Frank Zappa is literally the only composer in 1979 who could write a song about music executives butt raping a guy in prison, but the music is so good, even 42 years later people still miss it.
The only trouble for me is that just about everything he did after about '72 is pretty revolting, to me anyway - sleazy funk with blow dried session men. Bach and Beethoven, on the other hand, never lost the purity and improved and expanded their art during the span of their lives.
This is the easy live version. You really need to check out the studio version with Vinnie soloing over the outro which alternates between 4/4, 19/16, and 21/16. Just sayin...;-)
One time I baked two pans of the strongest pot brownies known to man, then threw a party w my roommates. A few hours later I put the album version of this song on, paying special attention to people’s reactions to the 19/16 outro. This one guy seemed especially affected by it, and a little later we found him hiding out all alone with his head down in his hands. He kept saying over and over “that music... that music...” I think we imprinted his brain permanently.
Ike Willis was one of the most loving people I ever met. It sucks that he does not get the recognition.. at least in my circle of friends. Not only a great guitarist but his vocals were my favorite. He ruled the best songs on Joe's. I approached him when I saw him and he embarrassed me like I was a relative and then played to a very undersold show and still killed it. Frank was a genius, but could not do it without a good staff. I got Ike's back for life. Love that man.
a trained musician finds Frank. these are the moments i LIVE for. talk about rabbit hole, Frank is THE rabbit hole. he takes everything you KNOW about music and turns that shit right on its head and looks at you like, "what? i'm just doing the thing."
Thats the short name BTW. The REAL name of that song was or is ''Playing Guitar for The Frank Zappa Band is harder than Growing a 'Water Melon in Easter Hay'.
Dracut Wilmington Roslindale OUT OF 114 TITLED RELEASES, I OWN 98% OF THEM !!! ATTENDED EVERY HALLOWEEN SHOW AND THEN SOME !! NO BIGGER FAN !!! ACTUALLY, WHEN HE PASSED, IT HURT ME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS A FAMILY MEMBER, POSSIBLY MORE, SINCE HIS MUSIC WAS PART OF MY SOUL !! Ever since 1966 !!!!
Frank is unmatched, for the rest of time. His bands, are better than everyones bands. Whether its Chester on Drums, Bozzio, Vinnie, Humphries, it doesnt matter. Zappa always had the best band.
@Harry Clams You're kidding, yes? They're heavy talents but F.Z. is from a different universe. Woulda been interesting to hear a collaboration with Miles, Steely Dan or Sting... (addendum)...or Brubeck, the pioneer of polyrhythms(!)
I loved seeing your smile as the silliness and musical complexity of Zappa started getting revealed. It's one of the reason I've been listening to Frank for about 35 years now! Unfortunately Frank's sense of humor may be preventing him from being recognized as the amazing musical genius he actually was.
I think Zappa had a very healthy sense of humor. And if it prevents him from being recognized as the amazing musical genius he actually was, that probably says something about the society, doesn't it?
@@michaelgeorge4826 I agree 100%. Far too many people who are would never even consider looking into the music of someone who made songs titled "Titties and Beer", "Nanook Rubs It", or "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow". They see that and take one look at Zappa and write him off as a drug addict hippy, never knowing Zappa hated the idea of drugs or how talented he was.
The reason Frank is not widely recognized for his genius in the United States is, he stood up against the government when they tried to censor music. He made several politicians and their wives look very stupid(rightly so imo). Those politicians colluded with the media to smear Frank and keep his music off the radio
Was at that show,saw all the Zappa shows at capital theater n msg,felt forum,the pier a miss Frank's shows a lot. Never disappointed....last show I da him alive was Broadway the hard way shows in NYC. Great stuff... Never be another.
I found your channel last night. Watching a legit player who can actually dissect movements and parts discover these tracks in adulthood is amazing and fun and it reminds me why I love what I love. Thank you.
MANX needs Women. That's called Vinnie colaiuta on drums. is that the st. Louis 78 ridiculous how audacious Lee amazing it is. Incredible lineup. 78 and 79 were incredible years for Studio albums for FZ.....'78_ Zappa in New York and Studio Tan.....'79_ sleep dirt, orchestral favorites, Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage I II III. No albums in 77 but the shows and 77 - 79 some of the best shows he would never put on incredible bootlegs through that time
When a buddy and I got into Zappa...we would each go to the record store and blindly buy 1 zappa CD a piece every week for several months. We didn't realize he had like 100 cd's to choose from. WoW! A couple of years ago I downloaded the whole Z appa catalog at the time....100+
The rythmic complexity of Frank's music is often underappreciated (and something that hints at his love of composers like Varèse), he had some of the world's best drummers and percussionists in his bands over the years. Check out The Black Page, written for drummer Terry Bozzio and so named because there were so many notes on the sheet music.
The thing to remember about Zappa live was the way he would direct the band with his body. There was a documentary about the drummers from Zappa (including Ruth Underwood) and they said that the song could change night after night and they had to pick up on the various nuances. Sometimes the song could even be played calypso or jazzzzz. (you heard it on the last 'verse')...
Young Vinnie Coliauta (21, 22 yo) on drums here. Later to become L.A.'s session virtuoso. Still is. Same drummer on Sting's Gordon Sumner's Tales (1993), Live with Jeff Beck 2005 - 2013 ish. And on tour with Herbie Hancock, currently.
Zappa's group around this time were spot on,and the other line up with vai,belew,bozio, baby snakes the movie is the best performance I've seen live, Zappa knew how to select good musicians 👍
MORE ZAPPA! I saw you say Zappa was your least favorite react. He's of the hrestest American guitarist of all time in my book. Rat Tomago, a freestyled LIVE solo for the song "The Torture Never Stops" that zappa cut into its own song. Amazing. Watermelon in Easter Hay, Black Napkins. Just react to one of these and you'll be a believer
The crazy thing is - not sure if it's true - I was told by a FZ friend/fan that Frank himself didn't think that much of this album. If it is true, imagine knocking this one out and moving on, thinking, "Well, that's done. Next." If I created only one album, and this was it, I'd be pretty damn pleased with myself.
Also - I’m going to get started with your lessons tomorrow. I’ve been playing 30 years, but the great thing about the guitar is that there’s always more to learn! 10 $ is a steal. I’m excited to see what you’ve got there. Thank you! - Erik Gray
I just laughed with joy when you had to stop and say "Those goddamn drums..." But this is Zappa. We know it's going to be too much for us, but we do it anyway. Thank you.
Longtime lover of Zappa; first time viewer of your page. You made my day, thank you for appreciating the hard work and talent that is Frank Zappa's music. Do you do any more Zappa?
I've been listening to FZ since 1966 ... I really enjoy your listening and talking about the groove ... To me, one of the three most listenable guitarists. (Beck, Gilmour, Zappa).
the Frank Zappa rabbit hole twists and turns all the way to the center of the planet then transitions into an entirely different dimension. he is one of the finest musical composers who ever lived. Bach, Beethoven, Zappa. without an OUNCE of hyperbole i can say he belongs in this company. if you have studied music full-time for 50 years of your life and you turn your attention to Zappa, the first rule is FORGET EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW.
Oh, now you're talking a REALLY DEEP rabbit hole, full of twists and turns! One of the true geniuses, and a serious, VERY strict, perfectionist, although some of his material would lead you to believe otherwise. He was a real task master with his bands, and demanded countless hours of rehearsal. Frank kept the world in check. We needed him! You will have some real fun on this journey!
I heard a story back in the day from someone who played on a Zappa session that had an orchestra with like 130 instruments where Frank heard someone play a wrong note and could point immediately to the player who did it. Their chart had an error, but the player was "spotted out" none the less. He was well known to have perfect pitch and total control. Even so you hear tales of him giving his 'hired gun' guitarists amazing liberty.
The fast lick at 8:35 is a quote from the song 'Midnight Sun' by Lionel Hampton, played in the key of D MAJOR. The notes are: C# E Eb D Db C B Bb F# A F#. Here's Ella Fitzgerald singing it in the key of Ab: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--f53xo_NNF8.html
I've loved Zappa for 40+ years,saw him 4 times and own most of his stuff but I'm an ignoramus as far as whats going on musically.It's vids like this that opens a little window into whats going on for a novice like me.
Would have to check, but the keyboard fill after "lube from the north" 08:30 is probably a reference to a lick from Zappa's own northern-themed "Nanook Rubs It".
Zappa is a guitar GOD! Nothing more to be said. I still miss him. It's a beautiful thing watching someone experience Zappa for the first time. Zappa was a conductor and composer and if you watch the video he directs the band. You have to learn the language 😁
You should also check out Frank on the Mike Douglas show. He walks out with his SG & a Pignose amp and does Black Napkins Really cool. Frank liked the Pignose. Listen to his solo on Dirty Love as well
Next do Ship Arriving too Late to Save a Drowning Witch - that is the one song in Frank's 100s of songs that no band could perform live - he always had to overdub and splice tracks together to make it how he wrote it ...
New sub...mainly for the thumbnail (as a fellow guitar noisist and Zappaholic, I recognize the pain)! Oh, and have you ever tried the solo from “Inca Roads”?
I play no instrument but watching you struggle to do this puts Zappa's music into perspective for a tone deaf rythmless nincompoop who loves his music and can't figure out why, technically.
"How could you play this with a shirt on"? LOL Frank is among the sound track of my life since high school. Overnight Sensation and Apostrophe are two albums capturing Frank arguably at his best. Then the great live album Roxy and Elsewhere. Too bad no Frank lead guitar here, an amazing player. And his bands were all enormously talented, smokin.
Best guitarist that I've ever seen was FZ. And I've seen all the greats. Zappa was so unique. Not a typical rock or jazz guy running through the same old riffs and scales. He took you on a journey with his improvisations. And he was a great composer. His compositions made you work as a listener. No laid back Grateful Dead meanderings, which I also like when I'm in the mood.
Check out Alphonse Mouzon’s 1975 Mind Transplant. Great cast of outstanding musicians, but the Guitar work of Tommy Bolin and Lee Ritenour transcends to a whole different level.
Dude i really love this series. It reminds me to stop and listen for awhile. :) Just learning how you stop a little, work out some things, grab some key ideas, and move on. LOVE IT!
Good luck breaking down a zappa solo, if he was to actually pick up his guitar. It's all improvised, with his own technique and unique phrasing, and it's always moving forward.
It is a drummer's tune like the Black Page is a drummer's tune. Genius of Frank is that he wrote compositions for all instruments to express their total potential. I was at that concert, it was great. In fact I think somewhere I have a cassette recording of Zappa at the Paladium in the late 70s. Yes was the other band that I thought was great and the reason for this was explained when Yes (Fragile Yes not the later Yes, which was junk to me ) interviewed said their influence was Zappa. I said no wonder I liked their music. My musical diet is extremely biased, I grew with the Beatles, then Frank, then Bowie and in my later years just Frank and Bowie. Before the Police came on the scene I felt Rock was dead. I could only listen to Men at Work in the 80s. DIsco was torture for me and I returned to listening to classical music and Jazz all through the 80s. Nothing else compared and tantalized my senses as did Frank. Pity his kids turned out to be boring, strange thing about DNA.
Bruce Caldwell BOZZIO AIN’T NO SLOUCH !!!! BUT I AGREE !! WHEN I SAW VINNIE TRADE RIFFS WITH FRANK AT THE PALLADIUM, NYC IT BLEW MY MIND !!! IT WAS LIKE TWO INSTRUMENTS TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER (reminded me of The MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA)
I like Aynsley, nothing complicated but the groove man!!!!! Simplicity at its Best, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ISx3kOxo7JU.html from the VPRO doc ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5aFRBbnF-ag.html
@@funkempfang Aynsley Dunbarr, what a beat beast. Didn't he do the Apostrophe and Overnite Sensation albums? I have a FZ live album where he's playing alongside of Flo & Eddie. Fantastic stuff
Everybody in the band plays exactly what Zappa wrote for them and how he wrote it so the awesome drums you point out, are Zappa's doing, and Vinnie delivers it perfectly. (Vinnie started his drum career with Zappa btw.)
Ronnie Neuhauser not always. There were lots of bits that sound like improv solos, that were actually completely written out. Vice versa there were also lots of bits where FZ let the musicians improvise, as he liked improv. So much so, that he also used the musicians as ‘instruments’ and ‘played’ them with hand gestures, conducting their improvisations. Did it with orchestras too and that was regarded rather revolutionary at the time.
@@antidote7 Zappa loved good improvisationsand let often his musicians play free, but also he composed many of their solos. A good example is "The Black Page Drum Solo", performed by Terry Bozzio - note for note written. And that´s a hard one to play.
good work there , i saw him at this show @ the cap in nj, accidentally paase a j to a uniformed police in the restroom while i was reading the program. he must've loved the look on my face when i looked up and saw he was a cop, cuz he didn't lock me up. zappa on the pier also shirtless, but it was hot out that day
That's funny! As for amusing rock music stories, I met Dweezil (on my 41st bday, in a fucking elevator!) and Ike, years later also unexpectedly. Both meetings were among the highlights of my life. But love ya Frank!
@Michael Palmisano Listen my friend you just got 'Franked' good and proper. I realise that you were very impressed by the drums, as you should have been, because they were fuckin' incredible. I'm very glad that you acknowledged that. BUT you are a guitarist - you ignored all of that. OK, you understood what key it was in, and certain modes etc etc etc etc, most of the time but c'mon dood this tune fuckin HAD YA!!!!! you were stumped by it.
Mike now has the option on being very impressed by Terry, Chester, Ralph, Chad, etc. not to mention the challenges of attempting to grok Uncle Frank’s air sculpture technique.
I have to say it's a very very friendly, easy jab at you picking up this tune from Zappa's repertoire. Listen to his tuplets, harmonies, off beats & melodies on Foxy & Elsewhere for instance...
F.Z., in time, will be recognized as one of THE premier composers of the 20th Century.. I love odd time signatures, have written many grooves myself; Frank is sick and his players who can read and stay with him are astonishing...
Check out Rat Tomago from Sheik Yerbouti. He pretty much jams over a 2 chord rhythm, but the trick is he actually played the lead year earlier live in a concert, and then recorded the rhythm/backing underneath it in the studio. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c6fKl-huexE.html
