Frank Zappa: Apostrophe' (Side 2) REACTION & ANALYSIS | The Daily Doug (Episode 440)

[@johnwillis4706]

Can we get a round of applause for the musical genius that is Frank Zappa. And the legendary Jack Bruce on bass guitar.

[@uncadoug2715]

👏👏👏

[@hustler3of4culture3]

Yes. Yes we can...

[@progger53]

He should have read the credits.

[@BryanEddy09]

I was around 15 ...digging this and Roxy and Elsewhere ...then owned One Size Fits All.First concert I ever went to...would see him 5 times ..like ELP AND YES.

[@FredShatta]

Just Jack .

[@pablovandyck]

From Hot Rats (1969) to Apostrophe (1974) Frank put together a handful of albums that will echo through the ages. History will be very kind to Frank Zappa.

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

I would say after 74 as well, hos output never waned whatever your personal favourites, his last album Civilization is mind blowing

[@ChasBeauregarde]

I agree, his creative sweet spot '69-'75

[@SpaceCattttt]

Hard disagree. People tend to shit on his smutty lyrics in the late 70's (forgetting about the Flo and Eddie era...) not to mention that the 80's don't even seem to exist. But the late 70's saw Frank releasing some of his best work after being free from Warner Brothers. And apart from the, frankly, atrociously bad "Thing Fish", the 80's saw Frank embrace highly complex instrumental music. And he also toured with what was arguably the technically most accomplished band he ever had. And then he did some incredibly challenging work in the 90's as well. Probably the most difficult stuff he ever composed. I suppose you like the commercial Zappa more...

[@sex6cult9revolution]

I don't disagree with this sentiment but it's so hard to pin down when his genius began and when it ended because I don't think it really ever ended. That period is definitely a sweet spot, yet Frank never really lost that spirit of experimentation and the desire to remain outside the conventions and norms surrounding him. Personally, I'll never stop digging the early Mothers stuff. Freak Out is still a hoot and We're Only In It For The Money is great satire. And yet, I still listen to side 2 of Drowning Witch nearly forty years after I bought it in the mid-80's which features a really incredible Edgard Varese influenced jam. There's just too much genius there to confine in a small space.

[@ChasBeauregarde]

@@sex6cult9revolution You summed it up very well. Personal preferences aside I'll leave with a quote Frank re-quoted frequently, early on from Edgar Varese : "The present day composer refuses to die."

[@maxwelltalley612]

Uncle Remus is one of my fav Zappa deep cuts. Tremendous piano, amazing backing vocals, biting social commentary, one of his best.

[@leeroden7900]

It is such a beautiful song. If you know Frank's teen years you can understand this is likely a song that was very close to his heart. It is almost romantic in how it is sung.

[@findlayhobby-bell3415]

And that solo is one of my favourites of his

[@vcolin]

Absolutely beautiful. Full blast.

[@marlon-jl4ge]

Zappa was filth

[@jamescerone]

Uncle Remus is literally one of his biggest songs lmao. “Deep cut”

[@leoscone4036]

Thing is, that is EXACTLY how Frank WANTED his guitar to sound on the song "Apostrophe". And no one could just jam away like Frank. Blessings.

[@patrickmurphy6602]

There was considerable debate in the hallowed halls of Southern Illinois University, in the mid 70's, as to the ranking of rock guitarists. FZ was something of a fringe artist many, but he always came up in the conversation!

[@StringersLogic]

In Apostrophe the guitar is an acoustic guitar through a Mutron auto wah and played through a Pignose amplifier.From a Guitar Player interview at the time.

[@rickandgen]

“The poodle bites, the poodle chews it” is carried over from “Dirty Love” on the previous album Overnight Sensation which was recorded basically in the same session and released a year earlier.

[@tomwoliver]

He seems to like poodles. The monster in Cheepnis is "a large poodle dog". Great stuff!

[@evervigilant]

"Got a great big poodle thing, Got a great big hairy thing...."

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@tomwoliver He was amused by the absurdity of shaving poodle dogs according to the specific taste of various rich, upper class ladies.

[@craigfazekas3923]

As to what the poodle bites & chews ? Gotta leave that one alone.....🚬😎

[@brianvernon249]

Thank you. When I made the comment about the two the poodle bites the poodle chews it songs in Overnight Sensation. my comment was avoided like the plague.

[@a2ez767]

The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe!

[@jaquestraw1]

Words to live by

[@leechild4655]

its saying ` the matter at hand is the matter at hand! `

[@trueglove]

That's right. The apostrophe marks an absence. More precisely, is used as a contraction of the negative adverb "not" ("it doesn't, 'n you can't! I won't, 'n it don't! it hasn't, it isn't, it even ain't 'n it shouldn't ... it couldn't). Ben Watson wrote a ponderous book about Frank Zappa, "The negative dialectics of poodle play". Shortly before his death, Zappa invited Ben Watson to his home to read the book to him. Apparently, FZ found it entertaining, especially because of connections he had never thought of. According to Watson, Fido stands for Phaedo, "Platos' work on the immortality of the soul". And, talking about conceptual continuity, it's worth remembering the lecture on creation that FZ used as an introduction to Dirty Love during concerts.

[@jaquestraw1]

Fascinating! I will have to read the book 👍

[@jarleabelhaugeek1217]

Hey thanks man!

[@jpirard]

Zappa has referred to Bruce playing bass on the song in an interview: "Well, that was just a jam thing that happened because he was a friend of (drummer) Jim Gordon. I found it very difficult to play with him; he's too busy. He doesn't really want to play the bass in terms of root functions; I think he has other things on his mind. But that's the way jam sessions go.

[@ahecks]

Jack Bruce is one of my favourite composers/musicians/singers. I like the free and open jam that is Apostrophe, especially the wild, distorted bass, but I can imagine how Zappa struggled with Jack's busy, nontraditional style. In light of Frank's comments, it puzzles me a bit that the final mix keeps the bass relatively loud. I can only assume that Frank must have quite liked the end result, even if he didn't enjoy the playing part. Uncle Remus, on the other hand, is an all-time favourite song of mine! Love that whole album.

[@RachelFlowersMusic]

Lol! I heard the musical tention between Frank and Jack like Dug!

[@budje]

what I like about Zappa: Most musicians know how to surprise you every now and then. Frank surprises you several times in every song sometimes even more times every minute 🙂

[@JoriDiculous]

If you want more commercial Zappa, do Over-Nite Sensation. Brilliant album. Personally i prefer all of the albums songs in later live versions.

[@Desmomatschi]

I love how you accompany with your piano

[@barrywilson1294]

Conceptual Continuity is the way in which Zappa ties his work together. The biting and chewing is a reference to another song.

[@michaeltorgersen4987]

It would seem that only the FZ aficionados would know it.

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

The guitar solo on STINK FOOT is actaully played on an accoustic guitar, here is an excerpt from a 77 interview where he says how he got the sound: On "Stink-Foot" there's an interesting sound where I'm using an acoustic guitar with a magnetic pickup on it and a Barcus-Berry on the bridge. The Barcus-Berry is going into one channel, and the magnetic pickup is going to a Mu-tron and the other channel, so you have a sharp attack and an enveloped attack. It gives a lot of space.

[@reidwhitton6248]

That solo is a masterpiece.

[@juliodicarlo5313]

Muchas gracias

[@aisekauston]

Uncle Remus is one of my favourite tunes on this too! Did you know that Tina Turner as part of the Ike-ettes did the background vocals on this LP? Frank has so much crazy albums, I love him so much. It's nice to have a music enjoyer like you to enjoy it with, thanks!

[@markroberts1301]

Jack Bruce on the Bass in the cut Apostrophe, Tina Turner and the Ikette's on backing vocals througout... amazing stuff!

[@iluvj50]

Jim Gordon on drums!

[@progger53]

@iluvj50 he died in prison awhile back.

[@chenstormstout9456]

Thank my dad for this being the only cd he brought on a long car trip. And I never thought I’d appreciate Frank as much as he does, but I do.

[@betterbusinessweb1196]

I love this piece by Frank! I've listened to this for 40 years. Best at full volume :)

[@Deanrite]

The "poodle bites poodle chews it" is a reference to the song, "Dirty Love" from the "Overnight Sensations" album. It really has a bunch of good songs including "Montana," "Zombie Woof," "I Am The Slime," Dinamoe Hum," and "Camarillo Brillo." It really is a great album. Not that I've heard everything he's produced, I'm mean who has time; he's produced like 50 or 60 of them, so yeah this is a good one.

[@BattleAx342]

I am 55 and my sisters turned me on to this album when I was in 6th grade been listening to him since. Frank Zappa is one of my heroes. I just cant get enough Zappa...

[@mahatmadude]

The effect in Apostrophe is a Mutron. Still have mine. That plus a wah wah pedal (Frank loved those too) can give one some really great sounds. Corla Plankton is a play on words for Eric Clapton ("me an him can play the blues"). The Jack Bruce jam follows that reference. Frank's my hero since 1971, still is... Peace & love, Uncle Brother.

[@ehsbe1056]

The funny thing i find is at 21:30 you mention that stinkfoot was inspired by a commercial for foot spray, and how unique that idea is. Well the suite at the start of the album, the yellow snow suite, was inspired by an advert for Imperial Margarine, in which a girl serves her boyfriend pancakes with "butter", exclaiming "Good morning your highness!" (ooooohhhh, i brought you your snow shoes)

[@jay_vero]

uncle remus, such an under appreciated song. im glad you enjoyed it

[@zappafan3473]

doug, the 'clothes - hose' lyric in remus refers to the protesters getting sprayed with water hoses in Birmingham, Alabama in April 1963.

[@jeffstclair9221]

Thanks for that Doug . I have been listening to Frank Zappa most of my adult life , and seeing and hearing you talk about his work is wonderful. You in some way have made me understand more about why I like his music so much .. Thanks buddy .

[@Zopf-international]

I always do The Ikettes' dance moves when I hear Uncle Remus, as that's them on backing vocals. Absolute heaven.

[@Nuclearmagenta]

Interesting trivia: Excentrifugal Forz was the original title of the song Echidna's Arf (Of You), from the Roxy and Elsewhere album. At least, this is how he introduced that tune when I saw Zappa in November 1973 in New York.

[@erico2948]

Really enjoy your reviews. Love your observations and tidbits.

[@frankbreuer8849]

I like your academic approach, explaining what I'd never figure out. Yet, despite the complexity, I love the melodies and freaking emotionality of his music

[@martindiluca1573]

Uncle Remus is such an amazing piece of music, there is indeed a longer version, and you should 100% listen to it, it's amazing

[@hammalammadingdong6244]

"Uncle Remus" is one of my favorite FZ songs, not to take away from any of his other fine work.

[@mikegalgano4567]

I had a smile so wide to your reactions and your piano playing additions. This is a song I've known for well over 40 years Great stuff Doug!!!

[@barrystanton6693]

Thanks for your informed insight. This era was Frank’s most accessible work and I love it. To me he was the Salvador Dali of rock. X

[@gibbogle]

Good insight!

[@steveford8999]

"Apostrophe" is Jack Bruce playing in Cream. Listen to some of the Cream jams. An absolute master of the bass.

[@MatheusManzano]

He himself denied it. But who knows if he was so drunk or stoned he just couldn't remember at all 😂

[@williamburkholder769]

Frank is one of my favorite musicians of all time. He surrounded himself with truly talented professionals and held them to high standards. His humor was off-beat, but fitting for the times and circumstances. He and Joni Mitchell were neighbors for awhile in Laurel Canyon! I don't know whom I like to watch reactions to more, Zappa or Yes. Both can astonish people and leave them shaking their heads in amazement. Both were incredibly prolific. I would love to see you do some reactions to Jeff Beck. His concert, Live at Ronnie Scotts, is incredible. It features Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, and Jason Rebello on keyboards, and showcases Beck's virtuoso guitar work as well as the others' considerable talents.

[@todd8155]

3 songs I like, at least 2 from that session: 1) Jeff Beck featuring Imogen Heap - Blanket, 2) 'People Get Ready' - Jeff Beck with Joss Stone (live 2007), 3) Imogen Heap and Jeff Beck - Rollin and Tumblin live at Ronnie Scott's 2007 from BBC 4 TV special

[@MUSICADELCENTRO]

Master, sir William.

[@marlon-jl4ge]

Zappa was garbage

[@Timwit84]

For me zappa has been one of those musicians I couldnt appreciate in my younger days, then in my late 20s a record store owner recommended a live zappa in buffalo 1974 album when I asked for a recommendation d/t hendrix overdose. It blew my mind how amazingly tight, precise and complicated a "rock" band could be live. Ive been hooked for the last decade and whenever i feel my musical tastes are getting stagnant I just listen to a "new" zappa album live or studio and I gain respect for a new musical style everytime. Saint Zap

[@Ninang363]

I am an ameteure bass player. This is my favorite song to play because it is so fun and funky simultaneously, and I once got to play it with Dweezil and two drummers. I played a 5-string so when we went to the B I took it down an octave...It was so much fun!

[@timconnecticut6263]

I can't count how many good times with friends and family I've listened and sang along with this album.

[@andreasghb8074]

This has been a favorite of mine since I was in 9th grade, and I appreciate your take on it. Made me appreciate it even more!

[@kp3O5]

You were actually killing it on the piano on apostrophe in a good way

[@somethingbl]

Doug: check out George Duke's version of Uncle Remus from his solo album "The Aura Will Prevail". It's much slower and soulful, you will love it.

[@bobby666666]

Not heard George's version. I shall give it a listen.

[@rodrimendoza8988]

yea yea wait till death

[@marlon-jl4ge]

Zappa was filth

[@RachelFlowersMusic]

That’s a pretty cool version.

[@pmar27]

I still think it's pretty funny that my mom got this for me at 15 years old, based on the humorous Cosmik Debris single.

[@sandenson]

22:00 Apparently, in that solo Frank played an acoustic guitar with effects, which is what makes that weird but cool sound. Also, I always crack up when Zappa says "This is the dog talking, now". It's such a silly line.

[@mocthezuma]

Fine album! And now that you've done this you absolutely have to do "Over Nite Sensation" as well. Those two are usually paired as Frank's stand out albums of this era of Zappa recordings. The "Classic Albums" series of documentaries paired them in an excellent episode as well.

[@waltsullivan8986]

"The poodle bites, the poodle chews it" is a quotation from another Zappa album, "Overnite Sensation".

[@hustler3of4culture3]

Yes being stoned while listening to this is even better

[@jefffixesit60]

Love the show, and I love the expressions you make when trying to grasp the strange that Zappa's music embodies. If I start on Friday at lunchtime, and feed discs into my players non stop, I can get all the way through my FZ collection by dinner on Tuesday. I'm a fan, and so can you be too! That last line is paraphrasing a song lyric, can't wait to see you react when you find that lyric in your explorations

[@markofrontz1343]

The fact of the matter it's made for you.

[@toniedeevs3925]

I couldn't have found a better YT channel to revisit this gem from my high school days (I'll be 61 this month). And what you said at 24:11 - I'm with you sir.

[@bobmeyrick8264]

Having owned the album since it was released, something I'd never thought about was the "crux of the biscuit" being the apostrophe. Just recently I came across some comment which mentioned that fact that FZ goes on to list words (hasn't, isn't, don't etc.etc.) which contain apostrophes, a punctuation mark which a declining number of people know how to use correctly...

[@SuperChaoticus]

If I had to bet, I'd say George Duke is mostly if not completely responsible for that luscious chord progression.

[@johnstallings4049]

Just me and my Pigmy pony over by the dental floss bush!

[@markjeffery3237]

Doug, your closing comments hit the nail on the head - the crux of the biscuit, as FZ would have it. The man was an an iconoclast. He could as easily have been president. A genuine genius. And thank you for your prescient analysis. Cheers from Aberdeen, Scotland 👍🏻

[@auralfixxation6702]

Mr Zappa is truly a gift to music. It's actually sad that he is not more well known. Many may know of his name but, not able to name a single song title. He truly explored the music theory universe while today, many barely skim the surface of stagnant water in search of a TicToc moment. I had to come back and add this, he was actually very intellectual too in his lyrics and song titles. Some just laughed them off because the meaning went over their heads.

[@ManNoName-c9u]

I keep telling my son there's only two geniuses in 'pop' music Zappa & Eno. Unlike McCartney, Prince or Jackson etc they conquored all genres of music rather than mastered one (OK Zappa didn't do ambience and Eno is not known for his jazz but you know what I mean). Also they both have a sense of humour in their music to puncture their own pomposity. Heroes!

[@auralfixxation6702]

@@ManNoName-c9u I'm in complete agreement with you.

[@MusicLover-rt4bs]

Anytime someone reacts to the song Apostrophe, I always feel compelled to give a shout out to Tony Duran on rhythm guitar. He rarely gets mentioned. He is best heard starting at the 10:10 mark of this video.

[@Civilizashum]

In the LA TV market there was a fixture on some venue there called Korla Pandit. Who wore a turban with a ruby at the center, and he played Hammond organ

[@vickiconley3638]

The 70's and their lyrical sounds of intellectualism. Love it, lived it.

[@johnduffy62164]

The poodle is a reference to the song Dirty Love .

[@Kelters]

Great to hear how Jack Bruce was so much more than just Cream etc. The bass doesn't dominate. Bruce was an exceptional bassist, and Zappa knew it!

[@madmaxfzz]

It's really fun to see you hear this stuff for the first time. I was a toddler when I heard this for the first time, as I remember.

[@garyring8306]

you will notice many of the greats in music played with zappa's band, allice cooper love him or hate him was promoted by zappa as a talent and cooper often refers and thanks Zappa for his help in his career.

[@jonnaah9683]

With all the suggestions you are offered, it feels silly to try to reach you with this, but there's good reason for my attempt. There's so much Zappa music, that you mustn't hang too long in 1970s, or you'll never get to his culminating album, his last completed, posthumously released Civilization Phase 3. The final work on this is called Beat The Reaper. I interpret this to be saying he's trying to finish this piece before the reaper comes for him. An amazing composition. You won't be sorry!

[@Markstun]

Please please do “The Adventures of Gregory Peccary”, amazing writing. As a music teacher I absolutely love your videos!

[@tripelkrauz]

Yeaaaahhhh please do that! That's probably the most incredible FZ composition. Not for everyone...

[@devolve42]

One of my all-time FZ pieces.

[@jean-pierrebolduc2837]

I second.

[@themuffinman3135]

That would definitely throw Doug for a loop. Nothing else like it in popular music.

[@wolfgangsimons9183]

@@tripelkrauz But but but - before “The Adventures of Gregory Peccary” he has to learn about "Billy The Mountain " and hear THAT track ! My suggestion: he hears one after the other.

[@ryanjones4150]

Frank recorded Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe at Ike & Tina Turner's Bolic Sound Studios in L.A. . Tina and The Ikettes sing background vocals on a number of the songs on those records, The 2 on Apostrophe are Cosmik Debris and Uncle Remus. Ike thought the songs were weird and wouldn't allow Frank to credit them in the liner notes.

[@scotstevens5263]

Who you jivin’ with that Cosmic Debris? ☮️😎

[@davidedwards2477]

Hey Doug, I really enjoyed this one, Frank was indeed an incredible musician and composer and you're probably right he could have done pretty much anything he wanted to do, I really love his music, I have a lot of his albums and "Apostrophe" is a very good one. Also I think Frank was a very interesting and very smart person and I would reccommend you watch and listen to some of his interviews, there are many on you tube, they give you even more insight into the man. A lot of people thought he was zany and weird but he was actually very sane, I think its the rest of us that are that way, maybe, good luck and enjoy.

[@AndyGrazianoNYC]

The number with Bruce was done as a jam in the studio pretty much, Frank was not thrilled with it as he felt Jack was not willing to compose or blend in too much, it was all about the busy soloing and such. I thought it was great when my dad got it for me when I was 14 because I was into Cream at the time too! Great coincidence that helped develop my lasting FZ bond to this day (29 years later)

[@daveapple205]

"The Poodle Bites, the Poodle Chews it" is taken from a song of Frank's called "Dirty Love" on the "Overnight Sensation" album.

[@duster71]

If this is the first time you've heard Uncle Remus you haven't been living.There is an extended version here on YT. Tina Turner and the Iketts on background vocals

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

the extended version is just not on youtube, it's on an official album called Crux Of The Biscuit

[@duster71]

@@HakanTunaMuzik it's on YT, I just checked, it's 4 minutes long, the original is 2:50 minutes

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

@@duster71 I know it's on youtube, what i meant is that it's a proper album release, who listrens to music on YT? i know I don't i prefer to listen to albums properly, so that's what i meant :-)

[@duster71]

@@HakanTunaMuzik well what if all your albums and 500 cds went up in flames in a fire. Your assumptions make you sound like a fool.

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

@@duster71 your assuming I have presumtions make you sound worse. As for your scenerio, i would then listen via spotify which is where I do most of my listening as you can listen to complete albums properly.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

Side 1 was recorded around the time of Overnite Sensation. Side 2 was compiled from a bunch of different recording sessions, the title track is an excerpt of a jam in 1972 with Jack Bruce on bass. Stinkfoot apparently started as a cover of a Muddy Waters song. The only thing Zapoa kept is the drums and he built a whole different song on top of that. Uncle Remus had a basic track recorded during the Waka/Jawaka and Grand Wazoo session with further overdubs during the overdub sessions for this album and Roxy&Elsewhere.

[@eximusic]

Yes, Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit. You never had the books growing up? Agreed, one of my favorite Zappa songs also. In the 60s and 70s lawn jockeys were actually popular on rich people's lawns. The guitar pedal used on the last song was a Mutron III envelope follower, often called an "automatic wah" effect.

[@williamburkholder769]

In old-moneyed suburbs of Southern cities in the 1960s and '70s, cast-iron black servants - "lawn jockeys" - were common symbols of white racism and "supremacy." They shouted, "Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy live here." Knocking them over was a pastime of African American youth - who risked getting shot to do it.

[@eximusic]

@@williamburkholder769 Interesting, thanks for the info. People also had them here in Beverly Hills. We used the knock them down (white kids) just because of the Zappa song.

[@brusecco]

i still miss FZ! imagine with how much of his great music and wit he would have blessed us with by now.

[@markmorgan1773]

The poodle bites the poodle chews it is from the song Dirty Love he just kind of referenced that at the end. And the song Dirty Love It suggests that the poodle is involved in sexual activity with the female owner

[@bellbrass]

The Great Jim Gordon playing drums on "Apostrophe"...magnificent.

[@brucekeller741]

Actually loved seeing you play along side with the music on the keyboard. You should do that more. Specially with Zappa.

[@PushSueAside]

Doug, I’m a new viewer, subscriber, and fan. You’re mind and intelligence are fascinating and beautiful. Cheers

[@raymondregis6219]

The effect in question is an envelope follower also called a touch wah. I read that the guitar is an acoustic with a black widow pickup. My friend Matt introduced me to Zappa, elp, Moody blues, Beatles, yes, rundgren, Elton john and chicago in the early 70s before I was fully able to understand much of it.

[@arlodrews1]

If you weren't aware, This album and overnight sensation were recorded in the same building as Ike and Tina doing something and he got Tina and the Ikettes to sing backup.

[@shawcunningham]

I didn’t read through all the comments (so someone else probably already answered this), but the guitar effect Frank used here was an Envelope Follower - essentially a Low Pass Filter modulated (opened and closed) by the amplitude of his guitar signal. The envelope always closes the filter, but as you play louder, the filter will start more open. It’s a very dynamic effect.

[@stevegreen364]

Great video Doug. Glad you finally found Frank's music. Re: just one chord... most of Frank's guitar solos that I have heard have been over 1 chord vamps. Also... watch/listen to the live '74 versions of Stink Foot... they're even better.

[@vitakinesis]

Uncle Remus, is defintly my favorite song of Zappa, love the chorus.

[@somersetcace1]

I'm not sure, but I think George Duke originally wrote the progression for Uncle Remus, Zappa wrote lyrics to it and they turned it into a song. Either way, one of my favorites to be sure.

[@guybrushthreepwood33]

Exactly right. Duke had been toying with that progression. Played it for Zappa. Zappa liked what he heard and did the rest.

[@leechild4655]

I love your analysis of music i`ve listen to for decades not really thinking about what i was hearing in musical terms. Surprising to see he just goes off on a one or two chord vamp in a blues fashion and all the lttle fast notes and wildness is in the leadlines and solos. I didnt really notice before. lol

[@Peter-976]

That bass in Apostrophe is freakin bad ass!!!!!!!

[@StringersLogic]

In Apostrophe the guitar is an acoustic guitar through a Mutron auto wah and played through a Pignose amplifier. From a Guitar Player magazine interview at the time.

[@Fishchip177]

I'm kind of going through these seriously out of order and when you say 'This is the oddest thing I've ever...' I steeple my fingers and think 'Oh wait til you get to the older stuff mon frere'.

[@Doug.Helvering]

😂 sometimes I just don't realize how much more odd it can get

[@gregwolking]

I believe the effect Frank was using on his guitar during the "Stink-Foot" solo was a voltage-controlled filter, sort of an automated wah-wah that's controlled by the amplitude of the singal from his guitar. It's an effect he used a lot, and quite effectively, IMHO.

[@underwoodvoice9077]

Not related to FZ in any shape or form, but I would love to hear your reaction to any of Gentle Giant (perhaps Octopus?)

[@jimwilliams6255]

The Poodle bites...etc. is from Frank's song Dirty Love on the Overnite Sensation Album.

[@alldayadventures5418]

JOYGAZUM....! B.T.W. Did you notice all the words with "Apostrophe's" in Stink-Foot.

[@robertfarrimond3369]

I remember the commercial with the dog keeling over. Saw Frank live at the Paramount theater.

[@swirll360]

Doug I'm glad you've been enjoying your Frank Zappa sessions and I'm also enjoying your reaction to him. He truly was one of a kind. I just also want to mention something about Franks approach to lyrics. There aren't many songs that are taken seriously when the lyrics are odd, satirical or just plain funny. Frank knew this and I'd wager he viewed that as a challenge. I base this opinion or observation on a live album he put out appropriately called "Does Humor Belong In Music?" That title posed as a question to the listener is a challenge unto itself. Frank knew his lyrics were often tied to his music and due to his lyrics being filled with dark humor and satire a substantial amount of the public dismissed his music, including me before I went to college. So does humor belong in music?.....discuss. Keep up the great work!

[@freak49]

You either love Frank Zappa or hate him. I had friends who were real Zappa freaks. I could never get into him.

[@QuantumBeeWellness]

Such an incredible album, I'm so glad you found side 2! Dare we hope that Over-nite Sensation, Joe's Garage, or Sheik Yerbouti might be the next Zappa album listen? Once you go Zappa, you never go back!!

[@Yokosteamer]

"The poodle bites; the poodle chews it..." is an homage to Dirty Love from Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention album "Over-Nite Sensation." I believe you will enjoy the whole record.

[@charlyhrs]

And was Frank's "Conceptual continuity" from album to album

[@mrtyreus0]

There was an interview with Dweezil (maybe his Rig Rundown for Zappa plays Zappa) He described the guitar as having two outputs, magnetic and piezo, that ran into two separate inputs that contained mostly studio rack units at a low impedence.

[@briantowey4121]

The song Apostrophe is just a jam session, but wow, what a chewy texture they created. Here's something about prog rock that might might not be obvious. It's a timbre-based aesthetic. We old-timers were as dazzled by the new possibilities in voicing and studio mixing as we were by the virtuoso playing. Creating a unique tone was half the battle. Sometimes the whole battle. It's true for synth bands, and it's true for guitar bands with effects boxes. So if the chord progressions, the key changes, the time signatures, and whatnot are dull, it's because they want your attention to be on the soundscape.

[@todd8155]

There are a couple of KZbin videos of Frank rehearsing Cheepnis' with the Ikettes and with Napoleon Murphy Brock. It's scary how fast they all pick stuff up. Definitely worth watching! Frank Zappa and the Ikettes Recording at Bolic Sound - 1973

[@Madman.60]

I had the great pleasure of seeing Frank live, at SIU and then at the Uptown theater in Chicago in 1981 and then I took my wife to see him at the Auditorium in Chicago in 1988. Sting was there and they performed " Murder by Numbers", which can be heard on the "Broadway the Hard way extended cd. He was a genius and the live performances were unforgettable

[@jeffwyatt5709]

Lawn jockey's were hitching posts originally and were normally by the front door of mansions. Hot Rats and Apotrophe were the lat work that Lowell George (Founder of Little Feat guitarist) and Ron Estrada ( Little Feats first bassist)

[@TheGravyTrainConductor]

There is a FANTASTIC mix outtake for Uncle Remus which is extended from the posthumous “crux of the biscuit” album. definitely recommend.

[@SH-th4wy]

Man! I haven't heard this in tooooooooo long! I LOVE this album!!

[@Ruija27]

There are extended "mix outtake" versions of Apostrophe and Uncle Remus that add a few minutes of jamming and George Duke's keyboard solo respectively.

[@kernelpickle]

As I would assume other folks have probably already mentioned, but in case they didn’t. The poodle bites is a lyrical reference to the song Dirty Love that was on Frank’s album Over-Nite Sensation that was released prior to this one. That sort of subtle reference is what he would refer to as his conceptual continuity. So, in other words his conceptual continuity involved his entire catalog of different works/releases that would reference one another. There are albums with non-Sequitur references like “the poodle bites” that were released before the album where the reference was a more central theme to the lyrics. Frank also did this with little melodies and snippets as well as his lyrics, so if you are really into his music you can catch many of these references and feel like you’re part of an inside joke because you get it and other people don’t, and they’re not going to get it in a until they get further into Frank’s catalog. Also, the sound effect you were hearing on his guitar, that made that fun little quacking sound, is what’s called an auto-wah or an envelope filter/follower. So I hope that clears a few things up for you, and I hope you check out the album Over-Nite Sensation. Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe are almost like a double album with the way they fit together musically with the same vibe, and share a stronger connection with each other within Frank’s greater conceptual continuity.