Can you imagine being in that audience? This iteration of Frank’s bands was quite possibly the best band to ever grace a stage. I’m glad you watched this. Just remember, learning to love Frank isn’t necessarily easy. It takes time, patience and repetition. But once you get there nothing else in music is ever the same. Really good request, really good reaction!

@Matty88K

Жыл бұрын

Frank had so many great bands. I saw him three times and I regret not making an effort to see him more. I actually saw him the night before Halloween in Albany, NY, and I had tickets for the next night at the Palladium. But Frank was a bit under the weather, he had a cold, and he barely picked up his guitar that night. So rather than deal with hitchhiking to NYC the next day, I sold my tix to somebody standing on the sidewalk as I exited the Palace Theater and spent the weekend being a good boy studying in the library. Missed a chance to see a Zappa Halloween show at the Palladium. Big mistake. Poor Frank passed away too young and with so much still left to offer.

@christopherkucia1071

10 ай бұрын

So true I never had a favorite and my tastes just shifted. With Frank he fills that itch in life that holds me back. My world to music opened up and although I branched out to love literally all music but Frank is STILL my favorite. Some of his songs are like crack to me and my musicianship exploded.

According to Charles Ulrich's goldmine of a book "The Big Note": "The title refers to a type of cookies (toffee wafers dipped in chocolate) made by the Pågens bakery, marketed in Sweden as Tosca Pågar and in the United States as Florentine Pogens." And: "The original lyrics had 'how the porter might court her'. This was changed to refer to road manager Marty Perellis, then to road manager Dick Barber, then back to Perellis to match the recorded version. The original 'hoofbeats' was changed to 'crabcakes'." (Not that it makes any sense why someone would be the daughter of a wealthy Swedish cookie.) I can assure you they were delicious, my grandmother used to buy them regularly. Unfortunately, they're no longer available even here in Sweden. ☹

I feel fortunate to have seen FZ about 8 or 10 times live in the 70’s and 80’s. To sum up in just one sentence, if that is even possible, Frank Zappa was way ahead of his time. IMO, the greatest creator of music of all time and among the greatest of all guitar players, period.

The singer/saxophone player was Napoleon Murphy-Brock. The drummer was Chester Thompson who went on to become the second Genesis drummer for years with Phil Collins. The percussionist was Ruth Underwood, tremendous talent, and the keyboard player who we almost didn't see and didn't have a big part was the late great George Duke. This is among my favorite dozen or so FZ tracks, one that really demonstrates the variety and complexity of his music.

@alejandrogriego9756

2 жыл бұрын

How does everybody forget about the 2nd drummer Ralph Humphrey who was an absolute beast too.

@alancumming6407

Жыл бұрын

@@alejandrogriego9756 Yes. I saw Zappa in September '73 and Ralph Humphrey was the only drummer and he was immense. The interplay between him and Ruth Underwood was fantastic.

@NondescriptMammal

Жыл бұрын

The whole One Size Fits All album that this is from is sublime, probably my favorite musically of all the many great Zappa albums

Got snowed in in the High Sierra's in 1966 when I was ten. My older brother's friend brought 'Freak Out' along. It had just come out, and we listened to it for ten days straight. My parents went absolutely crazy. After that I became a lifelong Zappa fan. Florentine Pogen has always been a favorite Zappa tunes, ever. It never gets old!

Bunch of amazing musicians playing without any concern for the words. One Size Fits All or Apostrophe are good albums to begin your Zappy journey.

@charleslehner6083

Жыл бұрын

So is Hot Rats

@charleslehner6083

Жыл бұрын

Ruth Underwood is a towering talent.

@charleslehner6083

Жыл бұрын

The lyrics mat5er.

@Matty88K

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Zappa and Beefheart often used words for effect over meaning.

A Pogen is an Italian nobleman. In this case, from Florence. George Duke- keyboards, Chester Thompson - drums, Ruth Underwood - percussion, Napoleon Murphy Brock - vocals and assorted mayhem.

The band had to have everything memorized aswell be able to improvise solos whenever Frank would give the signal...amazing band and amazing musicianship

As a musician yourself you have to appreciate this now you're hooked man it's different than other music but it's if you're in the mood for Frank Zappa this is what you listen to

And you have over a 100 albums to explore.

@timfeeley714-25

2 жыл бұрын

And half of those are double albums!

I saw zappa several times at the paramount in Portland Oregon, every show was the best one you've ever seen in your life.. lol

@WilliamWiest1959

2 жыл бұрын

I was at the paramount also in 74,75,80 and 81.... superb !

@randygray8921

2 жыл бұрын

@@WilliamWiest1959 , I recall waiting in line for a second show when EMT showed up and the rumor was somebody jumped off the balcony during suicide chump. Never was sure if that was true or not.

@WilliamWiest1959

2 жыл бұрын

@@randygray8921 Yes a drunken stoned attendee accidentally fell backwards into oblivion during Suicide Chump. He was very lucky that he wasn't seriously injured nor the people he fell on to.

Franks solo - no rock star posing, no contorted "Isn't this amazing?" facial expressions, just a guy (OK, guitar god) focused on what he is there to do - enjoy and explore the music.

@tixximmi1

2 жыл бұрын

And it was improvised at that concert.

@sheernin6096

2 жыл бұрын

@@tixximmi1 Don't think it can be told this way. Zappa's band used to make many rehearsals before every gig. That's why they were sooo great and that's why -sometimes- they could improve too. But in fact, even these moments were planned most of the time. 🙂

@tixximmi1

2 жыл бұрын

@@sheernin6096 You're right he did rehearse a lot. But most of his solo's are improvised at that time. Saw him 5 times in a week, years ago. LA, Santa Barbara, Berkeley, Sacramento and Reno. When they played Inca Roads, 5 different lead solos. His band was rehearsed to anticipate all these great guitar leads.

@sheernin6096

2 жыл бұрын

@@tixximmi1 You're absolutely right too ! I just did not understood that you were meaning Frank'solos 🙂 You're lucky to see him (and them) on stage ! I was too young and too far when The Mothers came to play in France.

@tixximmi1

2 жыл бұрын

@@sheernin6096 That's why I say, that's not Che it's Frank

Napoleon was the best frontman in Zappa's bands.

@HakanTunaMuzik

2 жыл бұрын

don't agree, I found his covals to be very annoying and am glad he was only there for a couple of years, much prefer Ike and Ray

I actually met the drummer Chester Thompson at a drum Clinic here in Nashville in the mid-80s I asked him about the gorilla and he said it was just a bit of Frank Zappa's Studio humor ,whatever that means.

Saw Frank in 80 at the Sam Houston Colosseum in Houston, awesome show. At the start, Frank apologized if his voice wasn't up to par because he had the flu, he then proceeded to chain-smoke thru the entire show! I gotta recommend the songs Black Napkins or Zoot Allures. "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable" ~ FZ.

I was at verve records in Hollywood for the live recording of help I’m a rock our band the New Generation ruthenium player Ira Was the brother of the lead guitar player Elliot ingber when Kim Fowley was singing such a trip with the freaks dancing including Sunshine and her husband Vito So much talent such an experience

Napoleon Murphy Brock, Vox & Sax. Chester Thompson on Drums, famous for playing drums with Genesis, among many others...

@timmcinnes2594

2 жыл бұрын

Don't forget George Duke on keyboards!

@j.frankparnell

2 жыл бұрын

And Chester's Gorilla! Also Ruth Underwood on percussion

@DropAnchor1978

2 жыл бұрын

Amazing how good Napoleon is here. His intonation is so spot on.

@marlon-jl4ge

Жыл бұрын

Zappa was garbage

I believe the "dude singing" is Napoleon Murphy Brock, who sang and played sax on many of Zappa's albums. This is a very extended version of "Florentine Pogen" which is found on Zappa's album "One Size Fits All". Chester's gorilla? Chester Thompson is on drums and Ruth Underwood is just unconscious on percussion. The gorilla could be a groupie or a "sessions gorilla", or sessions musician brought in for one song. Was his "thing" on Ruth? Dunno.

@timmcinnes2594

2 жыл бұрын

@Zolar Czakl Yes, it was.

@John Slop I guess You learned a lot from the Zappa challenge. In my opinion FZ was the most important composer and musician in the USA during the second half of the 20th century. I'm a great fan. I like Your channel. Go on!

This particular performance was used as the basic track for the studio version on the One Size Fits All album, with lots of overdubs.

This is an amazing performance, but the studio version is definitely worth a listen too.

The second drummer is Chester Thompson and the other drummer is Ralph Humphries

Frank was a genius, a genius thinks out of the ordinary to the extraordinary, as in anything goes, even Dadaistic lyrics and musical composition. In his music you'll hear reoccurring themes. It is unified by a conceptual continuity he termed "Project/Object", with numerous musical phrases, ideas, and characters reappearing across his albums. His lyrics reflected his iconoclastic views of established social and political processes, structures and movements, often with biting humor. If there was some idea, concept, person, organization, or anything that existed for the sake of simply perpetuating a norm or a known, often with little merit, then Frank loaded his acerbic wit and had at it. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. Frank basically wrote for himself, and if anyone else wanted to listen to his music or "alternate entertainment," then they were free to do so. Please feel free to do so, for if you do, you will be duly rewarded.

You're lucky, John Slop : there's so much to discover and admire in Zappa's music -and these/his musicians ! Enjoy...

In as much as the wordplay-overdosed lyrics mean anything, they're describing a character who is a composite of various women known intimately by members of the band - including the journalist Jenny Brown who was one of Frank's mistresses (source for this: a sleevenote on the FZ-OZ album), and one of Chester's groupies (the original "gorilla" - although Frank in a later show claimed that nickname applied to Ruth). In this video the gorilla costume was worn by Marty Perellis, in case anyone doesn't know.

He had great musicians the bands are so super tight

John, you don’t just have 2 drummers, you have 2 drummers and a RUTH!

The vocalist is Napoleon Brock

Always such a pleasure to see Justice Gorilla

The gorilla mask was used as a do not disturb signal when there was groupies being hosted by the zombie wolf....🦧

13:12 "Frank Zappa, You have my attention." Thank You.

Off the album one size fits all Great album check out Evelina the modified dog from the same album. Thanks John

This time I saw you smiling, you're getting into it. Be ready for the rest to come.

The guy on the saxophone his name is Napoleon Murphy Brock. I would suggest checking out the Roxy and elsewhere album one of Zappa's best in my opinion. This album also features Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals.

@josepholivo1448

2 жыл бұрын

Also check out one size fits all another one of Frank Zappa's great albums.

"Inca Roads" from that same concert is a must see/listen

Great place to start your Zappa dive. "Trouble Every Day" is another great pick. Besides seeing Zappa several times in the 70s and 80s, I had the pleasure of seeing (and meeting) Napoleon Murphy Brock a few years back with the Zappa alumni band "Project Object." Also got to see the Zappa Family Trust's approved alumni band: "The Zappa Band" twice on their last tour. Hard to stay where to start. He has so much amazing work that you'll never run out.

Your reaction was priceless. \m/

Tobacco was Franks favourite vegetable

Fyi, in concert after Frank's guitar solo, the band would usually segue into "Andy." Do yourself a favor and check out "Inca Roads" from the same video. You will be very happy.

🤘😎CRANK some FRANK 🎸

Music from when the country was free!

Ship arriving to late. Bolero. Watermelon in Easter hay. Rat Tormago.

you rarely saw Frank w/o a cigarette. He died at 53 from prostate cancer.

Frank ate cigarettes like vegetables.

Not just two drummers- it's Chester Thompson and Ruth Underwood

It is a cookie and it is pronounced Floor-en-teen Pogen

John, you ought to be able to conclude by the extremely high level of musicianship that they are not a drug taking band. The lyrics in all Zappa songs are not made up nonsense. They are a creative re-working of real life incidents and experiences in the life of FZ and the band.

Why is having two drummers 'weird"? The Allman Brother's Band, two drummer, the doobie brother's Band, two drummers,. opps I forgot Im in another decade or two here.... rewind, back in the 60's-70's it was NOT that uncommon ,back then to have two drummers in your band. On the Cigarette thing in the neck of the guitar head and strings, burning, Old blue's routine, coolness added, Jimi Hendrix was the first Guitarist I ever saw do this, Jimi was 'doing that' before Frank as far as I know, Jimi and Zappa were friends,since '67. Franks wife,once sewed Jimi's Pants back together as He'd split them during a performance earlier that evening. Jimi came by to see Frank and Gail sewed up Jimi's pants.

Zappa and lyrics...Sometimes they're based around FZ's fevered cheese dreams, sometimes they're about in-band jokes, sometimes they're plain stupid. However they draw new listeners in and then FZ hits them with amazing musicianship or a few minutes of Bartok. I think the actually words are secondary, it is the sound that those words make is important. FZ uses the vocal as another instrument, he often conducted the audience with each section making a noise. Inca Roads from A Token Of His Extreme with the same band is probably peak performance for this line-up and showcases Ruth Underwood. Focus on the music, put the lyrics and visuals on the back-burner don't get distracted, LOL!

@timmcinnes2594

2 жыл бұрын

Correct. The music's the thing. Don't worry too much about the lyrics. Zappa didn't.

@ErwinBlonk

2 жыл бұрын

I read him saying something along the lines of that he didn't want to have lyrics but apparently people want it. He has of course written relevant social commentary but it stretched all the way to this, whatever he felt doing at any given time.

@marlon-jl4ge

Жыл бұрын

Zappa was a boring ugly clown and his music too

@Matty88K

Жыл бұрын

Yes, absolutely. Zappa's high school pal Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, also used lyrics that way. However, many of Frank's pieces did have meaning, often political: More Trouble Every Day, I Am the Slime, Son of Orange County, Po'jama People, I'm a Rock, Who Are the Brain Police, Call Any Vegetable, We've Got to Stick Together, the entire Joe's Garage story...are all social commentary.

Some of Frank's music was just a silly song that leads to an incredible solo/jam session. And I'm fine with that style too. True genius is where you find it.

The lyrics doesn't necessarily mean anything. The title is probably some sort of word play. Florentine = coming from Florence, Italy (the Zappa family has originally an Italian background). Pogen is probably sort of wealthy Italian title, but also Pågen (pronounced the same) is a Swedish bakery brand (still existing) which exported cockies to the US in the 70s. This is a combination of explanations I have read. But, as you said, it is still weird. Yes, please, continue!

@timcardona9962

2 жыл бұрын

I love Cockies exported from Sweden; it's definitely my favorite kind of cocky ;)

@progperljungman8218

2 жыл бұрын

@@timcardona9962 🤣

@marlon-jl4ge

Жыл бұрын

Zappa was garbage

@schennum

Жыл бұрын

It's about a groupie.

@erikahlander3489

Жыл бұрын

@@schennum And my etymology is probably not correct...

Rest assure, your hair is fine!

The drummer Chester Thompson who played with Genesis after this gig once did a gig wearing a gorilla suit playing drums...pretty much where that add for Phil collins song ''in the air''came from...Frank is taking the piss out of him...

Inca roads can be a nice next one.

@timmcinnes2594

2 жыл бұрын

So is San Berdino!

Zappa said’ his favourite vegetable is tobacco’

@sheernin6096

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed ! 🙂

I love your reaction! ~lol~ I've seen Frank over 50 times. First show was in '76. I had been listening to him since '73. Yeah, definitely weird but beyond amazing at the same time. I'm a musician and just looking at the sheet music is mind boggling! You were saying this was weird. There's a cut from the same show, I'd love to see you react to... kzread.info/dash/bejne/qayYpq2afLjOd8Y.html

Get the studio version, then; in fact, get the whole album

Actually, meaning really didn't matter in many Zappa songs. The texture, feel and sound of the words and the rhymes is the point. Zappa's high school friend Captain Beefheart also used nonsense lyrics chosen for sound over meaning. Sort of Beat Poet/Dada. Two drummers plus a percussionist (Ruth!) was standard for many a Zappa ensemble. Florentine Pogen was the name of a Swedish Cookie. Frank probably saw them while on tour in '73. See his great 1973 TV performance in Stockholm with Jean Luc Ponty and others, especially Montana. Great performance, amazing Zappa guitar solo amd Frank wears the absolutely ugliest outfit of all time. This piece, Florentine Pogen, was released on the 1975 One Size Fits All. A seminal album with many great compositions: Inca Roads, Sofa, Po'jama People, Florentine Pogen and more.

How about "ZIRCRON ENCRUSTED TWEEZERS, HELP I'M A ROCK,STINKFOOT, or the most sexually explicit rock song EVER,the infamous DYNAMO HUM. That's the ticket.

Have you sampled inca roads yet ?

@timmcinnes2594

2 жыл бұрын

Inca Roads is great, but my fave is San Berdino from "One Size Fits All". I'm sorry Bobby has a head like a potato, I really am.

@nicksylvester426

2 жыл бұрын

@@timmcinnes2594 mine is Andy right into sofa #2. Ich bin der chrome dinette !

Do you think someone on drugs could produce such perfect music?

the nonsensical lyrics often come from life on the road, anything that amuses him in the moment. its a sad fact of life that most people nowadays will only consume music with lyrics and radio doesnt play it

There are better choices

@sheernin6096

2 жыл бұрын

🥺🥱

Frank Zappa is like the Wierd and Akward Science Teacher trying so hard to look and be cool just so you would like Science.

88 tour UK 😅