Classical Composer Reacts to FRANK ZAPPA: FIFTY-FIFTY | The Daily Doug Episode 670

#frankzappa #zappa
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm accessing a previously filmed reaction of Frank Zappa's Fifty-Fifty. The reaction was filmed back in late August. It's a fun, groovy, infectious tune that I know you'll enjoy!
Reference Video: • Video
Daily Doug Merch: www.bonfire.com/store/the-dai...
Thanks to our friend TIM WAURICK for providing the vocals on the Daily Doug Intro and extended Outro: / @timwaurickmusic
Catch up on my full album reactions at my Patreon!
JOIN THE NEW EXCLUSIVE DAILY DOUG COMMUNITY!
Patreon: / doughelvering
Instagram: / doug.helvering
Facebook: / helvering
Twitter: / helvering
Vimeo: vimeo.com/user146736659
The Daily Doug Directory: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[@webjammer1]

Tina Turner and the Ikettes were the backing vocals on this album.

[@SpanishLibertarian]

Please do more Zappa!! ❤

[@jerry3647]

Finally people seem to find this one of the Frank's best songs. This song was the one and first for me to find a different music path to listen to... This song is the one how I found Zappa's music. It was in 1973 when I won a Phillips cassette recorder playing bingo at a local bingo hall in Finland. I was there with my father. Soon I bought an empty cassette and went to my friend's to record some music on it. CCR album Cosmo's factory and some Beatles songs. They were already familiar to me and so good. After recording them there was still about 10 minutes empty room in the end of the cassette and my friend said maybe i should try this. It was my friend's older brothers Zappa lp Over nite sensation and song Fifty fifty from it. Ok, I said i'll try. When listening to it, I remember I was thinking what the hmmm is this. At home next day I played the cassette once but kept on playing Fifty Fifty again and again. That day I forgot CCR and Beatles and found Zappa. And that is the road i am still on.

[@danhemming8280]

That’s awesome. Older brothers were created by Frank to promote his music! LOL!

[@jerry3647]

Maybe so but I was 15 or 16 years old then just like my friend, and there hardly was any possibility our younger brothers could have promoted us for FZ @@danhemming8280

[@Valerio352]

tom fowler is absolutely sending it

[@juansecar2]

This is my fav FZ album... it is just sheer perfection from head to toes... Im the Slime, Montana, fifty fifty, Zombie Woof, Dinah-Moe Humm... etc. It is just one of the greatest pieces of music ever presented by any human being. The level of every musician there was just overwhelming and on this song Jean Luc's solo is OMG, but also Georg Duke's, and also, FZ's, because, this was one of FZ's strongest solo deliveries ever... cheers.

[@eprn1n2]

No doubt.

[@tmorano3573]

Doug, as an organist you may have noticed that George Duke is playing an actual pipe organ on this track. It was recorded at Whitney Studio in Los Angeles that had a pipe organ installed when it was built in 1957. It is also used to great effect at the end of "It Must Be A Camel" on "Hot Rats".

[@notreallydavid]

I'm not Doug, but thanks for that - didn't know! Regards from Over Here

[@steveambrose5580]

Whitney added Wurlitzer pipes to the Robert Morton Theatre organ , i'm not sure if the Wurlitzer pipes give the bell sounds or if that's a standard setting on the organ.

[@edwhite7475]

Ive heard it a million times before, but this time I noticed it sounded a lot like Garth Hudson- From 'the Band'

[@stevedotwood]

And he's not really David either

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

The very first Zappa album to entice my ears back in '83. It goes without saying that a 16 year old lad had heard nothing remotely like it, and it blows my mind to this day. Absurd to the max, and all the best for it!

[@JoriDiculous]

I think it was Roxy & Elsewhere that was my first. Just had to have it after listening to it on the radio.

[@bobby666666]

​@@JoriDiculousI love a lot of Frank's albums, but cannot get along with the Roxy album. It may be down to the songs as I love the Helsinki gig using the same band.

[@Alix777.]

Overrated album like everything he did in the 70's

[@JoriDiculous]

@@bobby666666Yeah, its one of his weaker live albums. Token of his extreme, the Halloween specials, so much better.

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

@@Alix777. Everything!!! I don't think so.

[@eprn1n2]

The three solos are amazing! George Duke, then Jean Luc and followed by Frank Zappa. The drums! The bass. These guys were cookin!

[@duster71]

Starting listening to this in 74 when I was 14 .saw the Roxy tour that same year.Frank was the absolute greatest musical mind to ever walk this earth ,I saw him over 35.

[@stevedotwood]

he was an artist - not a popstar or rockstar or even a jazzmusician, but he touched those worlds when needed for his own purpose.

[@bluetopguitar1104]

In high school this was a very well known album. We used to walk around singing Dina Moe hum. Very cool tune here. The violin is awesome on this song.

[@mocthezuma]

Good to see Zappa back on the bill. Hope you check out some of his work for ensemble orchestra sometime. Theres some really interesting stuff on The Yellow Shark.

[@danhemming8280]

Hey Doug, I love your takes, I particularly enjoy your reactions to Frank's music. One song that I would love to hear your thoughts on is Regyptian Strut (one of my personal favorites). All the best, and thank-you for your thoughtful work.

[@Nuclearmagenta]

Ricky Lancelotti was a vocalist with The Banana Splits.

[@daveapple205]

YEAH!!! I have asked Doug to play this song at least 3 or 4 times!!! Thanks man! The 3 solos in the song are going to blow Doug away.

[@alldayadventures5418]

500+ Tunes and 50+ Albums. This one is a TOP 10 in Franks Catalog. Impossible to rate the top 10 in order, because it all depends on your mood which is the best. Deserves a Full Album Review. If not, at least ZOMBIE WOOF, and Florentine Pogan.. well actually, the whole album..! 😁😁😁😁

[@Frunobulax74]

@alldayadventures5418 - Florentine Pogen isn't on Over-Nite Sensation.

[@timconnecticut6263]

Man...I miss Frank.

[@Kelters]

I often thought that the music of Zappa and that of Carla Bley were very similar in the way you just described -- about being on the line and sometimes crossing it. -- RIP Carla. We'll miss you. -- I hope, Doug, you might just check out Carla for your fans at some time soon.

[@kevinlundgren1169]

First heard this in about 1979 , , 80 maybe , I was 9 or 10 years old ! Been a Zappa fan ever since !

[@Mapleman_9009]

One of my favorite albums of his. It’s definitely worth listening all the way through!

[@flstfb2013]

How about a reaction to some of the songs off of his album Zoot allures?

[@RamonK.]

Awesome song, awesome album, awesome everything... My father was a big Zappa fan so I've grown up with this fantastic music.

[@TheAnalyst79]

You've got to do Zomby Woof from the same album, though

[@jtsiren1676]

Zappa's work runs the gamut of creativity and musical innovation. One day, Doug, you'll get to a full album listen of Burnt Weeny Sandwich, and I'll be here for it.

[@scooterjones303]

That was an excellent summary and insight into Zappa's work and status at the end there. Thank you.

[@andreasrosenberg9317]

More Zappa =) Awesome!

[@liviomiraglia602]

Infectious music is spot on. In the beginning I would hear something and I wasn't interested..Maybe too young..not enough life experience but couldn't get it out of my head..as I got older I'd go back and listen again.. and I'd end up loving it and find something else that I wasn't interested in but again it crawled under my skin and I had to go back and see what was bothering me so much..I needed more..then more..then more. Then it hit. FRANK ZAPPA is THE BEST❤

[@getexis8685]

“So this is music ...” thought the alien from another planet thought, very happily. "So this is happiness..." and he was doubly amazed. "So this is what it's like to be amazed..." And for the third time the extraterrestrial alien was left thinking. "So this is what thinking is..." and it continued like that for a long time. "So this is time ..." And he fainted with joy, only to wake up and say: "So this is what it means to faint." And he stayed here for many solar years full of desire to know more human things. "So this is desire..."

[@chipsawdust5816]

Just naming off those musicians you know it's going to be flawless.

[@gwts1171]

Cool! Over-nite Sensation is my favorite Zappa album overall. Thanks for the video, Doug!

[@carrerlluna66]

Legend has it that this was about Alice Cooper / Vincent Furnier and his antics. Zappa was a good friend and early supporter taking a chance on the Alice Cooper Band when no label would touch them. When Zappa saw them live he told them to come by his house at 7, meaning PM...the band thought he meant 7 AM, and starting setting up at 6:30 waking up FZ. Their enthusiasm to arrive at dawn and their undecipherable complex songs(?) got them immediately signed to Frank's Bizarre label.

[@egroegmcdonald9870]

I got this album in '74, I was turned onto FZ by my music appreciation/band teacher. The musicianship was just stellar. That the lyrics caused my parents no end of irritation was just an added bonus. This album was also responsible for my lifelong adoration of Jean Luc Ponty and George Duke and jazz in general.

[@myhomeo429]

We grew up together in different places.

[@helmutkurtneumnn2026]

Zappa at its best

[@MaxDugans]

Alex Winter, of Lost Boys and The Bill and Ted trilogy fame, did a documentary on Frank Zappa. Truly worth a watch if you haven't already.

[@donkraus1991]

Thanks for the Zappa video! Frank and his fabulous band so tight!

[@BrianMillerConcerts]

Thanks Doug! I always enjoy it when you react to Zappa.

[@sonicart1808]

Perfect analogy and analysis about Frank Doug, I think when you look over history we see that anyone who is a genius of their craft tends to walk a fine line between brilliance and insanity and Frank was no exception.....

[@OilNBolts1]

Thanks for putting a toe in the Zappa pool again. I always enjoy your insight and perspective on Zappa's work. It is complicated enough to need professional analysis. More Zappa Please!!

[@baejiaoflying9434]

Five-five-five from the "Shut up and pay your guitar" album is astounding.

[@calfb]

Re your comment about being unsettled with those sounds, pararphrasing one of Frank's quotes "putting eyebrows on it" as in, the interesting notes are the ones that raise your eyebrows.

[@davidswearingen9652]

Love it when you do Zappa. For me his music takes me all over the world. One song might be something that sounds like it's a song you would hear in LA. Or another from the East side of Chicago or the southwest USA or the Caribbean. Where ever. Do you know what I mean ?

[@lousmith7073]

Frank always said he wrote music that he wanted to hear and god bless him for that!

[@donktec]

Absolute gem! Thank you, this has made me happier than i've been for a month.

[@kymriley8619]

How well Frank's music stacks up with today's music and surpasses it with E A S E❤

[@leegaskins5506]

One of the best Zappa discs. So much of Frank to look into and cherish. Change of subject. PLEASE check out Gryphon's epic opus- 'Midnight Mushrumps' Recorders, bassoon, synths... Amazing folk prog instrumental.

[@chazzyb8660]

I was lucky enough to discover Frank nealy fifty years ago and he has been with me ever since. I always wished I could hear more and luckily they are still discovering sessions in the archives. Have you had a look at The Yellow Shark (1993)? Please do. If only he had lived longer. I just discovered your channel today, and love your insights into Frank's albums. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. I love long car journeys where I can run through a CD again and again (that probably ages me). Yup, sometimes he goes too far, but who else does?

[@ShemDaniel]

3:37 Doug wanting to join in, but the beat changed, and so did his face...absolutely hilarious!😆🤣

[@pablovandyck]

As I understand, Ponty had really wanted to play with Zappa. However, after a few years of their association, Ponty was ultimately disappointed as he felt Zappa never fully utilized him. Ponty is a brilliant violinist. (I'm still waiting for your take on "One Shot Deal/Waka Jawaka").

[@MrDanylong]

Have you heard the album King Kong Jean Luc Ponty plays the music of Frank Zappa? kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmbToIeKiqdli8k

[@morsedregs9239]

Over-Nite Sensation, not a bad song on that album. One of my favs. Well my dandruff is loose An’ my breath is chartreuse I know I ain’t cute An’ my voice is ja-poot But that’s awright people I’m just crazy enough to sing to you Any old way I figure the odds be fifty-fifty

[@Ruija27]

Ants in my pants!

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

'I just might have something to sayaaaaay'.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

Kaput (german for broken)

[@nedludd7622]

There are songs you should listen to on Zappa and the Mothers' first album "Freak Out". That was a mind-bender for me at the time. There are also lesser known albums as "Cruisin with Ruben and the Jets", "Live at Fillmore East", and "Just Another Band From LA".

[@lawrenceliebman9079]

This was the very first album I ever bought with my own money when it came out. I was 15 and must have listened to the whole album more than 200 times since.

[@zykify]

Strange pick for a reaction since it is more a jam than a composition. Go for Andy next!

[@steveschmitz2839]

He died at 52 years old, unbelievable catalog for such a short life. Love your reaction and so agree with it all, just a BIG shout out to Tom and Ralph, unbelievable performances. Yes, that pocket was deep. Thanks Doc!

[@scottmcley5111]

That Zappa solo shreds...again. Will always respect Frank the most for fighting for free speech.

[@user-qm5qf3kk9m]

Lucky Man lyrics on the wall . So cool. I do this alot. Close to the edge, comes to mind...

[@nels9382]

I was lucky to see him/them at the Roxy in Dec ‘73. You can see “Roxy the Movie” free online.

[@larryhelmeczy4320]

I've seen some of your other Zappa rects. This is a fun and not one that's done too often. You were into the heavy groove at first. I wondered how long it was going to take for you to figure out the harmonic sequence. Given your background you might like some of his more classical works. The video of G Spot Tornado played at the Yellow Shark concert with him conducting just before he died, is a good one to start.

[@coleward4208]

Doug! Check out Zappa’s “The Adventures of Greggery Peccary!” One of the most monstrous projects, if not the most monstrous he ever created.

[@wolfgangsimons9183]

My suggestion : first "Billy The Mountain", then "the Adventures".

[@roninselman6772]

One of the stupidest of Frank's works too. Don't send this guy to listen to Frank's worst things.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

Lol still can't listen to it. Billy is even worse imho

[@raffaeleriver8681]

I love watching you react to these. Unmitigatedly cute.

[@Kram62]

I 1st heard this during intermission ( you don’t want to miss intermission…a little Thing Fish humor) on a juke box in a club between sets. I’ve been a FZ fan ever since!

[@Kram62]

Hey Doug, what’s up?

[@sharona256]

I love your Jersey comment! I grew up there and your accent was excellent! 😅

[@davidpeters44]

I love when Doug talks over the most killer bass riff ever. Thanks Doug.

[@tonitonkata9934]

MAESTRO YOU ARE BEST OF THE BEST

[@delpage1]

I think that half-step relationship you were mentioning can be found frequently in Zappa's music.

[@somersetcace1]

Love this tune!! Great choice.

[@TheAcgtrs]

The “lost and confused puppy dog” look on your face, was the true pleasure of the entire video. 😂😂😂

[@markcorrigan8599]

OUTSTANDING episode !!!!

[@rofavilla]

it is always an adventure with Frank Zappa. Perfect. kudos for being zapped, hehe

[@robertcussins2807]

Love lots of Zappa. Heard a lot, but "One Size Fits All" is my favorite.

[@nicholasmartin297]

I really liked your shaker contributions.

[@adamelliott18]

Absolutely love me some FZ especially with a little JLP sprinkled on top! Thanks Doug!

[@gjacobson76]

Doug, now that your getting in to the Zappa universe, check out this list by Frank: Trouble Everyday, The Black Page, Let's make the water turn black, Lumpy Gravy, Flakes Flakes, and We are not alone.

[@Broccoli_Highkicks]

One of Frank's talents was finding truly unique people, and then writing music to specifically showcase that one thing that they could do better than anyone else. He was one of those rare people that can just turn their creativity on and off like a tap. Also, interesting tidbit, the line "my voice is kaput" refers to the fact that Frank fractured, among other things, his larynx when a crazy fan pushed him off stage in London, into the orchestra pit, causing his voice to drop an octave.

[@31apollo13]

Jean Luc Ponty is a force of nature 🎻

[@stephenpogen1035]

Zappa was god. Jean-Luc Ponty's violin solo is blistering

[@lennartforsberg1519]

Zappa was great and underrated. I think that I bought about 10 albums on vinyl.

[@ulfingvar1]

Underrated? When? By whom?

[@lennartforsberg1519]

@@ulfingvar1 Underrated as a guitarist.

[@juanant8951]

There´s a video of this band in studio with the ikettes ......Is just out of this world...... a must watch

[@andrewgoss9013]

Great song. Great video. Doug, I would love to see you tackle some Tom Waits.

[@frankbotterweck8938]

the organ is fucking brilliant

[@jlrp9929]

ily the magic and talent of The Mothers of Ivention

[@lorcazola]

You ROCK on the shaker !

[@kentclark6420]

This fits in with Halloween.

[@pawelwoo3945]

Oh my! Forgotten about this 😊

[@garethsnaim8174]

Man I need to go listen to this album again.

[@SonOfWat]

Still waiting for a reaction to some of his orchestral pieces!

[@garethsnaim8174]

Frankly (pun intended) they are erm, challenging.

[@OldManBadly]

Zappa's bands were very good at vamping at any point in any song, generally the half steps and "back and forth" as they just run along wherever it was that Frank felt a solo would be good. Many spaces were predefined, but he did have this habit of sort of randomly strapping on his guitar and going in whenever it interested him to do it. So the band always had to be solid at sitting back, picking a groove, and letting him go for as long as he went... and then pick up the song like nothing ever happened. What is more impressive is that many songs on Zappa albums are either recorded live or use a live performance as the basis for the studio work that came after. The playing was so good and the studio work so subtle that it was hard sometimes to know where the line was drawn.

[@donkraus1991]

Franks begs Questions!

[@delpage1]

Doug you are a music professor and you know your stuff. It's obvious. There is another guy out there who does a deep dive into the mechanics of Zappa's music. Check out Chanan Hanspal on KZbin. He did his dissertation on Zappa's orchestral music. He has lots of insights into how Zappa used and viewed harmony.

[@jasongregorius96]

To quote Frank… “Absurdity is the only reality” … what a genius

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

There's an opcoming box set of this album which includes a funky instrumental version of this song, released on yt.

[@corrosivealtars]

I'd enjoy hearing/seeing your reactions to Frank's work during the Flo and Eddie era. 200 Motels, most specifically.

[@jcf1963]

He said that sometimes yes, he meant to make his audience feel unsettled. Break them out of their apathy just long enough to perhaps examine themselves and their environment.

[@shemanic1]

tis a superb album

[@egapnala65]

You really should try the "Sealed Tuna Sandwich" suite.

[@Shaktidej]

50/50 is Zappa on steroids. IMHO it's the highlight of the album in terms of musicality, with both G. Dukes's solo followed by Ponty's then Frank's. All that is served by R Humphrey's frantic playing. A marvel !

[@stevec1770]

FZ having fun with James Brown here. No one was immune. He nailed Bob Dylan, too, in Flakes, of course.

[@allancerf9038]

This is an excellent album that I liked back in the day. It holds up. Genuinely funny. I think Frank said somewhere that Dinah Moe Hum and this album in particular helped finance more 'serious' stuff, but in my opinion this is the 'real' quality stuff. Regarding his guitar solos they're edited like crazy and tape speed was used on them but that's okay, Frank never denied it.

[@Vrakom]

He was right. When you listen to his ''classical'' repertoire it becomes obvious that no one would finance these projects (too out-of-the-box, not enough commercial appeal) and people like Kent Nagano don't work for peanuts.

[@allancerf9038]

@@Vrakom I agree with your quotes mark around his "classical" repertoire.

[@joebarrera9741]

LOVE ME SOME ZAPPA

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Some other Zappa songs you might enjoy are Zombie Woof, Bobby Brown Goes Down, or My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama. Or one of the purely instrumentals from his "Orchestral Favourites" -- Bogus Pomp, or Pedro's Dowry, for instance.

[@bobby666666]

I love the version of Wonderful Wino Ricky on vocals. Sadly, he passed away some time ago.