Classical Composer Reacts to Don't Eat the Yellow Snow Suite (Frank Zappa) | The Daily Doug (Ep 287)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- #FrankZappa #Zappa #YellowSnowSuite #WeirdWednesday
In this Weird Wednesday edition of #TheDailyDoug, I'm listening to the first four tracks from Frank Zappa's 1974 album Apostrophe, collectively known as the Don't Eat the Yellow Snow Suite. I had an absolute blast going along for the ride as Frank tells us the story of a most interesting dream. Come along for the ride!
Reference Video: • Frank Zappa - Apostrop...
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Frank Zappa belongs in the category of great American composers.
Absolutely!
Yes
How many americans recognize that? Do you know what Frank think about the american culture?
Definitely. His arrangements are incredible.
The great American composer refuses to die (sic life in hell 1993 by Matt groening)
8:46
Doug: "This is storytelling in its finest, my friend"
Zappa: *"Great Googly Moogly!"*
HAHAHAHA loved that part too
"Googly Moogly" from "Deep Throat" w/ Linda Lovelace
"And My momma cried" "And My momma cried" Save your money don't go to the show, I turned around and said HO HO don't be a naughty eskimo. From zero to 60 ,from seasame street to soul church. Amazed! I can't see ( wobaling ,rambling singing) 🤣😲
Yeah, and he talked over it and missed it
@@bugsplat2755and before that, Muddy Waters used it in his lyrics occasionally.
My dad raised us on this record. As kids, we thought it was the most hysterical thing we had ever heard. As we grew up and all became musicians ourselves, we began to recognize the musical genius behind the comedy. I totally remember being 6 yrs old dancing around the living room in our PJ's w my brothers to this opus! Great job, dad!
Same here! Hurray for great dads!
You have a cool dad, my dad wanted me to listen to classical & church music, needless to say it didn't pan out that way. My older sister turned me onto bands from the early 60's era, Beatles, Liverpool Five, Animals, Yardbirds, The Byrds, stuff like that. then my older cousins turned me onto Cream, Led Zep, Yes, ELP, and Moody Blues. Then I began to choose music I liked on my own, all the while maintaining my love of the music that took me there.
Ha! Im 68 and im one of those dads. My son grew up to be a masterful musician and I hear bits of Zappa sometimes in his music that makes me want to cry!
You were raise properly . . . Cheers to good parenting like you had!
Shit ugly zappa was garbage
And I must say, anyone who can fit the words "unmitigated audacity" into lyrics, is a legend.
"Unmedicated audacity" is the lyric
@@talloaks9644 Nope, its unmitigated - you can clearly hear its unmitigated in the song and you can also google the lyrics where it says so.
@@talloaks9644 wrong song dude, it's unmedicated audacity would make no contextual Sense 😅
And it fits so well rhythmically.
@@lilkujo Unmitigated audacity is the lyric.
The entire album is incredible! Those who know, know...
♫ The crux of the biscuit, is the apostrophe ♫
Well the man who was talking to the dog looked at the dog and he said....kind of staring in disbelief...
A few weeks went by...
And now its july....
@@TarantuLandoCalcuLingus I finally got it off and my girlfriend cried, you got STINK FOOT!
*dun da dum dum duuuuun*
Great Googllie Mooglie
çÔ¿Ôp
@@beeramebroham9210 It doens't, and you can't, I won't, and It don't, It hasn't, It isn't, and even ain't, It shouldn't, It couldn't, he told me no, no, no, I told tenho yes, yes, yes. I said I do It ALL The time, ain't this boogie a mess ?
Frank Zappa, an absolute musical genius, there will never be another like him.
Oh man, wait till he gets to "don't jizz on that sofa"
Well of course there will be, but Zappa was amazing!
the whole band were/are musical geniuses. Hence why people like Steve Via played with him. World Class Musicians.. (I been playing music since I was 4, Im 50, and I wouldn't cut it in any way haha.. I could serve drinks etc)
Don’t say that. There must be many many more like him for time immemorial.
Absolutely!!!
I miss the Zappa effect... when you're trying to comprehend a complex musical phrase but all the oxygen in your brain is needed for laughing.
Ralph Humphrey delivers an absolutely underappreciated drumming masterclass on these tracks. It's absolutely epic, and incredibly difficult. Ralph is awesome.
Listened to this a hundred times growing up, but this is the first time those drums stood out to me, just fantastic
Tightest band since Glen Miller. They rock, they swing, they samba, and that’s usually all in one song.
That period of Zappa's (1973-1975) had his best bands (actually pretty much one band with some personnel changes along the way). Zappa not only had musicians that were technically good, but ones that could push him.
imagine Zappa's band with Glen Miller's Band (being conducted by Glen) together, doing full orchestrations.. the amazing crescendos of Miller, the half-step chromatic rundown to time-changes of Zappa (similar to what Glen liked to do but going up!)
I saw frank in the 70’s when vai was with him. Amazing concert!!
Frank was brilliant……which is really an understatement
@@jonmeltzer1361 Frank had an amazing ability to recognize talent.
@@BassMatt1972 Then add in James Brown's band.
I'm glad you enjoyed this. Frank Zappa was a genius, funny as hell and is sadly missed.
Lots of people get really lost in Zappa's lyrics, and it totally distracts from them listening to the music and studio wizardry going on behind the mirth... listen to it again, and listen to the genius of the percussion, the backing vocals...
Well put. At 15 my first concert was FZ. I was expecting The Mothers OI, and I got 2 hours of instrumental progressive jazz. Very disappointed 15 year old. Sure wish I had a time machine to slap that teenage dipshit and say, “Listen to the music, you fool! You shall not pass this way again.”
Yes, there's a lot going on in every song he made.....a musician's musician....
TY Doug!
"A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians." ~ Frank Zappa
Doug, as a composer, you should definitely check out Zappa's The Black Page.
Just comment on the sheet music. Legend has it that it’s the audition assignment FZ would give.
oh yeh !
Parts 1&2.... I love the instrumental version on live in NY and the score for part 1 is on YT.
@@KBeta68 I believe it was the audition assignment for Terry Bozzio which he passed in flying colors!
Zappa recorded Orchestral Favorites 8n September 1975 with Terry Bozzio on drums.
Zappa overheard some of the musicians talk about fearing black pages, as in lots of quarter notes, eighth notes and taster than that.
That inspired him to compose the drum solo that became The Black Page.
Bozzio had plenty time to learn and practice and after he played the piece to FZ, Zappa composed the melody and eventually re-worked it into the second version for the Zappa In New York shows.
Later drummer may have had to play it as part of their audition but Bozzio was already in the band when FZ wrote it.
Frank was a genius. Its great to see all these other fans of Frank on here.
We've been out here for 50 years now.
As a general tip: Frank Zappa has made a LOT of music. What you're listening here to is actually NOT off the beaten track for Zappa standards. Things can get a lot, lot weirder. For instance: try the album Civilization Phaze III.
Yep, Civilization Phaze III is a masterpiece
Or that other masterpiece, 'Titties and Beer'.
Frank live in New York titties and beer the Illinois enema Bandit Bobby Brown Catholic girls Dinah Moe humm and it goes on and on Joe's Garage another great one I've owned them all I've seen him many times Studio tan another great album
You are What You Is
@@SoupDragonish You is what you am.
The background singers on the album are Tina Turner and the Ikettes
Ruth Underwood is one of my favorite musicians, of all time, Zappa was so fortunate to have stumbled across her
The whole bands, plural.
You know Frank and Ruth were plooking....on the down low. She truly loved him.
Fun fact: Frank passed on with enough music for nearly 70 albums in the vault that has never been on record.
Yeah, and if it's up to Ahmet and Diva we'll never get to hear any of it.
@@bearbryant3495 I don't get that. It would clearly make them more money than they would be getting on their own.
@@PaulIsDeadMissHim A lot of shit has happened since Frank died that makes little to no sense. Mostly due to Gail.
Actually the count is up to over 140 single albums.
Frank was second only to Buckethead in prolific abundance.
Frank Zappa......one of the most brilliant composers EVER !!
Zappa was a gift. Humour and Jazz sensibilities. He will be missed.
Sorely!!! I played drums in the studio with him for a little over 2 years. You have no idea...
@@moneyfindersllc6236 😎 cool
OUI: Is your sex life as weird as your music?
ZAPPA: What makes you think my music is weird?
OUI: Just a preconception that many of us have.
ZAPPA: First of all, you have to get rid of your preconceptions. You’re talking to a human being who happens to be pretty intelligent, who works real hard to do what he does - and there’s nothing weird about that at all. Remember, I’m rational. I think you’re weird. What’s weird about my music? As an accurate journalist and a person with a conscience, it’s your job to bring the truth to the people of the world. There isn’t anything weird about my music. Weird is a skeleton in the closet, wearing a rubber mask with warts all over its nose, and all that kind of shit. That’s not what I do. The thing that makes my music unusual is that people only hear one kind of music all the time over the radio. It’s wallpaper to their lives. Audile wallpaper. There’s one acceptable beat and there are three acceptable chord progressions. There are five acceptable words: baby, love, tears, yat yat. Just because I don’t deal in those terms doesn’t mean I’m weird. So tell these people: I ain’t weird; I’m rational. I’m a person who can choose to write stuff like that, or choose to write stuff that includes all the notes on the piano played at once, followed by a cement truck driving over the piano, followed by a small atomic explosion. Nothing weird about that as long as you do it in a meaningful way.
How appropriate to Weird Wednesdays. Doug might want to rethink--it did strike me that weird wasn't really the right word when referring to Zappa. Personally I think he should institute a Zany Zappa Day at random.
Well, radio host Dr. Demento was successful for many, many good years and we knew what he meant.
Looking at a dicitonary definition of weird, Franks music was weird. Weird meaning unusual and hard to understand for many. And real fuckin' good :)
Frank had a great head on his shoulders. I didn't always agree with him and that's fine. He was very intelligent and thought for himself, which is not something you see often anymore. I'd love to have had the opportunity to shake his hand and pick his brain.
what are you credentials? Where is your music performed?
maybe you should go compose instead of making money on someone else's work.
I can hear it. Why are you repeating the lyrics to us?
Frank doesn't need you to convince people he's good.
The thumbnail is pretty much my reaction listening to the whole thing.
Once you love and listen to Zappa, you will know every riff, lick and timing change. Its awesome.. such amazing structures and songs..
i.e. Here are the "Apostrophes" from the Album title:
"It doesn't, and you can't, I won't, and it don't
it hasn't, it isn't, it even ain't, and it shouldn't
it couldn't" (within the last dozen lines on lyrics on the last track, "Stinkfoot")
So clever..
Well, that's the crux of the biscuit.
Love seeing a fellow trained musician be introduced to the genius that is Frank Zappa. The more you know his repertoire the more you can see the 'conceptional continuity' across his body of work. He is a fascinating artist to get to know through his music and written and video archives. Side note - he re-released all or most of his albums through Ryko disc in the years leading up to his death. Many of these albums have changes to solo section or other interesting things added or removed by Zappa himself. A Noteworthy change is the album Sleep Dirt, which was somewhat of a rock opera idea if I recall correctly, the original LP release did not have lyrics and was entirely instrumental however the re-release does have the vocals. Also interesting to learn about his history with record labels and censorship particularly as it pertained to US law. So glad I found your little corner of the internet today! Happy New Year!
Sleep Dirt is an awesome album indeed! My original album release did not have lyrics.
From Wikipedia
"The music was recorded at the Los Angeles Record Plant and at Caribou Ranch in Colorado during 1974 and 1976. The initial 1979 LP release of Sleep Dirt was entirely instrumental.
In 1982,[3] Zappa asked singer Thana Harris to add her vocals to three songs from this album: "Flambay", "Spider of Destiny", and "Time is Money". Harris sings the part of a character named "Drakma: Queen of Cosmic Greed". Zappa stated in a 1992 interview that the vocal versions were the way that he originally intended to record them, but he could not find a female vocalist who could sing them at the time of the original recording.[4]
At about the same time Chad Wackerman also overdubbed new drum tracks on Flambay, Spider of Destiny and Regyptian Strut, which replaced the original drum parts. Wackerman did not overdub drums on "Time is Money" even though he is credited for this in the CD notes."
Zappa was the best independent producer in the history of music 😎😎😎
Would be fascinating to watcha reaction to one of Zappa's actual classical compositions.
Me, too.
What are those like?
@@hellmuth26 Insane.
It’s like Stravinsky, Harry Partch, George Crumb, Anthony Braxton and Edgard Varese-all on crack and on fire!
@@stringemup5941 now that you mention that, i remember reading that Varese was Zappa's favorite composer and that he contacted him via letter and had a dialougue with him.
‘Apostrophe!’ and the following album ‘Overnight Sensation’ were really a musical awakening for me when I heard them as a teenager. The orchestration, arrangements, the musicianship is next level but the humor and satire in the lyrics is also brilliant.
My two favorites 👊
Yep those are the ones for me too......take those two and add "One size fits all and you have a shockingly great dive into the genius of FRANK ZAPPA
Myself
Same
"Nanook of the North" is an amazing silent film from 1922, which MUST Be Experienced!
Liked before watching, we need more Zappa on the channel! He deserves the analysis.
Watermelon in Easter Hay is, for me, the modern equivalent to Beethoven's 5th. An evocative, yet seemingly simple progression that cannot be forgotten.
"Watermelon In Easter Hay" will always be my favorite...absolutely outstanding piece of music. I hope Doug will react to it at some point.
An absolutely gorgeous piece of music. One of the guys I jam with included this song as the music for a wedding, and then realized that the beginning might not go over too well ...
This was also the only track on Joe's Garage where the solo was written after the song.
The entire Joe's Garage record is simply brilliant, but yes, Watermelon in Easter Hay is particularly beautiful and quite an emotional track. Frank's solo on Muffin Man on Bongo Fury is something else thatt gives me chills.
GORGEOUS GUITAR WORK !!!
Oh man this took me back! My best friend's stepfather played this for us when we were about 11. It was my first introduction to Zappa & we were rolling hysterically! What a great flashback. I must say that Zappa's "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" is also very funny & entertaining & would fit in well as a Weird Wednesday selection.
Me too! 11 years old when I first heard this!
Seamless jumps from one incongruous location to another, religious subtext, abrupt unresolved ending. This is how my dreams work too.
And I hope you get to the G-spot tornado eventually. I get exhausted just listening to it, wondering at the end what just hit me. I've been priviledged to be at a live performance of the complete Yellow Shark in the beginning of 2019 (played by Ensemble Insomnio), which included the ballet with G-spot tornado. Totally amazing.
100% agree with this. The original, bizarro electronic version, then the Ensemble Modern version conducted by Maestro Zappa himself! Would also really like Doug to take a listen to The Black Page 1 and 2…the ZPZ version with Bozzio and Vai is amazing.
I agree as well.
I saw The Yellow Shark in London with The Ensemble Modern
Welcome to America and G-Spot Tornado where the highlights
@@MattKrogmeier Yes to The Black Page!! I think Doug should also consider listening to Kent Nagano & the L.S.O. doing "Pedro's Dowry" th-cam.com/video/RUvUMtrnmZw/w-d-xo.html
Can't argue with that at all. Fantastic on The Yellow Shark
"G-Spot Tornado" is a great thing to react to. But then, so are HUNDREDS of other Zappa's songs... :-)
Yeah g-Spot tornado is a nice one (although it’s more classical music).
When I first listened to it I was too young to understand it (both my music knowledge and my English were too weak) but now I realise than beyond his image Zappa was an amazing musician. Thanks for sharing.
I love Zappa, and grew up listening to this album, Joe's Garage, and others. Thank you for giving this a listen. The review and commentary was priceless!
PS, if you want to listen to an album that shaped my warped childhood, give at least the first CD of Joe's Garage a listen.
I had the lucky
experience of recording bass on an album on the bass amp used on Joe’s Garage
Doug there is so much Zappa out there that will blow your mind. Grand Wazoo and Sleep Dirt are 2 orchestrated instrumental albums worth exploring.
The Black Page No 2 being perhaps the pinnacle of his instrumental compositional manifestations.
@@chrisogburn8240 The Black Page is legendary. I have used a few Zappa Tunes in my MTB Music Videos, and the ever changing melodies mix well when choreographed.
@@alldayadventures5418 as would Doug's recently evidenced mastery of Face Dancing. I forget the song but I want to say it was something from Gentle Giant.
I used to be a completist, but had to draw the line with people like Zappa.
@@flyingardilla143 he was quite prolific even if you don't consider the posthumous releases from The Vault.
Zappa felt most of the words in his compositions aren't all the deep/meaingful/what-the-song-is-about. It's the notes, intonation, composition, and timing. I love your reviews, but I was hoping for much more about the music and less about the story. There are some amazing drum fills with the vocals. Yellow Snow Suite is most often the intro to Zappa for eventual fans.
I will recommend: "Muffin Man" from Bongo Fury as a storytelling, "Montana" from One Size Fits All for the humor and music talent, and 'Peaches en Regalia' from Hot Rats as a great instrumental work.,
I agree with your comment. I don't understand eveything in zappa's words (my comprehension of oral english is too poor). I essentially listen to Frank Zappa for his music. I saw him on stage once in 1982 here in France with some friends. We didn't understand all the words but we were completely amazed by the richness of its music and the precision of its musicians. I also agree with the tracks you suggest.
He called it "pitched mouth music" in The Real Frank Zappa Book.
Doug doesn't really pay attention to musical parts, it's just not interesting to him. He usually talks over solos and musical breaks. He's more interested in the chords, keys, lyrics and tempos. Nothing wrong with that, but Franks music isn't a great fit for his analysis. Frank has 20 minute songs over one chord, he loves to vamp and improvise, and only put lyrics in his music so people would listen!
montana from Over-nite sensation not one size fits all
@@wider7998 Most of Montana is one chord too
"hit me with a dog doo snowcone" LMBO ahahaha and the doggy wee wee crystals
Omg! This was top class, dude! 😂! Loving the vibes off you experiencing this. So jealous! Wish I could re-listen to Zappa for the first time again. My mind was blown off its hinges. 😎✌️
You should react to the entire album. Apostophe is one of the best of all time. Check Uncle Remus out! it's amazing. George Duke piano is beautiful
@@HakanTunaMuzik Where do I find that? My favourite Frank/George collaboration.
The very first Zappa track I ever heard is The Adventures of Greggery Peccary. It’s 21 minutes of pure Zappa storytelling lunacy. It made me feel like I’m hearing the soundtrack to a lost claymation project. Zappa is more openly satirical than in Yellow Snow, but he’s also going to have you humming one of the many hooks sprinkled through the piece when it’s over.
Frank also thought GP was one of his finer works...
loved the typewriter keys clacking...
@@billpasdeaux8731 Which is actually a written-out part
Frank is one of the best composers there is
The live performances of this in it’s entirety crushes the album version in my humble opinion. Any performance but especially but also not limited to the Passaic New Jersey concert and the one where mr Tommy Mars forgets his queue to come in and Frank brings the whole band down to point it out and highlight him actually doing it
Cosmik Debris is a must listen on this album IMO. Love this album. Absolute Classic!
Overnight sensation is my favorite, followed by this one
Nanook of the North is a well known silent film from 1922, so the name "Nanook" was kind of a stereotype that everyone would have recognized with the song came out.
I was going to mention that... I didn't want to take the time, so I'm glad you did.
Nanook of the North was the very first documentary film ever released
@@patrickadams6726 Yes, but the definition of documentary was a little fuzzy back then, as much of it was scripted.
Frank would appreciate this reaction👍👍
If you've never seen it, there's a great video of Ruth Underwood describing how Frank convinced her to let them drill holes in her marimba to make it electric so she could travel with the band.
She also shows some of Frank's beautiful manuscript he'd write on the fly.
The video is called The Mallets of Invention.
th-cam.com/video/YSavN19ZJ4g/w-d-xo.html
Frank definitely thought outside the box. I don't know why they would need to make her marimbas electric, but I suppose if Frank could play a bike, then he can electrify marimbas.
Like metal Mondays, there should be a day of the week just for zappa and musicians that he played with.
Yes this Frank deserves his own day for sure.
@@mikexxx11 he deserves more. A year couldn't be enough.
My Zappa friend always devotes Mother’s Day to a 24 hour marathon
The entirety of this album is absolutely fantastic. Every song hits.
It's so nice to hear a guy this brilliant that he doesn't need to stop the record to get in his comments he does it all at once commenting on the various things that he finds noteworthy.
I've been a fan of Frank Zappa since the Freak Out! album in the 60's. Seen him live several times, too.
The album that got me hook at 14 years of age. That guitar being tortured in the background, fat Bass, the quality of musicianship and Tina Turner singing harmonies? That's right folk's you get all that and a wide smile as well. Thank you FZ for being you and, Thank you for being you Doug.
Long time Zappa fan here. I was lucky enough to see him live back in the 70's. Frank was a musical genius in a league of his own. Everything he did was out of this world. Some cuts are better than others (subjective) but everything is great and some are just spectacularly fun - this suite is one of them. You can't go wrong with Zappa - hope you get hooked and do more vids on him!
came face to face with him and 4 massive bodyguards. I was 15 the show was at stony brook university mid 70s
@@johnwalter9696 I was there in the second row
@@UncleBobsToe man that was fun. black napkins SICK
Saw him in Dayton Ohio when Vai was with him. Amazing concert
Me too , One of the best guitarist I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been playing for 40 years
My Dad started me on this, I was a teen in the early 80s. Then I started playing Bass. To this day I still do, Yellow Snow was the first song I ever learned. self learned there was no internet back then. I didnt know it then, but Zappa was a Fckn Genius. Fired more musicians than Michael had hits. He is Edgar Allen Poe, and Norman Rockwell, Combined.
Why do you think I still listen to that album all these years later? It's fantastic. It came out in '74 and I heard it around that time.
This was the first Zappa song that my Dad played for me.....and i loved it......Hooked ever since
First Zappa song for me was "Tinseltown Rebellion" on a mix tape.
I listened to this album today myself! An eclectic man and musician, no doubt about it; that said, his genius cannot be argued and damn did he know how to pick out talented people to play with him.
Frank brings joy
I rewatched this reaction again. Glad you appreciated the storytelling and the humor. St Alfanzo's was always one of my favorite Zappa tunes not because of the humor but because of Zappa's incredible composition and the execution 'of Ruth and the other band members.
While I was in college, I watched the Zappa film 200 Motels in an “altered state “. Accidentally saw it 6 times in a row. Whenever I hear Zappa now I have vague memories of that.
I used to go to a late night viewing of 200 Motels at a rancid movie theater. Totally blitzed on window pane.blotter. It fit perfectly.
Looking forward to this. Next up Joe’s Garage I hope 😂
Would love to see a reaction to the Joe's Garage version of A Little Green Rosetta 😁
Watermelon in Easter Hay
I'm having as much fun watching Doug discover Zappa's "Yellow Snow" in 2022 as I am taking a musical trip down memory lane.
i don't know if i've ever been so happy to see someone who is completely lost
The most original musician/composer of my lifetime (with all due respect to Miles Davis), Frank Zappa is from a reality apart from the one that most of us experience on a daily basis. It is just amazing to watch/hear what the human mind can do when the tethers that restrict us are loosened, and, in the case of Zappa, severed entirely. A brilliant individual.
Thinking maybe I ought to prepare a pancake breakfast in honor of St Alphonzo in order to accompany this video.
Mr. Helvering is getting worked by Frank's Conceptual Continuity. It's a fun rabbit hole to dive into!
It's fun to watch you discovering these gems! Thank you for reminding us of this great composer!
FYI: That crazy vibraphone solo in the middle of “St. Alphonso” is known as the “Rollo Interior”.
No disrespect to Doug but Rollo is one of my favorite parts of zappas universe.. I really wish he was a little bit more ready for it to happen
Ruth Underwoods finest moment and she had a lot of fine moments playing with Zappa. Every time I hear Rollo I think, "that's genius, that is as good as it gets".
I might be movin' to Montana soon....
THE Plague of the Lighthouse Keeper...VanDerGraff Generator, slightly odd prog!!! Keep going down the Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart rabbit hole...Many great gems to find and discover!! Joe's Garage album in its entirety is a treat to listen to...FZ ❤
Just picked up on your Zappa investigations. Been a Frank Zappa fan since 82 when l first heard the Apostrophe album at the age of 14 and was hooked. So great to hear music professionals endorse Mr Zappa's true creative genius. He fell out with the UK establishment before my time so never got to see him in the UK once l discovered him. Peaches en regalia defo his party piece, outstanding composition. Be well all.
I lived in Toronto, Canada for several years during the late 1980s and early '90s, and during that time the radio station Q107 played a lovely 15 minutes from 12:45 - 13:00 called 'The Friday Frank'. It was a must listen to for me at the end of my lunch, and a great way to get ready for the weekend.
On live versions of the suite Frank included a little piece known as "Rollo" at the end of it as a "tie it all together" ending.
The Rollo wrap up on live versions is a must hear
it's amazing that the greatest album of all time starts w/ a song based on the movie nanook of the north
excellent so glad you are loving this. Frank is sorely missed.
I saw him twice live ..
Interesting fact: I heard that Frank used to audition his bass players by having them play the xylophone solo in "St. Alfonsos" on the bass.
True story, in the 80s bands, the bass doubled that segment. It's called Rolo Interior. And I wish a little more time was spent on analyzing that brilliant soli.
@@mrtyreus0 So that was Scott or...?
Please read about The Shaggs and analyze “My Pal Foot Foot” for an upcoming Weird Wednesday.
I was really hoping to hear analysis of the music and not so much the lyrics. They're ridiculous, which Zappa was perfectly aware of. The music is genius and would be much more interesting to hear a professional composer discuss that. It's complex and rich - a fascinating juxtaposition to the absurd lyrics. I saw him perform in 1986 and it was incredible. As great as his studio albums are, they don't come close to his live performances. They were SO tight, while sounding improvisational. Amazing and gifted man he was. He died much too young.
Which brings to mind the eternal question...."Does Humor Belong In Music" ?
I agree! Doug, I'd love to hear your take on these from a composer's point of view. There's so much happening: time signature changes, modulation, weird scales and arpeggios... Would love to get some theory insight into what's really happening here!
You're right. But you can't blame an initiate for not understanding Zappa at first listen.
@@edwhite7475 LOL:...
You don't "analyse" Zappa lyrics. They don't mean anything, they don't "represent" anything. He wasn't artsy-fartsy like that.
I love coming across this and seeing you discover this for the first time... you really appreciate this and it shows.
You should revise the weird wednesday to Zappa wednesday. There is enough Zappa out there to fill a lifetime and a half of wednesdays for you to analyze!
"Keep It Greasy" off Joe's Garage for weird Wednesday. I grew up listening to Zappa and getting high in my teens. Became a pro drummer due to the intense focus on detail while being high listening to Zappa, thanks Frank.
Or, "Watermelon in Easter Hay" or, "Packard Goose". Actually, anything on Joe's Garage.
Takes me back 50 years. Thanks.
I first heard this in 1978. I still remember all the lyrics. I can’t remember why I walked into another room at home, but I remember this. And most of all Zappa lyrics.
Doug instructed me that the yellow snow taste great with banana daiquiris.
"Shut up and Play yer Guitar" Volumes 1 thru 3. Zappa curated all his guitar noodling and edited together master versions of his most fantastic solos.
You can't beat "Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression" from volume two (Son Of Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar) used to own the original boxed set. Wish I still did!
@@timfeeley714-25 Did Mr. Zappa release more SUAPYG? I SO want someone to do a release of Prince's extensive tapes after the same fashion.
@@vincejester7558 Yes, two albums. "Guitar" and "The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa.
@@vincejester7558 I'd like to see that also. prince was a great guitar player, His intro to When Doves Cry is awesome. I would have liked to see him pursue the guitar side of his music rather than the pop side pesonally, although a Love bizarre with sheila e, is one of my favorite songs
All of Frank Zappa stories are extraordinary and detailed. Like the great Pedro Almodovar the stories always work and the music is sublime. The compositions are unlike any other. Time signatures and the mode of each piece is very special. And for all this thousands of people love this rich complex difficult music. The musicians were ecstatic at having the chance to play these pieces. Just magic. I hope you listen to Civilization 111.
I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Zappa in the lobby of the Hiatt in downtown Baltimore. It was only a brief chat, but he called us out in the middle of his concert the next night. It was pretty cool.
If you're looking for more weirdness for future Wednesdays, I'd recommend The Claypool Lennon Delirium. They are Les Claypool (from Primus) and Sean Lennon (son of John and Yoko). They have two albums and an EP of covers. Their original stuff is pretty weird.
Also, regarding today's Zappa, the name "Nanook" comes from a 100 year old documentary film called "Nanook of the North".
fuck yeah, absolutely love their last album
Oh yeah, check out something like Blood and Rockets from the Claypool Lennon Delirium, it sounds like the Beatles, Primus and Pink Floyd came together to record an album.
Amethyst Realm is one of my particular favorites!
@@BillM1960 Great song!
The track “Cheapness” from Zappa’s Roxy and Elsewhere is an incredible performance and very entertaining!!
The musicianship, all of Zappa’s pieces are intricately, composed, and expertly played by top-notch musicians from every realm of music. Look way more into his catalog, and really listen, not just to the lyrics, but to the music dog, and you will truly be blown away by the sheer genius of Frank.
Welcome to a beautiful mind. I was fortunate enough to see him 6 times front row....every will amaze you and I know most of the band...I'm honored
Hey Doug love the show. I think in an interview Zappa said that one of the reasons he created such entertaining songs lyrically was to trick people into possibly listening to more complex music.
Always happy to see a Zappa episode :) He is an American hero, you should be very proud of him.
I was fortunate to see him do it live while I was in College in Buffalo N Y. He opened up the show with that number after riding into the Aud on a dog sled. Incredible concert. Underwood was fantastic as usual. He never got any credit for his musical talent. Too many people only thought of him as a comedian, going back to his “just another band from L A” days. You might want to look at another favorite, Billy the Mountain, a Zappa Classic. Been a fan for years.
YAY Doug! Excellent. This is my Christmas Present. Thank you. Such fun memories.
In high school back in the 70s, this album and Overnight Sensation are the zappa albums we knew. Omg, so fun. Frank was an awesome composer and guitar player. We went to his concert. I've never seen so many people in an altered state. Saw him at least 3 or 4 times. Brilliant indeed.
Thank you for bringing back the joy of the 70's... Zappa, Rush, Pink Floyd... It's a bomb watching you listen to and critique in the best way... The compositions that you call out in a positive and amazed way, is not just informative, but fun as well. I'm going to subscribe "RIGHT NOW". Doug... I was classically trained. It's amazing to watch you discover, and take the compositions apart. Such a joy.
I advise anyone who hasn't listened to any Zappa, go ahead and open that box of greatness. You won't be disappointed.
I grew up on this. Really love your laughs. Saw him twice. Can you imagine what growing up with this.