It pleases my heart to see the younger generation begin to discover the genius and diversity of Franks music….There’s much to experience. I’m must highlight 1969 !
@Gerald H Hey,thanks for the info. I just hit 70, and lived my younger life REALLY enjoying the the decadence & insanity of the times. Thanks for telling me he was on the album. For my second concert ever I saw TMOI ( w/ Captain Beefheart)at the Ampitheater in the Chi,opening act was a brand new band ,THE DOORS. Quite a show. For anyone out there who don't know,Zap played the FUCK out of the guitar.
@Gerald H ELP was great! Keith Emerson had one of the best voices from that era. My first concert was Hendrix,the opening act was a band called Soft Machine,it featured Keith Emerson. Real psychedelic shit.
HOT RATS is from the Album Cover Waka/Jawaka. The cover shows a sink with (2) water Levers. One lever is labeled "HOT" and the other lever is labeled "Rats"....
The Gumbo Variations is an extension of Franks musical musings about food - Call Any Vegetable, Duke of Prunes, ST. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast, Electric Aunt Jemima to name a few. This LP was the first that he used 16 track equipment for recording. Give a listen to Peaches En Regalia from the same LP. Frank described the Hot Rats LP as a movie for your mind. The Little House I Used to Live In (Burnt Weenie Sandwich LP) is another great extended piece by Frank and the boys. I have been a fan of Mr. Zappa since 1967 and this LP is still one of my favorites/his best.
For me, this is my favorite Frank period, when he began to get into more instrumental improvisation. Around the time this was published, you had Uncle Meat, Hot Rats (Gumbo is found here), Burnt Weeney Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, all with some of the greatest music you'll ever hear. As regards that instrument, yes, it is a violin played by Don Sugarcane Harris. One musician of note is Ian Underwood who played piano, organ, flute, and all the clarinets and saxes on this recording. He was quite instrumental (pun intended) at the time in helping Frank write some of the music, especially on Uncle Meat. He played with Frank a good ten years, which is pretty impressive considering all the musicians that came and went, but it's difficult to let great talent go.
There is a triple lp (originaly released as three seperate lps) of just the guitar solos called "Shut Up & Play Your Guitar" and a later double lp called "Guitar" that are worth a listen.
Ian Underwood deserves more credit than he gets for his contributions to this album. Bought it with money from my 11th birthday because I liked the cover, started me on a 45 year journey. Give Packard Goose a listen for some iconic FZ philosophical musings...
Because he truly IS the ROnald McDonald fo the Neuvo Abstruse... Hey John, speaking of Packard Goose, I dare you to listen to the entire Joe's Garage (his Magnum Opus) Double LP in one sitting. It's basically the OST to a musical about the perils of music that was never made. ...Brilliant!
T.T.G. Studios, Los Angeles, CA July 30, 1969 FZ-guitar Ian Underwood-sax, organ Don "Sugarcane" Harris-organ, violin Max Bennett-bass Paul Humphrey-drums
Wow, amazing coincidence! I was just listening to this track at work the other night and I literally thought it'd be cool to suggest this to you to check out, as you do so much Zappa and the piece is so amazing. Thanks for reading my mind! ;) You should check out some tracks form his Jazz from Hell album or the Shut up and play Yer Guitar series. All are instrumental LP's so lots of notes to listen to. lol.
Over 40 years of listening to this perfect performance, Bunk Gardner, Nepolion Murphy on later years. Get the album Hot Rats. That's a violin, Frank sprung him out of jail to do the album, I ain't gonna tell ya do your homework. My girlfriend in high school gave me this album. Rock on!
Is it a fiddle? After I imagine The “sax player” was passed out on the floor out of oxygen after playing his saxy stuff for the 1st part of the song - so the fiddle player jumps in to jam & take it to another level. (Thinking this will mess with John Slop sometime in the future) This had to be recorded live don’t you feel it?
If you want to listen to another song where the guitar kinda sounds like a violin, check out Fishbone - One Day. Your intro tune somewhat reminded me of Jane's Addiction - Three days and Primus - Southbound Pachyderm.
John slop you're interested in music obviously you play you're still you are a student of music could do fantastic things just like Frank and many other great musicians did. Don't let anybody tell you you can't before I croak I want to hear about John Slop, and what a great musician' composer he is
John, It is heartwarming to see a freshly minted Frank Zappa admirer's first reaction to The Gumbo Variations! I've easily logged 100-man hours studying the intricacies of this one particular track. Don "Sugarcane" Harris truly shines here. If you enjoyed the original release, you might want to check out the "Hot Rats Sessions" for an inside-the-studio perspective." "Willy the Pimp" is very noteworthy. However, for a newly minted FZ fan... I would be remiss if I failed to direct you to my hands-down favorite guitar solo by Frank Zappa, which begins at the 6:45-min mark of DON'T YOU EVER WASH THAT THING? ( th-cam.com/video/Dd_gU03mcZ4/w-d-xo.html ) Hope to see your initial reaction on a future TH-cam. ReSpEcTs!
It pleases my heart to see the younger generation begin to discover the genius and diversity of Franks music….There’s much to experience. I’m must highlight 1969 !
What about a 58 year old that just got in to hi about a year ago after hearing Inca Roads I always knew his as a genius but i can feel it know
Sugar Cane Harris and Jean Luc Ponty on Violins.
Sugar Cane Harris on Violin. Hot Rats is another song. Aynsley Dunbar on drums.
@Gerald H Why was I always under the assumption that was JON LUC PONTY on violin? Why am I asking youse guys?
@Gerald H Hey,thanks for the info. I just hit 70, and lived my younger life REALLY enjoying the the decadence & insanity of the times. Thanks for telling me he was on the album. For my second concert ever I saw TMOI ( w/ Captain Beefheart)at the Ampitheater in the Chi,opening act was a brand new band ,THE DOORS. Quite a show. For anyone out there who don't know,Zap played the FUCK out of the guitar.
@Gerald H ELP was great! Keith Emerson had one of the best voices from that era. My first concert was Hendrix,the opening act was a band called Soft Machine,it featured Keith Emerson. Real psychedelic shit.
HOT RATS is from the Album Cover Waka/Jawaka. The cover shows a sink with (2) water Levers. One lever is labeled "HOT" and the other lever is labeled "Rats"....
The Gumbo Variations is an extension of Franks musical musings about food - Call Any Vegetable, Duke of Prunes, ST. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast, Electric Aunt Jemima to name a few. This LP was the first that he used 16 track equipment for recording. Give a listen to Peaches En Regalia from the same LP. Frank described the Hot Rats LP as a movie for your mind. The Little House I Used to Live In (Burnt Weenie Sandwich LP) is another great extended piece by Frank and the boys. I have been a fan of Mr. Zappa since 1967 and this LP is still one of my favorites/his best.
I thought I was a Zappa fan for ever...
When you started, I was ONE... lol!
;)
For me, this is my favorite Frank period, when he began to get into more instrumental improvisation. Around the time this was published, you had Uncle Meat, Hot Rats (Gumbo is found here), Burnt Weeney Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, all with some of the greatest music you'll ever hear. As regards that instrument, yes, it is a violin played by Don Sugarcane Harris. One musician of note is Ian Underwood who played piano, organ, flute, and all the clarinets and saxes on this recording. He was quite instrumental (pun intended) at the time in helping Frank write some of the music, especially on Uncle Meat. He played with Frank a good ten years, which is pretty impressive considering all the musicians that came and went, but it's difficult to let great talent go.
There is a triple lp (originaly released as three seperate lps) of just the guitar solos called "Shut Up & Play Your Guitar" and a later double lp called "Guitar" that are worth a listen.
"Ship Ahoy" + "Canarsie" where no one has a head....!
Ian Underwood deserves more credit than he gets for his contributions to this album. Bought it with money from my 11th birthday because I liked the cover, started me on a 45 year journey.
Give Packard Goose a listen for some iconic FZ philosophical musings...
Because he truly IS the ROnald McDonald fo the Neuvo Abstruse...
Hey John, speaking of Packard Goose, I dare you to listen to the entire Joe's Garage (his Magnum Opus) Double LP in one sitting. It's basically the OST to a musical about the perils of music that was never made.
...Brilliant!
@@DrNothing23 you mean triple LP :-)
@@DrNothing23 It may be a double CD but it's a triple lp, Pts 1 - 3.
YOU HAVE TO PLAY WILLIE THE PIMP! YOU HAVE TO!
100% a Fav along with Muffin man
@@toda304 STILL LOVE ME SOME DYNAMO HUM!
Love the bass and drums in particular in this one.
CRAZY GOOD! and sugar cane harris shoul be called sugar cane menace!
Zappas solo is also great
T.T.G. Studios, Los Angeles, CA
July 30, 1969
FZ-guitar
Ian Underwood-sax, organ
Don "Sugarcane" Harris-organ, violin
Max Bennett-bass
Paul Humphrey-drums
Is there a live version of this Dam awesome Playlist
The whole album is great .try peaches en regalia.
Wow, amazing coincidence! I was just listening to this track at work the other night and I literally thought it'd be cool to suggest this to you to check out, as you do so much Zappa and the piece is so amazing.
Thanks for reading my mind! ;)
You should check out some tracks form his Jazz from Hell album or the Shut up and play Yer Guitar series.
All are instrumental LP's so lots of notes to listen to. lol.
Pretty intense. Loved it for over 40 years.
This is all about the drums and bass for me. Everything else is out front, but the drums and bass set the stage.
Over 40 years of listening to this perfect performance, Bunk Gardner, Nepolion Murphy on later years. Get the album Hot Rats. That's a violin, Frank sprung him out of jail to do the album, I ain't gonna tell ya do your homework. My girlfriend in high school gave me this album. Rock on!
The best one chord tune ever
Zappa said that it was the sound of Archie Shepps saxophone spewing out a sound like a bunch of Hot Rats screeching out of a drain pipe.
It is a violin played by Jean Luc Ponty.
@Zolar Czakl I still have this record on vinyl & yet I misread the credits. You are correct. Another senior moment has come & gone.
Jean Luc Ponty and Sugarcane have entirely different styles. Sugarcane is rooted in the blues and R&B.
Is it a fiddle? After
I imagine The “sax player” was passed out on the floor out of oxygen after playing his saxy stuff for the 1st part of the song - so the fiddle player jumps in to jam & take it to another level. (Thinking this will mess with John Slop sometime in the future)
This had to be recorded live don’t you feel it?
If you want to listen to another song where the guitar kinda sounds like a violin, check out Fishbone - One Day.
Your intro tune somewhat reminded me of Jane's Addiction - Three days and Primus - Southbound Pachyderm.
Check out the cover by Zappa Jam.
It is indeed an electric violin
John slop you're interested in music obviously you play you're still you are a student of music could do fantastic things just like Frank and many other great musicians did. Don't let anybody tell you you can't before I croak I want to hear about John Slop, and what a great musician'
composer he is
John, It is heartwarming to see a freshly minted Frank Zappa admirer's first reaction to The Gumbo Variations! I've easily logged 100-man hours studying the intricacies of this one particular track. Don "Sugarcane" Harris truly shines here. If you enjoyed the original release, you might want to check out the "Hot Rats Sessions" for an inside-the-studio perspective." "Willy the Pimp" is very noteworthy. However, for a newly minted FZ fan... I would be remiss if I failed to direct you to my hands-down favorite guitar solo by Frank Zappa, which begins at the 6:45-min mark of DON'T YOU EVER WASH THAT THING? ( th-cam.com/video/Dd_gU03mcZ4/w-d-xo.html ) Hope to see your initial reaction on a future TH-cam. ReSpEcTs!
Truth!
Here because Mr. Harris ♥