It's funny how some people think he was a sloppy guitarist, not realizing it was all intentional, that he didn't feel constrained to beats or scales or thirds or fifths and such... most will politely call him "avant garde" but man, he knew just what he was doing, and the result was some of the most amazing music of his time or any other for that matter
The guy loved improvising. In an interview he said "playing a solo is me against the laws of nature. I don't know what I'm going to do but I roughly know how long I have to do it. I have a piece of time and I get to decorate it." He also said with an intuitive backing band, in a live setting,you can hear a band do things that are literally impossible to imagine. But you can see it live before your eyes when a good band knows how to improvise well together. What an amazing way to look at playing music
Yup, all the little "noise ad-in's" were not studio production. They were recorded live and played by the band members with instruments, whistles, bells, horns, whatever it took for just the right sound.
Saw them several times back in the late 70s /early 80s Along time ago, but Frank and the Band were Sensational!!! They could do it Live on stage!!!! WTF!!! X
And one thing. I saw Frank 5 times in 7 days. They played this song each time and Franks guitar solos were all different. And all good. This set him apart.
George Duke on vocals is superb, and you are hearing Ruth Underwood on the marimba and percussion. The more you listen to him, the more you will see that Zappa'a music is a genre unto itself. And no, Zappa got very little radio play, he was too far afield from the pop music mentality.
I can't tell you how much I love watching young people learn FZ music. I'm 67 and been doing FZ for 50 years. This would never have been played on the radio. FZ was underground for his whole career. He is BRILLIANT AND THAT IS THAT. TY
I enjoy reaction videos for their bridging of generational gaps and the validation that music you thought was cool as a youth turns out to be cool to many of the bright young folks of today. [EDIT: I should have just typed "Ditto" under your comment.]
Excellent reaction guys. You should really check out a live performance. All those "add ins" don't get lost in the live performance. George Duke on lead vocals and Ruth Underwood's percussion work is something to see.
With George Duke, who had a great career on his own later. Also with Chester Thompson, who played with Weather Report later, and again later with Genesis and Phil Collins for a long time.
Frank was a genius! George Duke once said Frank would take 2 pieces of music that didn't belong together and force them to fit. His composition and style are like nothing else.
Yeah, I loved how he took music that didn't get played together and fused it. One of my many favorites is Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus from The Grand Wazoo. Here he puts brass into his music in a way that I hadn't heard before and I loved it. Especially how he had some of the brass players "squeak" and "honk" their horns in a fasion you never hear in a traditional piece.
The first time that I saw Frank Zappa this was the song that started out the show in March 1974 in Portland Oregon and it sounded exactly like this version where the basic track is live.
There was no one like Frank Zappa. He was very strange and so was his music. But it was a good strange if that makes sense. We lost Frank way too soon. But his music will go on forever. ❤❤
You must already know, guys, that In the part where you comment about the flute and the synth playing in sync, it's actually Napoleon Murphy Brock on the flute and Ruth Underwood on the xylophone.
See the video of them playing this live. One of his more complex pieces - about the Incas building landing strips for aliens. You would see a good demonstration of how great Ruth Underwood was, also vocalist / keyboard player George Duke, who later had a career as a record producer. Notice Frank's pre-VanHalen use of his pick to tap notes on the guitar neck during the solo.
My suggestion for your next Frank Zappa listen would be the first track of the 1974 Apostrophe album. It's one track comprised of four titles that nowadays is being generally refered to as the Yellow Snow Suite. A composition in four parts with four distinctive titles: Don't Eat The Yellow Snow / Nanook Rubs It / St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast / Father O'Blivion. It is a very entertaining piece that show's off a bit more of Zappa's story telling abilities. I really think you guys, as well as your viewers, will enjoy the song. I certainly would like to hear what your comments are for this recording.
Songs like this demonstrate that Zappa wasn't just a musician, or a songwriter, he was a composer. Everything that happens here was written down, note for note. Nothing random in a Zappa tune, except of course, his guitar solos.
This is basically a live recording with overdubs. The guitar solo is from another concert, though. The rest is on the A Token of My Extreme concert and you should absolutely check it out!
Frank persuaded George Duke to try singing which he hadn't done before. Zappa always wanted to know what his players were capable of doing apart from their main instrument.
@@clemigula4228 Yup, all the little studio effects are not added in, they are done with live instruments "on-cue" by Frank conducting with a jump, or a point.
Lotta comments I’m not reading but just to be clear this is mostly not a studio recording anyway. It’s a mashup of two live shows, mainly the one on video, but the guitar solo is also live from an Australia show
This entire track is from two live sources with some vocal overdubs. This is not a feat of production- this is what the band sounds like live and this is what they actually played on that night in 1974. The guitar solo is one live performance (shortened from the actual performance). Zappa’s bands were sick!
There's a live version of this where you can see Napoleon Murphy Brock on flute totally in sync with Ruth Underwood on marimba doing that melody you were talking about. In case you don't know the marimba can be described as a big wooden xylophone.
When you speak of "production" keep in mind much of what he did was taken from live sessions and worked with after. Here's more detail of how they worked the song into existance: The song starts with dominant vocals, drums, and marimba, but soon features a guitar solo performed by Zappa in late September 1974 at a live performance in Helsinki, Finland. An edited version of this solo recording (and part of the bass and drums accompaniment) was "grafted" onto a performance of the song from August 27, 1974 at KCET in Los Angeles. This combination of performances forms the backbone of the album version from One Size Fits All. Later, George Duke plays an equally complex solo in 7/16. In the video of the KCET performance, entitled A Token of His Extreme, Zappa is seen smiling gleefully as Duke plays his solo, as he plays the backup chords. After a short marimba solo, "Inca Roads" reprises its snappy intro. The song ends with the lyrics "On Ruth, on Ruth, that's Ruth!", acknowledging Underwood for her leading on the marimba.[6] In an interview vocalist and keyboard player George Duke said that Zappa pushed for him to sing on "Inca Roads" and that beforehand Duke had no intentions of singing professionally and was only there to play keyboards. He went on to explain how Zappa had bought him a synthesizer (an instrument which Duke had disliked) and told him he could play around with it if he wanted. This led to Duke playing the synth part on "Inca Roads" as well. Prince did a lot of his work alone in studio and occasionally added musicians, Zappa always worked with others as his complexity needed the interplay. Then of course comes the richness of using live recordings as a basis for studio magic.
and all the production in the world wouldn't help if you don't have great musical ideas and great players. And when you get fluent in various genres, they all just become part of you, in that you don't think, "lets put a jazz thing here or a rock thing here", you just make your music and let others describe it afterwards. But as some one said, Farnk Zappa was his own genre. Peace, you guys are great!
Very important point(s). And "Building" a song, production wise, was quite different with 'destructive' editing and working with live performances. No Ableton or Garage Band for those boys.
Not jam sessions. FZ wrote the music and the band had to read, learn and rehearse. The band were employees, not so much collaborators. This music payed for his life of composing. By the way, this was George Dukes first time singing (I believe).
God bless George Duke on lead vocals and keys! So perfect! Also, thank you, guys, for listening to the audio-track from the record rather than the live video. That video, which is great for the live performance parts, also includes this very long, chaotic "Claymation" section that is just bizarre and distracts from the excellence of the playing, in my opinion. Or, it's fine for a little while but just keeps going on and on and getting more weird as it goes. The non-video version of this song is much better. Thank you! I love Zappa! This song also has Chester Thompson on drums, I believe. I love that era of Zappa, with Chester and George included. Amazing!
The music stands on its' own absolutely but these guys minds would be blown on a whole new level seeing George and Napoleon MB singing those complex vocal parts and would probably explode watching Ruths' virtuosity on percussion. I personally love the claymation.
That's George Duke on keys and lead vocals, along with Ruth Underwood on marimba and percussion. Side not: Ruth's husband Ian Underwood played with King Crimson and Foreigner, you should check both out for sure.
I had the pain/pleasure of trying to get this tune right every night for a couple of weeks straight while on tour with Ike Willis and Ray White. There was one part in particular that I was having trouble with (on drums) and I remember finally "getting it" and singing the section to Ike backstage prior to going on, and Ike giving me a great big hug. Very difficult but very rewarding, like most of Zappa's music.
Some would think that was just a bunch of musicians throwing together in a jam session, but Frank wrote every note for every instrument. Although he would write stuff that was impossible Steve Vai proofed a lot of Frank's music and helped correct it.
Frank is the best but beg to differ there are musicians out there making this kind of fearless music ruclips.net/video/cAozbX4yt_4/видео.htmlsi=cOwSnPflJiHEKmcK
Zappa was a lot like Steely Dan. Zappa also worked with numerous musicians in the studio and touring. When I hear the name Zappa, I instantly think of listening to him on 8 track.
I responded on this before. First and foremost. You either get Frank or you don’t. And I realized when you guys reacted too Muffin Man. You past what many of us call. The Zappa Litmus test. During the intro the looks on your faces were priceless. I had the same look on mine back in the early 70’s when my brother first turned me on. He’ll throw something crazy at you. As if he’s testing us. And he does it all the time. Just like he’ll throw a monkey wrench into the middle of a magnificent body of work. As fas as George Duke, and you can find the interview on you tube. George said after Frank gave him the synth. George realized for the first time. That he could now bend notes. His exact words, I was all in after that. And that particular lineup with The Mothers, he said we could play anything. With anyone we were just that tight. Theirs a lot of content out their about Frank and the muscians that have played with him. Do yourselves a favor. Listen to the next track on the album. Can’t afford no shoes. One of the rare times. He just hits you with some straight up rock…I appreciate you both. I wish you guys, Peace Happiness and continued success ❤
Great to see a reaction video where they don't stop it every few seconds and/or talk all the way through it. Proper music appreciation. Good work guys.
I had the privilege of growing up at just the right time, I got to see Frank and his virtuoso level bands all throughout his career. You can't get any better than George Duke, Ruth Underwood is one of a kind, and it doesn't matter what drummer(s) he has in his band, they are mindblowing yet each with their own styles. I have been playing drums for 60 years now and Zappa's music and that of Mahavishnu were the master classes if you could approach them. Still are. Zappa's UFO song! Having seen one, I love it!
Let's not forget the incredible contribution of Ruth Underwood on percussion, including marimba and vibraphone. Stunning work! And of course Chester Thompson, my all-time favourite drummer, KILLS IT! Along with Tom Fowler on bass. This entire album is a masterpiece. You guys should react to the song 'Andy' ... my favourite Zappa song on my favourite Zappa album. Cheers!
Frank composed music impossible to play and then hired/nurtured musicians that could play it live. Zappa University. Zappa wasn't "on the radio" but over time he broke free of the labels. He owned his music, had his own recording studio, mobile recording unit, had his own label and distributed his own merch. That level of independence was rare.
It's nice to listen to a favorite piece of music together with other folks. Thank you for the reaction! I like your anology with Prince - another genius. I like your top five too, mine with four other Zappa songs in :) This here is a brilliant masterpiece. I like the live version too, but here the voice of GDuke is more crystal (Not Frank, George and Napoleon on vocals) and Frank's guitar solo is just fenomenal - literally UN-BELIEVABLE, with all intriguing elements, including the Bulgarian bagpipe sounding at the end of the solo (actually, the per se solo was recorded live). And each and every's musicians performance is so wonderful - in full sync and harmony. Good job guys, enjoy more!
I've probably listened to this song thousands of times and it never gets tired. There's so much interplay between Tom Fowler on bass and Chester Thompson on drums, and Fowler playing off Frank during his solo... the 'ah ah ah' part after the solo is magical... then the George Duke solo is amazing on top. Really unique way of incorporating synth in live performance. One of the best recordings ever.
Play the version of this from You can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol2. The guitar solo on the studio track was stripped off of that live recording and edited slightly. In a few places to hear the whole full-blown live solo is worth the effort. Not to mention hearing an entire band performed this complex music under pressure while laughing.
Hot Rats and Overnite Sensation are two of my favorite Zappa albums. Amazing musicianship. Rats is jazzy, Overnite is funky, both completely brilliant and unique.
Hey guys from Ned in Spain. Frank Zappa was totally unique, started as a drummer but from the beginning he was experimenting and learning to create " difficult " music. All of his musicians had to bring their best or it was adios. Beer, coffee and cigarettes were OK but NO DRUGS. My favorite things on this are ...EVERYTHING. Tom Fowler sets his bass neck on fire, Chester Thompson on drums makin miracles, Ruth Underwood's percussion is so precise and fast that you think its another keyboard, George Dukes vox and keys solo....are there words for it ? and of course FZ on guitar is just totally original and transforming sound. This is Zappa and the Mothers at their peak.
You should check out the live version of this, it will blow your mind. The musicianship of this particular iteration of his band was on a whole different level.
Prince and Frank share some striking similarities. Cut from the same cloth. Both multi instrumentalists. Both precocious talents. Both left endless vaults of music and both put together a vast catalog while alive.
Frank was probably one of the best composers of the 20th century. Frank respected Prince. Frank wasn’t on the radio much. Not on most stations anyway. Mostly alternative stations. Glad to see you guys enjoying FZ. OH btw, the song is about ‘did the Inca people build landing strips for UFO’s way back in the early centuries?’ FZ was not only a great composer/musician/guitarist….but a sociologist. He questioned and studied everything. And was a self taught musician. Dude taught himself how to play guitar! Take a listen to the first song on his first album. The album is ‘Freak Out’ and the song is called ‘Hungry Freaks, Daddy. ‘ Released in 1966 when he was 26. On that album is the song ‘Trouble Coming Every Day’ about the Watts riots in south central LA 1965. Franks one tune about being ashamed of being white. And as with everything FZ released, he was generally always on point. He was a genius in the true sense of the word. Thanks for your review. Frank was bomb, and glad to see you digging it. Peace.
Love listening and watching you guys reactions and especially frank zappa 's compositions. I been a fan of his ever since I first heard his stuff in my early teens in the 70's. He always did have the best of the best musicians and all of them became renowned for their abilities. Great viewing you guys
There is a great video of them playing this live. Unbelievable stuff! Frank writes it all and then they practice it forever until they get it right. Genre defying. About aliens and the famous Inca Roads in Peru.
This is one of my favorite Zappa albums. Thanks for doing this song. The solo passage was Ruth Underwood on perc., Napoleon Murphy Brock on flute and George Duke on synth all playing in unison. Frank loved to layer. Zappa would rehearse his groups from 4 to 6 months straight 8 hours a day (and pay them) before going on tour. Later in life George Duke reminisced, "We could play ANYTHING"
Somebody beat me to it; I was going to request this! The song is based on the book “Chariots of the Gods,” which theorizes that the Nazca Lines in Perú were placed there by the natives to guide UFOs in landing. Some random facts: This was Zappa’s favorite Zappa album. Zappa’s favorite guitarists were Jeff Beck and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Johnny was in this band and sings on several tracks (“Andy” is a good one). The great George Duke is the keyboard wizard and the singer here. Duke’s “Reach For It” was a real big hit on black radio in the late 70s. One of my favorite GD tracks is “Love,” which features Zappa on guitar. It wouldn’t get too many views but you guys would love “Love!”
You must watch the live recording "Frank Zappa - Inca Roads (A Token Of His Extreme)," recorded on August 27, 1974, at KCET in Hollywood. It will answer a lot of questions. Also, keep in mind that Frank was never about the lyrics. He's a composer by default and didn't get into a band until seven years after he began his career.
Hey guys ~~ I'm glad you listened to this from the album version. Too many first-time reactors get WAY too distracted by the weird-ass clay animation scenes from the live-performance video, and forget to pay attention to the sounds. That's George Duke on vocals, the electric piano jazz solo AND all those vintage 1970's analog synths for the UFO noises. Chester Thompson on drums and Ruth Underwood on amazingly intricate tuned percussion parts ~~ "Haha, That's Ruth!" is the last line. PS: I wish they would release a video of 100% the live performers. Tho I appreciate Bill Bickford's skills and imagination as an animator, I come to this for the music !! And watching skilled players work out adds to the pleasure ~~~
Frank Zappa music is a movie for your ears.
Ruth Underwood on vibes, marimba & percussion steals the show for me. She's quite incredible
Ruth is other worldly
Frank had a quote…
“Jazz isn’t dead,
It just smells funny”
Virtuoso genius......so glad you felt this guys.
Zapoa wrote every note of every song for every instrument. He was literally a genius. Mensa level.
Except for his solos! Gotta leave room for the aleatory, and Frank did with his playing.
@@owre he composed everything else, he rehearsed them till they were perfect, and he composed the solo as he played ...
It's funny how some people think he was a sloppy guitarist, not realizing it was all intentional, that he didn't feel constrained to beats or scales or thirds or fifths and such... most will politely call him "avant garde" but man, he knew just what he was doing, and the result was some of the most amazing music of his time or any other for that matter
I believe, as they say about Mozart, a person's IQ can be raised by listening to Zappa.
The guy loved improvising. In an interview he said
"playing a solo is me against the laws of nature. I don't know what I'm going to do but I roughly know how long I have to do it. I have a piece of time and I get to decorate it."
He also said with an intuitive backing band, in a live setting,you can hear a band do things that are literally impossible to imagine. But you can see it live before your eyes when a good band knows how to improvise well together.
What an amazing way to look at playing music
Willie the Pimp from the Hot Rats album...
"Politics is the Entertainment Division of the Military-Industrial complex"
Frank Zappa
The great George duke is the main singer and does the piano and synth solo. Frank's guitar solo. Chester Thompson on drums.
You should see them do it live. They could cut it. They brought all the heat.
Yup, all the little "noise ad-in's" were not studio production. They were recorded live and played by the band members with instruments, whistles, bells, horns, whatever it took for just the right sound.
Yes all of Frank's lineups were truly amazing live. Sadly I only know this from videos but thankful they are available
Facts
Saw them several times back in the late 70s /early 80s
Along time ago, but Frank and the Band were Sensational!!!
They could do it Live on stage!!!!
WTF!!!
X
And one thing. I saw Frank 5 times in 7 days. They played this song each time and Franks guitar solos were all different. And all good. This set him apart.
George Duke on vocals is superb, and you are hearing Ruth Underwood on the marimba and percussion. The more you listen to him, the more you will see that Zappa'a music is a genre unto itself. And no, Zappa got very little radio play, he was too far afield from the pop music mentality.
The only Zappa songs heard on radio were the "gag" songs - like "Montana" & "Yellow Snow". Radio listeners only got a glimpse of Frank's genius.
That has subgenres within itself
@@mikefannon6994 Don't forget his biggest, Valley Girl with his daughter Moon Unit.
They used to play Dynamo Hum on Cleveland radio stations back in the 70’s
Napoleon Murphy Brock also sang fills.
I can't tell you how much I love watching young people learn FZ music. I'm 67 and been doing FZ for 50 years. This would never have been played on the radio. FZ was underground for his whole career.
He is BRILLIANT AND THAT IS THAT. TY
I enjoy reaction videos for their bridging of generational gaps and the validation that music you thought was cool as a youth turns out to be cool to many of the bright young folks of today. [EDIT: I should have just typed "Ditto" under your comment.]
Excellent reaction guys. You should really check out a live performance. All those "add ins" don't get lost in the live performance. George Duke on lead vocals and Ruth Underwood's percussion work is something to see.
With George Duke, who had a great career on his own later. Also with Chester Thompson, who played with Weather Report later, and again later with Genesis and Phil Collins for a long time.
These guys play this live, start to finish, without interruption!
Frank was a genius! George Duke once said Frank would take 2 pieces of music that didn't belong together and force them to fit. His composition and style are like nothing else.
Yeah, I loved how he took music that didn't get played together and fused it. One of my many favorites is Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus from The Grand Wazoo. Here he puts brass into his music in a way that I hadn't heard before and I loved it. Especially how he had some of the brass players "squeak" and "honk" their horns in a fasion you never hear in a traditional piece.
The first time that I saw Frank Zappa this was the song that started out the show in March 1974 in Portland Oregon and it sounded exactly like this version where the basic track is live.
You've covered 'Yo Mama' from Sheik. Listen to "Rubber Shirt' then read the liner notes. You'll be amazed!
Most of Zappa is amazing
My Favorite ZAPPA EVER
Frank Zappa is life changing for music heads.
There was no one like Frank Zappa. He was very strange and so was his music. But it was a good strange if that makes sense. We lost Frank way too soon. But his music will go on forever. ❤❤
Amen!
You must already know, guys, that In the part where you comment about the flute and the synth playing in sync, it's actually Napoleon Murphy Brock on the flute and Ruth Underwood on the xylophone.
See the video of them playing this live. One of his more complex pieces - about the Incas building landing strips for aliens. You would see a good demonstration of how great Ruth Underwood was, also vocalist / keyboard player George Duke, who later had a career as a record producer. Notice Frank's pre-VanHalen use of his pick to tap notes on the guitar neck during the solo.
Frank Zappa is the
All time 🐐 No other
Musician or Band in
Modern history even
Comes close! I hope you
Gentlemen delve a little
Deeper on this Man…
Masterpiece. He's a bad man. Love it.
My suggestion for your next Frank Zappa listen would be the first track of the 1974 Apostrophe album. It's one track comprised of four titles that nowadays is being generally refered to as the Yellow Snow Suite. A composition in four parts with four distinctive titles: Don't Eat The Yellow Snow / Nanook Rubs It / St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast / Father O'Blivion. It is a very entertaining piece that show's off a bit more of Zappa's story telling abilities. I really think you guys, as well as your viewers, will enjoy the song. I certainly would like to hear what your comments are for this recording.
St alphonzo is my absolute favorite
I totally agree that would be a logical next step! Props to you guys for the dope videos!
Or Joe's Garage
My thoughts too...the Yellow Snow Suite.
100% cosign this recommendation
Some folks don't get it. I knew you fellas would. Only a few thousand more songs left in his catalogue. All of them are incredible.
All of them
La & Che always get it, when something needs getting. That's what I've found, anyway.
this IS the good shit :)... so happy people are still listening to music and appreciating it.
Songs like this demonstrate that Zappa wasn't just a musician, or a songwriter, he was a composer. Everything that happens here was written down, note for note. Nothing random in a Zappa tune, except of course, his guitar solos.
And yes you are doing the good shit. Your cousin is a smart man
Nearly half a century later Frank’s guitar work is still phenomenal, all of the band are top of the food chain musicians
This is basically a live recording with overdubs. The guitar solo is from another concert, though. The rest is on the A Token of My Extreme concert and you should absolutely check it out!
Frank persuaded George Duke to try singing which he hadn't done before. Zappa always wanted to know what his players were capable of doing apart from their main instrument.
This album, top to bottom, is killer. It happens to be my personal favorite Zappa studio album.
Y’all need to check out a live video to watch how he conducts and instructs his band.
@@clemigula4228 Yup, all the little studio effects are not added in, they are done with live instruments "on-cue" by Frank conducting with a jump, or a point.
But....Hot Rats....😊
You really need to check out Frank Zappa’s’ Illinois Enema Bandit’! Live! Trust me. You’ve never heard vocals until you hear Ray White!
Lotta comments I’m not reading but just to be clear this is mostly not a studio recording anyway. It’s a mashup of two live shows, mainly the one on video, but the guitar solo is also live from an Australia show
This entire track is from two live sources with some vocal overdubs. This is not a feat of production- this is what the band sounds like live and this is what they actually played on that night in 1974. The guitar solo is one live performance (shortened from the actual performance). Zappa’s bands were sick!
Oh boy, fellas. Strap in!
Frank wrote the song based on the book by Erich Von Daniken called Chariot of the Gods, which was about possible alien landing fields in the Andes.
There is NOTHING like Zappa. One of a kind. Check out his life story. Fascinating!
With the possible exception of Captain Beefheart.
@@richardeast3328No
There's a live version of this where you can see Napoleon Murphy Brock on flute totally in sync with Ruth Underwood on marimba doing that melody you were talking about. In case you don't know the marimba can be described as a big wooden xylophone.
This studio track is from that live show
@@Swonder1972are you talking about the token of extreme show? cause this is the studio cut im pretty sure
@@bigbananadealer846 The studio cut is live tracks from this show with studio over dubbed vocals and a guitar solo from another song...
When you speak of "production" keep in mind much of what he did was taken from live sessions and worked with after. Here's more detail of how they worked the song into existance: The song starts with dominant vocals, drums, and marimba, but soon features a guitar solo performed by Zappa in late September 1974 at a live performance in Helsinki, Finland. An edited version of this solo recording (and part of the bass and drums accompaniment) was "grafted" onto a performance of the song from August 27, 1974 at KCET in Los Angeles. This combination of performances forms the backbone of the album version from One Size Fits All. Later, George Duke plays an equally complex solo in 7/16. In the video of the KCET performance, entitled A Token of His Extreme, Zappa is seen smiling gleefully as Duke plays his solo, as he plays the backup chords. After a short marimba solo, "Inca Roads" reprises its snappy intro. The song ends with the lyrics "On Ruth, on Ruth, that's Ruth!", acknowledging Underwood for her leading on the marimba.[6]
In an interview vocalist and keyboard player George Duke said that Zappa pushed for him to sing on "Inca Roads" and that beforehand Duke had no intentions of singing professionally and was only there to play keyboards. He went on to explain how Zappa had bought him a synthesizer (an instrument which Duke had disliked) and told him he could play around with it if he wanted. This led to Duke playing the synth part on "Inca Roads" as well.
Prince did a lot of his work alone in studio and occasionally added musicians, Zappa always worked with others as his complexity needed the interplay. Then of course comes the richness of using live recordings as a basis for studio magic.
and all the production in the world wouldn't help if you don't have great musical ideas and great players. And when you get fluent in various genres, they all just become part of you, in that you don't think, "lets put a jazz thing here or a rock thing here", you just make your music and let others describe it afterwards. But as some one said, Farnk Zappa was his own genre. Peace, you guys are great!
Wonderfully informative comment. I've been a fan since 1966. Freak out was my 1st album.
The written final lyrics are 'En Route, En Route', but they improvised with 'On Ruth' for the live performance.
Very important point(s). And "Building" a song, production wise, was quite different with 'destructive' editing and working with live performances. No Ableton or Garage Band for those boys.
One of the best guitar 🎸 solos ever recorded
You guys gotta see the videos of the band playing these songs live!!! It will blow you away.
Not jam sessions. FZ wrote the music and the band had to read, learn and rehearse. The band were employees, not so much collaborators. This music payed for his life of composing. By the way, this was George Dukes first time singing (I believe).
ZAPPA the GENIUS . You don't dance to Zappa...you don't make love to Zappa....you just lie still, eyes closed and ABSORB🎵🎵🎵
Sheeee-it...haha, I made love to Freak Out, an all nighter and we just let it run "...who would dream we would freak out in Kansas..."
Never got into frank zappa much, but there is no denying his musical genius.
God bless George Duke on lead vocals and keys! So perfect! Also, thank you, guys, for listening to the audio-track from the record rather than the live video. That video, which is great for the live performance parts, also includes this very long, chaotic "Claymation" section that is just bizarre and distracts from the excellence of the playing, in my opinion. Or, it's fine for a little while but just keeps going on and on and getting more weird as it goes. The non-video version of this song is much better. Thank you! I love Zappa! This song also has Chester Thompson on drums, I believe. I love that era of Zappa, with Chester and George included. Amazing!
Yes indeed Duke's was special
Did you know that before Duke played for Zappa, he never sang? He told Frank he couldn't, Frank told him that be could. I guess Frank was right...
@@Peter-K that’s incredible!
@@Peter-K Also Duke only played acoustic piano before joining Frank's band. He was a quick study, his synth chops were amazing.
The music stands on its' own absolutely but these guys minds would be blown on a whole new level seeing George and Napoleon MB singing those complex vocal parts and would probably explode watching Ruths' virtuosity on percussion. I personally love the claymation.
Frank. Forever
That's George Duke on keys and lead vocals, along with Ruth Underwood on marimba and percussion. Side not: Ruth's husband Ian Underwood played with King Crimson and Foreigner, you should check both out for sure.
The irrepressible creativeness of Zappa! Perfect cohesion of musical genres to create his uniqueness
There is only one Frank Zappa. No one else like him. What a musician!
I jumped on the Frank Zappa apostrophe album when I was in high school. Bright album. Enjoy your show!
I had the pain/pleasure of trying to get this tune right every night for a couple of weeks straight while on tour with Ike Willis and Ray White. There was one part in particular that I was having trouble with (on drums) and I remember finally "getting it" and singing the section to Ike backstage prior to going on, and Ike giving me a great big hug. Very difficult but very rewarding, like most of Zappa's music.
This solo is Zappa giving you that pure, uncut shit.
Thanks for this reaction you got nice reactions style! And its interesting comparision to Prince that you did!
Some would think that was just a bunch of musicians throwing together in a jam session, but Frank wrote every note for every instrument. Although he would write stuff that was impossible Steve Vai proofed a lot of Frank's music and helped correct it.
Music like this.... could never get made today.... wonder how much great stuff we are missing....
Frank is the best but beg to differ there are musicians out there making this kind of fearless music
ruclips.net/video/cAozbX4yt_4/видео.htmlsi=cOwSnPflJiHEKmcK
MUST Review the entire Album. Of the 50+ released, this is TOP 10 for sure. Zombiewoof has always been my Fav.
Or Roxy & Elswhere: you got the live performances, and that album sounds so crispy. Best sounding album of his entire oeuvre.
Look up Geroge Dukes early LPs Faces in reflection, and Feel. He turned a bit more commercial later on, but those early albums are stunning.
One of my favourite Zappa tracks.😊
If you like this! He has a song with a French electric violinist named Ponty, where their leads meet. It’s magic! It’s called 50/50.
Zappa was a lot like Steely Dan. Zappa also worked with numerous musicians in the studio and touring.
When I hear the name Zappa, I instantly think of listening to him on 8 track.
I responded on this before. First and foremost. You either get Frank or you don’t. And I realized when you guys reacted too Muffin Man. You past what many of us call. The Zappa Litmus test. During the intro the looks on your faces were priceless. I had the same look on mine back in the early 70’s when my brother first turned me on. He’ll throw something crazy at you. As if he’s testing us. And he does it all the time. Just like he’ll throw a monkey wrench into the middle of a magnificent body of work. As fas as George Duke, and you can find the interview on you tube. George said after Frank gave him the synth. George realized for the first time. That he could now bend notes. His exact words, I was all in after that. And that particular lineup with The Mothers, he said we could play anything. With anyone we were just that tight. Theirs a lot of content out their about Frank and the muscians that have played with him. Do yourselves a favor. Listen to the next track on the album. Can’t afford no shoes. One of the rare times. He just hits you with some straight up rock…I appreciate you both. I wish you guys, Peace Happiness and continued success ❤
Zappa is definitely diffbrent, very interesting. Very funky, thanks fellas God bless.
What a reaction. You guys are my first call. Fantastic job, boys.
This is my favorite FZ album. Every track is a winner.
Thanks, guys. "It's hard to put into words how much I appreciated that record." One of the best comments/compliments on Franks' music I've heard.
I have been listening to this album on and off for 40 years... my appreciation of it just grows.. it is genius
Lmfao!!! Welcome to the world of Zappa !!! Dive in deep fellas... pure genius....
Great to see a reaction video where they don't stop it every few seconds and/or talk all the way through it. Proper music appreciation. Good work guys.
There is a song on this album (One Size...") that gets me every time: 'Po'jama People".
Frank was a master arranger/orchestrator.
One of Frank's best. Suggest to you guys Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus, Peaches En Regalia, Apostrophe, many others...
I had the privilege of growing up at just the right time, I got to see Frank and his virtuoso level bands all throughout his career. You can't get any better than George Duke, Ruth Underwood is one of a kind, and it doesn't matter what drummer(s) he has in his band, they are mindblowing yet each with their own styles. I have been playing drums for 60 years now and Zappa's music and that of Mahavishnu were the master classes if you could approach them. Still are. Zappa's UFO song! Having seen one, I love it!
Kudos to to the two of you for allowing Uncle Frank's solo to play out.
Yeah man I've been waiting on this one ✊🏾 0:24
One of the greatest recordings ever
Let's not forget the incredible contribution of Ruth Underwood on percussion, including marimba and vibraphone. Stunning work! And of course Chester Thompson, my all-time favourite drummer, KILLS IT! Along with Tom Fowler on bass. This entire album is a masterpiece. You guys should react to the song 'Andy' ... my favourite Zappa song on my favourite Zappa album. Cheers!
Frank composed music impossible to play and then hired/nurtured musicians that could play it live. Zappa University.
Zappa wasn't "on the radio" but over time he broke free of the labels. He owned his music, had his own recording studio, mobile recording unit, had his own label and distributed his own merch. That level of independence was rare.
It's nice to listen to a favorite piece of music together with other folks. Thank you for the reaction! I like your anology with Prince - another genius. I like your top five too, mine with four other Zappa songs in :) This here is a brilliant masterpiece. I like the live version too, but here the voice of GDuke is more crystal (Not Frank, George and Napoleon on vocals) and Frank's guitar solo is just fenomenal - literally UN-BELIEVABLE, with all intriguing elements, including the Bulgarian bagpipe sounding at the end of the solo (actually, the per se solo was recorded live). And each and every's musicians performance is so wonderful - in full sync and harmony. Good job guys, enjoy more!
master composer type shit... he earned his respect straight into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
I've probably listened to this song thousands of times and it never gets tired. There's so much interplay between Tom Fowler on bass and Chester Thompson on drums, and Fowler playing off Frank during his solo... the 'ah ah ah' part after the solo is magical... then the George Duke solo is amazing on top. Really unique way of incorporating synth in live performance.
One of the best recordings ever.
Play the version of this from You can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol2.
The guitar solo on the studio track was stripped off of that live recording and edited slightly. In a few places to hear the whole full-blown live solo is worth the effort. Not to mention hearing an entire band performed this complex music under pressure while laughing.
Could be Frank's best album. All good.😊
There’s maybe 10 Zappa songs I really like, but this is by far my favorite. The guitar solo is brilliant, one of the best I’ve heard anyone play.
Hot Rats and Overnite Sensation are two of my favorite Zappa albums. Amazing musicianship. Rats is jazzy, Overnite is funky, both completely brilliant and unique.
There's only one. He left us so much fantastic music. I can't think of a better way to start the day than with Zappa.
So glad you enjoyed this. I had the privilege of seeing the Mother's in several live concerts. An amazing collection of talent.
Hey guys from Ned in Spain. Frank Zappa was totally unique, started as a drummer but from the beginning he was experimenting and learning to create " difficult " music. All of his musicians had to bring their best or it was adios. Beer, coffee and cigarettes were OK but NO DRUGS. My favorite things on this are ...EVERYTHING. Tom Fowler sets his bass neck on fire, Chester Thompson on drums makin miracles, Ruth Underwood's percussion is so precise and fast that you think its another keyboard, George Dukes vox and keys solo....are there words for it ? and of course FZ on guitar is just totally original and transforming sound. This is Zappa and the Mothers at their peak.
You should check out the live version of this, it will blow your mind. The musicianship of this particular iteration of his band was on a whole different level.
Doing the good shit ..for sure liking your reactions to the music of my youth ...subscribed ,67 yo dude from Australia
Prince and Frank share some striking similarities. Cut from the same cloth. Both multi instrumentalists. Both precocious talents. Both left endless vaults of music and both put together a vast catalog while alive.
Frank was probably one of the best composers of the 20th century. Frank respected Prince. Frank wasn’t on the radio much. Not on most stations anyway. Mostly alternative stations. Glad to see you guys enjoying FZ. OH btw, the song is about ‘did the Inca people build landing strips for UFO’s way back in the early centuries?’
FZ was not only a great composer/musician/guitarist….but a sociologist. He questioned and studied everything. And was a self taught musician. Dude taught himself how to play guitar!
Take a listen to the first song on his first album. The album is ‘Freak Out’ and the song is called ‘Hungry Freaks, Daddy. ‘ Released in 1966 when he was 26. On that album is the song ‘Trouble Coming Every Day’ about the Watts riots in south central LA 1965. Franks one tune about being ashamed of being white. And as with everything FZ released, he was generally always on point. He was a genius in the true sense of the word.
Thanks for your review. Frank was bomb, and glad to see you digging it. Peace.
You have to give Village of the Sun a listen. It's a live recording and you will be AMAZED by the performance.
Love listening and watching you guys reactions and especially frank zappa 's compositions. I been a fan of his ever since I first heard his stuff in my early teens in the 70's. He always did have the best of the best musicians and all of them became renowned for their abilities. Great viewing you guys
There is a great video of them playing this live. Unbelievable stuff! Frank writes it all and then they practice it forever until they get it right. Genre defying. About aliens and the famous Inca Roads in Peru.
You guys are awesome going deep on Frank👍👍
This is one of my favorite Zappa albums. Thanks for doing this song. The solo passage was Ruth Underwood on perc., Napoleon Murphy Brock on flute and George Duke on synth all playing in unison. Frank loved to layer. Zappa would rehearse his groups from 4 to 6 months straight 8 hours a day (and pay them) before going on tour. Later in life George Duke reminisced, "We could play ANYTHING"
Somebody beat me to it; I was going to request this! The song is based on the book “Chariots of the Gods,” which theorizes that the Nazca Lines in Perú were placed there by the natives to guide UFOs in landing. Some random facts: This was Zappa’s favorite Zappa album. Zappa’s favorite guitarists were Jeff Beck and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Johnny was in this band and sings on several tracks (“Andy” is a good one). The great George Duke is the keyboard wizard and the singer here. Duke’s “Reach For It” was a real big hit on black radio in the late 70s. One of my favorite GD tracks is “Love,” which features Zappa on guitar. It wouldn’t get too many views but you guys would love “Love!”
You must listen to Frank's buddy Captain Beefheart. Try Batchain Puller. It's a reasonably accessible track to start with. Gloriously textural.
You must watch the live recording "Frank Zappa - Inca Roads (A Token Of His Extreme)," recorded on August 27, 1974, at KCET in Hollywood. It will answer a lot of questions. Also, keep in mind that Frank was never about the lyrics. He's a composer by default and didn't get into a band until seven years after he began his career.
Hey guys ~~ I'm glad you listened to this from the album version. Too many first-time reactors get WAY too distracted by the weird-ass clay animation scenes from the live-performance video, and forget to pay attention to the sounds.
That's George Duke on vocals, the electric piano jazz solo AND all those vintage 1970's analog synths for the UFO noises. Chester Thompson on drums and Ruth Underwood on amazingly intricate tuned percussion parts ~~ "Haha, That's Ruth!" is the last line.
PS: I wish they would release a video of 100% the live performers. Tho I appreciate Bill Bickford's skills and imagination as an animator, I come to this for the music !! And watching skilled players work out adds to the pleasure ~~~
I totally agree with you in everything you commend