire that night for 3 straight hours
Missed Halloween 1975 show because my elderly voice teacher needed a companion to take her to the Met Opera to see Peleus and Melisand by Debussy which was not a bad alternative but caught the next two years of Halloween shows till I moved South. I was a young teenager then too. Absolutely glad I was introduced to the brilliance of Frank Zappa. Interestingly, the boys who introduced me to Zappa were from a Hungarian American family and they listened to Bela Bartok in the house a lot.
This is the song that locked me onto Zappa, thanks to my dad for playing this in the car. Animation by Bruce Bickford and Frank Zappa ;) The constant cutting video back and forth is a concept Frank and other film makers were experimenting with around the time. The theory is that one could watch two things at once. There are a couple different live edits of this video, some with more or less animation and alternate usage of camera angles. This exact instrumental performance is what ended up on the album for the most part, excluding the guitar solo section, which was substituted with a better one from another live performance in Helsinki. Frank was truly a master at every aspect of the creation of these recordings, having taught himself every step of the process from scratch. This is basically the tightest band to ever exist, by the way. The best lineup Frank ever had in my opinion. As usual, every part (with dedicated sections for improvisation) was hand written by Frank himself. This includes multiple interchangeable pieces of music, which Frank's hand gestures might lead the band into at any point, at any speed or style. This made sure that each and every performance was completely unique. He recorded almost every single performance of his entire career. Frank was originally a percussionist, which explains a lot of his writing for percussion and his interest in odd measures, etc.
I think when it comes to phrasing, Zappa is literally the GOAT. The way he phrases and structure sentences is so calculated and musical, but it’s ALWAYS lyrically stellar
Zappa's was a genius. I wish he was still here. I've been listening to his work since the early 70's. His music never stops being interesting to me. You get all that musical brilliance and the humour to go with it. Zappa was such a witty guy. One of a kind.
Zappa is a whole different universe. One of my favorites has always been the 20 minute suite "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary." It's like a symphony for Saturday morning cartoons that makes many social and self references. It's worth a listen for sure.
The story is ridiculously funny and the music is also ridiculously complex ("God, it's so hard to find a place to park around here."). Amazing journey.
In case this hasn't been mentioned elsewhere in the comments, Erich von Daniken was HUGE in the 70s with his book "Chariots of the Gods?", which was full of dubious theories about alien visitors to Earth in ancient times. Among his propositions were that the Pyramids, Stonehenge and the Easter Island statues were the work of extraterrestrials, and that the Nazca lines were a landing strip for alien spaceships. "Inca Roads" was Frank's way of having a dig at the whole phenomenon.
My senior class had a Couples Night (about a dozen of us) to watch the "In Search of Ancient Astronauts" TV special. A couple months later my girlfriend and I attended the Zappa concert in Milwaukee. "Honey, they're playing OUR SONG!"
Oh wow so that's probably the inspiration behind the Stargate SG-1 show. I know the movie came first and by different people but the show literally had Daniel say that the pyramids were landing pads for spaceships and the name of the first episode was Children Of The Gods.
Your interpretation of what he's doing is spot on. Zappa was a bit of an anarchist, lyrically - the exact opposite of his music, which is strategised and planned to the last note. He was influenced as much by Varése, Webern and Stravinsky, as he was by Doo wop, R&B and Blues. He wasn't classically trained, but seems to have been a bit of a polymath, and eventually composed and performed symphonic pieces and jazz. He's an enigma, as the lyrics can often be puerile, and even juvenile - once again, the opposite of his music, which is often so cerebral. Warning, though - this is the world's largest rabbit-hole (100 albums, or thereabouts)
When Zappa met Slonimsky in person, they had been corresponding for awhile prior to meeting in person, Nicolas asked where he had studied, expecting the answer to be Julliard or other such institutiona, based on the sheet music Frank had sent him to ask his opinion of them....Slonimsky’s book, Thesaurus Of Scales And Melodic Patterns was Frank and many jazz musicians bible,......when Frank replied, the library, Nicolas was blown away that Frank had taught himself how to compose to such a high degree with almost zero instruction, Frank had started out as a percussionist in school, so had a basic education in music but not much beyond the basics of sight reading, the rest was one hundred percent self taught...his speech to the ASUC is biting, satire, and can be read on many different levels, and lays out his views on music education...
It's accurate to say there are levels of compositional control in his work. A piece like this has most of them covered. it starts with a riff that gives the drummer some freedom to play with where to place the accents while everyone else is working from a written arrangement. The mixed meter sections that aren't solos are probably charted and memorized. The solos are structured to give Frank space. Everyone else is comping in a free but limited capacity with no charts. The more a composition hewed closer to symphonic the more charted it was. There were usually long solo sections with the band comping. The closer to 'rock' the song was, the less likely there was a written chart. The band was expected to behave more like a bar band and just play something. Frank would pick the parts he liked the best, and that was the arrangement. Exactly what you would expect from a guy who taught himself music theory from beginner through advanced levels at the library by day while simultaneously making a living playing Louie Louie and In the Midnight Hour by night.
Welcome to the genius of Frank Zappa I love it when The Host "Doug" say's..."Wow I can't un-know hearing this" Your darn right my friend....and where Frank Zappa is concerned...there's ALOT more where that came from.
Surprised but happy that so many people recommend Peaches. Definitely a top fave of mine. If someone asked me to give them Zappa in a nutshell, this would absolutely be the song I would recommend. The original Hot Rats version.
Your how old and you never listened to Zappa unbelievable,imagine what this did to my brain at 14.Frank was the greatest composer/guitarist of our lifetime.
I would argue that my appreciation of music now (at 27) is far deeper than it was at 14, although I see your point. There is something special about the totally un-intelectual way you hear music as a kid with no knowledge of music theory or anything. Just pure feeling. Agreed that Zappa is one of the great American composers, and a great American in general for satirizing the assholes of society and defending free speech.
As a percussionist i appreciate you defining our role, and what's involved. Yes, it matters whether it's marimba or xylophone. Yes. it matters whether it's hard or soft mallets. etc. Very different tone. Great overall analysis Doug. "I've been Zapped" That's a great way to put it. As a Zappa fan i love that.
She is great, but best is certainly a stretch. Have you heard Keiko Abe on marimba? Or Ian Finkel on xylophone? Expand your horizons on the instruments as there are many more as great or better than her and I love Ruth to death. I'm sure she'd be the first to agree with me.
Doug, its always wonderful to see when someone new "discovers" Frank's brilliant music. Your reactions were absolutely priceless. When I was 11 years old, my camp counsellor was playing "Overnight Sensation" while he thought we were sleeping. The next morning, when everyone was at breakfast, I snuck into the camp counsellors area to find out exactly what the f I had just heard. My parent bought me the album and I've been hooked for over 40 year. I'm so happy you got experience Frank (not taking himself too seriously) Bickfords incredible claymation and just your expressions showed just how mesmerized you were by this single composition. I can't wait until you discover his entire catalogue as many of us have. Years and years of overwhelming enjoyment and appreciation. Thank you for keeping his music alive.
I always smirk when people who think they know “music” say something like, “oh wow I love music & miss all the great stuff when I grew up, like Journey but my favorite is “Dust in the Wind”. Ba-Bye 🤮
Zappa would actually fine his musicians if they came to rehearsal unprepared. He was easily the most demanding bandleader of the rock era and some of the best musicians of the late 20th century developed their chops playing for him. He loved to push them out of their comfort zones. George Duke never sang before working with Zappa and thought he couldn't sing. Zappa insisted that he do the vocals on this song and you heard the result. p.s. I second the recommendations for The Adventures of Greggary Peccary. Sheer lunatic genius
Prince was eerily the same, a demanding bandleader who pushed his musicians beyond what they thought possible. They were also fined for making tiny mistakes on stage (nothing got passed Prince) and expected to know the material during rehearsal.
Zappa was a satirist, so nearly everything he did had an element of comedy, so the complexity of his music was often about comedic timing. Much of the subject matter he covered was...a bit adult.....but sometimes he made fun of New Age thought, like here in Inca Roads. "Peaches En Regalia" is one of his best, as is "RDNZL" (pronounced redenzel)
He once said "Lyrics exist for people who need them." Basically, his feeling that instrumental music more difficult to deal with in the "professional" rock music word.
I’ve been listening to Zappa’s music for 50 yrs and I still come across compositions I’ve never heard before. Frank’s catalogue was incredibly vast, recording over 100 albums. Zappa recorded everything at home, on the road, in the studio, at concerts and everywhere else, so there is a plethora of recordings, not to mention numerous bootleg recordings from concerts. He will go down as one of the all time greats in music history.
Same here, and agreed. A remarkable composer, a lyrical master. Give me More Trouble Everyday, any day. Broke in my HPM100s with that one. I flipped the loud switch.
The content of the lyrics is mostly about the nazca lines and such, but the ending is all about in- band jokes. Frank would immortalize things that happened on the road because they amused him. The motto was AAAFNRAA: Anything Anytime Anyplace For No Reason At All.
My most favorite song in the world and its always a trip seeing a classical guy approach it. Watching you get your mind blown every few bars is the best.
Zappa didn’t use drugs and wouldn’t let the band members use them either. That doesn’t mean the animators didn’t indulge. And yes, he had the best and most disciplined musicians, wrote out the music meticulously, and rehearsed rigorously. You’ll like “Peaches en Regalia” from the Hot Rats album. You’ll probably like that whole album. Also his orchestral work.
A wonderful very straightforward simple guitar solo, really short for a Zappa solo, at the end of a piece with lots of multitrack tuned percussion (played, by an earlier trained percussionist/ drummer called Artie Tripp, going through ever so many variations and counterpoint, piano playing clanky rhythm chords, oboe, wacky vocal harmonies, the whole piece completely beautiful and bizarre, nothing else like it in the whole world of music.... The original Mothers of Invention's final double album recorded around 1968, the track called "The Uncle Meat Variations" . When Zappa' compositions first started to get really far out. The whole album had the greatest and most extraordinary varieties of styles and instrumentation ever brought together on one record-- Uncle Meat. I saw the first three tours of the Mothers in London in the late 1960s, including two shows at the Royal Albert Hall, life was never the same again. What a time to grow up and get into music.
The only reason he didn't allow them to take drugs is because he didn't want them to get arrested when he needed them for performances. He wasn't strictly against them per se.
@@richardlanchester249 I agree with 'Peaches En Regalia' as a good if not great point to jump to. And your assessment of 'Hot Rats' as well. I watched this and thought it might be a bit more accessible as well, for a new listener to Zappa. I found 'Uncle Meat ' to be a bit dense, almost impenetrable. One can always suggest 'Roxy and Elsewhere' as the accompanying film is so very illustrative of the performances. And it includes 'Penguins in Bondage'.
Been waiting for this! One could have an entire channel of Zappa reactions. Black Page #2 is a great, classic choice for all-out virtuosic Zappa complexity.
Wow you picked a good one to jump into Frank... You have so much great music to listen too I've been a fan for over 50 years. Frank and his musicians are amazing. I really enjoy your video's...
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Ruth Underwood deserves being inducted into a music Hall Of Fame.
True.
How’s the skill in her muting technique on Marimba Xylophone and Vibes. She’s a real pro that shadows even perceived giants like Lionel Hampton
Good call
Ruth is beyond that :)
Zappa was garbage
Zappa took "not taking himself seriously" very seriously.
Well said
As can be heard on YCDTOSA V5
I always feel that for Zappa the words where sometimes a necessary evil that had to be added to what for him was a perfect musical composition.
That’s very true. Frank was unbelievably serious about his art.
Really good way of putting it. He mixed humor with absolute musical genius.
“A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians.”
Frank Zappa
On the Mt. Rushmore of American composers.
Perfect
Total mad mad respect for Frank. As a muscian, you had to be at the top of your game to play in Frank's band. Oh btw Ruth is a music goddess lol
@@davidthomas1467 You said it !!
This is an insult to other composers, zappa was a boring clown, and his stupid music too
On the Mt. Rushmore of ALL COMPOSERS !
"Inca roads" is a masterpiece, I get emotional every time I listen to it. Just perfect.
I'm overwhelmed at seeing all these fellow Zappa fans. Warmest Regards every single one of you.
Warm regards back to you! And happy new year !! =)
zappa's greatness demonstrated by your statement.... isn't it like we all know each other?
Dig it! I bought Freak Out in 1966 @ age 9! ❄️🌍❄️🥀⭐🎸🔥💕
@@triplelowman I live in a terraced house in Liverpool and one of the guys living across the street from me had Joe's Garage on one day as I was going to the shop.
Didn't really know him other than he was called Joe himself of all things lol but anyway, I knocked and told him I had a ton of Zappa if he ever wanted to borrow an album or two.
Good friends to this day.
It is like there's a bond between Zappa fans.
right back at cha Hoss.
Inca Roads is absolutely the first Zappa composition/recording I would play for anyone that does not know Zappa.
I really can’t imagine he’s far in the music as is represented and he hasn’t run across Zappas music. He knows G.Duke (who we know is a wonderful artist)
I would play Peaches inRegalia, for an instrumental, Trouble every day.
@@bitxtrem Duke was one of the best.
I think you're right. Inca roads pretty much covers the entire range of Zappa musical madness.
In not taking anything too seriously, Frank demonstrated that he took everything seriously.
I'm 66. I started listening to Frank when I was 15. You have a ways to go. It's endless. Mozart of our time.
I'm 10 years behind you but also was introduced to Frank at 15. A friend's sister's boyfriend played us Excentrifugal Forz and my life was instantly changed forever. Been a raving Zappa fanatic since that moment. And his family continues to discover amazing unreleased treasures in his vault to this day.
Same age. Art school, big hair, Afghan coat that stunk to high heaven, more than my fair share of acid and Zappa embedded in my brain. A very profound time for a lad from Southend on Sea in the UK.
Endless is aptly put…
67. Proudly have indoctrinated three generations to the maestro.
@@dymph4097 I'm impressed! I've tried since I was 15 but so far nobody has taken the bait.
Ruth is undoubtedly the best mallet artist in the business. And there are some amazing players out there, but she is a uniquely brilliant musician. And, a lovely person too!
Whatever happened to Ian?
@@JohnTLyon he and Ruth divorced in 1986. I don’t really know what he’s been doing but I do know he was doing some work in the movies with composers like James Horner. But that will have been a long time ago already.
@@JohnTLyon he was featured on keyboards in the titanic score
Frank Zappa was the Salvador Dali of rock and roll.
Sometimes Melo, sometimes disturbing, sometimes intense, but always brilliant
As a Dali fan that is a very apt description!
This stupid man who admits that he has a limited intelligence concerning a person like Frank Zappa, and the music that he doesn't know anything about. Just boils my butt. Just keep interrupting the music, and place your stupid opinions concerning something you do not know or understand. Where are the real music people?
Denigrating to Zappa. Dali was a charlatan. The other surrealists were contemptuous of him.
Doug: "It's getting weirder"
Zappa: "Hold me beer..."
...except Zappa was famously straight edge. So I’d say “hold my cigarette...”
now Doug has been introduced to the genius that was Frank Zappa and the extremely talented musicians he would hire to play in his bands !!
@@manicaimless - Is nicotine really so "straight edge"?
@@manicaimlessafaik straight edge means no drugs, no alcohol, no nicotine, no pre-marital sex, vegan diet.
So, FZ wasn't straight edge like that.
He'd probably go:"hold my coffee!" as he drank lots of strong, black coffee every day.
I was a first-year music major in 1965 when I went to SF's Fillmore Auditorium to hear Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention... 4 hours later I stumbled out completely astounded and utterly changed. Life hasn't been the same. The idea of going to Broadway to do musicals was out the window and 4 years later I was gigging with a Grateful Dead offshoot, the genesis trio of NRPS, in coffee houses south of SF. There will never by anyone to equal Zappa in imagination and scope.
Wow...you're music history. Taking in shows at the Fillmore West. Well done.
facts girll, Zappa will be dearly missed
I miss the Filmore. I spent a couple nights every week there in 70 & 71
Great story! I'll bet you have a lot more of them.
Crazy story. He changed my life when I was 14. It was the early 90s and the first time I dug into his record Mystery Disks that was it. Hooked for life!!!!
Not only was this a good choice for your first Zappa song for a reaction video, this is one of the best bands Zappa ever assembled.
Ditto! The lineup of musicians was unbeatable.
I agree. These foos are bad ass. I mean the mothers were good too and hella wild
Absolutely.✔️
I was fortunate to see this assembly. To this day it was the best concert I've ever seen.
His best commentary consisted of long silent pauses afterward. There are no words worthy of Zappa’s catalog of talent, creativity and ambition. RIP FZ.
Your playlists are very cool!
The album "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" there is a song called "Toads of the Short Forest" being played live. Frank makes an announcement in the middle: "At this very moment on stage we have member A playing in 7/8 time, member B playing in 3/4, the bass playing in 3/4. the organ playing in 5/8, the tambourine playing in 3/4 and the alto sax blowing it's nose". The dude was fearless.
He’s modern Mozart.
Isn't that song a "prelude to an evening with".....
Can you imagine keeping all that together in your head? The dude was a genius, no doubt.
I have that LP and who knows what will become of it when I'm gone
@@israelortizortega5038 : I don't think Mozart was anywhere close to such skills...
Ruth is my hero. Hearing her work with zappa is absolutely amazing.
I've seen the "Over-nite Sensation" lineup a few times and it can't be put into words. So glad I got to see Mr. Z.
100%
It's amazing what kind of a people's skill Zappa had. He got Ruth out of a New York show where she came regularly. How did he know?
Similar stories with George Duke and Steve Vai, Zappa got out of them what they even didn't know they had.
I dreamt of rehearsing with Zappa and Ruth. It was the most intimidating dream I have ever had. After I shared my insecurities with her and she said "You know, he would admit any of us are any good ever. What matters is the trust you fell within yourself whilst expressing yourself, through your instrument and body."
Ruth Underwood is the finest rock marimba player ever.
Ruth Underwood is a national treasure as a percussionist. Welcome to the Zappa rabbit hole....I've been hooked since the Freakout album first came out and I bought my copy at the local furniture store...where stereos were actual coffee tables. I was lucky to stumble onto Zappa in the early years because he gave me hope in music....you should listen to Peaches and Regalia next. You'll love it.
When I was eleven years old in 1966 my dad came home from his studio in Yorkville one day (he was an indie filmmaker, graphic artist and photographer) and I heard him yell for me as soon as he came through the front door. I thought 'Oh oh...I must be in trouble'. I came into the living room and he was sitting on the floor in front of our Clairtone Stereo with the Freak Out album in his hands. He said "Sit down, I've been listening to this all day in the studio! You've got to hear this!" It's fucking brilliant! It's insane, it's funny, it's wild, it's like nothing I've ever heard!" And so we sat and listened until about 11 pm. Mom brought dinner in for us and we sat on the couch in awe. I didn't really absorb and appreciate it until a few years later, and then Freak Out became my most prized album. I still have the original vinyl, and a newer copy I bought in the 80's, and I still listen to it today. When I played it for my two sons and a few of their friends when they were in their early teens (late 90's) it blew their minds. I have most of Zappa's albums including some rare bootlegs. I often wonder what he would have to say about the world today if he were still alive. And yes, Underwood is a phenomenal percussionist! Cheers from Canada!
The best thing about Zappa is, once you hear it, it can't be unheard.
Love it 👍🏽
True
Thats a good or bad thing. I personally can't listen to Zappas music. Its terrible. Not to take anything away from Frank. He's a musical genius. His music is just to far out there for my taste.
Music rewires your brain and FZ is the doctor👍🏽
I like the complexity of his music. It makes it interesting and enjoyable even upon repeated listens.
dude: "it's getting weirder."
me: no, wait, don't get distracted. pay attention to the solo dude.
the solo is Divine for me! just Feel it man is awwwwwwwwwwwwwwesome :-)
My thoughts, exactly.
Well, it's not his fault. Those visuals are really disturbing.
I like how his name is just "Dude" now. The Dude abides
Your observation of Zappa’s music being “amazing, beautiful and unconventional all at the same time” is spot on. You could spend the rest of your life analysing Zappa’s music… seriously. He left thousands of unrecorded scores in addition to his prolific studio recordings. But as Zappa himself said “Talking about music is like dancing to architecture”. So get listening and prepare to be continuously amazed by his meticulously scored body of work. Frank was a unique human being and true genius.
...a different kind of summary:
4:22 ... !
4:37 ....? !
7:09 ...?
7:53 👀
8:03 ... ? !
9:07 ?
10:09 ! ...☕️
11:06 ?
13:37 😛... :)
14:20 !
15:26 ...🔌 ⚡️
"Talking about music is like dancing to architecture" hahaha, great!
The claymation animation was created by legendary artist Bruce Bickford. Bickford climbed over the fence of Zappa’s compound one day with two reels of film to show Frank and asked Zappa if he could help him. Bickford was something different for sure!
Frank hired Bickford to work for him full time. The dude was pretty odd and I don't think there is any claymation that compares to Bickford.
All shot on a still camera as far as I know. I have a dvd of them working together
@@KyriDemetriades Damn! You should post that to the internet. I for one would love to see that. I have seen a few snippets of Bickford working clay, but to see more would be nice.
I must dig it out and at least get the name of the DVD@@yankeedyehard
Hi again, The dvd I have with the animation is Baby Snakes and my friend who seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Zappa referred me to" The Amazing Mr Bickford." by Zappa. @@yankeedyehard
Tom Fowler’s bass playing throughout deserves a mention. The whole band just shines.
A very underrated bass player.
Especially teamed with Chester Thompson. Dream rhythm section!
I love Tom. We worked together on a project in the early nineties.
Absolutely! Tom Fowler played with Zappa from the 60s all the way through to the end. Phenomenal how he could hold down any piece Zappa composed. Fowler and Ruth Underwood stayed with Zappa throughout his career, incredible musicians , both of them.
Watching Tom relentlessly anchoring a swirling solar system of insanity throughout Roxy the Movie is a true joy
Zappa will STILL sound “futuristic” 50 years from now…his understanding of music was, is and will be something we can only appreciate in limited ways. I “re-hear” something years later that impacts me differently each time I hear it, even as years go by.
Frank Zappa = Cosmic Genius!
youre over reading intohim he just didnt like the way people treated music
I heard shades of Zappa and the "Mothers of invention " recently while rewatching the Chris Stapleton/Justin Timberlake 2015 CMA Performance... just say'n...
Frank Zappa remains one of the most brilliant musical creators of all time. It's not just music. It's a conjunction of concepts and experiments so complex that really few can understand. I've only been a fan since forever and I believe that Zappa music should be studied in a very particular way. R.I.P. , Frank. I miss you, man.
Love your Gentile Giant pfp!
Really well said and succinct. Kudos.
Zappa was filth ich
This band with George, Ruth, Chester, Napoleon, and Tom was Frank's favorite in many ways. He said it was the last time he felt like the band members were his friends, rather than employees. I'm happy that you liked this, and I see that you did The Black Page (probably my personal favorite of Frank's compositions), so that's where I'm headed next!
Ruth Underwood is a force of nature. So glad you've discovered her. I can't believe how she can perform these lines.
The album "Hot Rats" is what you really need to hear. Some of the best music ever. Look up "it must be a camel" and tell me I'm wrong. Actually the whole album is some of the best anything.
"Hot Rats" was my first introduction to Frank Zappa back in 1971. It is still one of my favorites. Phenomenal musicianship throughout.
Love me some hot rats. But I’m a basket case Roll squeak, Roll squeak
Dude!!! Good call. Now I need to go dig out that CD.
Waka Jawaka ain't half bad either.
Hot rats was the first Zappa album I heard as a kid. "Peaches En Regalia" has always been a top fave of mine. The melodies and the orchestration particularly spoke to me at that time on my life. But there are so, so many...
I absolutely love when folks listen to FZ for the first time and are as blown away and excited afterwards.... Frank was a national treasure, was lost too soon and can never be replaced. Its amazing to this day how much FZ has influenced music still to this day. Watching this video honestly and truly made my heart happy.
It’s always FANTASTIC to see music educators, or just musical professionals be amazed by Zappa
So happy you found FZ, I love your musical breakdown and of course…the senses are buzzing with bewildered delight
I would recommend Peaches En Regalia from Zappa’s “Hot Rats” recording. It’s an early example of the expansion of his compositional palette via hiring more advanced musicians, including Max Bennett and John Guerin.
This was my introduction to Zappa. I absolutely love it but have come to realize I have only dipped my toes into Zappa waters....
Agreed. It has been picked up and performed by some orchestras that you can hear on RUclips.
Willie the Pimp is another great song from that album.
Love those 2 from The L.A. Express...Max Bennett & John Guerin. And they do a great job on Joni Mitchell's live album, Mikes Of Aisles.
peach and regalia was the first piece i heard of frank. i will never forget this day.
"I think he's not taking himself too seriously". Now you get Zappa.
The spoof of 70s mysticism and esoterics (New Age) Doug heard in the lyrics was spot on, too.
My intro to Frank was “Just Another Band From LA”. My dad walked in as the phrase “…and then he shut the fucken door!” was playing. He swiped the record off the turn table and snapped it in two. I was hooked and have been listening for nearly 50 years. Frank said he wrote provocative lyrics to get his music in front of people. Hooked initially by the lyrics it became the music that has held me. On a side note, Dweezil plays his music nearly perfectly…he is worth the cost of admission if he plays in your area.
@@sledgehammer67 I've seen Dweezil in L.A. and the band was amazing. Almost felt like I was at one of Frank's shows. When I was a kid, it was Frank's "silliness" that got me into him, but in my later years I've found myself gravitating more to the instrumental works. It also exposed me to jazz which I really enjoy.
And yet I don't think he discounts the possibility of an extraterrestrial visit. He may wonder about it as much as Jon Anderson. He's just gonna be a lot less precious and pretentious about it.
No mention of nanook?
It was a satirical take on "The Chariots of the Gods", theorizing that all the ancient construction marvels were the work of aliens.
The animation is from a stop-motion video collaboration, "A Token of his Extreme", which only showed on European TV (us tv being too uptight).
There are interviews on RUclips of Ruth Underwood and George Duke that are worth watching for how two classically trained musicians came to perform with one of the most gifted and and VERY unorthodox musician/composer's they had probably ever met.
There really is no one label, no one musical genre or style to be ascribed to him.
I read somewhere he said that, essentially he was a serious composer, but rock'n roll paid the bills.
He liked Edgar Varese/Anton Webern et al--at the same time he "always had a soft spot" for Doo Wop/R & B.
Frank always talked about the issues of the day. Must be impossible to listen to his music not being plugged into the times in which he composed. I feel lucky to have been a kid when Freak Out was released.
Book title: Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past (1968)
Film title: Chariots of the Gods (1970)
Von Daniken? Ancient Aliens? 😁
Who said its a satire? Frank said he saw a UFO before in an interview. I think he just liked making lyrics about interesting subjects. A lot of people pigeon hole him as overly rational atheist but he was pretty open minded. In particular, I remember reading about how in the 60s he consulted some guy about astrology. He definitely had a minor interest in esoteric stuff even if he didn't take it so seriously
@@bryanlee5522 also the only musician I know of to play the bicycle...
Zappa was a perfectionist and crafted his work to be performed with precision. Just great musicianship
Zappa was like a genius mad scientist. People either got it, or it went over their heads, entirely.
absolutely!!! could have not said it better!!!
Hotel California vs. Zoot Allures, one you play at a party, the other you play when you have the time to listen.
I get it , but I have problems with it. With his ability he certainly could have put weird to the side at least temporarily and made some epic tracks with mass appeal that everyone could enjoy for a long time. The barrier to entry for enjoying his work is too high.
@@NickKautz he had epic tracks that they allowed on some radio stations. But for the most part, you either loved him or you didn't. A treat in concert for sure!!! And he played the music as he was called to...without mainstream red tape bull-crap.
@@cherylpump3372 His vibe doesn't seem to have a destination , although one would assume it does with all the deliberate complication and his meticulous preparation suggest he was fond of organized elements that stand individually rather than just a constant stream of bizarre with no end game. There's order behind the chaos, but he doesn't want you to know.
This whole album is a complete gem - one of my favorites of all time.
Zappa is a fantastic guitarist. Actually my number 1! People seem to forget that!
Frank also has perfect pitch. Make a noise and he could tell what it is.
Absolutely !! His guitar solo in Zomby Woof is the greatest guitar solo of all time !
You're right: I do often forget that Zappa is your #1.
Steve Vai was pretty much taught by Zappa
@@soberobserver1646 Zomby Woof is great, but for my money Black Napkins does it for me!
“This is…amazing, beautiful, and odd. Unconventional, all
At the same time”. That is the best summary of Frank Zappas music ever
Zappa was psychedelic jazz-fusion. He was definitely unique. He and his band mates were all extremely talented!
May be my favorite lineup ever. The talent was scary. The band was tight. Makes me tear up. So good.
To add to this, he wrote every piece of music for every member. For every song. For every one of the sixty plus albums. Welcome to the family, Doug! Zappa is the savior of my auditory senses.
Zappa's last album was "The Yellow Shark" where Ensemble Modern performed his compositions. Zappa was an absolute giant. A composer. A social/political satirist. And absolutely one of the most unique and talented guitarists ever. EVER. You've got your work cut out for you, and by gawd I'm looking forward to it!
Yellow shark is amazing.
From The Yellow Shark I'd strongly recomend "Outrage at Valdez" or "Get Whitey"
Dog Meat is great also. Or G-Spot Tornado. And if you want to go way out, Ruth is Sleeping..
Civilization phase 3 is actually a bit later than The Yellow Shark, though. Both are outstanding albums.
@@whycantiremainanonymous8091 I never should have sold my CD of that album. And that sweet case it came in.
It's hard to not smile here. What an over the top crazy difficult song yet so insanely tight and playful played. Man it's not nothing quite like Zappa
Ruth is so amazing. She was studying in New York when she first heard Zappa and it changed her life. Zappa recognized her talent and put her at the center of many compositions during that period. I’ve seen numerous interviews with Ruth and she has a special sparkle in her eyes when she talks about the years with Frank.
Check out the Album “Hot Rats”. Some critics cite it as the first “fusion” record.
Well done. Thanks.
It nearly brings me to tears when she says “he wrote this, for me”. They couldn’t have happened to anyone better than each other.
If you look through comments on Ruth in various videos on RUclips with her playing, you will note how many men are completely in love with her for her sparkling energy and sweet smile. Me too , I have to admit. A lovely person and musician in every way.
Not just "studying in New York" but doing advanced work at Julliard. She's not just a brilliantly talented percussionist but a very well trained one.
Zappa looked like a bum at the end 🤣 🤣
"I think... he's not taking himself too seriously" - LOL! That literally has to be one of the most profound statements on Zappa ever!
Don't worry, Mon, he ain't takin' you (or any of us) seriously, either!
classic reaction to Frank! 😄
Im 61 now and its fun to watch someone who understands and appreciates music review my favorite musician. Most of my life my freinds were not enthused when I put Zappa on thinking I was weird. In my old age I will still take him for a spin once in a while.
you should visit zappanale in 2022
Lol ... my wife still goes a little crazy when I spin Zappa up. Or better yet when I start playin a few riffs (not well) on my guitar.
I am 61 this year , like Zappa since I was 17 , his music makes me happy until I die.
@@pinanti just turned 61 2 days ago & been a Zappa fan since ‘73 when I was 12. So little time, so many Zappa tracks!!
Fantastic choice to review. Zappa is truly a musical genius. Ruth Underwood is a unbelievable musician!!! Next should be “The Grand Wazoo”
Frank was really lucky that Ruth wanted to join his band after hearing his music.
Piranther - I think she said she was at Julliard when she first heard Frank, and he made her realize there was a place for excellent musicians outside the "stuffy conservatory environment" (her words) she was a part of. If i remember correctly that is.
Thank you! I've been requesting your reaction to this song for a long time, and it is on point to what a Frank Zappa first experience has caused on all of us big fans. I've been living in Zappaland for almost 20 years, and I am still learning and being surprised every now and then about some new detail. Zappa is one of the greatest composers ever.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to see a classical composer who still appreciates, gets into and dives deep into other genres and is an educator along with whilst not being a snob or elitist. Your channel is a great breath of fresh air and you earned another subscriber.
Cheers Doug
You nailed it. Zappa never took himself seriously and he always threw shade at those who do. You are among the few people that “get it”.
Decides to react to Zappa, picks Inca Road. This will be GOOD! And by the thumb looks like you picked a very much excellent live recoding (token of his extremes) with one his best assembles: The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ-guitar, percussion, vocals
Napoleon Murphy Brock-sax, vocals
George Duke-keyboards, finger cymbals, tambourine, vocals
Ruth Underwood-percussion
Tom Fowler-bass
Chester Thompson-drums
My first Frank was "Apostrophe" and i always send folks there first when asked where to begin, But Frank Zappa changed groves and bands quick frequently so listening at different eras reveals a different facet of the body of work. What most folks thought odd was what drew me in. I have been a fan for 45 years. Begin at the beginning and enjoy the ride. try Black napkins, Wakajawaka, or Eat that Question, for future reactions.. Love the channel, and your reactions and reviews.
"Apostrophe" was also my intro to FZ. I agree w you: that's a good place to begin the journey into his music. It leaves you wanting to explore n hear more, n as you hear more you begin to see that he was a genius.
Mine too. Ended up hearing the entire catalog but that’s always a great starting point. This band was so tight!!!
My intro was weasels ripped my flesh. Followed by apostrophe and of course one size fits all.
I think it was the only pure rock instrumental he has ever done, but then there was Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. Still listen to all his stuff today, some for the humor , some for the pure joy of it.
Tinseltown Rebellion was my first
I’ve been a fan (I’m old) since his first album, I’m thrilled that you got the experience and hopefully you’ll enjoy a few more of his amazing works.
As a guitar player he himself considered himself just average, a blues player, but with all the music in his head, he’s still a transformational guitarist.
@@ronniefarnsworth6465 Frank? Insecure, no, that was not his issue!
I didn’t remember the reason he said it, thank you. he allowed inspiration to take him where ever it did, all he was saying is, he doesn’t practice the guitar, doesn’t try to improve his technique in that way, he just plays it! But his vast compositional ability showed up in his improvisation, as a composer, he was as comfortable with musical notation as say Beethoven or Brahms, he could hear the notes in his head as he wrote them, I’m sure, But he was not at all tied to notation when he improvised, his stream of consciousness musical outlet. As a guitar player I think a huge influence was Jimi Hendrix, he didn’t play Hendrix licks, he had his own very singular style, but was impressed by how Jimi could get in that zone, where what came out had this incredible magic, emotion
and power….,that transcended the actual notes being played. Jimi really only played in 2 keys, but you’d never know by listening, because he could get so far outside the box, while using relatively simple tools. In that sense Frank channeled that, but could play in time signatures and keys Jimi could not, at least not at age 27, had Jimi lived, he would have continued to break musical ground, Miles Davis was interested, the great jazz arranger of the time, whose name I cannot quite recall, Bill Evans? also wanted to work with Jimi. And Frank ended up with the remains of the Monterey concert Strat that Jimi lit on fire, and played it for years, before Dweezil ended up with it. So he definitely wanted to channel Hendrix. Yet, nobody played like Frank, faster cleaner sure, but he went far deeper into the unusual and inspiring than most guitar players ever went.
In an interview with Tom Mulhern in 83', Frank was asked if he spends much time working with his guitar. Frank responded, "hardly ever touch it. The only time I play my guitar is when I know I'm going to tour. I practice a little bit before we go into rehearsal to get the calluses built up again (on fingers). Then I play during rehearsals, and when I get out on the road, I usually practice an hour a day before each show. Once the tour is over, I don't touch it. I haven't touched my guitar for about 6 months." Knowing how talented and musically smart Zappa is, it's pretty interesting. He said he has a business to run and can in no way have time to practice as much as other guitar enthusiasts would imagine he could.
Re: Armadillo and Guacamole Queen. Been an Austinite since the late 60’s. Armadillo refers to the Armadillo World Headquarters, a prime music spot in the 70’s , and one Zappa played multiple times, even recording a live album there. The Guacamole Queen referred to character in a mural at the Armadillo.
Actually, Frank said he referred to a restaurant the band used to eat Guacamole in Austin and as the cook was formidable, she was called Guacamole Queen...
Ho avuto la fortuna di sentire questa formazione nel 1973 al Vigorelli a Milano. Straordinaria e indimenticabile
Frank's relationship with lyrics is really interesting. He had a lot to say, but I think he found most lyrics to be wildly self-important. He seemed to consider the lyrics almost disposable, which...you know how many people actually pay attention to the lyrics of the songs they love?
So Frank seemed to prefer to just play with words and write down whatever he felt like, as long as it was authentic. So there's a lot of sex, sarcasm, political commentary. Tons of in-jokes from the band's experience touring.
It definitely obscures the seriousness of his composing chops, and I sorta wish...he just relied more on instrumentals. Lotta people out there, I think, who would LOVE Frank, but who bounce off his lyrics.
But at the end of the day, I don't think Frank wanted to write anything else. Maybe he wasn't comfortable trying to write "normal" lyrics. Roger Waters talks about how HARD it is to say something meaningful, simply. Took him years and several albums to get away from fantasy and mystic nonsense.
At one time Frank said lyrics were "mouth sounds"!
Trouble Every Day might be the one exception. I revisited Zappa recently after many years not listening and I felt the same thing, that the lyrics kind of take away at times from the music.
Thank you for your sensible comments
@@MyRoom_is_old That's what I always thought - to Zappa the voice was just another instrument and the words didn't matter.
This is the best way to describe Frank's stance on lyrics. At times serious, at times silly.
...That woman named Ruth on the marimba... She's incredible.
Forget about the lyrics. It's all for laughs. Recorded partially up n the mountains west of Boulder, outside of Nederland Colorado, among the first at the famous Caribou Ranch studio. Look at the cover, Saturn with square rings, God saying "don't work"...
Finally, Zappa! We're getting to the good stuff now... If you're jumping down this rabbit hole, I think one of the first listens should the "don't eat the yellow snow suite". It's the first 4 songs off the apostrophe album, and is bloody amazing. Also really diverse and gives a broader overview of what they can do as it's spread over 4 songs, and Frank doesn't like playing one genre at a time haha
The yellow snow suite is a definate thumbs up .That said I think the whole suite needs to be listened to together just so the story fits together and I think that might be a bit long for this format. So my recomendaion would be Montana which has most of the elements of this style of zappa song but is a 5 minute tune that fits into into this format a lot better.
If you want to hear the 20 min. killer version of "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", you got to check out "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" , volume one... And the proper prelude for that is "Big Swifty" which is right before. Even Zappa took time in the liner notes to point out how well played that performance really was.
@@sPi711 Honestly I prefer the album version haha. The You Can't Do This volumes are great though. I think number 2 is my favourite, the late 70s early 80s line ups kick ass.
Five classic instrumental pieces on Zappa's repertoire: Peaches en Regalia, Sons of Mr. Green genes, Chunga's revenge, Twenty smalls cigars and, last but not least, Watermelon in Easter Hay.
All great but you date yourself 😉
Zappa actually has classical music, so that use of the word here is a bit weird.
@@Flatscores I meant "classic" as a synonym of typical or standard, not as the musical genre or category.
Definitely Watermelon
Agreed, I may have had to put Sinister Footwear 2 and Black Page on there too though haha
"The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution" is one of his best guitar pieces,
Agree.
And I also would say Zappa probably has the longest list of "one of his best guitar pieces"-tracks.
Sleep Dirt is a killer guitar record. One of my favorites no doubt about it.
First time on your channel and what a wonderful reaction!! Much like my first time *really* hearing Zappa music when Dwezel toured his work. An absolute jaw on floor moment. You had me practically in tears by the end. You nailed many of the technical issues musically and your surprise was just a blast to watch. Very well done Sir, I'm excited to check out more of your videos. Great thanks!!!
The animator was Bruce Bickford. Frank was infatuated with him and his style of morphing things into other things. This was an excerpt from the movie "Baby Snakes" which features a lot of Bruce's work. And what a perfect introduction to Zappa for you. The "One Size Fits All" album is not only serious, complex music, it's also friendly to the ear. A lot of great stuff on that album. "Andy" is one of my favorite tracks. For percussion and musical instruments, search out "The Black Page Pt 2" as part 1 is percussion only. Known as the most difficult piece of music ever written. Oh, and Ruth is a beast of a percussionist. You should look up interviews with her talking about her time with Frank Zappa. She's such a wonderful person.
Florentine Pogen is my favourite Zappa song.
There are other videos out there of this song that doesn't include the claymation. I love the claymation, but it interferes with
intense listening. It's difficult enough to deal with the music density of Zappa pieces without having compelling visuals. However,
since this isn't the only live version of this song, it is acceptable that the diversion of clay visuals horn it. So, I encourage listening
to this song from the DVD and compare that to a video without the clay. Full disclosure: I'm allergic to Nixon, so anything with
Nixon in it is not going to fare will with me, except this claymation, which I did enjoy and The Big Lebowski.
@@mu99ins The Roxy performance of this, with added drummer, Ralph Humpfrys, is killer.
@@runtt01 - Oh yeah, the lounge version. I really like it. I've heard another lounge version on a Utube video, so they must have had fun with the lounge version around that time.
every time i hear ruth's name it makes me smile, what a beautiful glowing soul she has. and man what a musician and she has the most infectious love of frank's music.
Ruth was studying at Juilliard when she first heard Frank, who was at that time doing a residency at the Garrick Theatre in New York. She petitioned him to join the band, because she was bored with the college curriculum. It took a year or so, but Frank eventually invited her to an audition. Needless to say, she was IN. At the Garrick shows, she had immediately recognised Frank’s incredible musical genius, particularly on the track ‘Oh No’, which she rhapsodises about in a RUclips clip. His music is a multiverse. Go deep, Doug. Frank will blow your mind, and make you laugh. Cheers.
It might be worth mentioning that she only ever worked with Frank. After leaving his band she retired.
One of Zappa's mindbogglingly many masterpieces.
LMFBAO I just LOVE your ZAPPA reactions, Doug; quite appropriate to say the least
I saw Frank over 25 times from 73-88,every Halloween from 74 on,and was standing right in front of him at his most famous the was at the Ritz in NYC,a small little club that was SRO, it's on RUclips and considered to be his great performance which I totally agree with,he was literally on fire that night for 3 straight hours
Loved the Ritz. Saw many a killer show there. Great to see get it's due in your comments!
Missed Halloween 1975 show because my elderly voice teacher needed a companion to take her to the Met Opera to see Peleus and Melisand by Debussy which was not a bad alternative but caught the next two years of Halloween shows till I moved South. I was a young teenager then too. Absolutely glad I was introduced to the brilliance of Frank Zappa. Interestingly, the boys who introduced me to Zappa were from a Hungarian American family and they listened to Bela Bartok in the house a lot.
I was standing right there on a ‘high d’ !
Freak me out, frank! You know it when you got it and if you ain’t got it then you ain’t never gonna get there. Sir!
This is the song that locked me onto Zappa, thanks to my dad for playing this in the car. Animation by Bruce Bickford and Frank Zappa ;) The constant cutting video back and forth is a concept Frank and other film makers were experimenting with around the time. The theory is that one could watch two things at once. There are a couple different live edits of this video, some with more or less animation and alternate usage of camera angles. This exact instrumental performance is what ended up on the album for the most part, excluding the guitar solo section, which was substituted with a better one from another live performance in Helsinki. Frank was truly a master at every aspect of the creation of these recordings, having taught himself every step of the process from scratch. This is basically the tightest band to ever exist, by the way. The best lineup Frank ever had in my opinion. As usual, every part (with dedicated sections for improvisation) was hand written by Frank himself. This includes multiple interchangeable pieces of music, which Frank's hand gestures might lead the band into at any point, at any speed or style. This made sure that each and every performance was completely unique. He recorded almost every single performance of his entire career. Frank was originally a percussionist, which explains a lot of his writing for percussion and his interest in odd measures, etc.
I think when it comes to phrasing, Zappa is literally the GOAT. The way he phrases and structure sentences is so calculated and musical, but it’s ALWAYS lyrically stellar
Zappa's was a genius. I wish he was still here. I've been listening to his work since the early 70's. His music never stops being interesting to me. You get all that musical brilliance and the humour to go with it. Zappa was such a witty guy. One of a kind.
Zappa is a whole different universe. One of my favorites has always been the 20 minute suite "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary." It's like a symphony for Saturday morning cartoons that makes many social and self references. It's worth a listen for sure.
"The nocturnal gregarious wild swine"
The story is ridiculously funny and the music is also ridiculously complex ("God, it's so hard to find a place to park around here."). Amazing journey.
I've always loved Greggery Peccary too. And it's this same band.
Absolutely! Listen to it and find out why *the calendar* was invented... :-)
And I'm still waiting for a cartoon video of the whole song. This would be amazing.
In case this hasn't been mentioned elsewhere in the comments, Erich von Daniken was HUGE in the 70s with his book "Chariots of the Gods?", which was full of dubious theories about alien visitors to Earth in ancient times. Among his propositions were that the Pyramids, Stonehenge and the Easter Island statues were the work of extraterrestrials, and that the Nazca lines were a landing strip for alien spaceships. "Inca Roads" was Frank's way of having a dig at the whole phenomenon.
My senior class had a Couples Night (about a dozen of us) to watch the "In Search of Ancient Astronauts" TV special. A couple months later my girlfriend and I attended the Zappa concert in Milwaukee. "Honey, they're playing OUR SONG!"
Oh wow so that's probably the inspiration behind the Stargate SG-1 show. I know the movie came first and by different people but the show literally had Daniel say that the pyramids were landing pads for spaceships and the name of the first episode was Children Of The Gods.
@@marksecosh LOL!
But now we know ETs are real. 🛸
Daniken has been totally debunked.
Your interpretation of what he's doing is spot on. Zappa was a bit of an anarchist, lyrically - the exact opposite of his music, which is strategised and planned to the last note. He was influenced as much by Varése, Webern and Stravinsky, as he was by Doo wop, R&B and Blues. He wasn't classically trained, but seems to have been a bit of a polymath, and eventually composed and performed symphonic pieces and jazz. He's an enigma, as the lyrics can often be puerile, and even juvenile - once again, the opposite of his music, which is often so cerebral. Warning, though - this is the world's largest rabbit-hole (100 albums, or thereabouts)
When Zappa met Slonimsky in person, they had been corresponding for awhile prior to meeting in person, Nicolas asked where he had studied, expecting the answer to be Julliard or other such institutiona, based on the sheet music Frank had sent him to ask his opinion of them....Slonimsky’s book, Thesaurus Of Scales And Melodic Patterns was Frank and many jazz musicians bible,......when Frank replied, the library, Nicolas was blown away that Frank had taught himself how to compose to such a high degree with almost zero instruction, Frank had started out as a percussionist in school, so had a basic education in music but not much beyond the basics of sight reading, the rest was one hundred percent self taught...his speech to the ASUC is biting, satire, and can be read on many different levels, and lays out his views on music education...
Frank planned out the notes but liked absurd lyrics... Total control on one side... Total random goof on the other... The whole spectrum
Mr. Fabrizio you are most certainly an educated man, as you are intimately aware of Frank's brilliance. Glad I'm not the only one! Bravo-
It's accurate to say there are levels of compositional control in his work. A piece like this has most of them covered. it starts with a riff that gives the drummer some freedom to play with where to place the accents while everyone else is working from a written arrangement. The mixed meter sections that aren't solos are probably charted and memorized. The solos are structured to give Frank space. Everyone else is comping in a free but limited capacity with no charts.
The more a composition hewed closer to symphonic the more charted it was. There were usually long solo sections with the band comping. The closer to 'rock' the song was, the less likely there was a written chart. The band was expected to behave more like a bar band and just play something. Frank would pick the parts he liked the best, and that was the arrangement. Exactly what you would expect from a guy who taught himself music theory from beginner through advanced levels at the library by day while simultaneously making a living playing Louie Louie and In the Midnight Hour by night.
Welcome to the genius of Frank Zappa I love it when The Host "Doug" say's..."Wow I can't un-know hearing this" Your darn right my friend....and where Frank Zappa is concerned...there's ALOT more where that came from.
"Peaches en Regalia" by Zappa next. Definitely "Peaches en Regalia" next.
Multiple versions of it, too.
And Trouble every day for one with lyrics.
That's a great one, and Watermelon in Easter Hay
Surprised but happy that so many people recommend Peaches. Definitely a top fave of mine. If someone asked me to give them Zappa in a nutshell, this would absolutely be the song I would recommend. The original Hot Rats version.
Your how old and you never listened to Zappa unbelievable,imagine what this did to my brain at 14.Frank was the greatest composer/guitarist of our lifetime.
This is my first introduction to him and I’m 23 man. Mind blowing.
Not everyone has same life journey as you, dont expect everybody to know everything 😀
I would argue that my appreciation of music now (at 27) is far deeper than it was at 14, although I see your point. There is something special about the totally un-intelectual way you hear music as a kid with no knowledge of music theory or anything. Just pure feeling.
Agreed that Zappa is one of the great American composers, and a great American in general for satirizing the assholes of society and defending free speech.
@@dylano3133 And your favorites artists are not the same as they were when your were 16 (or eh 14)?
I'm 72 and I'm just listening to the first notes of this....never heard him before.
As a percussionist i appreciate you defining our role, and what's involved. Yes, it matters whether it's marimba or xylophone. Yes. it matters whether it's hard or soft mallets. etc. Very different tone. Great overall analysis Doug. "I've been Zapped" That's a great way to put it. As a Zappa fan i love that.
"This is amazing, beautiful, and odd; Unconventional, all at the same time." That pretty much sums up Frank Zappa.
Ruth Underwood legit might be the best marimba/xylophone player of all time. She’s AMAZING.
She is great, but best is certainly a stretch. Have you heard Keiko Abe on marimba? Or Ian Finkel on xylophone? Expand your horizons on the instruments as there are many more as great or better than her and I love Ruth to death. I'm sure she'd be the first to agree with me.
And what is she doing now? Anyone know?
@@johngore5127 I don't know, but I do know she played for Frank while he was in the hospital during his last days.
@@BazzFreeman oh wow…that’s amazing and won’t forget that tidbit 😢
Doug, its always wonderful to see when someone new "discovers" Frank's brilliant music. Your reactions were absolutely priceless. When I was 11 years old, my camp counsellor was playing "Overnight Sensation" while he thought we were sleeping. The next morning, when everyone was at breakfast, I snuck into the camp counsellors area to find out exactly what the f I had just heard. My parent bought me the album and I've been hooked for over 40 year. I'm so happy you got experience Frank (not taking himself too seriously) Bickfords incredible claymation and just your expressions showed just how mesmerized you were by this single composition. I can't wait until you discover his entire catalogue as many of us have. Years and years of overwhelming enjoyment and appreciation. Thank you for keeping his music alive.
I'm glad when you snuck in that there wasn't a Zombie wolf inside
I always smirk when people who think they know “music” say something like, “oh wow I love music & miss all the great stuff when I grew up, like Journey but my favorite is “Dust in the Wind”. Ba-Bye 🤮
Zappa would actually fine his musicians if they came to rehearsal unprepared. He was easily the most demanding bandleader of the rock era and some of the best musicians of the late 20th century developed their chops playing for him. He loved to push them out of their comfort zones. George Duke never sang before working with Zappa and thought he couldn't sing. Zappa insisted that he do the vocals on this song and you heard the result.
p.s. I second the recommendations for The Adventures of Greggary Peccary. Sheer lunatic genius
Prince was eerily the same, a demanding bandleader who pushed his musicians beyond what they thought possible. They were also fined for making tiny mistakes on stage (nothing got passed Prince) and expected to know the material during rehearsal.
Afaik: Zappa bought him the first synth and then George had to sing ;-)
Colaiuta, Vai, Bozzio.. George Duke itself..just to mention a very few
@@joaquinloayza8286 Chester Thompson: "Frank Zappa was the best musical school i ever went to"
Id give the honorific title of most demanding bandleader of the rock era to Captain Beefheart. If you know, you know
The claymation is from the movie Baby Snakes.
Zappa was a satirist, so nearly everything he did had an element of comedy, so the complexity of his music was often about comedic timing. Much of the subject matter he covered was...a bit adult.....but sometimes he made fun of New Age thought, like here in Inca Roads.
"Peaches En Regalia" is one of his best, as is "RDNZL" (pronounced redenzel)
He once said "Lyrics exist for people who need them." Basically, his feeling that instrumental music more difficult to deal with in the "professional" rock music word.
Cosmik Debris being the penultimate satire on New Ageism.
@@sarahharris2729 Aaaah forgot about Cosmic Debris. Classic.
Doug: "I have to dive deeper into Zappa's music!"
Me: It was nice knowing you, man...
He's done several Zappa videos now... Given that, I was wondering why he's not yet had any Captain Beefheart on.
Zappa is without a doubt a brilliant composer & his band was unrivaled in musicianship!
I’ve been listening to Zappa’s music for 50 yrs and I still come across compositions I’ve never heard before. Frank’s catalogue was incredibly vast, recording over 100 albums. Zappa recorded everything at home, on the road, in the studio, at concerts and everywhere else, so there is a plethora of recordings, not to mention numerous bootleg recordings from concerts. He will go down as one of the all time greats in music history.
Same here, and agreed. A remarkable composer, a lyrical master. Give me More Trouble Everyday, any day. Broke in my HPM100s with that one. I flipped the loud switch.
Zappa acknowledges Ruth right at the end and I love it.
Ruth Underwood is the finest rock marimba player of all time.
And it's live, can you imagine how difficult that is to do live, perfectly!!!
Watermelon in easter hay, Cosmic debris, Joe´s garage, Why does it hurt when I pee, Lucille and many more.
Joe's garage is maybe my fav album!
@@andrejz8954 mine too!
He had a classical album, with Kent Nagano and the London Symphony. I have it on vinyl.
The content of the lyrics is mostly about the nazca lines and such, but the ending is all about in- band jokes. Frank would immortalize things that happened on the road because they amused him. The motto was AAAFNRAA: Anything Anytime Anyplace For No Reason At All.
Peaches en Regalia is just so beautiful.
My most favorite song in the world and its always a trip seeing a classical guy approach it. Watching you get your mind blown every few bars is the best.
The Dub Room Special. You need to listen to this version for at least 5yrs before hearing it all. Im on about 15 years and it never gets old
Zappa didn’t use drugs and wouldn’t let the band members use them either. That doesn’t mean the animators didn’t indulge. And yes, he had the best and most disciplined musicians, wrote out the music meticulously, and rehearsed rigorously. You’ll like “Peaches en Regalia” from the Hot Rats album. You’ll probably like that whole album. Also his orchestral work.
A wonderful very straightforward simple guitar solo, really short for a Zappa solo, at the end of a piece with lots of multitrack tuned percussion (played, by an earlier trained percussionist/ drummer called Artie Tripp, going through ever so many variations and counterpoint, piano playing clanky rhythm chords, oboe, wacky vocal harmonies, the whole piece completely beautiful and bizarre, nothing else like it in the whole world of music.... The original Mothers of Invention's final double album recorded around 1968, the track called "The Uncle Meat Variations" . When Zappa' compositions first started to get really far out.
The whole album had the greatest and most extraordinary varieties of styles and instrumentation ever brought together on one record-- Uncle Meat. I saw the first three tours of the Mothers in London in the late 1960s, including two shows at the Royal Albert Hall, life was never the same again.
What a time to grow up and get into music.
Hot Rats is simply beautiful from start to finish.
The only reason he didn't allow them to take drugs is because he didn't want them to get arrested when he needed them for performances. He wasn't strictly against them per se.
@@joefelice5062 My favourite jazz album next to Ryo Kawasaki's Juice.
@@richardlanchester249 I agree with 'Peaches En Regalia' as a good if not great point to jump to. And your assessment of 'Hot Rats' as well. I watched this and thought it might be a bit more accessible as well, for a new listener to Zappa. I found 'Uncle Meat ' to be a bit dense, almost impenetrable. One can always suggest 'Roxy and Elsewhere' as the accompanying film is so very illustrative of the performances. And it includes 'Penguins in Bondage'.
"I'm gonna need something more stronger than coffee to appreciate this"
Surprisingly, Frank didn't
Beer. He was OK with beer. And tobacco.
Zappa was a genius. He was a perfectionist in his compositions. He only had the best musicians work for him. Everything he composed was charted.
I seen this on tv when I was 10 been a fan of Zappa ever since
"Florentine Pogen" from the same show is a treat too :).
The amazing Bruce Bickford on claymation. He is unparalleled. I’ve never seen anyone like him.
Truly mind blowing, and a fit companion to the music. IMO the finest music video I've seen.
Have to agree. All the Bickford - Zappa collaborations are beyond mind blowing.
Been waiting for this! One could have an entire channel of Zappa reactions. Black Page #2 is a great, classic choice for all-out virtuosic Zappa complexity.
Wow you picked a good one to jump into Frank... You have so much great music to listen too I've been a fan for over 50 years. Frank and his musicians are amazing. I really enjoy your video's...
Ahhhhahahahaha! I knew dude was gonna lose it when the claymation came out!