"And if you don't know by now, The truth of what I'm tellin' you, Then, surely I have failed somehow- Surely I have failed somehow Surely I have failed somehow" Over thirty years later that line still gets me choked up.
One of the very few times FZ sort of let his soul out there, in an emotionally charged way, almost melancholy or sentimental, to be observed, without a care of what people may think.
Reading these comments make me very happy, realizing there's you peepz out there who share this with me. What an amazing song, what an amazing punchline.
After months of rehearsals including Jesus thinks your a jerk without the twilight zone part Frank added that part to the song . For the first several performances of the song Ike would pull a piece of paper out to read it . Then it disappeared… The next day I went up to Frank and said “What happened to that part ?and he said “Ike can’t remember it and I can’t have him read it from paper night after night!” I said “But it’s such a important part of the song, Pat Robertson is one of the most dangerous people alive! I swear to god he said to me “ If you learn it you can do it “ And I did ! Frank Zappa will live as long as there’s electricity!!! Pat Robertson R.I.P.
Tell him I said HI !!! And for the true story of how I slept on Owsleys floor see this Fantastic channels reaction video to The Dan Of Steels immortal classic … Kid Charlemagne!! For me that night might have been the best !!
@@EricBuxton-qy8yt I'd been unable to reach him. It's public now, here's the public statement: "Ike is done with the detox & now officially in the rehab center to complete his journey to sobriety & health"
This feels like ancient history, and yet so up-to-the-minute. The "ugly little weasel" at the beginning is Tammy Faye Bakker, about whom there's been a documentary recently. She separated from husband Jimbo after he was jailed for fraud and has since become something of a gay icon. Pat Robertson was always a much scarier character.
Frank also did a Beatles medley on the 1988 tour with the lyrics rewritten to be about Jimmy Swaggert's fall from grace. So Norwegian Wood became Norwegian Jim, Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds became Louisiana Hooker with Herpes, and Strawberry Fields became Texas Motel. Recordings have been around for years, but the songs finally have an official release now.
Today Frank would find enough new material and protagonists for his updated version of this tune. Can't imagine how many new verses he would have to add🤣🤣🤣!
@@allotrope2978 Wow that is... deluded. He called out the racists in this song, and they are still here doing their thing. He called out the right wing war against abortion, which is now resurging.
This '88 tour is Frank at his unsurmountable best in every single department possible. His greatest ever band, more viable "targets" than possibly his whole previous career. More humour/wit/sarcasm and pure put down than any previous tour. The greatest diversity of music. No one was safe on this tour. Music wise, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Cream, Elvis, Jacko, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and more all felt the Zappa wrath. It is Swaggert and this track is mild to the treatment he got from Frank. There's a brilliant "Beatles medley" in which Frank rips him apart. There are some haters of this band but they are mainly blinkered, rabid clones. I'm up to 6 and a half hours of "different music from this tour, and still counting. Don't believe any of the blinkered who say it was this band that made Frank stop touring. It was his health that did that. Also for this bands haters....a flame that shines twice as bright shines half the time.
There's only one drawback to the 1988 tour and that is Frank's guitar solos. He hadn't even picked up the guitar since 1984 and in my opinion the solos are (half the time) subpar. I agree with everything else you said, though.
Broadway the Hard Way" tour! Second best Frank era, next to 1977 early 78. He used a huge array of musicians, live for his final tour.An even larger band than the Roxy and Elsewhere recording, 1974. Brought back Bruce on Trombone, along with a superb brass and woodwind section! Two times Frank put the most money into a project Baby snakes, sheik yer bouti and the Broadway 87-88 final tour.The rest were experiments.
@@HakanTunaMuzik You can have your opinion but you trample all over mine, you pompous, would be know it all. You obviously know more than Frank did as he said many times the '88 band was his best. Still you'll have some bollocks to say to prove Frank a liar, lol. Been a Zappa Fan since '71 when I was 13. Saw 3 of his previous band line ups. '78, '80 and ;82 as well as the '88 tour in London and 2 german venues. From what i saw, I agree totally with Frank. The '88 band was the best
The melody to this song is from a tune called, "In an Old Dutch Garden", by Will Grosz. You can't imagine how astonished I was when I heard it in a film from the 1940 called, "Now Voyager", with Bette Davis.
Frank certainly was alive for Jimmy Swaggart. I don't think he gets a mention in this song, but Frank ragged on him in just about every other song he did on this tour.
Oh yes, Frank was definitely around when Jimmy Swaggart was doing his dirty work. Maybe I'll suggest Frank Zappa's Beatles Medley for you to see what Frank thought of his shenanigans. Swaggart owns his own cable network now where he can continue to sell his crap 24/7. The "ugly little weasel" Frank mentioned was Tammy Faye Bakker who actually became a pretty cool person when her husband Jim went to prison for tax evasion. Now he's selling food buckets to survive after the impending apocalypse as predicted in the bible. This was from the 1988 tour, so that was Ike Willis singing with Frank, not Napoleon. And Pat Robertson is still alive at 93 years young. Hallelujah.
On this tour, Frank did a bunch of "Swaggart Versions" of his older songs, plus a Beatles medley making fun of TV preachers. That medley was a bootleg for decades until the recent full '88 show release.
I love this song so much. Those big band runs with the xylophone and brass are so sweet. No Nappy here though. The 88 band was pure distilled refined Zappa perfection. Thanks for the reaction!
These lyrics feel as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. Frank repeatedly warned us of a militant, fascist theocracy, and.... just look around. That aside, there's excellent music in here as well, from the slide-whistle melody with its various rhythmic treatments, to the thematic descending fourths (fifths?), the political and pop culture references, and more. It's just an excellent and prophetic piece of work. I can't imagine the amount of effort that went into arranging, rehearsing, performing, and recording it. One of my faves.
Henry Cisneros gets mentioned in this song because as mayor of San Antonio Tx. an ordinance passed making attendance by juveniles under age 14 at rock concerts illegal. Frank often said music does not make people social liabilities or something to that affect.
The Pat and Jim he refers to in this song, I believe, is Pat Robertson and Jim (and Tammy) Bakker, but I'm sure he was around for Swaggart's downfall as well. Frank's religion was music, and his god The Big Note. He had little patience for any other philosophies as their hypocrisy was too much for him. He didn't mind poking fun at them, and when he did, none were spared, he was an equal opportunity offender. It's a shame Frank didn't make it into the 21st century with us, I am sure today's world events would have inspired some great fucking music from him. Ya know?
The Swaggart scandal happened in the middle of this tour. They performed a medley of Beatles songs w/ the lyrics changed to document Swaggart’s “sins”. It was finally released a few months ago on Frank’s final US show: ua-cam.com/video/zfsHUmpuTSs/v-deo.html
First, yes he knew about Swaggart and rewrote his song Lonesome Cowboy Burt where he relates the story including the famous or infamous "only the tip". In this song, though he's referring to Jim and Tammy Bakker, TV evangelists at the time and Pat Robertson, at the time presidential candidate, and yes he died a few month ago. There is a German saying: You can put them all in one sack and hit the with a cudgel and you will always hit the right one. - This song is one of my all time favorites not only of Frank's but generally. I still get goose bumps in the concluding section, but I also like the complete musical variety that is being displayed in this piece. Once again, I am happy that you had so much fun
This is one of my favorite zappa albums musically, though it has a lot of dated political and cultural references, it still holds up as amazing listenable music.
Great stuff, thanks! I laughed when you were unsure of which perverted tv evangelists there were - so many to choose from! And yes, there are plenty of examples from this tour featuring Swaggart..
It was all happening as the tour was going on - so, kind of' today's update on Jimbo and Pat...' and then the (infamous) Beatles medley... (see the last US gig recent release!)...
Yes Frank was alive when Jimmy Swaggart was around, in fact he has made a few references to him on various songs....he loved to ridicule the "Televangelists" of the 1980's, really enjoyable as always guys thanks.
I'd have to check the credits, but I think Napolean was already off on his own when this was recorded. You may have heard Ike Willis (guitar, vox) chiming in. Another funny and talented guy who really belonged in that band. Ike went on to start Project Object, a national touring act covering Zappa's material.
Frank mention Jimmy Swaggart several times in the live album The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. He even have a JS-version of he song The Torture Never Stops :D
On this same album, half way through "Stolen Moments" , Sting gets up and talks about Swaggart before going into "Murder By Numbers". You've reacted to it already.
My ONLY regret from the 88 tour is that Frank had this big band with an incredible horn section but didn’t write new instrumental material in that format. Imagine what that band could have done. Otherwise this was arguably his best band (with a nod to the Roxy era groups). And it spewed forth a ton of great stuff.
From all I read about the 88 Tour I learned this: Zappa was already feeling ill during the tour. Maybe that is a reason for less new material. Scott Thunes (Bass player) was very much in charge for rehearsals and also made decisions about the material/covers being played. The band rehearsed for many months and had a vast repertoire Zappa could pull from to create a diverse set list + the Band was capable of playing Songs in different styles by a hand signal of Zappa. Zappa also became a more public/political figure because of the PMRC hearings. It is possible that the intent for the tour was more political/strategic than musical. The management change also played some role since band members said Zappa was more separated from the Band on that tour. Also Mike Keneally (the new guy in the Band) was like a Zappa-Juke-Box since he knew so many songs by heart. It is possible that Zappa got a thrill out of playing material he didn't play for very long time. I always loved the 88 Band. Oh my god, that was a typical Zappa-Nerd response. I hate Zappa-Nerds.
@@MrOrontea - I don't think Frank was a Fox guy. I think he was his own guy looking to land a nice contract for a late night talk show with whichever network would bite. Too bad he failed, but if he got the show we would have never gotten the '88 tour.
@@peterdoyle452 - Actually, in '88 when we saw Frank the address was Congress Parkway. The Auditorium is located at the corner of Congress and Michigan Ave. The street has recently been changed to Ida B. Wells Dr. No more Congress Pkwy. There actually is a Congress Theater, but Frank never played there and it's on Milwaukee Ave.
No way . I listened to a half dozen versions of "Old Dutch Garden" right here on You tube. I could though see that it might remind one of it . Actually "Jesus thinks..." has quotations from "Light Cavalry Overture" ,"Battle Hymn of the Republic" ,"Entry of the Gladiators "and about a half dozen others according to pg 56 ..."The Big Note a guide to the recordings of FZ "by Charles Ulrich.
I love how you guys are confused about which televangelist did which stupid sex thing that ended their careers...lol...real big lol. Now... let's get serious. Do you guys have some time to read a rather LOOOOONG comment? Here's a story that starts on Halloween, 1982 outside the Ritz Theatre in N.Y. at 4.00 in the afternoon. I was waiting for Frank Zappa to arrive... I knew that he would be there early before the show, so I left Long Island at 10.00 in the morning and was in front of the Ritz at 12.00 or so. (you can never be TOO early for Frank)... anyways... Around 4.00 in the afternoon a big guy walks towards the stairs of the Ritz and sits near me and asks "How long you been here?" I say "Since Noon, more or less" This guy laughs, and asks me my name . I say "Chris" and he says "My name is Eric". We become friends... smoke some joints and he tells me about being kinda friends with Zappa. This was cool for me. A Milwaukee boy in N.Y. hanging out in front of the Ritz with a guy that says he knows Zappa. I said "I'm waiting for him. We just talked to eachother from the stage to the audience in Italy a few months ago, he might remember me... it was the 4TH of July." Eric said "He WILL remember you.. Frank remembers everybody.".... I didn't really hold much faith in what he said. 2 hours later at 6.00 (After I had also met "The Dynamic Butch") Frank arrived and when he saw Eric... he said " HEY!!!!! The dynamic Eric Buxton!" They shook hands and Eric introduced me. Frank looked at me and said "I remember you!!! I want to shake your hand... (I shook his hand... flabbergasted) You brought up the spirits in our band that night with that '4Th of July' sign... I have you on videotape... I taped you and that sign. " I looked at Eric and Eric just looked at me with a "I told you so." look on his face. And then we watched the world premeire of "Dub Room Special" together... twice. At 9.00 and 11.00. This is part one of my Eric Buxton story. If you want to hear part two... just write "continue". ciao from Italy.
Any kind of pain es un hermosa cancion con un solo de lo mejor de Frank y su version de The stolen moment y Murder by number con Sting tambien es lo mas destacado ...hermoso album!!!
The story in the song is about Jim and Tammy Baker. And the music may SOUND easy, but bif you ever tried to play this song... to actually REPRODUCE this arrangement... you realize... this song NEVER REPEATS. It sounds like it does... but it doesn't,. I t is another example of Frank's musical genius... but it is EXTREMELY hidden. Listen again... but thinking like you have to memorize it... because it tricked you into thinking that was easy... it ain't.
Funny you should mention Jimmy Swaggert, because during this very same concert Sting came on stage, gave a stirring anti-JSwaggert rant, then did a collab jazz arrangement of "Murder By Numbers"
As a 15 year old kid I lived near the Jesus Freak place and I couldn't go anywhere without these Jesus Freaks accosting me I am like, man I'm just a 15-year-old kid leave me alone
You didn't discuss the white supremacist implications near the end of the song and the real warning 'If Pat gets in the WH...the rights of certain people disappear..mysteriously.' That is such a brilliant line. The whole album is a masterpiece.
Yes I know, error. Swaggart versions of Lonesome Cowboy Burt, More Trouble Every Day, & Penquin In Bondage are on The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. Geez Louise.
@@ludofuzz3012 - Not true. The last new songs in a new album released while Frank was still living are on The Yellow Shark. It was released November 2, 1993 and Frank died December 4, 1993.
I'd like to mention for those not old enough to recognise, the melody IS...the old 'My Bologna has a 1st name its-Oscar my baloney has a 2nd name its -Mayer, I love t eat it every day and if u ask me Why ill sayyy,,, Cause Oscar Mayors has a way with Bologna, cuz singn bout evangelist is like singn bout ground up pig anus! Love ya Frank...
Tes, Zappa liver through the time when TV evangelists attempted, and at times succeded in dominated politics. As time went on, as he mentioned in the song, their hypocrisy became apparent. They often came off as guye just looking to hustle a buch.
Hi Dan, Hi Sifa. Frank covered the Jimmy scandal throughout that tour and in other songs. Frank was alive at that time and covered this. Whenever you are super anti something it is because you are that thing is a very true statement. There is something in that. One feels guilt about being abusive to animals starts a donkey sanctuary. The guy who is head of save the children. Fill in the gap. Head of Black lives matter, fighting against racial prejudice. Is the biggest bigot. Frank found out that the lead campaigner for rock censorship used to be a drummer in an all girl rock band.
Broadway the Hard Way" tour! Second best Frank era, next to 1977 early 78. He used a huge array of musicians, live for his final tour.An even larger band than the Roxy and Elsewhere recording, 1974. Brought back Bruce on Trombone, along with a superb brass and woodwind section! Just 2 times Frank invested the most money into a project ,Baby snakes, sheik yer bouti 1977-78,and the Broadway 87-88 final tour.The rest were just pretentious experiments. These two periods made Frank who he really was, A modern day Mozart. Not the guy who, during his organic eras, convinced so many people that he was the one who ate sh*t, or baby chicks on stage, with Alice Cooper. It was time to put Frank up there at the top,with his SERIOUS projects, not pretentious ones.
He's talking about Jim & Tammy Baker, as well as Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson. They're all hypocrites and crooks. You should check out Murder By Numbers with Sting from this same album.
In this song, the words are serious and the music is comical. I loved seeing you both enjoying the song, as fully intended. All tele-evangelists are jerks.
Frank was religious...people don't see it...here from the horses mouth at 36.00 minutes she asks the question...are you religious ua-cam.com/video/dJ5W897em5Y/v-deo.html
@@TommiBrem yeah they are wishing they still had it...democracy is a bastard of a thing that was tried twice in ancient athens...If memory serves it lasted 5 years and 1 year before people realized the sycophants.. were corrupting the process..I live in Australia and we have a social democratic society that thinks when a poll shows 51% support something the other 49% have to bow to the majority....I like the US system that says even if 99% support something it is alright to have your opinion or lifestyle choice...We are finding all the benefits and privilege that was offered for our birth right 90 years ago are slowly being eroded...benefit and privilege is given and can be taken away...and I know many people in the USA through social media communicate with other western nations and they think why can't the USA have free health care...we had it and now we dont...if you earn the equivalent of 30k a year you have to buy healthcare or be penalised more then the healthcare cost through taxation..
For the Love of All that is good and and Holy in this world can you please stop with the Frank Zappa requests. You're turning my favorite Reaction channel into a Freak Show! There's got to be another artist you like for f$@s sake!
Don't blame Dan and Sifa - the patreons who support this channel chose the tracks and lots of us love FZ. The high number of views the FZ reactions get, compared to most of the other artists indicated that you are in the minority.
I'd like to mention for those not old enough to recognise, the melody IS...the old 'My Bologna has a 1st name its-Oscar my baloney has a 2nd name its -Mayer, I love t eat it every day and if u ask me Why ill sayyy,,, Cause Oscar Mayors has a way with Bologna, cuz singn bout evangelist is like singn bout ground up pig anus! Love ya Frank...
If you liked this, be sure to check out our Frank Zappa podcast!
ua-cam.com/video/qyOpmQ7p-DA/v-deo.html
"And if you don't know by now,
The truth of what I'm tellin' you,
Then, surely I have failed somehow-
Surely I have failed somehow
Surely I have failed somehow"
Over thirty years later that line still gets me choked up.
me too
Me too. The perfect example of how Zappa’s lyrics sometimes have a serious point to be made.
Fuck yeah. Gets me EVERY time.
One of the very few times FZ sort of let his soul out there, in an emotionally charged way, almost melancholy or sentimental, to be observed, without a care of what people may think.
Reading these comments make me very happy, realizing there's you peepz out there who share this with me. What an amazing song, what an amazing punchline.
Finally someone reacting to this! "When the lie's so big" is another great one from this album!
After months of rehearsals including Jesus thinks your a jerk without the twilight zone part Frank added that part to the song .
For the first several performances of the song Ike would pull a piece of paper out to read it .
Then it disappeared…
The next day I went up to Frank and said “What happened to that part ?and he said “Ike can’t remember it and I can’t have him read it from paper night after night!”
I said “But it’s such a important part of the song, Pat Robertson is one of the most dangerous people alive!
I swear to god he said to me “ If you learn it you can do it “
And I did !
Frank Zappa will live as long as there’s electricity!!!
Pat Robertson R.I.P.
Nice. I spoke to Ike recently. I'll have to ask him about this!
Tell him I said HI !!!
And for the true story of how I slept on Owsleys floor see this Fantastic channels reaction video to The Dan Of Steels immortal classic …
Kid Charlemagne!!
For me that night might have been the best !!
@@EricBuxton-qy8yt I told Ike you said Hi! He seems not to remember the Owsley story.
Thanks ,
That was like 1992 different time different band .
@@EricBuxton-qy8yt I'd been unable to reach him. It's public now, here's the public statement: "Ike is done with the detox & now officially in the rehab center to complete his journey to sobriety & health"
This feels like ancient history, and yet so up-to-the-minute.
The "ugly little weasel" at the beginning is Tammy Faye Bakker, about whom there's been a documentary recently. She separated from husband Jimbo after he was jailed for fraud and has since become something of a gay icon. Pat Robertson was always a much scarier character.
it’s a biopic actually; Jessica Chastain won the Oscar for best actress for her impersonation of Tammy.
@@dago87able Oh yeah, so it is. Thanks.
@@donaldb1 Sure, not at all.
yes its about televangelists "Lonesome Cowboy Burt (Swaggart Version)"
Frank also did a Beatles medley on the 1988 tour with the lyrics rewritten to be about Jimmy Swaggert's fall from grace. So Norwegian Wood became Norwegian Jim, Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds became Louisiana Hooker with Herpes, and Strawberry Fields became Texas Motel.
Recordings have been around for years, but the songs finally have an official release now.
It's not Napoleon. It's the also great Ike Willis. Check him out. Tremendous voice.
Thanks Carlos!
Ike, my favourite Zappa vocalist EVER.
This entire album is a masterpiece.
Today Frank would find enough new material and protagonists for his updated version of this tune. Can't imagine how many new verses he would have to add🤣🤣🤣!
I don't think he'd bother with the Christians today, more the feminists and anti-racists.
@@allotrope2978 Wow that is... deluded. He called out the racists in this song, and they are still here doing their thing. He called out the right wing war against abortion, which is now resurging.
@@hackbod He'd have a field day with college activists. Do you think he'd just watch political correctness take over and not say anything?
@@hackbod To clarify; I think he'd rip both Trump AND his critics a new one.
The "smell the glove" lyrical nugget, btw, is a reference to a scene in the rock parody "Spinal Tap" about dom-sub degradation/humiliation.
He mentioned Jim & Tammy Bakker, and Pat Robertson. I think he was around for Swaggart as well since he is mentioned in other FZ songs.
This '88 tour is Frank at his unsurmountable best in every single department possible. His greatest ever band, more viable "targets" than possibly his whole previous career. More humour/wit/sarcasm and pure put down than any previous tour. The greatest diversity of music.
No one was safe on this tour. Music wise, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Cream, Elvis, Jacko, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and more all felt the Zappa wrath.
It is Swaggert and this track is mild to the treatment he got from Frank. There's a brilliant "Beatles medley" in which Frank rips him apart.
There are some haters of this band but they are mainly blinkered, rabid clones.
I'm up to 6 and a half hours of "different music from this tour, and still counting.
Don't believe any of the blinkered who say it was this band that made Frank stop touring. It was his health that did that.
Also for this bands haters....a flame that shines twice as bright shines half the time.
There's only one drawback to the 1988 tour and that is Frank's guitar solos. He hadn't even picked up the guitar since 1984 and in my opinion the solos are (half the time) subpar. I agree with everything else you said, though.
Broadway the Hard Way" tour!
Second best Frank era, next to 1977 early 78.
He used a huge array of musicians, live for his final tour.An even larger band than the Roxy and Elsewhere recording, 1974. Brought back Bruce on Trombone, along with a superb brass and woodwind section! Two times Frank put the most money into a project Baby snakes, sheik yer bouti and the Broadway 87-88 final tour.The rest were experiments.
paul, man I dont know, it is excellent band to be sure but I just love the Roxy band so much. Ruth Underwood is an American Treasure
@@HakanTunaMuzik perhaps you just don't get it, lol. get out of your cocoon, lol
@@HakanTunaMuzik You can have your opinion but you trample all over mine, you pompous, would be know it all.
You obviously know more than Frank did as he said many times the '88 band was his best. Still you'll have some bollocks to say to prove Frank a liar, lol.
Been a Zappa Fan since '71 when I was 13. Saw 3 of his previous band line ups. '78, '80 and ;82 as well as the '88 tour in London and 2 german venues. From what i saw, I agree totally with Frank. The '88 band was the best
"Carnival song... history lesson". Very concise, very true and very insightful. Kudos, Dan.
The melody to this song is from a tune called, "In an Old Dutch Garden", by Will Grosz. You can't imagine how astonished I was when I heard it in a film from the 1940 called, "Now Voyager", with Bette Davis.
@@janefrigoris that's awesome! I am gonna look for that movie :D
Here is a link to a vocal recording of the song ua-cam.com/video/WCVFN-NyIeE/v-deo.html @@wildmanfisher
Frank certainly was alive for Jimmy Swaggart. I don't think he gets a mention in this song, but Frank ragged on him in just about every other song he did on this tour.
Thanks Donaldb1
Jimmy Swaggart is a cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis who'da thunk it
Oh yes, Frank was definitely around when Jimmy Swaggart was doing his dirty work. Maybe I'll suggest Frank Zappa's Beatles Medley for you to see what Frank thought of his shenanigans. Swaggart owns his own cable network now where he can continue to sell his crap 24/7.
The "ugly little weasel" Frank mentioned was Tammy Faye Bakker who actually became a pretty cool person when her husband Jim went to prison for tax evasion. Now he's selling food buckets to survive after the impending apocalypse as predicted in the bible.
This was from the 1988 tour, so that was Ike Willis singing with Frank, not Napoleon.
And Pat Robertson is still alive at 93 years young. Hallelujah.
On this tour, Frank did a bunch of "Swaggart Versions" of his older songs, plus a Beatles medley making fun of TV preachers. That medley was a bootleg for decades until the recent full '88 show release.
I love this song so much. Those big band runs with the xylophone and brass are so sweet. No Nappy here though. The 88 band was pure distilled refined Zappa perfection. Thanks for the reaction!
Glad you enjoyed Thomas, thanks!
These lyrics feel as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. Frank repeatedly warned us of a militant, fascist theocracy, and.... just look around.
That aside, there's excellent music in here as well, from the slide-whistle melody with its various rhythmic treatments, to the thematic descending fourths (fifths?), the political and pop culture references, and more.
It's just an excellent and prophetic piece of work. I can't imagine the amount of effort that went into arranging, rehearsing, performing, and recording it. One of my faves.
Henry Cisneros gets mentioned in this song because as mayor of San Antonio Tx. an ordinance passed making attendance by juveniles under age 14 at rock concerts illegal. Frank often said music does not make people social liabilities or something to that affect.
The Pat and Jim he refers to in this song, I believe, is Pat Robertson and Jim (and Tammy) Bakker, but I'm sure he was around for Swaggart's downfall as well. Frank's religion was music, and his god The Big Note. He had little patience for any other philosophies as their hypocrisy was too much for him. He didn't mind poking fun at them, and when he did, none were spared, he was an equal opportunity offender. It's a shame Frank didn't make it into the 21st century with us, I am sure today's world events would have inspired some great fucking music from him. Ya know?
Do you think Trump would have got a verse or two, lol.
Oh for sure! Thanks for watching John!
@@paulfenwick8767 ...or three or four or five.
Frank invited The League of Women's Voters to set up at the venues he played. You could register before the show and during intermission.
The Swaggart scandal happened in the middle of this tour. They performed a medley of Beatles songs w/ the lyrics changed to document Swaggart’s “sins”. It was finally released a few months ago on Frank’s final US show:
ua-cam.com/video/zfsHUmpuTSs/v-deo.html
First, yes he knew about Swaggart and rewrote his song Lonesome Cowboy Burt where he relates the story including the famous or infamous "only the tip". In this song, though he's referring to Jim and Tammy Bakker, TV evangelists at the time and Pat Robertson, at the time presidential candidate, and yes he died a few month ago. There is a German saying: You can put them all in one sack and hit the with a cudgel and you will always hit the right one. - This song is one of my all time favorites not only of Frank's but generally. I still get goose bumps in the concluding section, but I also like the complete musical variety that is being displayed in this piece. Once again, I am happy that you had so much fun
Thanks Thomas!
This is one of my favorite zappa albums musically, though it has a lot of dated political and cultural references, it still holds up as amazing listenable music.
There’s nothing dated in this song.
@@ivorjawa I'd say the reference to Tammy Faye Bakker might be one that only older folks will relate to
Great stuff, thanks! I laughed when you were unsure of which perverted tv evangelists there were - so many to choose from! And yes, there are plenty of examples from this tour featuring Swaggart..
It was all happening as the tour was going on - so, kind of' today's update on Jimbo and Pat...' and then the (infamous) Beatles medley... (see the last US gig recent release!)...
😂right! Thanks for watching Kronosarm!
Rhymin' Man from the same album.
Yes Frank was alive when Jimmy Swaggart was around, in fact he has made a few references to him on various songs....he loved to ridicule the "Televangelists" of the 1980's, really enjoyable as always guys thanks.
I'd have to check the credits, but I think Napolean was already off on his own when this was recorded. You may have heard Ike Willis (guitar, vox) chiming in. Another funny and talented guy who really belonged in that band. Ike went on to start Project Object, a national touring act covering Zappa's material.
Thanks for the correction!
I have always loved this song, and Frank was really on point about TV Preachers. Talk about only being in the for the money!
Frank mention Jimmy Swaggart several times in the live album The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. He even have a JS-version of he song The Torture Never Stops :D
On this same album, half way through "Stolen Moments" , Sting gets up and talks about Swaggart before going into "Murder By Numbers". You've reacted to it already.
😆nice!
My ONLY regret from the 88 tour is that Frank had this big band with an incredible horn section but didn’t write new instrumental material in that format. Imagine what that band could have done. Otherwise this was arguably his best band (with a nod to the Roxy era groups). And it spewed forth a ton of great stuff.
BUT since 88 i miss something when i listen to the LedZep original stairway. And sure it is the horn section.
@@Frunobulax74 yes there were lots of unique horn arrangements, but not for brand new material. Just a quibble.
From all I read about the 88 Tour I learned this: Zappa was already feeling ill during the tour. Maybe that is a reason for less new material. Scott Thunes (Bass player) was very much in charge for rehearsals and also made decisions about the material/covers being played. The band rehearsed for many months and had a vast repertoire Zappa could pull from to create a diverse set list + the Band was capable of playing Songs in different styles by a hand signal of Zappa. Zappa also became a more public/political figure because of the PMRC hearings. It is possible that the intent for the tour was more political/strategic than musical. The management change also played some role since band members said Zappa was more separated from the Band on that tour. Also Mike Keneally (the new guy in the Band) was like a Zappa-Juke-Box since he knew so many songs by heart. It is possible that Zappa got a thrill out of playing material he didn't play for very long time.
I always loved the 88 Band.
Oh my god, that was a typical Zappa-Nerd response. I hate Zappa-Nerds.
@@Frunobulax74 Yes, a fact I never heard before Chad Wackerman talked about it on the Zappacast. Imagine Zappa on Fox today…
@@MrOrontea - I don't think Frank was a Fox guy. I think he was his own guy looking to land a nice contract for a late night talk show with whichever network would bite. Too bad he failed, but if he got the show we would have never gotten the '88 tour.
Yup, Frank sure called these guys out... I did like watching (the ever so angry) Gene Scott from time to time...
Pastor
Vicious! Hilarious! Don't cross Frankie-boy. Ernest, babies. Yeeeesh. All of 'em.
I've was at the show at the congress theater in Chicago when this was preformed. Good times
@Peter Doyle - The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, not the Congress. I was there both nights.
@@Frunobulax74 Thats funny. The Auditorium is on Michigan Ave. Why would I go to Congress parkway to see Zappa?
@@peterdoyle452 - Actually, in '88 when we saw Frank the address was Congress Parkway. The Auditorium is located at the corner of Congress and Michigan Ave. The street has recently been changed to Ida B. Wells Dr. No more Congress Pkwy. There actually is a Congress Theater, but Frank never played there and it's on Milwaukee Ave.
The melody is from an old song called, "An Old Dutch Garden" by Will Grosz.
No way . I listened to a half dozen versions of "Old Dutch Garden" right here on You tube. I could though see that it might remind one of it . Actually "Jesus thinks..." has quotations from "Light Cavalry Overture" ,"Battle Hymn of the Republic" ,"Entry of the Gladiators "and about a half dozen others according to pg 56 ..."The Big Note a guide to the recordings of FZ "by Charles Ulrich.
@@kevinmcguire3715 Yes way, it is a nearly a note for note adaptation of Old Dutch Garden with some minor variants. Listen again.
@@kevinmcguire3715 it is closer in musical content to Old Dutch Garden than Plastic People is to Louie Louie which is quoted in Jesus Thinks as well.
yes it was about Jimmy.
Frank Zappa was the only artist I know, that would take the stage, and, encourage people to go out and register to vote.
all the Jim in this song is Jim Bakker, in fact
I love how you guys are confused about which televangelist did which stupid sex thing that ended their careers...lol...real big lol. Now... let's get serious. Do you guys have some time to read a rather LOOOOONG comment?
Here's a story that starts on Halloween, 1982 outside the Ritz Theatre in N.Y. at 4.00 in the afternoon.
I was waiting for Frank Zappa to arrive... I knew that he would be there early before the show, so I left Long Island at 10.00 in the morning and was in front of the Ritz at 12.00 or so. (you can never be TOO early for Frank)... anyways... Around 4.00 in the afternoon a big guy walks towards the stairs of the Ritz and sits near me and asks "How long you been here?" I say "Since Noon, more or less" This guy laughs, and asks me my name . I say "Chris" and he says "My name is Eric". We become friends... smoke some joints and he tells me about being kinda friends with Zappa.
This was cool for me.
A Milwaukee boy in N.Y. hanging out in front of the Ritz with a guy that says he knows Zappa. I said
"I'm waiting for him. We just talked to eachother from the stage to the audience in Italy a few months ago, he might remember me... it was the 4TH of July." Eric said
"He WILL remember you.. Frank remembers everybody."....
I didn't really hold much faith in what he said.
2 hours later at 6.00 (After I had also met "The Dynamic Butch") Frank arrived and when he saw Eric... he said " HEY!!!!! The dynamic Eric Buxton!" They shook hands and Eric introduced me. Frank looked at me and said
"I remember you!!! I want to shake your hand... (I shook his hand... flabbergasted) You brought up the spirits in our band that night with that '4Th of July' sign... I have you on videotape... I taped you and that sign. " I looked at Eric and Eric just looked at me with a "I told you so." look on his face.
And then we watched the world premeire of "Dub Room Special" together... twice. At 9.00 and 11.00.
This is part one of my Eric Buxton story. If you want to hear part two... just write "continue". ciao from Italy.
My right foot's bigger than my other one is, like a regular Buxton hoof"
Any kind of pain es un hermosa cancion con un solo de lo mejor de Frank y su version de The stolen moment y Murder by number con Sting tambien es lo mas destacado ...hermoso album!!!
Yes I believe he's talking about Swaggart.
TV preacher spoof mostly in the beginning Tammy Faye Bakker and whatever husband's name was
I love the frank and Ike vocals!
The story in the song is about Jim and Tammy Baker. And the music may SOUND easy, but bif you ever tried to play this song... to actually REPRODUCE this arrangement... you realize... this song NEVER REPEATS. It sounds like it does... but it doesn't,. I t is another example of Frank's musical genius... but it is EXTREMELY hidden. Listen again... but thinking like you have to memorize it... because it tricked you into thinking that was easy... it ain't.
Does anybody know why Henry Cisneros was mentioned in this song? It was a bit weird hearing that name in one of these songs.
We do not
Frank Zappa Live in New York talks about it on stage
must hear.... Lonesome Cowboy Burt (Swaggert Version) 😂
Funny you should mention Jimmy Swaggert, because during this very same concert Sting came on stage, gave a stirring anti-JSwaggert rant, then did a collab jazz arrangement of "Murder By Numbers"
hilarious!
We are all the jerks jesus thought we were .it's our responsibility to change it
Yep🕊!
Zappa played a drug dealer on a Miami Vice episode, back in 1986. A little Zappa trivia for ya....
😆wow
Crockett,, I want my weasel dust !!!
Great line.
Frank created a special suite just for Jimmy Swaggart: ua-cam.com/video/zfsHUmpuTSs/v-deo.html
As a 15 year old kid I lived near the Jesus Freak place and I couldn't go anywhere without these Jesus Freaks accosting me I am like, man I'm just a 15-year-old kid leave me alone
LOL
o0o0o0o you gotta check out the torture never stops jimmy sweigert version lmao
“The Swaggart flap…”
Poignant is an understatement in 2022
Take a listen to "The Meek shall Inherent the Earth" .
Frank was definitely around in Jimmy Swaggart's days - and guess what, Jimmy Swaggart is Jerry Lee Lewis's cousin.
Wow 😆!
vintage zappa at his best
You didn't discuss the white supremacist implications near the end of the song and the real warning 'If Pat gets in the WH...the rights of certain people disappear..mysteriously.' That is such a brilliant line. The whole album is a masterpiece.
ok, is this what they missed?
what's that hanging from a neighbours tree?
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 : yes, this echoes the horrific image of 'Strange Fruit' in the song covered by Nina Simone and others.
@@indricotherium4802 wow, thanks I did not know about the term "strange fruit" I will now look up the song, thanks.
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 Strange Fruit, check out Billie Holidays version. Incredible.
Jimmy Swaggart is mentioned on other tracks on the very same release as this.
Yes I know, error. Swaggart versions of Lonesome Cowboy Burt, More Trouble Every Day, & Penquin In Bondage are on The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. Geez Louise.
Its Jim and tammy fay baker that he's talking about
Last song of his last album. The last Door before his eternity
I know. But the last new songs in a new album while he was still living , are on broadway the hard way. Others new songs came later after je died
@@ludofuzz3012 - Not true. The last new songs in a new album released while Frank was still living are on The Yellow Shark. It was released November 2, 1993 and Frank died December 4, 1993.
I'd like to mention for those not old enough to recognise, the melody IS...the old 'My Bologna has a 1st name its-Oscar my baloney has a 2nd name its -Mayer, I love t eat it every day and if u ask me Why ill sayyy,,, Cause Oscar Mayors has a way with Bologna, cuz singn bout evangelist is like singn bout ground up pig anus! Love ya Frank...
This was Jim and Tammy Baker.
Yeah! We're in agreement. Those televangelists are sick.
Jim and Tammy Baker. Listen to his Beatles meledy on Jimmy Searget
It was Jim Bakker and Tammy Bakker.
Frank sure didn't mellow with age.
Tes, Zappa liver through the time when TV evangelists attempted, and at times succeded in dominated politics. As time went on, as he mentioned in the song, their hypocrisy became apparent. They often came off as guye just looking to hustle a buch.
Hi Dan, Hi Sifa. Frank covered the Jimmy scandal throughout that tour and in other songs. Frank was alive at that time and covered this. Whenever you are super anti something it is because you are that thing is a very true statement. There is something in that. One feels guilt about being abusive to animals starts a donkey sanctuary. The guy who is head of save the children. Fill in the gap. Head of Black lives matter, fighting against racial prejudice. Is the biggest bigot. Frank found out that the lead campaigner for rock censorship used to be a drummer in an all girl rock band.
Crazy world we live in! Thanks for sharing Keith!
He even mentioned Tom Brady! Whoda thunk it.
😆
YAWYI also had tracks referencing Religion and politics , we would be Dumb all over to accept it!!
Broadway the Hard Way" tour!
Second best Frank era, next to 1977 early 78.
He used a huge array of musicians, live for his final tour.An even larger band than the Roxy and Elsewhere recording, 1974. Brought back Bruce on Trombone, along with a superb brass and woodwind section! Just 2 times Frank invested the most money into a project ,Baby snakes, sheik yer bouti 1977-78,and the Broadway 87-88 final tour.The rest were just pretentious experiments. These two periods made Frank who he really was, A modern day Mozart.
Not the guy who, during his organic eras, convinced so many people that he was the one who ate sh*t, or baby chicks on stage, with Alice Cooper. It was time to put Frank up there at the top,with his SERIOUS projects, not pretentious ones.
He's talking about Jim & Tammy Baker, as well as Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson. They're all hypocrites and crooks. You should check out Murder By Numbers with Sting from this same album.
In this song, the words are serious and the music is comical. I loved seeing you both enjoying the song, as fully intended. All tele-evangelists are jerks.
Thanks for watching Larry!
As a Christian, I enjoy maximized offense in listening to this song. Hope Beelzebub is being good to Frank 😅😅😅
😆!
Frank was religious...people don't see it...here from the horses mouth at 36.00 minutes she asks the question...are you religious ua-cam.com/video/dJ5W897em5Y/v-deo.html
They must have his DNA. Please clone him.
He did have voter registration at concerts. And "micropublicans" always has me cracking up. What a relevant song. Still.
Jeezobucks is another good one.
well he said republicans are pure unbridled evil and the democrats wished they were the republicans....i think they got there wish around the 90's...
@@mikedemike5393 well, the US ordered their democracy on wish, that's apparent.
@@TommiBrem yeah they are wishing they still had it...democracy is a bastard of a thing that was tried twice in ancient athens...If memory serves it lasted 5 years and 1 year before people realized the sycophants.. were corrupting the process..I live in Australia and we have a social democratic society that thinks when a poll shows 51% support something the other 49% have to bow to the majority....I like the US system that says even if 99% support something it is alright to have your opinion or lifestyle choice...We are finding all the benefits and privilege that was offered for our birth right 90 years ago are slowly being eroded...benefit and privilege is given and can be taken away...and I know many people in the USA through social media communicate with other western nations and they think why can't the USA have free health care...we had it and now we dont...if you earn the equivalent of 30k a year you have to buy healthcare or be penalised more then the healthcare cost through taxation..
Ahead of it's time.
Aint it nice when you hit the Bible thumper´s with the fact that Jesus was Jewish.
🥰!
listen to lonesome cowboy burt swaggert version
Yes swagart
What would Frank say about cancel culture properly make for a great song .
Um Pa
Jim & Tammys got to go! Thanks guys
Oh yeah he was alive for all that nonsense
prescient to today's political climate.
Jesus saves
but what’s the percentage yearly
is it comparable with the banks ??
Yuck yuck
🤣🤣🤣🤣
😆
For the Love of All that is good and and Holy in this world can you please stop with the Frank Zappa requests. You're turning my favorite Reaction channel into a Freak Show! There's got to be another artist you like for f$@s sake!
It's the Patreons who make and chose what songs are reacted to, not Dan and Sifa...for f$@s sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beauty Knows No
Beauty Knows No
........Pain
Joe you have to upgrade to the super patreon league
Don't blame Dan and Sifa - the patreons who support this channel chose the tracks and lots of us love FZ. The high number of views the FZ reactions get, compared to most of the other artists indicated that you are in the minority.
@@dougaberdein802 Well said😁
@@paulfenwick8767 I'M TALKING TO THE PATREAONS!!!
I'd like to mention for those not old enough to recognise, the melody IS...the old 'My Bologna has a 1st name its-Oscar my baloney has a 2nd name its -Mayer, I love t eat it every day and if u ask me Why ill sayyy,,, Cause Oscar Mayors has a way with Bologna, cuz singn bout evangelist is like singn bout ground up pig anus! Love ya Frank...