I have thought this since the day I heard it about 25 years ago and I still believe it. No other guitar player was so original and unpredictable. Greatest guitar solo of all time and if I had to choose my favourite guitarist ever (something impossible to do as it depends on what style we're talking about), it'd have to be Zappa. Hoorah!
He said in an interview once about the risks he takes on stage and he was dead on. Nobody else takes those risks. And listen to the results. My god. That man was on fire every time he stepped on stage.
The emotive part for me is how hungry the band is for this solo, they're right with him and really enjoying it. That's a rare thing to share in music, that's why its so full of energy.
I've been listening to this solo for 20 years and I never get tired of it. This is the first ever piece of frank I ever heard and it never fails to take me to another place. I love it even more than the edited version. I just want to smash everything up when I hear it! So raw, best improvised solo EVER, bar none. NB; correction, been listening for nearly 30 years. I will never forget the first time I heard it in a friends bedroom in Hammersmith when I was about 19. I was so disappointed when nothing else came close. Still evokes something in me that I can’t explain when I hear it. Pisses all over other guitarists of its time. Play it loud. Frank lives on, even if he didn’t want to.
You said it all perfectly. I was 15 when this album came out and I bought it immediately. I was already about 4 or 5 albums deep into listening to Frank from the age of 11 (1974). I heard this solo and went out and bought my first SG. Lol. It’s amazing that the speed and intense phrasing all went to the slower rhythm of “The torture never stops”. There was no other music, musicians or bands for me to listen to. There was only Frank. So when he died, so did most of my interest in music. There is a little I’ll listen to on occasion that interest me. But it’s not the same and doesn’t capture my interests like he and his music did.
As good as this original unedited solo is, it also exemplifies what a great editor Zappa was. The edited - or as I like to put it - "tightened up" version released on Sheik Yerbouti sounds all that much better through his razor-sharp tweezing. Another great example is listening to Black Napkins from the Eyes of Osaka bootleg - the unedited version, and the Zoot Allures version of the same. Zappa's skill at tightening it up with masterful editing was amazing. While I'm at it, Occam's Razor from One Shot Deal is the unedited 8 and a half minute minute solo from Inca Roads, finally finding it's place as On The Bus on the Joe's Garage album. Who the hell plays an eight and a half minute guitar solo?! Frank Zappa did, that's who!
@@smorrow I didn't realize until I just looked into that, that the Stage version of Orifice is actually part 1981 and part 1988. So, while not edited from one source, that was two different performances. But, that was Zappa too.
That shit's been fuckin rubbed in the ground. It's going on two tours old, we need to come up with some new shit! Bobby Brown: Allow me to introduce myself
This guy was a masterful musician, not many guitar players or composers have anywhere near as many good original ideas as Frank Zappa puts in a single guitar solo. Many guitar players should listen to this!!!
Doesn't need 'technical prowess', this solo stands on its own merits. Unmistakebly Frank. Such patience, he ties you up in knots listening, but he knows where he is going throughout.
Wow! How have I never heard this cut before even after listening to Frank since 1968. Unbelievable! It's Frank on fire for sure... a blistering solo all the way through with awesome Bozzio.
i agree with you guys - best guitar solo i've ever heard and jimi is my fav guitarist tho i think FZ is better than jimi. this solo is too intense for most ppl i play it for
When I was a kid with my new electric guitar...I had this. How lucky I was to have an influence with soul. Still missin' ya Frank. And to his fans...peace and long life to you all...wherever and whenever you are.
THE GREATEST MUSICAL GENIUS OF MODERN TIMES. HANDS DOWN. It breaks my heart that I didn't get to see Frank perform live before he passed. There will never be another...
Thanks for posting. This is the version of the band I saw the month prior on New Year's eve; absolutely phenomenal performance by phenomenol musicians.
Frank edited out the same stuff i would have for the release - If I were the perfectionist he was - Burning solo! - My favorite! - never knew Rat Tomago was from Torture Never Stops. Thanks - Thanks FZ.
FZ was a legend not only for playing and composing but also for cutting the most interesting parts of his solos together - he also did this for other parts of the respective arrangement. From that point of view FZ is imho totally underrated as a producer. I agree with many of the commentators here - he's missing! Wonder what today's outcome of his very creativity would be.
Zappa, Hendrix, Page, Howe, Erickson, Townshend, Gilmour/Waters/Barrett, Towers, Young...I'm quite sure I've left an vast majority out of the picture.But you'all get my gist...these are names and talent...that we probably will never witness again. BUT since I was TRULY able to be blessed to have ever witnessed and heard w/both recorded AND live in-concert...I t-r-u-l-y feel blessed indeed!
This is the only guitar jam to exist. Everything else is lame wanking. 1987. Driving by myself while very high on illegal stimulants on the various roads (S22, Hwy 78, S2, 371, Hwy 86) in the Anza Borrego desert at 110 mph --- this track playing over and over and over --- is the speedometer also a thermometer --- stop and spit out onto the asphalt and hear a sizzle honest to god --- stop and help a Mexican family that doesn't know how to change a tire correctly --- my car and Frank Zappa will help me achieve the velocity necessary to leave the planet --- a nineteen year old astronaut in an eighteen year old Mercury spaceship.....
I doubt you're trying to encourage this, but I really want to go do a bunch of hallucinogens in the 110+ farenheit desert for some good old Lizard King style experiences.
been there done that, but i ate my buttons at night in the catorce dessert, less cops and less heat. ...and i listened to Bill evans on a portable vinylplayer, it sucked, better to shut it off and listen to the singing coyotes in a circle around me in the dark
Had a friend whose older bro listened to FZ all the time .. but I didn't pay attention until I heard "I'm So Cute" on the radio. Sounded fun - went out and bought Sheik Yerbouti. Then listened to this solo and was hooked for life.
Definition of Shredding (just for you because you appear to lack understanding) : 'Shred guitar or shredding is a type of virtuoso lead guitar solo playing involving fast, intricate techniques'. So you are wrong as several parts of this song apply just that
Man just listen to that cat go! I've been trying to master this progression for almost 25 years and still no contest. He makes me want to slam my fingers in a car door every single time.
When i think of innovative, and absolutely amazing guitar work, the first word in my mind is fuckin Zappa! it does not get any better than his musician-ship. i thank my dad everyday for introducing me into such great tunes. crank it up assholes
0:00-0:28, 0:42-0:57, 2:49-3:31, 6:33-end ....all sections edited out of the Sheik Yerbouti version.... if I'm not mistaken... Thanks for the upload!! =D
Try Frank Zappa plays RDNZL. Best guitar solo I ever heard. Got my 1st Zappa album in 1968. Hooked ever since. Sorry but, he surpasses them all. Tommy Mars and Ed man shine too.
