Pure, unadulterated genius. There is no one, NO ONE who can even appear to come close to Zappa's genius and compositional diversity of skills. He always had the best musicians in town. As a matter of fact, many of the greatest musicians of the 70s / 80s passed through the Frank Zappa University of Song and Sensation. The guy wrote everything imaginable, but for beginners, best to go with some songs like Peaches en Regalia, Eat That Question, Zomby Woof, Village of the Sun, Echidna's Arf (of You), Don't You Ever Wash That Thing, and Inca Roads.

The Entire Apostrophe Album is incredible.

Ruthie Underwood is the xylophone player. She is AWESOME

@ErwinBlonk

3 жыл бұрын

You didn’t get to play in Zappa’s band if you weren’t among the best.

@MrTortureneverstops1

3 жыл бұрын

And she was cute !

@diabolicalgenious

3 жыл бұрын

Both Underwood's were awesome!

@progger53

3 жыл бұрын

I was in love with her watching her play.

@stevious7278

3 жыл бұрын

Yay! great to see somebody else give Ruth Underwood some recognition :D

ZOMG!!!! First time experiencing FZ and you got "Yellow Snow" and included "St Alfonso" !!!! You did it right, well done! Only 62 albums to go! ... LOL

You had to be a MASTER MUSICIAN to be in Frank’s band. Very few people could play the complex music he wrote. And he wrote it. For every instrument, he sat down and also wrote classical music. He wrote Orchestral pieces, wrote the music for every instrument in the orchestra and would go to Symphony Halls and get up and then conduct the entire symphony. He truly was a genius.

Not everyone gets Frank Zappa. Welcome to the club.

@werdmaster

3 жыл бұрын

ForReAL

Zappa said about his music:" Either you get it, or you don't. If you don't you probably weren't supposed to." And you're definitely getting it. This album is really not a bad place to start. I think you'll like the song 'Inca Roads' too.

@progger53

3 жыл бұрын

My favorite. Plus this and Dinah moe humm.

@finnafishfl

2 жыл бұрын

Apostrophe was the best album possible to start on. The most palatable Zappa album to a newcomer IMO, but that's not saying much. Zappa is AMAZING

Frank Zappa was strange, weird, unusual, but a musical genius. He was a master musician, guitar player, percussionist, composer, lyricist. He put out so much music that is way, way ahead of it's time. Probably still way ahead of time even now. A few things to check out, Peaches and Regalia, Your Mouth, and so many more.

This entire Apostrophe album is just this good or better! Frank was a genius and that's an understatement. And there's nothing better than Ruth Underwood playing her electrified xylophone!

Frank Zappa is the most rewarding musical rabbit hole that I can think of. His discography covers almost any music genre you can think of. Just incredible.

Your face throughout the whole thing... enjoyment amazement confusion... right there with you once I stopped roflmao! Searching for words to describe him - got this from wikipedia. "His work is characterized by nonconformity, free-form improvisation, sound experiments, musical virtuosity, and satire of American culture." -Uh Yeah!

@everettewell6167

3 жыл бұрын

Frank Zappa musical genius!!

@thepragmatic6383

3 жыл бұрын

What more to say, Charlotte Bailey has said it all. Simply amazing reaction for an amazing composer / musician / band.

@werdmaster

3 жыл бұрын

He glorified American culture too, just more subtly

In 1985 Zappa addressed Congress on the Senate Hearing on Rock Lyrics, along with Dee Snider. He was well informed and meticulous. He died in 1994 of prostate cancer. R.I.P Frank Zappa.

@carlaharrington5120

3 жыл бұрын

I remember watching those hearings. I loved seeing Frank slice and dice Tipper Gore and the rest of the PMRC clowns!

@genesutton6383

3 жыл бұрын

PMRC stole my vinyl and replaced it with a label that points out the good stuff! Gubment at it's best!

He was a drummer before a guitarist. He was composing avant-garde classical music influenced by Stravinsky, Varese, and Webern since he was a teenager, but also listening to and performing a lot of doowop, blues, r&b, and rock n'roll. He worked for a guy named Paul Buff, who was an engineer that built the first 5 track studio on the West Coast (in Cucamunga, California), which Zappa took over mortgage payments on and he learned how to engineer and produce there. The Yellow Snow suite is obviously his my rock/funk style stuff, but he has albums that are closer to jazz and others that are modernist classical music and still others that are all electronic music and some that are all guitar solos....There is even one where the doowop influence takes over and the whole album is doowop stuff.

If this, the first Zappa you've ever heard...there's a long, long road ahead. Just start with more from this one album.

I skipped ahead to make sure St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast was included. Now I can watch the whole thing.

His catalog is so massive and amazing. Songs to check out "Freaks" "Joe's garage" "Bobby Brown" "dina mo hum" "muffin man" And the list goes on.

@bwana-ma-coo-bah425

3 жыл бұрын

and on and on and on.

@mocthezuma

3 жыл бұрын

"Freaks"? Did you mean "Flakes"?

@andrewhoran7088

3 жыл бұрын

The list gooooos on

@werdmaster

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I'm currently listening to all the albums in chronological order... still in the early 70s haha

Saw Frank Zappa back in 74 with Boston and Black Sabbath

@ChaseWD

3 жыл бұрын

All star lineup! Sounds like a. Amazing show. Wish I could have seen him live but unfortunately Zappa left this world before I came here.

You deserve high praise for playing the entire album side instead of a chopped-down piece like other reactors have done. You got the full experience and you really "got it". Liked and subscribed, my friend.

Man, I haven't heard Frank Zappa in a loooong time.

@cameronpatrickscott

3 жыл бұрын

Wm. Patrick Milford get back on that horse, the grand wazoo

@2wheeljunkie

3 жыл бұрын

You should fix that. Every day.

I first heard this at age 14 (1975) and i have never strayed away from Franks incredible compositions. Miss ya Fran k....

Ah yes, welcome to the wonderful wacky world of Frank Zappa. This suite, and the album Apostrophe that it hails from, is an excellent diving-in point to the huge mountain of Frank's work - it has a sampling of everything Frank is about -- the wild mash-up of musical genres (he did everything from doo-wop to modern dissonant classical music in his time, and did them all well), his bizarro sense of humor, his don't-give-a-fuck crudity, his fabulous guitar skillz, and his recording/engineering perfectionism. His series of albums (under his own name and that of his group The Mothers of Invention) from this stretch of the 1970s is what I refer to as his "sweet spot" - he put out amazing stuff before and after, but the mid-1970s funk-flavored albums are IMO some of his consistently best and most accessible. Enjoy the trip!

Zappa! Maybe the deepest, and weirdest, rabbit hole you could enter. Anything from the Apostrophe album is excellent, and a good starting point. And if you get bored with that there are only another 60 or so albums to try. 🙂

Man, the expression on your face was priceless. Wait till you hear the rest of the album.

Frank Zappa encouraged Alice Cooper on his career. He has been around that long. A legend.

@more5600

3 жыл бұрын

Zappa signed Alice Cooper to his first music contract and released his first record on Zappa's label Straight Records.

@TarantuLandoCalcuLingus

3 жыл бұрын

@@more5600 because he "didn't understand it" lol

"Inca Roads" is another amazing Zappa track with wild story telling and even wilder music.

This reaction is such a treat, I can't stop watching! This is a very knowledgeable cat. I enjoyed your reaction!

Zappa was a top notch musician. He was respected by ALL musicians

Awesome. Frank only hired the best, technically proficient musicians. People like George Duke(keys), Steven Vai(guitars), Jean Luc Ponty(violins), etc. When he auditioned the crazy talented Vai as a youngster, Frank said "Do you know (such and such) song? Vai: yeah. Frank: OK. Play it in F sharp but in a minor tonality... and play it in 6/8 time, not 4/4. Then when he played it the way Frank asked, gave him no indication he had done it well. After much more grilling, Frank said that was enough and Vai went on his way. A week or two passed, and Vai assumed he did not meet the Frank's outrageous expectations. Then he got a call and Frank said "where are you?" Vai said at home. Frank said we rehearse every Thursday-get your arse over here...you're late. He had gotten the job with the Mothers.

@kamster518

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds fucking stressful lol

@theocoxd

3 жыл бұрын

@@kamster518 Terry Bozzio's playing The Black Page was worse. Too much work for just 20 minute practice a day. And the release was on the edge.

More Zappa recommendations: Stinkfoot Cosmic Debris I'm the Slime Camarillo Brillo Eccentrifugal Force Apostrophe ( with Jack Bruce from Cream on bass!!! )

lucky to have caught him live 4 times, his music defined my taste in all music, turned me onto EVERYTHING

Zappa was a wonderfully warped genius.

Zappa was a brilliant composer and eventually turned to composing classical music. My son collected everything Zappa recorded. Wouldn't listened to anyone else.

@DWHarper62

3 жыл бұрын

Zappa actually started by writing classical music and penned his first film composition in 1961 for the film "Run Home Slow"... He once said that he subsidizes his classical music by doing his "rock" albums... The new Zappa documentary drove this point home...

What can you say....Frank will be taught in graduate level musicology for centuries

Watching your jaw continually hitting the table was absolutely priceless! FYI- there is waaayyyyy more to Mr Zappa than Apostrophe. I hope you continue what will now be a lifelong journey into the mind of Zappa! Enjoy the ride!

I absolutely love watching first reactions to FZ. You are very astute when picking up on his theatrical, comical, versatile, etc… musical talent. He was a true master unto himself first. He struggled with record companies for radio air play which makes complete sense given his expansive library. Apostrophe was my first introduction (released 1974) to his wild creative mind. Sadly, he died short of his 53rd birthday in December 1993. However, recordings continue to be released posthumously numbering 118. Enjoy this wild trip of seemingly unlimited variations of his music.

Zappa is the only guy that can play a guitar solo so funny it makes me laugh.

"Billy the Mountain" is an old favorite. Another long story.

@stevious7278

3 жыл бұрын

Studebaker Hawk!! :D :D

Frank is a musical master, while some are turn off by his lyrics, the complex compositions are tremendous. I have seen him twice in concert and never was disappointed.

Frank was a genius. I've seen him perform over 50 times. You think it's amazing recorded? Seeing him live with the talent in the band pulling this stuff off was mind blowing.

Zappa was one of a kind. He could do just about any kind of music but he did his own. It was a pleasure watching you find him,

Bravo! Great reaction my man. First time hearing Zappa huh? A very deep, very strange rabbit hole indeed. I been listening to Frank Zappa since high school. He blew me away then, blows me away now. What a musician, what a composer, what a producer. So bizarre, so funny. You must now hear Stinkfoot from Apostrophe, where we hear the line "the crux of the biscuit, is the apostrophe". His guitar playing/soloing in Stinkfoot is next level man. He gets a wa-wa tone during Stinkfoot that I've never been able to duplicate. Is very cool. I saw him live in the late 70s in Des Moines, Iowa and it was the best sound at a concert that i had ever heard. I still have not heard an electric band that can match Zappa, to this day. Incredible!

Yes its deliberate haha - Zappa likes to interrupt the grooves with various musical interludes and interjections that seem to come out of nowhere, often in odd time signatures Essential Zappa: Village of the Sun, Montana, Sofa, Zomby Woof, Uncel Remus, Black Napkins, Watermelon in Easter Hay, Zoot Allures, Trouble Every Day...so many incredible pieces!!

This is easily some of my favourite of Zappa’s work. It never fails to make me laugh, and the playing is astounding. He created more technically impressive stuff and certainly could be more experimental but this record is a distillation for me of everything that made him great.

Lots of people can't dig stuff like this but I'm just a musichead a love it!

@Darryl_Frost

3 жыл бұрын

It's an acquired taste, but once you have it, no turning back..

Right on my man!!!! I am a massive Zappa fan and I absolutely love watching reaction videos to his work, and you sir had the best reaction I have ever seen!!!! You actually get it!!! Most don't, enjoy your journey into Franks work, keep up the great videos!!! Cheers and good health to you and yours sir!!!

My university jazz band did an annual Zappa tribute for years (until covid) and we were lucky enough to catch the attention of Frank’s son Dweezil, who came down (along with Zappa alum Ikr Willis) and performed with us. It was great. And yeah, the music is insanely complex-just the time signature shifts alone are enough to set your head spinning.

Zappa was a legend...The look on your face is epic.. Welcome to Zappa.....lol

Frank was a perfectionist, with you can hear, amazing album, i was listen to that at 13 years old time and agin. still love it

I'm 5 minutes in to your reaction and I AM LOVING IT!! I love that you get the genius of FZ. The music, the story telling, the humor. Dive in brother, the pool is deep.

Wow DramaSyed checkin out Zappa! FZ was a brilliant composer/guitarist who wrote music that spanned dozens of musical genres : jazz, classical, rock, R&B, reggae, electronic, chamber,blues, funk...all played by the greatest musicians on earth. He was at the forefront of studio recording techniques, practically invented sampling and managed to produce 60 albums of his own music in his lifetime. Zappa is an icon of 20th century music

"I have never heard music like this before"......correct.

Zappa was literally a genius. He defended your freedom of speech, and the right for artists to create whatever it is they have to express without censorship. Read about his court case and battle against Tipper Gore. You know those little, "explicit lyrics" stickers on albums and songs? Zappa helped craft those as a compromise to the strong censorship artists could have been facing. He's am amazing man with so many contributions.

Frank is definitely the absolute deepest of all rabbit holes. A composer first, lyrics were of secondary concern. He held authority and commercialism in disdain. He never really achieved the success/popularity here in the US that his talents deserved, due to censorship. In European circle he was absolute royalty. His live performances were memory makers and helped launch the careers of several notable performers including Adrien Belew and Steve Vai. He signed Alice Cooper to his own label after they bombed a live show. Per Alice, Frank said "Anybody that can clear a room that quickly, I have to sign." Frank was a talent for the ages.

What a great composer. Zappa combined blues, jazz, rock, and classical, he was the first to do this. Many a great band did this after Zappa.

Finally, someone reacts to the entire “Yellow Snow” suite - as it should be heard. Thank you 🙏🏼 Now do all of Zoot Allures. 😉

45 years ago , this was the 1st Zappa tune I ever heard too. Huge fan! Owned nearly every recording Frank released (records,tapes,cd.s) Music genius...

He is an acquired taste for sure. For something a little more melodic, try his instrumental song “Peaches en Regalia.”

love watching people hear Frank for the first time, first song I ever heard was "Yo'mama" played it 10 times in a row, couldn't beleive how beautiful it was.

Zappa is my generations Mozart. You did it the right way, you did the suite. I always looked forward to each new Zappa album: You always got bang for your buck. Multiple musical styles plus humor.

I recall in one year Frank released 12 modern classical albums and a jazz album. Hot Rats is the one where I first heard Peaches En Regalia but I recall my reaction to Susie Creamcheese and of course his album where he spoofed the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album (even the cover) LOL

You will never be the same! RDNZL is worth a listen. That band: Zappa, Chester Thompson, Bruce Fowler, George Duke, Ruth Underwood. Perfection. BTW Steve Vai’s 1st tour was with FZ on You Are What You Is.

Zappa is the most complex musician that I hear from contemporary music, some of his lyrics are strong and critical to many sectors of society ...

He wrote every note!

So many great Frank songs. Montana, Stinkfoot, Dumb All Over & Watermelon In Easter Hay are some of my favorites

That first part is all in 7/8, believe it or not. But welcome to FRANK! From here, I recommend "Inca Roads." Epic!

@DramaSydETV

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jim, I have some of your requests coming up soon my man! Thanks for being a sub

@jimbricker4982

3 жыл бұрын

@@DramaSydETV - very cool, thank you! But really - really - you need to check out "Inca Roads" from the One Size Fits All album.

@goldenboy140

3 жыл бұрын

@@jimbricker4982 The live version is even better than the studio version. "Frank Zappa - Inca Roads (A Token Of His Extreme)"

@ETBrenner

3 жыл бұрын

I enthusiastically second the call for Inca Roads! Here's a clip of Frank and his band performing this piece live that's floating around KZread - the sound is decent, and it's worth it to see Frank and band perform the whole thing live and in real-time. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qaWkmZN9f62Zkbw.html (Inca Roads is if anything even more complex than the Yellow Snow Suite! And that clip includes some amazing freakadelic claymation.)

@flowersnyams

3 жыл бұрын

@@jimbricker4982 To be fair, the whole One size Fits All album needs checking out.

All these complex gems were played live. He fought for all our rights against the P.M.R.C. in the 80'S.. saving us from a herd of "Karens"

Zappa's my favorite artist, I can recommend Inca Roads from One Size Fits All, Blessed Relief from The Grand Wazoo (and the whole album The Grand Wazoo actually), and Cosmik Debris from Apostrophe (and this is just 3 random great songs, he has such a huge discography and it's all worth a listen). Loved the video!

@aneliigarcia7158

3 жыл бұрын

Also Sofa No.2....

This is one of the most amazing albums ever made! Every song!

I loved this album when I was a kid.. that and Overnite Sensation... of course Live At The Filmore East was a laugh for those of us just entering teendom.. even though we probably didn't understand half of the innuendo.. the lyrics, sound effects.. and sheer musicality is absolute genius..

@napper1958

3 жыл бұрын

I suggest next listen be Overnight Sensation.. specifically , Dynamo Hum.. I'd love to see your reaction to that!!

As will often be said amongst your tribe, this man was a musical genius. His eccentricity was an addiction to those of us who have been his most staunch admirers. Welcome through the door Mike. I would suggest that you dig into his bio at some point. It will give you a broader perspective. You mention the genres of music. Check out the line up of stellar musicians that graced his path. And beyond this, he never touched drugs or allowed them used by his band members. RIP Frank. You are so missed.

Hahaha... Haven't heard this in years!!

Frank Zappa is a musical genius.

Frank is my favorite Artist...automatic like.Listen to Trouble Every Day..Its still relevant now.

You looked amazed throughout this reaction...Frank can do that to you😎

I had this album on 8-track tape. My favorite song on it is "Uncle Remus."

Zappa is my hero from when I first heard him as a teenager. His ability to shock his audience with not just his clever musical arrangements but his incredible humour were among his many signatures, I’m so glad you found him funny, a lot of people don’t. The look of amazement and bewilderment on your face was incredible. There is so so much of his music to digest, but here is a good place. Roxy and Elsewhere, one Size Fits All, Absolutely Free to name a few. Welcome to the world of Zappa! Freak out!😊

This is a great selection to start your journey into the music of Frank Zappa. You have about 35 years of Zappa music to catch up on. And you're right, he brings it all, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Fusion, Do Wop, Orchestral, Avant Garde, Opera, even some country. Try looking into Inca Roads, Po-Jama People, Trouble Everyday or Willie The Pimp. There is only one rule in Zappa music...there are no rules.

This is like hearing it for the first time all those years ago. If you like this,,,you will be blown away by the rest of the album as well as it's 'sister' album Overnite Sensation'.

Brings back the memory of me (Age 18) and four friends were walking through a snowstorm on cold Buffalo, NY evening when I broke out in song. Yes you guessed it, I started singing this song and my friends all joined in. Brought a smile to my face just hearing this one again. You earned my sub.

Zappa was the best composer in the 20th Century hands down. He had the best of the best musicians play with him from all different ethnicity and races. His live recordings are unbeatable. He has a series entitled "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" Volume 2 (the Helsinki concert) is some of the best live music ever recorded (in my opinion). Also check out his son Dweezil's band : Zappa plays Zappa, great videos out there!

One of the only things I'm thankful for when it comes to my ex-wife, she brought this album into my life. I've heard Zappa before but we took a drive and listened to this entire album. I was in pure awe, Frank was a musical genius and it's sad not many people remember him.

Frank Zappa was one of the best guitar player of his generation and that says a lot when in that period, there was Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton and many more. But more than that, he was a musical genius. He have done everything in music, blues, rock, jazz, satirical portrait of society, he even made an opera! The only constant thing in his carrer is that he will surprise you every time you listen to something new from him. I'm old enough that I have seen him live in the 70's but I don't remember much of the show (some kind of tobacco that is now legal where I live may have had a part in that), but I remember that it was a great show.

Zappa was not just a master guitar player, he was also a brilliant composer with an absurdist sense of humour. He surrounded himself with very accomplished musicians and took a disciplined approach to practicing and playing; and doesn't it show! What a great introduction to the bizarre world of Frank Zappa; although be warned...your life is henceforth changed forever :D

I'm so GLAD you enjoy Frank Zappa' s extraordinary Music so much: this album was at one time one of my BIG FAVOURITES and I really appreciated your involvement in the hearing of LISTENING so carefully to this so complex but strangely entertaining masterpiece "Don't You Eat The Yellow Snow Suite" in the incredible album "Apostrophe"! 'Loved your reactions all through the "Suite", and your very smart & appropriate comments about the complexity of Frank's astounding constant changes in time signatures, wonderful story-telling gifts, amazing sound production - and guitaristic virtuosity, because F.Z. was not only a great composer but a GREAT MUSICIAN as well - take some time, if you find the opportunity, to listen to some of his most incredible guitar solos, (nearly always Blues-based with awesome improvisations and actually extra-terrestrial sound effects), you will certainly "get your rocks off" (as Frank Zappa used to say) on some or most of them, they are genuinely fantastic and always give me "goosebumps"!!! ...And Welcome To The Zappa Fans' Club, of course! (A French F.Z. Lover). Thanks a Lot!

I saw Frank Zappa and the Mothers in 1969 at the Durfee Theater in Fall River Mass. They were opening for Vanilla Fudge. Fantastic! Loved your reaction. You'll love: "Montana", Uncle Remus" and two amazing jazz classics; "Peaches en Regalia" and " Little Umbrellas" A ground breaking genius he was.

One of the amazing things about his music was he wrote all this down and gave the written parts to his band to play. I just saw a video of Ruth Underwood, who played xylophone, marimba,etc. for Zappa play some of her music for this song and she had the written music she was given. Zappa did a lot of comedy songs that people remember but also wrote a lot of amazing instrumentals. Anyways, far too much other stuff to talk about in a KZread comment.

@jameskennedy721

3 жыл бұрын

Ruth talks in an interview about the music Frank wrote for ST ALPHONSO . She looked at the music notation and was like WTF ? But she rolled up her sleeves and learned to play it .

I recommend "Village of the Sun + Echidna's Arf" from Live at the Roxy and Elsewhere, among other great songs from that album. The 3 record "Joe's Garage" is really something to hear, too!

The song (and your reaction) - was f'ing hilarious...

the analog delay vocals are awesome in this song

You don't need weed to appreciate Zappa but it helps,lol. Back at the time there were a few of these epic story experiences. Firesign Theater, Alice s Restaurant, King Crimson, but Zappa was ground breaking. Thank you and stay well

Check out Joe's garage, from Zappa. Only rock show I've ever seen with a xylophone.

@YunieDeen13

3 жыл бұрын

Didn't have no dope or LSD, but a couple quarts a beer

@stevious7278

3 жыл бұрын

That would be the fantastically talented Ruth Underwood no doubt.

Yeah man! Gave this album to my younger brother (one could argue I corrupted him, but I gave him the album for a reason 😌), about 2 years after it was released. This track, ‘Nanook of the North’, we wore out, before finishing the album....we was so entranced!🎼🗜🛸🎧 Plus, we were early aficionados of Mar-ger-ine!

Pure genius. Montana is just a good and off the wall also

Can’t help you here Brother! What I know about Zappa I know from other people telling me to check out a song of his here and there although I have heard parts of this suite before. I have read that he pushed the musicians who worked with him to the brink and beyond in his quest for perfection. He also had great and talented people like Steve Vai on guitar. On another channel I saw a reaction to Peaches En Regalia so maybe that’s another one to check out? Enjoyed this a lot. Looking forward to more . 🔥🔥🔥

Your reaction on Frank Zappa is so genuine and so much appreciated. He was beyond a Genius he was a Wizard. Guitar master extraordinaire ...Zappa was so much more than just a brilliant musician....his mind was a thpusand years ahead of the rest of his era of great musicians....theres like 60 albums and over 200 songs hes never put out there in his private archieve

Try "Black Napkins" next Mike... You'll not be disappointed!! :)

Thanks for playing it all the way through. Other reaction channels idiotically cut it off early. Virtuosity is what you heard. Zappa wrote every note for all the other musicians. All under his control and composition.

As soon as I saw the title in the description I knew that you were going to love it! Couldn't wait to watch your reaction!!!! Cheers, Steve

Oh my DramaSyde, Frank Zappa is a hoot but a genius at what he does. I guarantee you will be in for a wild ride with Zappa. Thanks for this.

"Good Morning, Your Highness, I've brought you your snowshoes!"