I think this just has to be listened to a few more times to get a little familiarity with it, like all of his 'not so clean' stuff. I've been listening and re-listening to Frank for 55 years now and it keeps getting better and the surprises keep coming. Notice that a guitarist as good as Adrian Belew is playing second guitar to him as did Steve Vai. That rawness is there in a lot of Frank's guitar work alongside much unpredictability and 'difficulty', but in my life he has increasingly become my no1 guitarist, and composer, and has left us truly massive collection of wonderful music and I am still finding stuff I've not heard before. It just hurts that he he died so relatively young. I feel deeply indebted to him. Thank you for your thoughtful comments Jone.
You have to remember that all Frank's live solos are improvised and even he doesn't know what he's going to play until he plays it. He's sculpting the air molecules on the fly!
Unpredictable? Exactly! In an interview with Ruth Underwood, she said that they never knew what to expect from Frank, from one night to the next. Frank had hand signals to communicate with the band and he wouldn't tell them in advance what he wanted. On a whim, one night a song would be played straight, then next night they would be instructed on the spot to play the song bluesy and the next night he would have them play the same song with a Raggae beat. He was always trying something different and he always had a top notch band that could pull it off, with no prior preparation.
Frank Zappa created an insane amount of music, including some written for orchestra. An amazing artist. (by the way, one of Frank's drummers, Chester Thompson, went on to play with Genesis)
he had no ktime to practice long hours on guitar because he was the wrtiter, composer, arranger, leader, showman, frontman, public figure, and he worked 18 hours a day, that's why(+the fking cigare) he died early :( - but man, oh man, this piece, and the whole live dvd is a treasure which sucks you in like a black hole :)
Peter Wolf played in J Geils Band and that band was playing in Washington State the very night that Frank and his Rocking Teenage Combo was playing this Halloween gig.
Franks rhythmic concept borders on super-human, and by itself can create its own kind of dissonance. You really need to hear some clean Zappa guitar, to know what he's capable of, for your ears to even hear what's happening behind all the deliberate tone noise.
Their isn't a studio version per se, it's on the Bongo Fury album and it's another live version with a studio vocal intro. Zappa isn't really a "clean" guitarist. His emphasis was on improv; trying stuff and composing. Good reaction.
newsflash my dude - art is not athletics. ‘it’s not clean’ - umm, no… no it’s not - it’s filthy AF. it’s expressive, and it’s not trying to be anything ‘proper’. it’s big balls and it’s dripping with attitude. “I don’t like it” would be a fine position - I mean, degustibus non est disputandum, right? “raw” and “not clean”, yeah - that’s pretty objective. but if the subtext / inference is those are, for you, pejoratives, I would say; just say it. ‘hey Monet… your art sucks - it’s blurry’ lol seanM
During the solo, he played quite a lot of bad notes, which does not seem typical of him in my (quite limited) experience. It made me start wondering if it was on purpose - was he doing a caricature of a mediocre rock guitarist?
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Just complete ownership of the stage and an audacious display of bad-assery!!! 🎶🎶🎵🎶🔥🎸✌️
I think this just has to be listened to a few more times to get a little familiarity with it, like all of his 'not so clean' stuff. I've been listening and re-listening to Frank for 55 years now and it keeps getting better and the surprises keep coming. Notice that a guitarist as good as Adrian Belew is playing second guitar to him as did Steve Vai. That rawness is there in a lot of Frank's guitar work alongside much unpredictability and 'difficulty', but in my life he has increasingly become my no1 guitarist, and composer, and has left us truly massive collection of wonderful music and I am still finding stuff I've not heard before. It just hurts that he he died so relatively young. I feel deeply indebted to him. Thank you for your thoughtful comments Jone.
I love the filthy rawness of this. Fantastico!
That solo was pure rock n' roll. His charisma just flows through it.
Great tune and savage vocal performance.
You have to remember that all Frank's live solos are improvised and even he doesn't know what he's going to play until he plays it. He's sculpting the air molecules on the fly!
This is a fine tune to show off Zappa's guitar chops and creative solo abilities.
If you like clean listen to FRANK ZAPPA - Black Napkins
Overnight Sensation is one of Franks Top 10 Album. When exploring Zappa, can't go wrong with any tune on that album.
Great band as always; nice to get Adrian Belew too.
Unpredictable? Exactly! In an interview with Ruth Underwood, she said that they never knew what to expect from Frank, from one night to the next. Frank had hand signals to communicate with the band and he wouldn't tell them in advance what he wanted. On a whim, one night a song would be played straight, then next night they would be instructed on the spot to play the song bluesy and the next night he would have them play the same song with a Raggae beat. He was always trying something different and he always had a top notch band that could pull it off, with no prior preparation.
Frank Zappa created an insane amount of music, including some written for orchestra. An amazing artist. (by the way, one of Frank's drummers, Chester Thompson, went on to play with Genesis)
he had no ktime to practice long hours on guitar because he was the wrtiter, composer, arranger, leader, showman, frontman, public figure, and he worked 18 hours a day, that's why(+the fking cigare) he died early :( - but man, oh man, this piece, and the whole live dvd is a treasure which sucks you in like a black hole :)
This guy really enjoyed Montana because of the compositional elements so that’s the Zappa he needs more of. Just an FYI to the requesters
Peter Wolfe played for the J Giles band. Steve Vai played with Zappa for a while too. Frank and Steve were great friends.
Different Peter Wolf.
Peter Wolf played in J Geils Band and that band was playing in Washington State the very night that Frank and his Rocking Teenage Combo was playing this Halloween gig.
Yet another genius to add to the list...
Black Napkins.
"The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" is one that you'll be delectfull
you need to hear ‘St Etienne’
Please do inca roads live
The studio version's solo is much better. His solos can be hit or miss, but I appreciate that he goes for it and improvises every show.
The "studio version" is a live recording from 1975. Only the intro was recorded in the studio.
@@mrgreengenes04 I am aware.
Franks rhythmic concept borders on super-human, and by itself can create its own kind of dissonance. You really need to hear some clean Zappa guitar, to know what he's capable of, for your ears to even hear what's happening behind all the deliberate tone noise.
Jone, have a listen to Son of Mr Green Genes on the Hot Rats album.... 'Raw' and 'Clean'!
no studio version 🙃
It's a Frank Zappa thing, you just wouldn't understand.
Their isn't a studio version per se, it's on the Bongo Fury album and it's another live version with a studio vocal intro. Zappa isn't really a "clean" guitarist. His emphasis was on improv; trying stuff and composing. Good reaction.
newsflash my dude - art is not athletics.
‘it’s not clean’ - umm, no… no it’s not - it’s filthy AF. it’s expressive, and it’s not trying to be anything ‘proper’. it’s big balls and it’s dripping with attitude.
“I don’t like it” would be a fine position - I mean, degustibus non est disputandum, right?
“raw” and “not clean”, yeah - that’s pretty objective. but if the subtext / inference is those are, for you, pejoratives, I would say; just say it.
‘hey Monet… your art sucks - it’s blurry’ lol
seanM
During the solo, he played quite a lot of bad notes, which does not seem typical of him in my (quite limited) experience. It made me start wondering if it was on purpose - was he doing a caricature of a mediocre rock guitarist?
A lot of old players are painfull to listen but they came first so we're supposed to respect them and say "wow" I just can't 😂
It was on purpose, no bad notes with Frank
Anyone else would have been booed for a guitar solo like that.
And rightfully so 🎶🖖
Not impressed.
And yes, I am very familiar with Frank.
Very rock and roll and sloppyness not his best solo to put it mild.