It's ridiculous alone what kind of negligible graduations in what people are doing are considered "genres" these days (ok, it really was starting to get that bad in the 90s already). A band like Black Sabbath, not to mention Jethro Tull, might easily span 10 genres, lol! "we do "bagum, bagum, bagum, bagum, ba-dee-dee-dee-gum", but this band over there does " ..., ba-dee--ba-gum" - therefore, they are in a different genre! You don't know much about music, do you?" ...
First to comment. Great choice! Edit: Watermelon Man is a jazz funk standard written by Herbie Hancock, Watermelon in Easter Hay is the Zappa tune you're thinking of.
Oh yeah. The genius of Frank Zappa. He's definitely not for everybody. He's far too eccentric for a lot of people. He's a great composer. I've been a fan for a long time. I believe when Frank was asked about his odd lyrics he said something like; "lyrics are for people that need them."
Not only that, the truth is, his lyrics aren't "*really* all that odd if you understand why he wrote them. for example: "Moving to Montana," sounds like a really silly song about moving to Montana to start a dental floss empire. Actually, it IS a silly song, but it's mocking a "movement" if you will, that was going on in Southern CA at the time of all these hippies going out to countryside and starting these communal farms and such. The vast majority of which failed, or got busted because they were growing weed. Zappa did a brilliant job, actually, of mocking the shit of them.
@@somersetcace1 - I personally think "Montana" is just a fun song created from Frank's imagination. If he wanted to mock hippies in that song he would have, just like he did on the album We're only in it for the Money.
@@Frunobulax74 It was the movement that was being mocked, not specifically hippies, and I'm pretty sure that's what it's having to do with. Still a fun song and all. Though, none of that's really the point I was making. It's that a lot of Frank's lyrics were based on some social commentary or another. Not just silly lyrics that don't mean anything.
@@somersetcace1 - Frank hated dentists and never went. Band members have said Frank dealt with bad teeth problems through the years. I thought he was having a laugh about dental floss since it was becoming a popular part of daily dental care in the 1970s.
@@somersetcace1 We’re Only in it for the Money is a perfect example of a Frank album that decimated all over hippie culture. Love that one, great cover too
I have over 60 albums by Frank, saw him 16 times from L.A. to New York and every where in between. George Duke is playing keys and a Moog synthesizer , Chester Thompson is the drummer . Every concert the sound was incredible, that's why so many of Frank's albums are live recordings. Even though I am in my late 60s, everytime I hear Frank playing his lead guitar solos, I always have an acid flashback! Wee!
Great request, RG. Behind all the wacky, there is so much talent. This track is trippy and jazzy but Zappa had a reputation for zero tolerance with drugs. Thanks ✨🤪
16:25: actually, no, Zappa doesn't sing on this track (except for a few words he speaks). Main vocals are by George Duke, the renowned Jazz pianist, who also plays the keyboard instruments. Napoleon Murphy Brock sings some of the lines.
Steve Hackett from Genesis was tapping on The Return Of The Giant Hogweed on Nursery Cryme in 1971 and Jeff Beck used his pick to tap in The Yardbirds in 1966.
Paganini tapped his violin with a bow in the 1800s. Roy Smeck tapped his ukulele in the 1930s. Emmett Chapman developed a tapping technique in 1969 and later invented the Chapman Stick.
There's a lot of humor to Franks music, but the musicianship is always on point. Everything is written out, with the exceptions of some improvised solos. Frank is excellent. on this trac: Frank Zappa - guitar and backing vocals George Duke - lead and backing vocals and synthesizer Napoleon Murphy Brock - flute, backing vocals, tenor saxophone Ruth Underwood - marimba, vibraphone, percussion Chester Thompson - drums, sounds effects, voices Tom Fowler - bass guitar
@@buddystewart2020 Frank didn’t tolerate slackers. Some tracks sound comical, cartoonish, space jazz or plain crazy ... but it’s meticulous from the mind of the mad genius. Thanks ✨🤪
Frank Zappa IS a legend. He was know for rehearsing his band to death, but you can tell on this track how incredibly tight and perfectly attuned together they were. There are videos of the band doing this live and it sounds every bit as crisp and perfect. Watching Ruth Underwood bounce from marimba, vibes, tympani and so on is mesmerizing, too.
Everyone in this line up of The Mother's was an outstanding musician,absolutely no weak links. My favorite FZ musician was Ruth Underwood. She was Zappa's premier percussionist for almost 10 years and played some of the most breathtaking Zappa charts with such command. She played the entire array of tuned percussion,xylophone, marimba,vibraphone, tympani,etc. She was a master percussionist. After she left zappa continued to have amazing percussionists and extremely challenging music, but to my ears it lost some of the sparkle and warmth after her absence.
Ruth is/was a genius percussionist. She studied or graduated from Julliard. There is a video out there with all the Zappa drummers together to compare notes. Amazing. The 'other' drummer is Chester Thompson, a brilliant jazz percussionist. He said the rehearsals with Frank were as rigorous as could be imagined. Chester also played with Weather Report, another group of amazing musicians (serious fusion). Mr. Thompson said the only other group he knew of that came close to Zappa's rehearsals was Genesis!
He mad a lot of use of the synclavier (sp?) which would print out the sheet music for the band. He did a shit ton of composing the old fashioned way though.
Can you imagine somebody audditioning for Zappa's band thinking,oh there just jamming and playing chaotic notes and random percussion and then ,the sheets upon sheets pepperd with notes and dynamic markings are placed on the music stand? Well sorry sport,NEXT! lol
So happy you guys liked this! The idea that aliens from outer space might have visited Earth in the past and built things like the "Inca Roads" became popular in the early 70s, and that's what Frank's lyrics are making fun of ... The Mothers of Invention was the name of Frank's original late-60s band, and he kept using that name (off and on) for this great fusion band that he assembled in the 70s. That marimba sound you were hearing wasn't a keyboard, but Ruth Underwood tearing it up on an actual marimba! George Duke, on keyboards and lead vocals on this track, was a jazz guy who had played with Jean-Luc Ponty before joining Zappa, and for a time alternated between playing with Frank and Cannonball Adderley. Chester Thompson, the great drummer, played with Weather Report after leaving Zappa (he's on the "Black Market" album), then replaced Bill Bruford as Genesis' touring drummer in '76, staying with them for 16 years; he also played with Santana for a year and on Phil Collins' solo tours from '82 through '05. A great band!
If you want to check out something cool with Vai and Zappa, search ' Frank Zappa duels Steve Vai 'Stevies spanking' ' by eTomax. There's another version which has 200k views but the audio is pitch shifted upward with some weird effects on it, I don't know why it's the most viewed. Shows a young Steve Vai before he found his style trading licks.
Vai considers Frank as the greatest composer of the 20th Century. But yea, Vai either took heavy influence from Frank as far as composition goes, or maybe he was encouraged to carry it on. Either way this is brilliance. Thanks!
RG is the man with the song suggestions! (Wackerman came later than this, btw. Frank did champion Holdsworth in interviews and such, though. Chester Thompson is the drummer on this recording. Ruth Underwood plays that amazing marimba and sundry percussion). Most of the lead singing is George Duke, btw, though you can pick out places with Frank or Napoleon Murphy Brock vocals in front.
@@michelemichele3375 you might like hearing Mike Keneally do this, solo acoustic guitar .... where he tries to play all of the parts and comes damn close!. Keneally was the last "stunt guitarist", after Vai, in Frank's bands. (Check out "Mike Keneally - Inca Roads - Cardiff on youtube and you'll see that).
FZ was a massive talent, a groundbreaking artist, and constantly challenging himself and his fans. I really recommend Jazz From Hell, which was pure composition using digital hardware. The Girl in the Magnesium Dress is my favorite track.
Maybe his most underrated album. You have to listen to it like 20 times to get it but it eventually becomes very catchy actually. St. Etienne is his greatest guitar solo hands down. Rhythm section was absolutely perfect for that solo section on Drowning Witch.
Hey Nick N Lex. This is how the love a fare with Frank Zappa starts. The guy was a musical genius but never took himself to seriously lyrically. This was a great song to introduce yourself to him. Glad you both liked it. He's a lot of fun to listen to. Keep up the good work.
I was fortunate to grow up in the era of Zappa, and bought every album he put out. My only complaint about him is that he shared the spotlight with the other musicians in the band, and didn't highlight his guitar playing as much as I would have liked. He was a brilliant guitar player.
Zappa always had the best musicians in his band. His composing is top notch and always has a comic element. The music is very jazzy, avant-garde, with rock elements, so next level. Glad you two enjoyed this, shows you have good taste and intelligence!
Exactly! I've learned this from Zappa and Peter Gabriel: If you surround yourself with top musicians in their field, everything will be great music. Special attention to have the best drummer you can, because as good the other musicians may be, a mediocre drummer will drag all down,,, Greetings from Rio!
Chester Thompson was the drummer on this album. He's my all-time favourite drummer. He toured with Genesis for several years when Phill Collins became their lead singer. Anyway, Terry Bozzio succeeded Thompson as Zappa's drummer for a few years, followed by Vinnie Colaiuta, David Logeman and, eventually, Chad Wackerman. The lead singer on this song was George Duke, with a lot of support from Napoleon Murphy Brock. Zappa himself also contributed some vocals on this song, but he was not the lead. There is a lot of keyboard in this song (played by George Duke), but a lot of what you think is keyboard is actually the marimba/vibraphone played by Ruth Underwood.
I can't believe this is the first time you've reacted to Inca Roads for some reason. Anyway great song off one of his absolute best albums. Chester Thompson played drums on this and many Zappa albums - later became Genesis' touring drummer. This was Zappa's classic and absolute best musician lineup - esp. Ruth Underwood. BTW - Steve Hackett of Genesis was doing finger tapping on album in 1971. All of the other songs on the album sound completely different. Steve Vai didn't get involved with Zappa as a transcriber until a couple or few years later.
I liked the drowning witch line up a lot, even if Scott Thunes never played his part correctly (according to Zappas standards) The OG Mothers also had insane synergy, King Kong was a 30 min masterpiece jamola
And you can here Thompson's drumming sounding like when he was in Weather Report. (the jazzy part) And tapping goes back to the '30s or earlier. There's a movie from then that showed a guy doing it. And there's another guitar player who invented 4 other ways of tapping. And he has about 300 albums out. Wears that KFC chicken bucket on his head. :)
@@tixximmi1 Yes, saw that old clip. And Marcel Marceau and others did the moon walk before Michael Jackson. But tapping on an electric with distortion/fuzz/sustain is unique enough that I consider Hackett one of its originators in rock. EVH was aware of it also. Hackett also talked about the technique in a Guitar Player magazine interview in the early/mid 70s.
@@eximusic Like I said it's been on TV and old movies that I've seen from the '30s. '40s and '50s too. Like we say here in Texas, Never Let the Truth get in the way of a Good Story.
@@tixximmi1 I'm guessing EVH heard Genesis, The Musical Box, and not the unknown guitarist from some obscure clip that wasn't available in the pre-internet age. There was no on-demand video information back then besides VHS tapes. If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there, does it make a sound? Everything you know now you would have never known in the 80s or 90s. Googling isn't the same as winning on Jeopardy. You need actual knowledge and brains for the latter.
You have to react to “Little House I Used to Live In” on Zappa’s (Mothers of Invention) Burnt Weeny Sandwich album. Sugarcane Harris’s bluesy electric violin is insane. Zappa’s guitar work, stunning.
THE COUCH: Back in the 70's a RED COUCH was making it's way around the world for an Art Project. 1000's of photos were taken. It was everywhere. ZAPPA: Try "Muffin Man" from the studio album. The man invented Rap...!
Frank is an enormous study all by himself. He's notable for putting musicians through extreme paces that made some careers and handsomely burnished many more. He's arguably rock music's greatest underrated guitarist. Also: a uniquely striking lyricist. (His "Magdalena" from 1971's "Just Another Band From L.A." is a live-recording tirade against child sexual abuse before anyone was even really talking about the subject, featuring Flo & Eddie from the original Turtles, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums.) His work goes through several distinct periods, from the Mothers in their first and second lineups until "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life" in 1988. My favorite is the Roxy Band, exemplified in this piece. That's Ruth Underwood on vibes & marimba. There's a lifetime to dig in Frank.
Frank's 1968 album cruising with Ruben & the jets is hands down the best album of 50's doo wop music ever produced. IMHO. For a guy who said he didn't care about legacy or being remembered Frank transcended every race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender age etc.. around the world possibly more than any one else with the exception of religious figures. Here is a video that is a montage of people across India and the world playing Franks song gumbo variations. ua-cam.com/video/cwQTFBfgYus/v-deo.html
Mike Portnoy is a big fan! So am I 😬 The voice was mainly George Duke - Zappa has a very low voice. Lots of Zappa fans also love Jethro Tull - like a package. If you like this, go for Greggery Peccary by him. It's a cartoon for your ears with lots of jazz/.fusion, and a crazy story, but also contemporary classic bits which Frank also excelled at. Many classic orchestras as well as Jazz big bands today love to play his music as a challenge.
Napolean mirphy brock and george duke and chester thompson and Mr Frank Zappa all participated on bionic vocals, especially Napolean! Yeah, syou are witnessing some of the greatest musicians world wide the world over. Behold.
This isn't a reaction request, just a little insight into the geius of Zappa. This video is too much fun and gives some insight into the mind of Zappa. Zappa needed percussion on the road, but there were no electric vibes or marimbas, soooo... He made his own. This is Ruth Underwood, his percussionist for many years talking about when he talked her into drilling into the bars of her vibraphone she'd had since she was 16! Enjoy! ua-cam.com/video/YSavN19ZJ4g/v-deo.html
my favorite Allan Holdsworth song is the unmerry go round yeah Ruth Underwood was playing The Vibes or the marimbas whatever you call him and she was married to Ian Underwood which he was one of the original members of the Mothers of Invention he was a sax player I believe anyhow route was so proficient at playing The Vibes it's unbelievable and at the end of the song you hear him say on Ruth on Ruth bump it up that's Ruth yeah I didn't know if you did any UK stuff Terry Bozzio course he was in the missing persons as well George Duke was doing all that amazing electric piano yeah if you want to hear the Steve Vai stuff check out the man from Utopia that album if I did some amazing stuff I won't give away the plot you'll just have to hear it and you'll have to hear that song called Tink walks amok because there's some in there some particular instrument you love so much and you're just going to be blown away oh there is something funny you mentioned that the album cover looks like Monty Python well here's a funny little fact for you on Frank Zappa's second album with the Mothers of Invention they do a song called America drinks and goes home and it turns out Terry Gilliam is actually in the background with all the sound effects to make it sound like you're at a bar and of course he was the American of Monty Python that did all the animation and all the illustrations I tell you that it's pretty awesome stuff small world
The song is from one of my favorite Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention albums. (One Size Fits All). There is no song on this album that is not recommended ;-)
I still miss Frank so much. I would say we could do with him being around today - as an antidote to so much that's happening in society - but I probably just feel he should be around forever.
Love to see the sheer joy on your faces. Thanks. Great news for you: you've opened the door to a bigger universe. Frank was a composer who often built compositions with a unique rhythmic concept, using odd changing meters and nested tuplets, and he excelled with creative orchestration. I'd recommend listening to several versions of a song (such as "Peaches en Regalia" or "Black Napkins") to begin to understand that amazing range: it's mind-expanding.
Amazing man. Brilliant musicians all. Love this…I can’t even begin to comprehend how someone could have written this, and even more mind boggling for others to perform it! Must try Black Napkins next, it’s perhaps a more ‘digestible’ tune for some ears.
Thanks for the reaction to this cut! Be aware that Zappa is REALLY OUT THERE on the boundaries of music. He tends to use vocals (lyrics) as instruments, so don't dig too deep. He is a musical genius but not for everyone.... Try Montana as your next one.... but I am sure many will want to "screw with your heads" so be careful.... You can be turned off Frank due to some lyrics.... He didn't care if he was offensive.... Bobby Brown Goes Down, Dinamo Hum.
For context: at the time of this record, there was a very popular “non-fiction” book, claiming that aerial photography showed ancient roads, or runways, had been carved out of Andes mountaintops in prehistoric times…suggesting aliens 🤷♂️
I bet you would really enjoy the Mothers of Invention album "We're Only in it For the Money" it's mainly very short pieces but they run together. The only way to really appreciate it is to listen to at least an entire side. The way it's sections are edited together is pretty amazing. Even more so considering it was released in 1968. It satirizes the psychadelic counter-culture with what sounds like one of the most psychadelic albums out there. It pretty much consistantly gets rave reviews. It's also definately better appreciated with a great sound system. Enjoy!
The more I listen to this (over 30 years now), the more I reckon Tom Fowler is my favorite part of it and, for a song as layered as this, that's saying quite a lot.
As Nick mentioned, there are tons of Zappa albums. And that means there's something for everyone, and then there will be several albums that are not for you (and a few Zappa albums only Zappa really got). This particular album is one that I - as only an occasional Zappa listener - really enjoy. It also features the track "Sofa" with really whacky German (!) lyrics. His scope ranges from rock (with satirical or even extremely explicit/sexually offensive lyrics), to complex fusion to pure avant-garde pieces (some of which are really hard to stomach). Zappa's music sounds often totally chaotic, but is strictly structured and composed. Even what seem to be random and weird spoken passages in-between were carefully notated and rehearsed!
A friendly correction.Sofa or sofa #1 is the instrumental version, sofa #2 is the vocal version with the wacky German lyrics. Frank also had some German lyrics in the song stick it out off of the Joe's garage acts ii and iii album.
The section near the end around twelve and a half minutes sounds like a tear in the fabric of musical space-time has been opened up as you tumble through it.
Happy Friday! Nice to hear your checking out some Zappa, Easter in Watermelon Hay is the song you might be referring to, it highlights Frank’s impressive Guitar skills. Sit down and listen to it together the beginning is a little course for Public consumption. Enjoy!
At 13:33 Nick is miming a keyboard, but it's not a keyboard, it's Ruth Underwood's magic on percussion. For a next reaction to Zappa, I suggest: (Don't You Eat The Yellow Snow suite).
This woman named Ruth has these mallets, and she wacks these assorted bell like tablets arranged in ascending or descending order, and somehow it makes amazing melodic sense. It's gotta be hard cause she often uses two mallets per hand and wails. I wouldn't think it's possible, but her hands blurringly hover above these arrangements and it sounds like angels tiptoeing across clouds to make rain.
In my opinion, this song is even better in the live version, watching the musicians perform on their top level! ......anyway, a good choice to start with FZ👌🎸🎶
I agree. I love the live version that was recorded for TV. The band does an immaculate performance, simply amazing. The link! ua-cam.com/video/wqp71DOJ3aY/v-deo.html
Players on this cut and the album "One Side Fits All" Frank Zappa - Guitar, Lead & backing vocals George Duke - Keys, Lead Vocals Ruth Underwood - Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion Chester Thompson - Drums, sound effects, voices Tom Fowler - Bass Napoleon Murphy Brock - Flute, Tenor Saxophone, lead & Backing vocals
For one of his tastiest guitar tidbits recorded live do "Black Napkins" from the album "Zoot Allures". The band is just there to let him play. No lyrics, just some sweet vocalizations. A short and simple piece that is all about that Zappa guitar. Blessings.
While they're checking that out, they might as well do the other instrumental on that album "Friendly Little Finger", that's blistering too. I actually saw Zappa do Black Napkins at a Halloween show back when Zoot Allures came out. Bar none, the best guitar solo I've ever seen live, and I've seen Zeppelin live...
Hi! I'm a new subscriber, and I've been doing a deep dive on your reactions! I really enjoy your genuine emotional responses to great music I grew up with. Seeing Zappa on your channel was wonderful, and I couldn't wait to see your reactions to certain parts. A true genius. For some intense prog, try Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and the song is Communion With The Sun from the album RA (the Egyptian Sun God)...I promise you'll be blown away! Another Utopia album that is like Mahavishnu Orchestra's style is Todd Rundgren's Utopia (with the eye on the cover...mind blowing!) Keep up the great work, good luck with your channel, and stay safe!
What's really crazy is that Ruth Underwood was playing the vibraphone, and percussion, so all of that crazy vibraphone stuff and the percussion fill at the end was all done by one person and she was constantly jumping between instruments. Everyone in that band was absolutely crazy talented.
Zappas body of work is unrivalled. I'm a huge metalhead but love Steely Dan, Allmsn Brothers, The Dead. But the greatest of them all is for certain, Frank Zappa. He was just unique. A beautiful soul.
LOVE THIS..BACK IN 1977 MY FRIEND CARMEN AND I WOULD LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM DAILY,ALONG WITH OTHER ZAPPA JEWELS LIKE UNCLE MEAT AND HOT RATS..ZAPPA FELL INTO CYNICISM AND ANGER OFTEN BUT WHEN HE REALLY PLAYS HE IS A TOP 20 GUITARIST...GREAT TO SEE YOU REACT TO HIM...ALL MY BEST,KENT
Zappa's bands could play anything and could g r o o v e. But more often it seems Frank wanted to keep you off balance both lyrically and musically. Damn, he knew how to write.
Zappa, taking music seriously, but not taking it seriously. Great track. George Duke brings it. And my law firm, Emerson, Lake and Palmer says three parts make a Trilogy.😺
Ahhh. I see what you’re doing, PebbleMan. Lol. Nice suggestion. And I’ve sent the CD 💿 already, so that’s more incentive, maybe 🤔 Also sent Tarkus, Brain Salad, and ELP. ✨🤪
@@michelemichele3375 I saw that Trilogy in the unboxing video. Excellent! And may I say I appreciate your taste in music...😺 It was your introduction to Robin Trower, yes? Love it. I'd like to hear NicknLex react to "Somebody Calling" Cheers!
There is Frank Zappa and then there is everyone else....The Great George Duke on Lead Vocals....that's right!!! Lead Vocals!!!! and George Duke on KEYBOARDS also....Ruth Underwood on "X_PHONE"
I wasn't 100% sure where to put this comment, so I guessed here. Since you speak the German language, I'm surprised you haven't reacted to Frank's STICK IT OUT, which is performed half in the German language.
There's more creativity in this one track than most musicians manage in a whole career
Indeed .....
It's ridiculous alone what kind of negligible graduations in what people are doing are considered "genres" these days (ok, it really was starting to get that bad in the 90s already). A band like Black Sabbath, not to mention Jethro Tull, might easily span 10 genres, lol! "we do "bagum, bagum, bagum, bagum, ba-dee-dee-dee-gum", but this band over there does " ..., ba-dee--ba-gum" - therefore, they are in a different genre! You don't know much about music, do you?" ...
Truth has been spoken.
I wouldn't like to offend another musicians but... facts are facts. You only have to listen this masterpiece. And THE guitar solo...
@@Sancho_Retablez As another musician, no offense taken. I strive to be able to compose something half this good.
First to comment. Great choice!
Edit: Watermelon Man is a jazz funk standard written by Herbie Hancock, Watermelon in Easter Hay is the Zappa tune you're thinking of.
Oh yeah. The genius of Frank Zappa. He's definitely not for everybody. He's far too eccentric for a lot of people. He's a great composer. I've been a fan for a long time. I believe when Frank was asked about his odd lyrics he said something like; "lyrics are for people that need them."
Not only that, the truth is, his lyrics aren't "*really* all that odd if you understand why he wrote them. for example: "Moving to Montana," sounds like a really silly song about moving to Montana to start a dental floss empire. Actually, it IS a silly song, but it's mocking a "movement" if you will, that was going on in Southern CA at the time of all these hippies going out to countryside and starting these communal farms and such. The vast majority of which failed, or got busted because they were growing weed. Zappa did a brilliant job, actually, of mocking the shit of them.
@@somersetcace1 - I personally think "Montana" is just a fun song created from Frank's imagination. If he wanted to mock hippies in that song he would have, just like he did on the album We're only in it for the Money.
@@Frunobulax74 It was the movement that was being mocked, not specifically hippies, and I'm pretty sure that's what it's having to do with. Still a fun song and all. Though, none of that's really the point I was making. It's that a lot of Frank's lyrics were based on some social commentary or another. Not just silly lyrics that don't mean anything.
@@somersetcace1 - Frank hated dentists and never went. Band members have said Frank dealt with bad teeth problems through the years. I thought he was having a laugh about dental floss since it was becoming a popular part of daily dental care in the 1970s.
@@somersetcace1 We’re Only in it for the Money is a perfect example of a Frank album that decimated all over hippie culture. Love that one, great cover too
I have over 60 albums by Frank, saw him 16 times from L.A. to New York and every where in between. George Duke is playing keys and a Moog synthesizer , Chester Thompson is the drummer . Every concert the sound was incredible, that's why so many of Frank's albums are live recordings. Even though I am in my late 60s, everytime I hear Frank playing his lead guitar solos, I always have an acid flashback! Wee!
And Tom Fowler is doing an amazing job on the bass on this track. So groovy!
It’s not a moog it’s an ARP
What I would do to just see Frank play once, sadly I was born after his death :/
Zappa was garbage
I have 125 albums by FZ - cant get enough!!!
Great request, RG. Behind all the wacky, there is so much talent. This track is trippy and jazzy but Zappa had a reputation for zero tolerance with drugs. Thanks ✨🤪
Frank actually doesn't sing on this tune. Those are George Duke and Napoleon Murphy Brock
Please don't take it personally, but you are wrong.
@@trevorb6 He sings, he says "Chesters Thing"
@@trevorb6 Lol no I'm not. Only if you want to be a smart ass because Frank technically says a few lines in the background lmao.
Doesn't Frank's vocals come in a bit in the later part of the song? I thought that was him singing after the guitar solo.
@@bobd7855 HAHAHA!🤣🤣 Yeah that and “Mother Mary and Joseph!”
If you get a chance to see Dweezil Zappa's band, go see them!
I saw Dweezil and ZPZ play One Size Fits All in it's entirety. Absolute magic.
Seen Dweezil in 2006. Excellent show!
16:25: actually, no, Zappa doesn't sing on this track (except for a few words he speaks). Main vocals are by George Duke, the renowned Jazz pianist, who also plays the keyboard instruments. Napoleon Murphy Brock sings some of the lines.
Zappa actually sings the part where he goes “why don’t you sharpen it then?!!” And “Mother Mary and Joseph!”
Steve Hackett from Genesis was tapping on The Return Of The Giant Hogweed on Nursery Cryme in 1971 and Jeff Beck used his pick to tap in The Yardbirds in 1966.
Paganini tapped his violin with a bow in the 1800s. Roy Smeck tapped his ukulele in the 1930s. Emmett Chapman developed a tapping technique in 1969 and later invented the Chapman Stick.
There's a lot of humor to Franks music, but the musicianship is always on point. Everything is written out, with the exceptions of some improvised solos. Frank is excellent.
on this trac:
Frank Zappa - guitar and backing vocals
George Duke - lead and backing vocals and synthesizer
Napoleon Murphy Brock - flute, backing vocals, tenor saxophone
Ruth Underwood - marimba, vibraphone, percussion
Chester Thompson - drums, sounds effects, voices
Tom Fowler - bass guitar
And every one of them was absolutely incredible on this piece!
@@stpnwlf9 ...there are no slackers in that lineup, or any of his lineups.
@@buddystewart2020 Frank didn’t tolerate slackers. Some tracks sound comical, cartoonish, space jazz or plain crazy ... but it’s meticulous from the mind of the mad genius. Thanks ✨🤪
What you said!
Napoleon Murphy Brock on Tush Tush Tush*
Frank Zappa IS a legend. He was know for rehearsing his band to death, but you can tell on this track how incredibly tight and perfectly attuned together they were. There are videos of the band doing this live and it sounds every bit as crisp and perfect. Watching Ruth Underwood bounce from marimba, vibes, tympani and so on is mesmerizing, too.
Tight. Zappa demanded excellence. Great comment. Thanks ✨🤪
Yes, Ruth Underwood was incredible!
That’s only because all the basic parts of the album track were recorded live (from the KCET TV special and the Helsinki Concert) !;)
You can see why he worked them so hard though...
@@dago87able The Helsinki concert is fire. Great live album that one
Frank Zappa is the man Leonard Bernstein named the greatest composer America has yet produced. Kinda high praise there.
Everyone in this line up of The Mother's was an outstanding musician,absolutely no weak links. My favorite FZ musician was Ruth Underwood. She was Zappa's premier percussionist for almost 10 years and played some of the most breathtaking Zappa charts with such command. She played the entire array of tuned percussion,xylophone, marimba,vibraphone, tympani,etc. She was a master percussionist. After she left zappa continued to have amazing percussionists and extremely challenging music, but to my ears it lost some of the sparkle and warmth after her absence.
Yeah, what he said -------^ Ruth is amazing indeed.
Ruth is/was a genius percussionist. She studied or graduated from Julliard. There is a video out there with all the Zappa drummers together to compare notes. Amazing.
The 'other' drummer is Chester Thompson, a brilliant jazz percussionist. He said the rehearsals with Frank were as rigorous as could be imagined. Chester also played with Weather Report, another group of amazing musicians (serious fusion). Mr. Thompson said the only other group he knew of that came close to Zappa's rehearsals was Genesis!
@@rk41gator I watched that it was fascinating. All of them are so unique and gifted some of the stories were hilarious
George Duke. Máster!
@@rk41gator Love Weather Report.
‘Little House I Used To Live In’ from Burnt Weeny Sandwich is my favorite Zappa song.
I was in high school when Burnt Weeny Sandwich came out, and Little House was a life changer for me.
I couldn’t pick a favourite.
I’ve loved so many over the years👍
My favourite Zappa album too.
zappa is the greatest. his lyrics can offend some people, but he's usually just pointing out hypocrisy.
Experimental jazz fusion space rock? Whatever that was, it was a blast.
Steve Hackett of Genesis and Zappa are definitely two of the first pioneers of tapping techniques on electric guitar.
From the same album, "Andy" is highly worth a listen. You've barely touched the tip of the Zappa iceberg.
"Do you know what I'm really telling you. Is it something that you can understand?" Oh, that song is incredible!
So true, but you need to know who Andy Devine was to really get the humor of that song, lol!
If you include all the covers of Zappa songs over the years and around the world the iceberg becomes the size of mount Everest !!!
@@Tomanot9Juanma The part with the piano breakdown and the vocals over the top... "Andy! Oh, Andyyyy.... Andy pandy!"
Chills everytime haha
DROWNING WIIIIIITCH
From the same album "Andy" is my favourite.
Very good taste yours!
@@Tomanot9Juanma San Berd'no
This is my favorite Frank Zappa song. Do you realize Frank wrote out every thing on charts?
Frank liked Gentle Giant also.
Incredible, huh?! Hi, Rand. And always good to see your input and celebrity in these comments. 😉✨🤪
Frank and Jimi were pretty chummy before he died.... would really have loved a collaboration between those two. Jimi thought Frank was the shit.
Except for the solos.
@@Frunobulax74 i know, but again, solos were for the improvisers themselves. Thats the point of soloing.
He mad a lot of use of the synclavier (sp?) which would print out the sheet music for the band.
He did a shit ton of composing the old fashioned way though.
Can you imagine somebody audditioning for Zappa's band thinking,oh there just jamming and playing chaotic notes and random percussion and then ,the sheets upon sheets pepperd with notes and dynamic markings are placed on the music stand? Well sorry sport,NEXT! lol
So happy you guys liked this! The idea that aliens from outer space might have visited Earth in the past and built things like the "Inca Roads" became popular in the early 70s, and that's what Frank's lyrics are making fun of ... The Mothers of Invention was the name of Frank's original late-60s band, and he kept using that name (off and on) for this great fusion band that he assembled in the 70s. That marimba sound you were hearing wasn't a keyboard, but Ruth Underwood tearing it up on an actual marimba! George Duke, on keyboards and lead vocals on this track, was a jazz guy who had played with Jean-Luc Ponty before joining Zappa, and for a time alternated between playing with Frank and Cannonball Adderley. Chester Thompson, the great drummer, played with Weather Report after leaving Zappa (he's on the "Black Market" album), then replaced Bill Bruford as Genesis' touring drummer in '76, staying with them for 16 years; he also played with Santana for a year and on Phil Collins' solo tours from '82 through '05. A great band!
@Kendeeni - Chester Thompson was also the drummer for the Bee Gees on their 1989 World Tour.
If you want to check out something cool with Vai and Zappa, search ' Frank Zappa duels Steve Vai 'Stevies spanking' ' by eTomax. There's another version which has 200k views but the audio is pitch shifted upward with some weird effects on it, I don't know why it's the most viewed. Shows a young Steve Vai before he found his style trading licks.
What other Zappa to listen to? Only all of it. He released 62 albums during his lifetime.
HA HA! You finally found FZ. He covered ALL genres of music. Agree Watermelon in Easter Hay is lovely. Try the Apostrophe album. Love from Tassie.
Zappa is a genre in itself.
@@GoodCorporateRobot TOO TRUE !! ; )
You should play "Peaches in Regalia" from Hot Rats! That's what really started him in this direction.
Agreed. This would be my next pick.
Don't forget the gumbo variations!
Vai considers Frank as the greatest composer of the 20th Century. But yea, Vai either took heavy influence from Frank as far as composition goes, or maybe he was encouraged to carry it on. Either way this is brilliance. Thanks!
Zappa would also push Vai to new accomplishments. They could play off each other too.
RG is the man with the song suggestions! (Wackerman came later than this, btw. Frank did champion Holdsworth in interviews and such, though. Chester Thompson is the drummer on this recording. Ruth Underwood plays that amazing marimba and sundry percussion).
Most of the lead singing is George Duke, btw, though you can pick out places with Frank or Napoleon Murphy Brock vocals in front.
Great info. And yes, I can def hear Frank’s voice in there. Genius, creative and fun. ✨🤪
@@michelemichele3375 you might like hearing Mike Keneally do this, solo acoustic guitar .... where he tries to play all of the parts and comes damn close!. Keneally was the last "stunt guitarist", after Vai, in Frank's bands. (Check out "Mike Keneally - Inca Roads - Cardiff on youtube and you'll see that).
Frank Zappa - straight up musical genius. George Duke is playing keyboard on this album, the master of time.
He also does the lead vocal.
FZ was a massive talent, a groundbreaking artist, and constantly challenging himself and his fans. I really recommend Jazz From Hell, which was pure composition using digital hardware. The Girl in the Magnesium Dress is my favorite track.
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Maybe his most underrated album. You have to listen to it like 20 times to get it but it eventually becomes very catchy actually. St. Etienne is his greatest guitar solo hands down. Rhythm section was absolutely perfect for that solo section on Drowning Witch.
Hey Nick N Lex. This is how the love a fare with Frank Zappa starts. The guy was a musical genius but never took himself to seriously lyrically. This was a great song to introduce yourself to him. Glad you both liked it. He's a lot of fun to listen to. Keep up the good work.
I was fortunate to grow up in the era of Zappa, and bought every album he put out. My only complaint about him is that he shared the spotlight with the other musicians in the band, and didn't highlight his guitar playing as much as I would have liked. He was a brilliant guitar player.
@@joedanis2889 - Did you ever see Zappa in concert? If so, where and when?
If you want serious Zappa lyrics then Trouble Every Day is one of the best IMO
@@Frunobulax74 Twice, both in London, can´t remember dates, but, 70s/80s, Wonderful.
In reality, though the lyrics have humor and satire, they often are great evaluations, insight into the time, sociology for sure.
Listen to Dream Theater- beyond this life. It has a frank zappa section in it.
Zappa always had the best musicians in his band. His composing is top notch and always has a comic element. The music is very jazzy, avant-garde, with rock elements, so next level. Glad you two enjoyed this, shows you have good taste and intelligence!
Exactly! I've learned this from Zappa and Peter Gabriel: If you surround yourself with top musicians in their field, everything will be great music. Special attention to have the best drummer you can, because as good the other musicians may be, a mediocre drummer will drag all down,,, Greetings from Rio!
@@rofavilla Agreed. A good drummer is VERY important!
Chester Thompson was the drummer on this album. He's my all-time favourite drummer. He toured with Genesis for several years when Phill Collins became their lead singer. Anyway, Terry Bozzio succeeded Thompson as Zappa's drummer for a few years, followed by Vinnie Colaiuta, David Logeman and, eventually, Chad Wackerman.
The lead singer on this song was George Duke, with a lot of support from Napoleon Murphy Brock. Zappa himself also contributed some vocals on this song, but he was not the lead. There is a lot of keyboard in this song (played by George Duke), but a lot of what you think is keyboard is actually the marimba/vibraphone played by Ruth Underwood.
Yo idk if you’ve listened to Duprees Paradise from the Helsinki Concert but dear God is Chester Thompson one of the best drummers of all time
I can't believe this is the first time you've reacted to Inca Roads for some reason. Anyway great song off one of his absolute best albums. Chester Thompson played drums on this and many Zappa albums - later became Genesis' touring drummer. This was Zappa's classic and absolute best musician lineup - esp. Ruth Underwood. BTW - Steve Hackett of Genesis was doing finger tapping on album in 1971. All of the other songs on the album sound completely different. Steve Vai didn't get involved with Zappa as a transcriber until a couple or few years later.
I liked the drowning witch line up a lot, even if Scott Thunes never played his part correctly (according to Zappas standards)
The OG Mothers also had insane synergy, King Kong was a 30 min masterpiece jamola
And you can here Thompson's drumming sounding like when he was in Weather Report. (the jazzy part) And tapping goes back to the '30s or earlier. There's a movie from then that showed a guy doing it. And there's another guitar player who invented 4 other ways of tapping. And he has about 300 albums out. Wears that KFC chicken bucket on his head. :)
@@tixximmi1 Yes, saw that old clip. And Marcel Marceau and others did the moon walk before Michael Jackson. But tapping on an electric with distortion/fuzz/sustain is unique enough that I consider Hackett one of its originators in rock. EVH was aware of it also. Hackett also talked about the technique in a Guitar Player magazine interview in the early/mid 70s.
@@eximusic Like I said it's been on TV and old movies that I've seen from the '30s. '40s and '50s too. Like we say here in Texas, Never Let the Truth get in the way of a Good Story.
@@tixximmi1 I'm guessing EVH heard Genesis, The Musical Box, and not the unknown guitarist from some obscure clip that wasn't available in the pre-internet age. There was no on-demand video information back then besides VHS tapes. If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there, does it make a sound? Everything you know now you would have never known in the 80s or 90s. Googling isn't the same as winning on Jeopardy. You need actual knowledge and brains for the latter.
You have to react to “Little House I Used to Live In” on Zappa’s (Mothers of Invention) Burnt Weeny Sandwich album. Sugarcane Harris’s bluesy electric violin is insane. Zappa’s guitar work, stunning.
In the background you have a cover of Jean-Luc Ponty.
He was also a member of the Zappa Band from 1969-1973
THE COUCH: Back in the 70's a RED COUCH was making it's way around the world for an Art Project. 1000's of photos were taken. It was everywhere.
ZAPPA: Try "Muffin Man" from the studio album. The man invented Rap...!
You have to listen to the live album with the mothers "ROXY AND ELSEWHERE " and the album "APOSTROPHE" ( ' ) (same line up band)
Frank is an enormous study all by himself. He's notable for putting musicians through extreme paces that made some careers and handsomely burnished many more. He's arguably rock music's greatest underrated guitarist. Also: a uniquely striking lyricist. (His "Magdalena" from 1971's "Just Another Band From L.A." is a live-recording tirade against child sexual abuse before anyone was even really talking about the subject, featuring Flo & Eddie from the original Turtles, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums.)
His work goes through several distinct periods, from the Mothers in their first and second lineups until "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life" in 1988. My favorite is the Roxy Band, exemplified in this piece. That's Ruth Underwood on vibes & marimba.
There's a lifetime to dig in Frank.
y es una grabacion en vivo!!!!! Zappa es un compositor completo y complejo que abarco muchos generos y los reinvento...bienvenidos!!!
Frank's 1968 album cruising with Ruben & the jets is hands down the best album of 50's doo wop music ever produced. IMHO. For a guy who said he didn't care about legacy or being remembered Frank transcended every race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender age etc.. around the world possibly more than any one else with the exception of religious figures. Here is a video that is a montage of people across India and the world playing Franks song gumbo variations. ua-cam.com/video/cwQTFBfgYus/v-deo.html
Zappa never stopped working. You have wonder and amazement before you should you dive in.
Mike Portnoy is a big fan! So am I 😬 The voice was mainly George Duke - Zappa has a very low voice. Lots of Zappa fans also love Jethro Tull - like a package. If you like this, go for Greggery Peccary by him. It's a cartoon for your ears with lots of jazz/.fusion, and a crazy story, but also contemporary classic bits which Frank also excelled at. Many classic orchestras as well as Jazz big bands today love to play his music as a challenge.
Napolean mirphy brock and george duke and chester thompson and Mr Frank Zappa all participated on bionic vocals, especially Napolean!
Yeah, syou are witnessing some of the greatest musicians world wide the world over. Behold.
This isn't a reaction request, just a little insight into the geius of Zappa.
This video is too much fun and gives some insight into the mind of Zappa.
Zappa needed percussion on the road, but there were no electric vibes or marimbas, soooo...
He made his own.
This is Ruth Underwood, his percussionist for many years talking about when he talked her into drilling into the bars of her vibraphone she'd had since she was 16!
Enjoy!
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Ruth Underwood plays like a madwoman on this track. Legendary stuff!
She's pretty damn good on St Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast as well
my favorite Allan Holdsworth song is the unmerry go round yeah Ruth Underwood was playing The Vibes or the marimbas whatever you call him and she was married to Ian Underwood which he was one of the original members of the Mothers of Invention he was a sax player I believe anyhow route was so proficient at playing The Vibes it's unbelievable and at the end of the song you hear him say on Ruth on Ruth bump it up that's Ruth yeah I didn't know if you did any UK stuff Terry Bozzio course he was in the missing persons as well George Duke was doing all that amazing electric piano yeah if you want to hear the Steve Vai stuff check out the man from Utopia that album if I did some amazing stuff I won't give away the plot you'll just have to hear it and you'll have to hear that song called Tink walks amok because there's some in there some particular instrument you love so much and you're just going to be blown away oh there is something funny you mentioned that the album cover looks like Monty Python well here's a funny little fact for you on Frank Zappa's second album with the Mothers of Invention they do a song called America drinks and goes home and it turns out Terry Gilliam is actually in the background with all the sound effects to make it sound like you're at a bar and of course he was the American of Monty Python that did all the animation and all the illustrations I tell you that it's pretty awesome stuff small world
"Watermelon in Easter Hay"- fuckin' brilliant
Marimba is played by Ruth Underwood. It's to her that they cry out “On Ruth” at the end. Watch a life version from that song.
The song is from one of my favorite Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention albums. (One Size Fits All). There is no song on this album that is not recommended ;-)
Que alegría que hayan reaccionado al maestro de maestros, el compositor de musica más rica y divertida de todos los tiempos.
glad you went there...lol
I still miss Frank so much. I would say we could do with him being around today - as an antidote to so much that's happening in society - but I probably just feel he should be around forever.
Love to see the sheer joy on your faces. Thanks. Great news for you: you've opened the door to a bigger universe. Frank was a composer who often built compositions with a unique rhythmic concept, using odd changing meters and nested tuplets, and he excelled with creative orchestration. I'd recommend listening to several versions of a song (such as "Peaches en Regalia" or "Black Napkins") to begin to understand that amazing range: it's mind-expanding.
Para cuando el Argentina Best Crowd ever?? Reaccionen.
The music of Frank Zappa - not so much a rabbit warren, more a metropolitan subway system!
You can listen to 10 different posts of this song from different times and Franks solo is always different!! Musical Genius!
The intro and outro are identical almost but the grove in the middle with the bass and guitar are better on the album.
Enjoy.
Amazing man. Brilliant musicians all. Love this…I can’t even begin to comprehend how someone could have written this, and even more mind boggling for others to perform it!
Must try Black Napkins next, it’s perhaps a more ‘digestible’ tune for some ears.
I believe it's Chester Thompson drumming on most of this record.
Yes, it is Chester Thompson on this album. Chad Wackerman was only 15 at the time.
Thanks for the reaction to this cut!
Be aware that Zappa is REALLY OUT THERE on the boundaries of music.
He tends to use vocals (lyrics) as instruments, so don't dig too deep.
He is a musical genius but not for everyone.... Try Montana as your next one.... but I am sure many will want to "screw with your heads" so be careful.... You can be turned off Frank due to some lyrics.... He didn't care if he was offensive.... Bobby Brown Goes Down, Dinamo Hum.
Frank zappa es un genio lo escuche hace unos 15 años es fabulosa su musica .les recomiendo el disco llamado hot rats de el tambien es una delicia.
Guitar solo recorded live in Helsinki in 1974.
For context: at the time of this record, there was a very popular “non-fiction” book, claiming that aerial photography showed ancient roads, or runways, had been carved out of Andes mountaintops in prehistoric times…suggesting aliens 🤷♂️
Check the live version that his son made: ua-cam.com/video/F6YKJX-dXIM/v-deo.html the solos are another level!
My Zappa suggestion: From the LP: The Grand Wazo - The Track: Eat That Question - Love you guys! Keep Rocking and Teach Peace
Yes! Love "Eat That Question" with George Duke's intro. And it really demonstrates another example of Zappa's range of material.
I bet you would really enjoy the Mothers of Invention album "We're Only in it For the Money" it's mainly very short pieces but they run together. The only way to really appreciate it is to listen to at least an entire side. The way it's sections are edited together is pretty amazing. Even more so considering it was released in 1968. It satirizes the psychadelic counter-culture with what sounds like one of the most psychadelic albums out there. It pretty much consistantly gets rave reviews. It's also definately better appreciated with a great sound system. Enjoy!
The more I listen to this (over 30 years now), the more I reckon Tom Fowler is my favorite part of it and, for a song as layered as this, that's saying quite a lot.
he was a great bassist but broke his hand and caused a diversion of paths.
Could shit zappa play guitar with his ugly nose? 😂
As Nick mentioned, there are tons of Zappa albums. And that means there's something for everyone, and then there will be several albums that are not for you (and a few Zappa albums only Zappa really got). This particular album is one that I - as only an occasional Zappa listener - really enjoy. It also features the track "Sofa" with really whacky German (!) lyrics.
His scope ranges from rock (with satirical or even extremely explicit/sexually offensive lyrics), to complex fusion to pure avant-garde pieces (some of which are really hard to stomach).
Zappa's music sounds often totally chaotic, but is strictly structured and composed. Even what seem to be random and weird spoken passages in-between were carefully notated and rehearsed!
A friendly correction.Sofa or sofa #1 is the instrumental version, sofa #2 is the vocal version with the wacky German lyrics. Frank also had some German lyrics in the song stick it out off of the Joe's garage acts ii and iii album.
@@timfeeley714-25 thanks Tim. I always confuse the two versions 🙂
No problem.I just found out two days ago that iv'e been singing the words to advance romance wrong for 45 years.go figure !
One size fits all is a masterpiece
There is a video of them doing this LIVE.... wow!
The section near the end around twelve and a half minutes sounds like a tear in the fabric of musical space-time has been opened up as you tumble through it.
Happy Friday! Nice to hear your checking out some Zappa, Easter in Watermelon Hay is the song you might be referring to, it highlights Frank’s impressive Guitar skills. Sit down and listen to it together the beginning is a little course for Public consumption. Enjoy!
Although Zappa was a great guitar player, his instrument was actually the band.
I once saw a Zappa interview where he said that he didn't have the chops to get into his own band.
At last , boy have you opened up a whole new galaxy of music!!??🙏❤️👌😅✌️
At 13:33 Nick is miming a keyboard, but it's not a keyboard, it's Ruth Underwood's magic on percussion.
For a next reaction to Zappa, I suggest: (Don't You Eat The Yellow Snow suite).
This woman named Ruth has these mallets, and she wacks these assorted bell like tablets arranged in ascending or descending order, and somehow it makes amazing melodic sense. It's gotta be hard cause she often uses two mallets per hand and wails. I wouldn't think it's possible, but her hands blurringly hover above these arrangements and it sounds like angels tiptoeing across clouds to make rain.
Queen Ruth Underwood that is
I love how the auto translation is translating his solo lmao
I love how Lex keeps looking at Nick. That's the way it should be.
Chester Thompson plays drums on this album, he later was the touring drummer for Genesis for many years.
the whole album is certainly worth a listen - also would love to see a Jerry react or Ween
In my opinion, this song is even better in the live version, watching the musicians perform on their top level! ......anyway, a good choice to start with FZ👌🎸🎶
I agree. I love the live version that was recorded for TV. The band does an immaculate performance, simply amazing. The link! ua-cam.com/video/wqp71DOJ3aY/v-deo.html
Kurt Elling! Never thought of him but I totally see that. Kurt is one of my favorite male jazz singers of the late 20th century.
Also try Echidna's Arf of You, Don't You ever Wash That Thing and RDNZL
No need to stop/start the nodding head grooving every time there’s a little break, the groove is rock solid.🙂
Players on this cut and the album "One Side Fits All"
Frank Zappa - Guitar, Lead & backing vocals
George Duke - Keys, Lead Vocals
Ruth Underwood - Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion
Chester Thompson - Drums, sound effects, voices
Tom Fowler - Bass
Napoleon Murphy Brock - Flute, Tenor Saxophone, lead & Backing vocals
My favorite Zappa album.
For one of his tastiest guitar tidbits recorded live do "Black Napkins" from the album "Zoot Allures". The band is just there to let him play. No lyrics, just some sweet vocalizations.
A short and simple piece that is all about that Zappa guitar.
Blessings.
While they're checking that out, they might as well do the other instrumental on that album "Friendly Little Finger", that's blistering too. I actually saw Zappa do Black Napkins at a Halloween show back when Zoot Allures came out. Bar none, the best guitar solo I've ever seen live, and I've seen Zeppelin live...
Hi! I'm a new subscriber, and I've been doing a deep dive on your reactions! I really enjoy your genuine emotional responses to great music I grew up with. Seeing Zappa on your channel was wonderful, and I couldn't wait to see your reactions to certain parts. A true genius.
For some intense prog, try Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and the song is Communion With The Sun from the album RA (the Egyptian Sun God)...I promise you'll be blown away!
Another Utopia album that is like Mahavishnu Orchestra's style is Todd Rundgren's Utopia (with the eye on the cover...mind blowing!)
Keep up the great work, good luck with your channel, and stay safe!
You have good taste dean! I love FZ, but my favourite album ever is Todd Rundgren's Utopia!
What's really crazy is that Ruth Underwood was playing the vibraphone, and percussion, so all of that crazy vibraphone stuff and the percussion fill at the end was all done by one person and she was constantly jumping between instruments. Everyone in that band was absolutely crazy talented.
Zappas body of work is unrivalled. I'm a huge metalhead but love Steely Dan, Allmsn Brothers, The Dead. But the greatest of them all is for certain, Frank Zappa. He was just unique. A beautiful soul.
LOVE THIS..BACK IN 1977 MY FRIEND CARMEN AND I WOULD LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM DAILY,ALONG WITH OTHER ZAPPA JEWELS LIKE UNCLE MEAT AND HOT RATS..ZAPPA FELL INTO CYNICISM AND ANGER OFTEN BUT WHEN HE REALLY PLAYS HE IS A TOP 20 GUITARIST...GREAT TO SEE YOU REACT TO HIM...ALL MY BEST,KENT
dude, turn off CAP LOCK
@@truthurts1692 OK..will do :-)
Zappa's bands could play anything and could g r o o v e. But more often it seems Frank wanted to keep you off balance both lyrically and musically. Damn, he knew how to write.
Zappa, taking music seriously, but not taking it seriously. Great track. George Duke brings it.
And my law firm, Emerson, Lake and Palmer says three parts make a Trilogy.😺
Ahhh. I see what you’re doing, PebbleMan. Lol. Nice suggestion. And I’ve sent the CD 💿 already, so that’s more incentive, maybe 🤔 Also sent Tarkus, Brain Salad, and ELP. ✨🤪
@@michelemichele3375 I saw that Trilogy in the unboxing video. Excellent! And may I say I appreciate your taste in music...😺 It was your introduction to Robin Trower, yes? Love it. I'd like to hear NicknLex react to "Somebody Calling" Cheers!
There is Frank Zappa and then there is everyone else....The Great George Duke on Lead Vocals....that's right!!! Lead Vocals!!!! and George Duke on KEYBOARDS also....Ruth Underwood on "X_PHONE"
Speaking of Vai: Zappa’s album The man from Utopia has the greatest liner note in history: “Impossible guitar parts by Steve Vai.”😁👍
I wasn't 100% sure where to put this comment, so I guessed here. Since you speak the German language, I'm surprised you haven't reacted to Frank's STICK IT OUT, which is performed half in the German language.
The "F Yourself" song you mention is not Zappa. It's Steve Vai trying to sound like Zappa.