FRANK ZAPPA - "THE TORTURE NEVER STOPS" (reaction) 

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I was a teenager when I bought this (15, I'm 61 now! 😫). The first time I got it home and listened to it, my mum was sat in the next room. To say she was not impressed with what I was listening to is an understatement 😂. This album was my introduction into the world of Zappa!

He opened up with this song every Halloween at the Palladium In the 70s I went to every show

An amazing song. There is an excellent earlier live version with Captain Beefheart on vocals which ćan be found on one of the "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore" live compilations. Well worth a listen.

In 1988 I found a cassette of this album in the stereo of a Ford fiesta I bought for £950 ! That was the beginning of my Zappa journey!

One of Frank’s best vocal performances. I love the swirling electric piano and the bass lines too.

Gail doing her Yoko imitation. Those guitar tones....! I love alot of things about Frank and his music but the tones he gets just amaze me still. Love it!!

In addition to guitar, bass, keyboards, and vocals, FZ is also credited as director of recreational activities I agree, he really paints a picture that puts you in the dungeon.

The background vocals were done by Gail, his wife, and as great as some of the live versions are, this one is special. Even Frank's tone of voice in this one was never really replicated live, when you watch live versions he sings it in a more comical tone. It was a staple of his shows, not just Halloween, but all year long. Not surprised that you ranked it as high as you did, it is considered one of his most classic songs. Thanks James, it's about time one of us got to this one! Still wondering how they haven't heard the song before this one on the album...another classic. Just goes to show that as much as they have done, there are so many still unheard...

I saw Zappa at Pauley Pavilion UCLA back in 1975 or so. He really liked to play this song loooong. So, he's about 2/3's of the way through a fifteen minute version of this song, and I look over and one of the guys I went to the show with has actually fallen asleep in the middle of Frank's loooong solo, and he's got a stringer of drool connecting his nodded head to his pants. It was perfect.

Frank's song Rat Tomago is a guitar solo excerpt from a live version of The Torture Never Stops. It is one of his most rip-your-head-off solos. It's on his Sheik Yerbouti album.

My favorite Frank vocal. I love how his solo is tucked away in the mix. One of my favorite FZ albums.

I was introduced to “The Torture Never Stops “ on 12/31/1982. I was already a Zappa fan though I was not familiar with Zoot Allures. I was on LSD and easily associated with this tune. Great review!!

A concert staple, with many radical rearrangements over the years. My favorite comes from the 88 tour which is really funny with a blistering solo as well. This tune yielded some of Frank’s best solos.

Yet another truly unique track by the genius that is mr frank Vincent Zappa. God bless you sir ❤️❤️

My favorite version is on the Thing Fish album, "the torchem never stops".

Frank already knew the future

i'd been playing zappa for my good buddy, college roommate. trained musician. anyway, there is often resistance. it's difficult. there was a day i played "the blue light" from tinsel town rebellion, he came into the main room and heard how they pronounced "brute cologne", and he literally (i mean literally in the original sense) fell on the floor laughing. it's hard but funny. fan ever since.

Nice to see you back doing reactions to Frank Zappa! Hope things are well with you!

I'm so glad you tuned in. Two things to say: 1) her face just after @6:30 just after Frank gets to work on the first solo, and 2) one must absolutely listen to the last thirteen chords that close the song. just after @10:08.

FRANK used to come to New York and Connecticut every Halloween.☠👹👽👿 So cool he was!!👍😎

Frank zappa the Best ..rock,jazz blues,opera..I'm from Indonesia I like fank zappa....

'Slime and rot and rats and snot and vomit on the floor.' One of the finest lines ever penned.

Love those bell bottom pants When I was 16 I could put 3 cans of 16oz beer in each pant leg and sneak in the concert

Hahah loooove this one. Many great live versions over the years. The one and only FZ, man I miss him.

Loved your description of Frank's voice. This track has one of my favourite Frank guitar solos.

I love the Zappa's way you are

Zappa playes all the instruments on this, except drums (Terry Bozzio)

This whole album, Zoot Allures, is fantastic!

Working title on the '75 tour: 'Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him A Pepsi?'. As well as the various other released versions of the song that other people have mentioned, Frank released a number of double & triple albums that were just guitar solos from live concerts (he recorded everything from his shows), and there are at least three versions of guitar solos from 'The Torture Never Stops' to be found there, too, although all given new titles in their own right. And Rat Tomago on Sheik Yerbouti, which I think you have listened to on some other platform, is also a TTNS guitar solo! Full of useless information, me.

The song that got me turned on to Frank Zappa way, way backin the mid 1970's, once heard never forgotten! I have to add that this is the way to do reaction videos, I.e. no constant pausing to make inane comments, well done! Liked and subscribed

One of my top 3 fav FZ albums

This is more about sociology than it is imagining a crayon drawing that goes on the fridge, I think.

In my top 5 favourite songs of all time. A great song of existential despair

Often in Zappa songs important lyrics are in the last verse to drive home his point. “ Flies all green 'n buzzin' in his dungeon of despair Who are all those people that he's locked away up there Are they crazy? Are they sainted? Are they zeros someone painted? It has never been explained since at first it was created But a dungeon like a sin requires naught but lockin' in Of everything that's ever been Look at hers Look at him That's what's the deal we're dealing in”

Also done full blown on Thingfish

love this album. For me it's a thank you Mothers but you've served your purpose, I've outgrown you and need to move onwards and upwards album, and my god, doesn't he do just that!

In 1981 I was a Senior in HS, I was introduced to this Musical Masterpiece what is " Zoot Allures" , By Mr. Frank Zappa, and in 1982 I was honored and very fortunate to have Seen Him Live in Boulder Colorado for the You Are What You Is Tour. Still my all time Greatest Concert Ever, Ever...🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 ZPZ is purty Badass Live too. Father Frank is Looking down Proudly on his son Dweezil. ..........🤘😎

Sleep Dirt and Zoot Allures are my two best Frank albums!! with the sound guitar solos and the drumming of Bozzio wow

The live version with Captain Beefheart on vocals and harmonica is my personal favorite. It's a little more up tempo than this studio version with extras. Here's a link if you want to check it out. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tMoBLZrkHio.html

"Wind up Working in a gas station" ! " Disco Boy"!🗿

Sort of a prophetic ode to Guantanamo Bay.

Great analysis! I always wondered what this song is really trying to say. Hypnotizing. And disturbing.

Frank never fails when it comes to soloing over Torture. Here he plays all guitars and he really pulls off wonderful noises.

To be fair, Frank *does* inject a touch of ironic levity in his own style at one point in the song. Frank changes the words of the chorus to "...by the light of the Iron Sausage...". This is a reference to the song 'Dong Work for Yuda', from the 'Joe's Garage' album. Frank's music has a ton of little references and call-backs like this. Very easy to miss if you haven't heard much of his work.

frank wasn't afraid to take us to a dark place.

Totally worth checking this versions against the versions on "The best Band you never heard in your life" and the version Captain Beefheart on YCTDASA 4

What i love about your channel is 1) not only do you play some great Zappa with insightful reactions( without interrupting the music) ...but 2) the comments yield some great views and inside info on FZ from people who really know his work (I've only scratched the surface but am aware he was a genius..not a word to be used lightly, but definitely deserved in FZ's case)..Thx guys, I'm late to the party but slowly working backwards through your FZ stuff

Even the bass line sounds dark and torturous Have to keep the windows closed while cranking it. Got neighbors, ya know 😂 #MusicIsTheBest ❤

I was working at news ltd Sydney newspaper(owned by Murdoch family) in 1977 when a guy I turned on to Zappa bought this album that I had not heard. About 12 of us would house in Bronte beach near Bondi and after doing day shift would put those advertiser inserts into papers half the night and fly over to the beach for social gathering purpose...we were fellas from all parts of Sydney...In those days they had to be inserted by hand that shit ads.. Now we had listened to all the usual pop schmuck like eagles and Jackson Brown all night...Yunno all the country rock shit these guys were mostly into until someone said put that album on..The early songs of the album amused them and we were stoned that much they surprisingly got into Zappa...Then this song came on and I'll tell you a secret ..we were all tripping on acid to give us legs to survive 3 shifts and when this song got into the torture segments they freaked out and demanded it be turned off...It disturbed them to the core..The early descriptive parts amused them...and let me tell you this song is not a metaphor...it is literal and it is the real ''hotel California''..This song describes what is happening under ground across the world and the children 800,000 A YEAR THAT GOES MISSING IN THE USA. THESE WERE NOT ALTAR BOYS AND THAT SONG SCARED THE FUCK OUT OF THEM..many feel it is comedic..which it is to hide the literal reality. Dan, my lad ..you ask for visuals..Here is a visual representation with the version from the album ''thingfish'' of the torture never stops with an added song ''evil prince'' visuals by my friend plasticdada

I think you’re on to something. An animated version of TTNS? It would be epic. Consider watching the live version from the 1981 Halloween concert at the palladium. Steve Vai is there and frank plays a great solo. And as a sidenote,...that was another concert I attended. Lol 😉

Frank Zappa's soloing is always instantly recognizable. No one plays like that. He has kind of weird style compared to other guitarists.

I think the last verse of this song deserves a close listen, i'm convinced it re-contextualizes the meaning of the song to be about more than just literal torture.

Ben Watson (in his Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play, a Marxist study of FZ albeit from a long-term fan) reckons the cries of pain / sex noises in this are a kind of revenge for the 28 days' sentence he got for producing an audio sex tape for a client who turned out to be an undercover cop; the sex noises are so much more overt than those on the original tape, and he got paid for it as well.

the torture stops when you listen to anything Frank released.

I can't say why, but I always liked this piece musically. Now that you've spent some time listening to Frank, I think it's time for you to check out "Shut Up 'n Play Your Guitar".

Another favorite of mine, when we were at work and were given extra work we would look at each other and say the torture never stops. And then have a laff. Zoot Allures is a great album not a bad song on it.✌️❤️😃

Fun fact frank plays a fret less guitar on this track (ampeg I think could be wrong )

This is Frank doing the bass, the keys, and the fretless guitar. The only other instrumentalist here is Bozzio.

I really like you two, keep up your nice work!

Imagine this accidentally dropping onto your local pop radio station while you're stuck in traffic. Some songs should only be heard with fire proof headfones....this is one of Franks creepiest and smokiest. Some spooky stuff went on up in Laurel Canyon.

The song paints a picture

Dark musical humor at its best

Certainly not one of Frank's lighter, humorous tunes! But man; there's no denying he could certainly paint a vivid picture on the inside of your skull! The slow, brooding rhythm combined with the lyric is so visceral, isn't it? I do get the impression though, that the lady in the song is perhaps enjoying the experience somewhat a little too much...perhaps... poot.

The song after torture never stops is Ms. Pinky!!! You got to hear Ms. Pinky!!!lol

They played this on a commercial radio station here on Long Island WLIR. When it was over the female DJ said the song made her throw up. Well, that's better than no reaction I guess. I always thought FZ painted such a great - disturbed picture here. I heard it when I was 15. No one in high school got it. Now it's deeply rooted in my musical history. FZ's guitar / keys and bass playing create an amazingly ever evolving dark texture. And his low voice really works perfectly. Terry Bozzio's slow prodding drums work well in tandem to the tortured victim. Human beings can be so fucked up. Why all this evilness? "That's what's the deal we're dealin' in"... Also, the only people on the cover to play on this album is Zappa and Bozzio (to his left). The other two, Patrick O'Hearn and Eddie Jobson played on the following album. All post versions of this song (live) are pretty much fun vehicles for various musical quotes from TV themes.

"Or are they zeros someone painted" Could be a real dungeon or could be something that just looks like a dungeon!

Such a sexy and neurotic vibe! Thanks Guys.

Live in New York version is tremendous

Play this real loud and your neighbors will call the cops.

This album was created by Frank using a 4 track machine and him playing most of the instruments...He was in a law suite with Warner bros and they took his recording material and he basically was reduced to the four track machine in the basement scenario...He realised it was not going to work and decided the only way was to tour live around the world and by using the same setup as far as which channel snare and kick were to be in he could mix and match recorded concerts for content....Then he discovered all the big four record companies used the same accountants and law firms and if they wanted you black banned you would be black banned....He was possibly one of the first to create his own cottage industry of distribution by subscription...Eventually he beat warner bros and received his master tapes in damage condition...The issue is he owed 4 albums and he made them in a 4 album set and said''pay me''...they said fuck off but released them as singles as he released his own work.

oh. god. yes.

Frank was adding that ASMR effect haha

Finally the album zoot allures. Although not a patrion subscriber i requested this song numerous times. One of my favorites.

One of my favorite tracks from Frank.

Lyrics... Wow

Only know the live version on Cheap Thrills. This is so much better.😀

Well, if we ever get around to the movies….hahaha. I also own the one that has this song title’s name.😉 Anyway, that’s where the claymation is.

De Torchum...

So many great versions of this song. YCDTOSA v3 has a killer one. Thing Fish another. On of FZ's epics. Love the line "His carving style is well rehearsed," then he goes into a blistering solo.

Had to subscribe.. Zappa Zappa zappa.. Say no more..

Hate to be that guy, but the definitive version of this is the live performance with captain Beefheart on vocals and harmonica.

the young lady is so B E A U T I F U L

This is only the second time I've listened to the entire song lol

Yeah. This.

Beautiful.

The recreational activities vocal refers to FZ's pornography bust in '64, where he's been approached to make a stag film, by a cop, and he said no way for that budget but I can make you a tape... ten days in Tank C

Terry Bozzio again, with some soft 12-tuplets!

I enjoy the version on 'Thingfish' more. Not so slow, better instrumentation, and a slight tongue-in-cheek intonation.

Bought this new, only FZ I ever owned. Wasn't yet a guitar icon of mine, couldn't really do him justice in my best years, imho. A fave off the album anyhoo. Why WOULD ya stop it?

The live version of this from the best band you never heard in your life set is even better. Frank’s guitar work is other worldly! And his band was spot on as usual. You should really explore the never heard in your life sets. All amazing live stuff including covers of purple haze and stairway to heaven.

This album is amazing, the rest of the songs are short and concise by comparison but compelling and incredibly edgy. Possibly my favourite studio album from Zappa. Interestingly the personnel on the album cover do not match the players on the album tracks. It's an oddly random, Zappa thing.

Ok, but its realy about how it was to be insane..in those days. in instiutiusons..som friend of him had a bad time

I know a few live versions of this by now, but I always turn back to this studio rendering because I find it the most artistic. And the screams do not come from Gail, as far as I know, but from Dale, Terry Bozzio's wife. He is the one sitting on the bar stool, by the way. Oh, and I am not the fasted to pick up on bass line, but I find the bass utterly remarkable in this piece.

This is a excellent album. ♥️

Sempre exelentes escolhas jovens .👑 já tinha saudades vossas 😍

Imagine if this was your introduction to Zappa.

It's a great song. Frank's take on the record companies that make prisoners of their artists and continually rake them over the coals in pursuit of the mighty dollar. I saw Zappa live eight times. When they made him, they broke the mold!

Geat reaction. One of my total favourites sinister midget and all. Dudes, Dan, if your loving the imagery induced by this you are going to love 'Thing Fish'. It makes some people fidgety. But I reckon yous will be loving a bit of Bbrroadway Entertaimment.

With more immagination, you can even hear the rats at about 8:30-8:40 :)