Frank Zappa: Peaches en Regalia SCORE ANALYSIS & REACTION | The Daily Doug | Episode 341 

I was lucky enough to play this song on stage with Dweezil when he came to perform with my university jazz orchestra for our annual Zappa tribute concert

I keep challenging Doug to try "The Black Page" - but I do look forward to this one. FZ is a genius.

The Grand Wazoo is a terrific jazzy instrumental album. Very underrated.

"Peaches En Regalia"- the gateway drug to all things Zappa and Mothers.

The "octave bass" was a regular electric bass guitar, recorded at half speed so that when played back at regular speed, it was an octave higher. It's essentially just an alternative way of recording a regular guitar solo, but Frank did it this way as he liked the timbre of the thicker strings. The saxophones, flutes and keyboards were all recorded as overdubs by the brilliant multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood.

New to Zappa. I have never understood less and enjoyed myself more! Glad to be broadening my musical horizons.

As is usually the case, a great piece can be done effectively in many different arrangements. You gave 3 nice examples of it being done in a somewhat "large" style. And by the way, the son does the father proud. I'm sure Frank must be smiling from wherever. But here is a version of it that just blew my mind because it is only three guys doing it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hsJHBJ5gys4.html I had the great honor of filling in for Tom Fowler in 74 when he broke his finger on tour. Got to play with George Duke, Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood, Napoleon Murphy Brock and of course Frank. Got to record with him at Caribou Studios in Colorado and enjoyed it all immensely. Peaches and Inca Roads were two of my favorite pieces of his. Ruth does stuff on Inca Roads that no human should be able to do with mallets. Frank was truly unique as a composer and in time, and it's already happening, will be remembered as one of the great composers. It may have been labeled "Rock" at the time, but it was certainly orchestral in nature. Some of it I called orchestrated chaos lol! Not to mention, he did write for orchestra as well. He was always very straightforward, but kind and friendly to me. I loved him. He left us way too soon. I often wonder what he would be doing now.

I think I've been listening to this album since 1969. One of the greatest rock albums of all time.

FZ deserves to be regarded among the greatest American composers. Bernstein, Copland, John Williams, Ellington, Monk, etc. - also, Billy Hulting (from LACRO) in Dweezil's version!

You're right about Dweezil's band. If you haven't seen any of the "Zappa Plays Zappa" concerts on video, I highly recommend them all. An entire night of Dweezil playing his father's music with quite a few alumni of Frank's band, all of them just completely nailing any piece they play. Brilliant stuff.

I've been listening to this song for 40+ years and I have not once felt tired of it. It's such a beautiful piece. One of Frank's best compositions IMHO. Nice reaction Doug!

Peaches En Regalia is pretty basic for Frank Zappa. Try to figure out Echidna’s Arf and Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing? From Roxy and Elsewhere. Jazz From Hell would be really challenging or the amazing Drowning Witch. The Adventures Of Greggary Peccary is absolutely insane.

Napoleon Murphy Brock, on sax in the last version. Absolutely proper. Hell of a Mother.

Zappa ran his band like it was an orchestra, and he was only composer/conductor. The band members were his employees of sorts and played his compositions only(he did do a few covers - look up his cover of Whipping Post), but he composed music to highlight their skills. He wrote stuff for percussionist Ruth Underwood that is incredible

One of your best reactions Doug. Zappa's catalogue is humungous and could keep you entertained for as long as you want. 🙂

The tenor saxophonist with Dweezil is Napoleon Murphy Brock, saxophonist/flautist/singer with the early-mid 70s version of the Mothers of Invention. He featured on the version of Inca Roads that you did a video on. Keyboards, flute and groovin' alto sax are played by the wonderful Scheila Gonzalez, who was stationed about 10 feet in front of me when I saw Dweezil in concert.

:D "Whoa, there's a lot going on". What a perfect description of Zappa's musical talent. :)

Sadly, on February 19, Gary Brooker passed away. We owe him a review of the Procol Harum concert in Edmonton, Canada, in 1971. That work marked generations until today.

The "octave bass" is a sped-up bass guitar. There is some double-speed percussion as well on the Hot Rats version. Ian Underwood plays (as far as I can identify the instruments) flute, soprano & alto saxes, clarinet, piano, electric piano, pipe organ and electric organs. Shuggie Otis, who plays bass, was 16 years old when this was recorded.

Bits of this tune are majestic, and bits are comical (as in Carl Stalling cartoon comical - I'm referring to the funny fast note sequences here). Who but Frank could combine the two and still leave you with your jaw on the ground? I appreciate that you showed the orchestral and Dweezil versions - both excellent.

Ed Palermo's Big Band does a TON of excellent Zappa music variety. A must hear for you Doug! A New York based ensemble still very active today. Cheers from Seattle!

Check out "20 small cigars" from the Chunga's Revenge album. Like "Peaches" it's a simple piece that is just infectious. I've been a Frank fan for a long time and have probably seen him on a dozen or more occasions. He was always a consummate professional and it was always amazing how tight his arrangements and band were. Unfortunately, only his silly cash cow songs like "Don't eat the yellow snow" or "Valley girl" made the radio, so most people have no idea of the breath of his talent.

We played this in my high school stage band. Lots of fun.

You could do Frank everyday and I would watch EVERYDAY!! Named our dog Zappa for a reason. The man could do everything.

Well there is a lot of great reactions so I’ll just say, GREAT reaction and keep the Zappa songs coming. You are really inspiring, thank you!

Many small and local ensembles learn and play this tune, and many do it very well. It is a great tune for an advanced crowd too.... History says Zappa played it at many of his shows as the opening number.

Peaches en Regalia is a classic Zappa performance piece. He brought the house down whenever he played it. An all time great piece.

What an eternally magnificent piece of music. Not weird, just beautiful. Wonderful analysis! Bravo.

An album worth investigating is "The Zappa Album" by Ensemble Ambrosius, a Finnish group who use Baroque instruments. No "Peaches", but some challenging Zappa tunes, including ones he wrote for the Synclavier such as "G-Spot Tornado", which were thought to be beyond the capability of human musicians...

Thank you for your reaction to this lovely piece! Frank Zappa- such a unique and interesting songwriter! I was blown away the first time I listened to this song!

Thank you so so much for these score analysis videos that you do. It's incredible watching you break down all the parts of a piece like this!

Frank Zappa a stone genius. It just shows me how much people in the arts (I am a Visual Artist, Writer, and emerging Musician) seem to be able to appreciate ALL the arts. True classical fans tend to love Jazz and Jazz fans tend to love classical. With all due respect to classical musicians, however, Jazz musicians seem to be able to PLAY ANYTHING you put in front of them and love it. Thanks for the GREAT reaction! Truly enjoyable!

I didn't expect an analysis. This is one of my favorite Zappa's song. I started to hear Zappa with this song. Thank's! And I think that the best orchestra Zappa's performance were the songs "Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat" at the Alte Oper, Frankfurt. He made the arrangement by himself. You could find the video here on RU-vid or in the album "Yellow Shark". It was the last album befor he died and it is orchestra music.

Doug, you are always so cheerful and engaging. Brightens my day up! Plus I'm a big Zappa fan so that's a bonus. Great flat cap, by the way.

So happy to see a channel like this!!! We do love Peaches, and so much of Frank’s genius work! Fun to hear the classical sensibilities analyzing an artist who WAS likely thinking in that mode when he composed!

Hello from São Paulo, Brazil! Loved this analysis Doug, this is the ringtone on my cell! What I love about FZ is that no song is like the other!

Yaaaay, more Frank!

I loved this so much, I used it as the opening theme for my college radio show in the mid-70s. And it never gets old, though I do.

I am so excited that you’re doing a score analysis of Zappa’s works!

1969 was such a great year for superb innovative music. Hot Rats has been in my collection since it's release & is in my all time top 10 albums. I listen to Peaches en-Regalia often. Great breakdown.

Loved it! More Zappa please. How could anyone ever become tired of listening to Zappa.

Really miss Uncle Frank! NEVER miss a chance to see Dweezil's band!! Thanks Doug!

One of the best pices of music I've ever heard. I have so many versions of this song, and all are filling me with joy while listening. Thanks for analysing this.

Brilliant review, Doug. I’ve been listening to Frank for 50 years and he never ceases to amaze me.

I love the inversions and excursions and the variations of the basic theme in Andy. It fits right in the pocket of The Adventures of Doug Helvering.

Phish does a great cover of this with a heavier guitar presence on the lead part (by Mr. Trey Anastasio). 12/1/1994 is a fine example. Great reaction / analysis!

I want to sincerely thank you for breaking down the score on this piece. I don't really know how to read music, never sought any sort of formal training, but seeing something I've memorized note for note on paper with someone explaining it helps my understanding massively.

Excellent! I have been meaning to officially recommend this song in your Discord for Patreon supporters. Glad to see you are going to discuss it. YAY!

Nice Doug. I got ahold of the Hot Rats album when I was 10. I used to like to listen to Peaches on Sundays for some reason when I was a kid. Still love the tune. Probably heard it 1.5 million times. Thanks for reviewing.

Frank Zappa RIP was the original shredder. Doug, check out Zappa's "Montana" live with guest guitarist Rachel Flowers. If you don't know Rachel. She's a prodigy of music. She lost her sight as a young girl. Her interpretations of ELP are amazing. You'll be amazed though her playing Zappa on guitar.

Thank you for this! I really enjoyed it. It's amazing to me how many different musical environments this piece can be used in, and still work.

Thanks Doug !! I love your channel, keep covering these great classics.

Peaches En Regalia! This is one of my favorites from Zappa and the tune that hooked me to the maestro. Amazing song!

G-SPOT TORNADO FROM YELLOW SHARK G-SPOT TORNADO FROM YELLOW SHARK G-SPOT TORNADO FROM YELLOW SHARK That's what you need.

I AM having a good ol' time watching you watch/listen to this, thank you very much. Thanks Doug.

Thank you, Doug. Frank is often thought of as complex and funny, which is certainly true. But some of his themes are just plain beautiful and there is room for that in music too! This theme is gorgeous and it is interesting to see three different arrangements that all groove on it. I also learned a ton about the song through your analysis. Wonderful.

I’m not hugely into Zappa but HOT RATS and WAKA JAWAKA I just love - I’m just not on his sense of humour wavelength so when the ensemble just plays I’m happy!

The third is from Zappa plays Zappa, a phenomenal set list with a great band. That same concert film has "Eat that Question" with a jaw dropping sax solo.

its weird how many youtube videos might be something i will have on in the background whilst i do other things but these videos completely grab my attention! i cant imagine how cool it would be to have Doug as a university lecturer. I've been waiting to see this reaction for ages! I love this song!

Awesome reaction Doug. Frank was an absolute genius. Thank you! More Zappa Sir, please.

Great choice! There's one that only hardcore Zappa fans know of, and I'm sure you would be just tickled to hear it. Check out "Thirteen", from the live album series called "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore". It's somewhere in the first six of ten albums in the series. Happy hunting, and love your videos!

Frank composed this one for his son Dweezil, beautiful. Joy expressed like this. Dweezil has his fathers sound so well.

Thank you Doug! just came across this. Wonderful appreciation of a composition, I agree I never get tired of. Thanks

Doug, this might be my favorite video of yours. First going through it with the sheet music, then the orchestration and finally the way it would be played live......👍 great video.

Great tune but I, like others, would certainly hope that we could take it up a notch. Here we have access to a composers' analysis and we're still throwin' the light stuff at him when there is so much wonderfully complex music that would make his head spin lol

I would love seeing you analyze some of his more contemporary/orchestral compositions, such as pieces from his album (The Yellow Shark) which was his last album released during his lifetime.

Doug, Thanks so much for bringing the joy of Frank’s music to so many people. I hope you keep exploring his catalogue and making us Zappa fans so happy. Pls consider doing a piece based on Eat the Question. Lots of great orchestration. A wonderful piece. Thanks for all the hard work.

I just find your channel - LOVELY!! I love Zappa since i was 15 - for over 40 years now. And I never get tired of listening ti his music! So glad you like it too!!

Nice choice. Love the original along with the other renditions. It IS infectious and enjoyable to hear over and over. A happy tune with nice layers and counter-melodies and SO Zappa.

Doug showed Frank Zappa how to be a Dancing Fool.

Excellent, Doug. This is a great presentation. Thank you.

One of my all-time favorite tunes! Thanks for featuring it!

Shuggie Otis (bass) was primarily a guitarist and also the son of Johnny Otis. Shuggie's had a fine career of his own.

Drowning Witch from You Can't Do That On Stage 3 would be a good one to react to. On the Dweezil version, the male sax player is Napolean Murphy Brock. He was part of Frank's band in the early/mid seventies.

This is one of my all time fav Zappa compositions. So clean and interesting, a masterfully written and executed piece. Just saw Phish cover Peaches in Mexico a couple weeks ago, PHINALLY! Been chasing that one since the late 90s, and it was the quite perfect way to open up their 4 show run in paradise.

Super cool - I loved it and your commentary.

I adore Zappa, so when I saw this one I had to watch! I'm a fan of the version from "Live at Fillmore East", which also has Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman (aka Flo and Eddie, aka The Turtles) doing "Happy Together". Also check out the duo doing "Penis Dimension" (a parody of genital anxiety) from "200 Motels", also from Zappa in 1971. And as a former french horn player, thanks for the shoutout to the horn players on the orchestral version. Oh yeah, Doug, I dare you to do an episode on PDQ Bach.

If you'd like another hit, here's Zappa's "Watermelon in Easter Hay": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j3yE2NAdNKo.html. Check the time signature more than the chord progression. This was not only covered by Frank's son Dweezil, but an arrangement for the European small classical ensemble, The Big Note. Sit back and enjoy.

My absolute favorite Zappa song!!! So happy you made this breakdown video! TYTYTY!

Wheeeeee! I have been waiting for Daily Doug to do this Zappa classic. Peaches en Regalia is what I use to introduce people to Frank Zappa (from Live at Filmore East tho). Following along with you following the chart was an eye opener for a tune I adore and can sing through by heart. Thank You Thank You Thank You. I think this is the best weird Wednesday so far.

It is often overlooked that the future great Shuggie Otis (son of Johnny) played bass on this, when he was 16, l believe. He went on to release a couple of classic solo albums in the early 70s which have been re-released on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label. I asked Mike Keneally if he had any idea how 16 year old Shuggie ended up playing bass on this track and unfortunately he didn't. An interesting Zappa mystery.

Amo ver tus análisis. Me gustaría tu opinión en "Alien Orifice" & "Sinister Footwear II".

One of my favorite songs ever. This was a treat. Thank you.

This was fun, thank you sir.

Ed Palermo's version and the 'We are not Alone' are worth finding...great man with timeless music. I miss ya, Frank.

Do a Zappa tune weekly pls :D

Hi Doug, thanks for Peaches en Regalia which has been with me since the early 70's and I loved the difference takes on it. It has been my ring tone on my phone for as long as I can remember, and is always a pleasure to get the early bursts of Frank's Music. Hot Rats was a great album and Gumbo Variations might be one you may have tried, but another classic. Keep up the great work Doug, fascinating stuff that as a Classical and rock fan I get the connection, especially on your Pink Floyd instrumentals, and ELP stuff.

Thank you for doing this!

Technically speaking this might be Zappa's second solo album, but that's really a bit misleading since six of the seven other albums he released before this one were attributed to Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, which were really HIS albums anyway. So, to me, Hot Rats was actually Zappa's eighth album.

There is still one more version that you really should listen too, and would make a very good reaction video IMHO. The arrangement, and the shear joy of the performers, the full multi-ethnic ensemble that is the Berklee School of Music is a treat indeed. I have been a Zappa fan for over 50 years, and this is one of my favorite renditions. You already are familiar with Inca Roads and Peaches at the least... Berklee Frank Zappa Tribute - Waka/Jawaka, Inca Roads, Peaches en Regalia, Zomby Woof ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-244i-MKFP40.html As always, thank you for the Zappa Analysis and Reaction. I never tire of hearing more about Frank!

I love the in-depth analysis you do during these videos! It takes me back to my Music School days. Unfortunately, I never finished that degree and went into IT instead.

Thank you for giving me a greater understanding of the music I love!

I agree with the commenters here....Zappa has sooo many beautifully complex orchestral pieces that someone of your expertise should really jump into. Examine THE YELLOW SHARK CD....there is soo much more meaty things on it! why "flirt" with Peaches....?

I agree with some of the former reactions: Zappa is so much more than the `easy' pieces and the 'really lots of fun' pieces you featured until now, Doug. To stay in the middle a bit, take 'Wild love' and the song it bleeds into 'Yo mama' for instance. Yes, its 'Sheik Yerbouti' y'all...

Wonderful piece !!!

THANK YOU! Long Live Zappa (especially his instrumentals)

Magnifico, grazie.

Truly one of my favorite songs. Frank's music had a lot of joy in it. Thanks for putting that together, Doug.

Outstanding, thank you so much.

Thanks for this I loved it