FRANK ZAPPA - "BLACK PAGE PART 1 AND 2" (reaction)

[@SightAfterDark]

If you liked this, be sure to check out our Frank Zappa podcast! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6qyoaCHbNVgeqM

[@stevious7278]

If Ruth Underwood is not in some Hall Of Fame somewhere, there needs to be a Ruth Underwood Hall Of Fame!!

[@prestonburton8504]

indeed!

[@davidgale7384]

The man was a genius... Our Mozart.

[@scotburklin5109]

My love of Frank went from zero to 1000 at the drop of a hat the first time I heard this. A pretty non-conventional way to get into Frank. I was in high school in ‘87 at a party and someone was playing the “Zappa in New York” cassette, which was playing Titties and Beer when I first heard it. Thought it was funny, but didn't necessarily blow me away. When I heard the Black Page, (and no one at the party was paying attention anymore) I took the cassette into another room and listened to the whole thing twice. With that, my FZ love affair began. And he actually DID get people to dance to it, believe it or not. It’s a pretty great section of the Baby Snakes movie.

[@Peter-K]

Terry said it took a few weeks to learn how to play this, and it all came from a running joke among studio musicians. They dreaded what they called 'black page' music, songs that had so many notes that it blotted out the white paper it was written on. Frank heard about it and set out to create his own Black Page...even an instrumental like this was motivated by what amounted to a joke. So very Frank...

[@HisboiLRoi]

Exactly

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

This is something Frank used to do quite often. He'd find something one of his musicians was really good at, then write a song which exploited said ability. This song was written for Terry Bozzio.

[@paulfenwick8767]

The Steve Vai story gets me. Frank kept giving him harder and harder stuff to play until Steve couldn't do a certain bit. Frank said, straight faced "I hear Linda Rondstat is looking for a guitarist" Steve was crest fallen until Frank laughed and said "you're in the band"

[@prestonburton8504]

on youtube - a treat to watch him relate this. thank you!

[@agghjjhgdhvfgjngggh2381]

Black Page part 2 is one of the most beautiful and incredible compositions of all time from anyone. The more you listen to it the more it reveals. Simply wonderful in everyway.

[@jayburdification]

I prefer “part 1, the hard version,” but yes. It reveals more of its statistical density with each listen. And it is a pretty melody in its odd way.

[@esjope]

If I would have to name the all time best composition, I would say Black Page

[@jayburdification]

@@esjope I have a playlist called “Everyone’s Masterpiece.” Every artist gets one piece of music to represent them. “Echoes” for Pink Floyd, “A Day in the Life” for The Beatles, etc. Out of his entire ginormous catalog, “The Black Page” is what I chose to represent FZ.

[@prestonburton8504]

agreed - it has to be something (or somewhere) you are ready for - like a first love -

[@MrFtoudalk]

Zappa! Writing a drum solo, and then making the music to go with it... priceless. I enjoyed Dan's shaking his head right after the part 2 was over...lol

[@stevebinning977]

You guys seem to like the incredible Ruth Underwood. I reckon you might like her playing "The Black Page" on the piano in the recent Zappa movie. Is there no end to this woman's talent?

[@prestonburton8504]

so, she is still living and putting youtube videos on her singlets, doublets and triplets - what a treat! Many dont realize but the amazing brilliant George Duke that went on to a great solo career somewhat started with zappa - God Bless those that love the strings (string theory! as in we are all just vibrations)

[@stevedotwood]

"Black Page because so many notes" - Dweezil Zappa. One of his finest works. Revolutionary

[@brianwhitney5441]

This whole band is off the charts. Ruthie and Terry really stand out.

[@chazblitz]

As most of us here know Frank started off as a percussionist and was a huge fan of Varese who loved complicated layers of percussion. So it makes sense that this is where it led. Of course helped along with copious amounts of Tobacco and Black Coffee to make the India ink into notes on paper. You can just see him writing furiously like a mad scientist!!

[@songsmithy07]

Listen to the high hat. That is the continuity. It never varies. Seriously. The story goes that FZ wrote this, and called it the black page because there are so many notes it appears black. He handed it to Terry, and when Terry played it for him, Frank said it was the first time anyone had ever played something he'd written so it sounded like it did in his head. Back to that hi hat. That is the downbeat. It is played through the entirety of BP#1 and BP#1 the hard version; and then, when he kicks into the "disco beat" for NY Teens, that takes over holding the beat from the hi-hat. When one stops to consider that the entirety of this was written down, it really is enough to make one wonder whether or not FZ had alien DNA. There are these things called nestled tuplets that Mr Zappa has taken to a whole new level of rhythmic sophistication. Mind blowingly sophisticated. Syncopation doesn't get more syncopated than this! To see the Boz play this live, check out the Zappa Plays Zappa version on video with Dweezil and Steve Vai playing guitars. ❤✌😎

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

The hi hat is not written in the score. Terry added it so he count count the crazy tuplets the piece has. If you want more syncopation, you'll have to go to Conlon Nancarrow and his crazy canons with ratios based on irrational numbers, which need special hotrodded player pianos to be performed on.

[@kevinkovarik245]

In 77 Halloween at Palladium the Black Page was the song used for the audience participation dance contest. It can be seen in the movie Baby Snakes. He wrote the Black Page for Terry Bozzio. The title is because the musical notes on the page were so many the Page looked Black with notes

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

In September 1975 Zappa was working with a classical orchestra for the Orchestral Favorites album. He overheard some musicians talking about their fear of the black page (sheetmusic with too many fast, black notes). That inspired Zappa to write this bonafide FZ classic.

[@paulfenwick8767]

Just shows the scope of Frank's brain. The composition for drums and percussion I find amazing. For most composers it would seem they are simply for rhythm or a dramatic blast whereas Frank writes a tune/melody. Love both parts and more proof of Frank's band advancing year on year.

[@reidwhitton6248]

I find this melody infinitely inspiring. I can't help but sing along with the music. If you listen closely during Part 1 you'll hear the high hat keeping the 4/4 beat. But Frank breaks up the measures into complicated subdivisions to create this brilliant melody and all of the tricky lines.

[@reidfar3646]

Review the clip of Ruth Underwood playing this on piano. It brought tears to my eyes.

[@stevedotwood]

I think Ruth helped Terry at that time to think rhytmically different on some parts. Ruth was a freak.

[@prestonburton8504]

sweet - Ruth kept the band together. she was mom.

[@villadavid164]

There is a special on KZbin called something like "frank Zappa's drummers" and they speak all about their experiences with Frank. As far as bringing this piece to the band to learn it, past band members will say that Frank had the gift of knowing what you can do and push you even further. It was all fun and games, till it wasn't, with Frank.

[@stretchgilbert]

Yes. it is on The Drum Channel on YT

[@marcribe6483]

The composition (I have a hard time calling this a song) is played three times in full. First just Terry and Ed (drums and percussion). Then again with bass (O'Hearn) and light horns. That's The Black Page Part One, dubbed by Frank The Hard Version. Being overly percussive, it is hard for untrained ears (and even standard level trained ears) to follow and understand what's going on musically. The disco type vamp in the middle of the two versions is just there as a resting piece while Frank can say and explain what we the audience are suppose to be hearing. The Part Two version is again the exact same piece only played with the whole band, which makes it a lot easier for us regular folks to follow the melody and overall musical construct. When I first heard this back in my early twenties, some forty plus years ago, after listening to the whole thing I immediately went back to Part One to see what I could make of it. That's when I realized its the exact same thing as part two only harder to follow. If there was any doubt that Frank Zappa is a genius composer, it was shed for good on this day. "Did anybody dance" was to me the perfect ad-lib humorous comment to take the edge off of the highly difficult musical composition we've just witnessed being executed live.

[@brianwhitney5441]

The counting in this is ridiculous. I'm flabbergasted every time I try to hang. I just give in and enjoy. Ruthie is sick. Love that you 2 are so intrenched that you get it. 30 years ago I skipped over this because I didn't get it. Now I get it.

[@rickmerlotti7720]

Frank's intro is SOOOOO Frank Zappa, possibly the Zappa-iest Zappa ever. Frank lets his pedagogue side show to comic and informative effect. Aren't we all suffering from runaway statistical density? Took me a while to truly appreciate the complexity and beauty of the full, mature piece, but I now see it as one of his best creations. Not exactly what you want on your easy New York teenage listening playlist, but if you are in the mood for some serious shit, this here is a fine choice.

[@CarlosMarques-b8n]

I dare to say that the Black Page #1 is one of the pinnacles of 20 th century music. Frank was such a card. To present such a piece in a rock concert! One of a kind.

[@SightAfterDark]

One of a kind for sure

[@bernycout]

Terry Bozzio! one of the best drummer in the world at that time UK, Jeff Beck, zappa and others. I had the chance to see him in Montreal twice as part of the drum fest festival. I was both times facing the stage. incredible strike force. I saw her with zappa play zappa with Steve Vai 🤪 my god he had played The Black Page …..🤭 oh!!! I was taken by surprise at Drum Fest, Terry Bozzio was an hour late and we were in line to get in. I headed to the bar counter to drink something and the waiter looks at me saying; can i have an autograph? 🤔 I told him of course but, why? he took me for Terry Bozzio 🤣😂 I was flattered anyway. on Terry's poster in blond long hair like me I was 🤪

[@Frownlandia]

The original Mothers were a preexisting band that Frank just walked into and told them "we're doing this now". Granted, it wasn't as difficult or virtuosic material in the early days, but people left the band. Every band he put together after that knew what they were getting into.

[@Upe-f9c]

Zappa in one of his most ingenious moments. It actually perfectly describes the chaos and stress I felt when I woke up to the alarm clock and had to hurry, hurry, hurry to get everything done before heading to work.

[@williamiagrossi7382]

Great song, great concert, and great commentary. You guys get Frank and I thank you for playing his more complicated songs. ✌️❤️😃

[@mikedemike5393]

This piece for drummers was a measure of your competence as a drummer...Today there are many young drummers that can give this a good showing...With the internet today many young drummers can do tutorials that increase abilities and also differing musical styles.

[@davidkunsman7843]

zappa did in fact have a dance contest to the black page #2 at a concert.

[@Pstephen]

You should be able to dance to it; it's just 4/4.

[@KlodDano]

Your 2 heads means a lot here. The french man approved the reaction as honest and conform about the Zappa's phenomenum.

[@stevedotwood]

And then it transitions into that beautiful 20s or 30s old style jazz. He did it four or five times: Waka Jawaka, The Big Swifty where he takes the main theme but spreads it out at the end, really really slow. The Purple Lagoon, same thing & Be-Bop Tango. He never mentioned it but I think he truly loved Duke Ellington, between all the avant-garde, rock and pastiches. these passages are emotional and beautifully crafted.

[@frozenbeefpie]

What a blast ! This is live and unbelievably tight ! There is only one Zappa !

[@zappafan012]

This piece is called The Black Page because all of the notes written on the sheet.

[@raffinicoghosian8699]

“Yes indeed here we are”, love The Black Page, one of the most complex pieces ever written. Steve Vai had to play it on guitar as part of his audition to FZ. I first heard it when I was 13😀. Thé look on your faces says it all👌. Edgar Varese and Stravinsky all over it.

[@prodoverjeff2876]

Growing up, in the 70's. I had friends who loved Zappa's music. They'd play a piece like Black Page because they knew I liked some progressive rock. The Page type of music just never grabbed me, but at least Part 2 did not make me leave the room. I never became a fan until I heard Joe's Garage. As I bought more of his record, I got to like him more, but never became the fan my friends became. My credit to you both for giving it an honest listen!

[@SightAfterDark]

We’re glad you enjoyed!

[@ansparaco]

Statistical density at it's finest

[@TheUtke]

Great reaction as always! You got it more than I expected, judging from your facial expressions during. Especially Dan 😜. The first part is the drum solo played at the concert, overdubbed later w all kinds of percussion by Terry, Ed Mann, Ruth, John Bergamo ( who got Ed the gig) and possibly Dave Samuels, who played timpani and vibraphone in the concerts. Musicians would say something to the effect of ‘Frank would never ask you to do something you couldn’t do, but rather something you didn’t know you were capable of’. And that is the essence of his leading skills. Bringing out the most/best of everybody’s potential! Much more can be said of this performance, but this will do for now! Much love for your interest and enthusiasm, guys! 😘

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks so much!

[@perkornhall4597]

I guess you are aware of that the band rehearsed daily in months before tours. They had a catalogue of up to 100 rehearsed songs with them…

[@chrisnealis4270]

As the years go on I become more and more in love with Black Page. You know it's an obsession when you're humming the melody along to the percussion only version and keeping up with it. Thanks a lot for doing this song and this particular version, guys. Possibly the best of the best Zappa bands to play it. As musicians, you may find this video extremely interesting. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZ65ZHWcZ9uYd8k

[@stevedotwood]

I saw that a few years back I think. Amazing

[@DWHarper62]

There is a story told by session players who were hired for a Zappa composition... This one session guy said his part was impossible to play and Zappa commenced to step up and showed him how it's played on guitar...

[@andrewreisinger6860]

Check out "The Black Page-New Age Version" on the album "Make a Jazz Noise Here" (I think). Full horn section plays melody.

[@paulfenwick8767]

The biggest thing for me picking up on one of your comments. As great as Terry is, he's just a tool of the composer. I know it helps that Frank started as a drummer/percussion, but to write such stuff I find fascinating. If Terry wasn't there, there are other drummers, some of Frank's other drummers for starters, who could do this. All the accolades, for me, go to Frank.

[@pipco121234]

Little Terry Bozzio live , you really need to see him doing this with Dweezil 🥁🎶 listen to the hi hat keeping 4/4 while odd meters are being played, outstanding. And what is a black page you might ask...

[@stevedotwood]

not my favorite version. I don't like the "extended" drumset for starters. I prefer the version where he plays the "regular" set (which is still not a besic set) but at least it had rock character.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

@@stevedotwood Chad Wackerman also plays the song and there's even one video of Terry and him playing it together.

[@joshb23]

I love that he calls part 2 the easy version :). I guess it's all relative.

[@SightAfterDark]

😆right

[@thomasvieth578]

Just another remark. I was 16 when this came out and I was already enamored with the wiggly worms in Frank’s compositions as in Inca Roads and Montana. And I actually danced to this in my living room back then 😊

[@SightAfterDark]

Sounds like great times Thomas! Thanks for sharing!

[@stretchgilbert]

Terry passed the audition with this one. This is the foundation of the kind of stuff Terry does today.

[@thomasvieth6063]

I like the little music lesson he was giving

[@scoop1178]

The Secret Word for tonight is " Insane". The Black Page Dancing Lesson

[@prestonburton8504]

super cool - I had to learn zappa over the years (and three times seeing the band in different flavors) to get 'black page' and that's after buying all of his London orchestra albums - and listening - but like all music, it does something to you. you just might not know it yet.

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

As many times as I’ve heard 1 and 2 I’ve not listened to them back to back until now so hey thanks for that! Yes it’s insane. Shout out back at you guys!

[@sonicart1808]

Great reaction guys as always... I would say Frank tried himself out firstly on "The Mothers of Invention" in the 60's and then in the 70's his band with George Duke, Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood etc.... before he fully spread his wings in the late 70's with the likes of Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, Ray White etc.... there's a marked change in his music from the 60's to the 70's in it's complexity....this song is insane for sure but also genius too, love your Zappa reactions the best....Thanks guys!

[@amedeeabreo7334]

Frank brought Black Page to some classical "serious" ensembles, and they complained that it could not be played! Frank replied.."what's wrong, my rock group can play it!"

[@jayburdification]

Someone should start a Zappa tribute band called “Statistcal Density.” Some of the members of the band were actually appalled that he put a disco beat on it. He loved sabotaging and deconstructing his own music.

[@HareDeLune]

Frank's motto: "Anything, any time, anywhere, for no reason at all."

[@stevedotwood]

@@HareDeLune AAAFNRAA

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

The best example of that was told by Chad Wackerman. In one of the shows he said Frank had a particular gesture to indicate the song should be played as a reggae. He did said gesture on one song and Chad noticed Frank had a weird grin on his face after that. Then he proceeded to make the whole set to be played as a reggae.

[@DukeofPrunes11]

frank was a percussionist before he ever picked up a guitar

[@deanchiampas3991]

It's like attending a cosmic math class! And yes, I danced. I'll be in traction for a couple weeks! Thanks for respecting FZ, I enjoy your channel!!!

[@Tlamblamb]

I love you two!! You’re my favorite reactors! Tho I love other reactors too.

[@deadman746]

I love how the disco vamp serves as a reminder that this is pure polyrhythm and not varying time signatures like he uses so much as in Penis Dimension. I don't have a bank account to do Patreon yet, but that would be a good one to do. I had the 200 Motels The Suites version in prison, and it's the best version IMO.

[@HareDeLune]

"Just thinking about what this would look like written out as a sheet of music gives me a headache." BINGO! Ha-ha! :D According to legend, The Black Page was a drum solo that Frank wrote specifically for Terry Bozzio. Not everyone knows that Frank was a drummer before he played guitar, and that some of his drum compositions were based around mathematical formulas. That's what I heard, anyway. So anyway, when Frank gave the sheet music to Terry Bozzio, the music was so dense on the page that it looked like the paper was covered with black ink. That's how it got the name 'Black Page'. In an interview, Terry said that he had to learn it in sections before he was ready to play it. Frank was someone that you didn't want to challange to a competition...

[@TheFoodExperience]

Both are excellent compositions. You should give the whole album a listen to. Front to back it's all amazing content.

[@bryanhale5254]

Omad dude I was cracking up at the look on your face your expressions are absolutely priceless

[@TomNY]

You asked about how he could get a band together like this. This was recorded two weeks after FZ went to NYC to do Saturday Night Live in 1976. Terry and Patrick were his rhythm section from Zoot Allures. He'd picked up Ray White and Eddie Jobson and done some gigs over the Summer. Ruth was still in New York and he was going to be in town for a month. Between using half the SNL horn section and making that up with both Brecker Brothers, he'd just contracted some of the best players for those weeks to rehearse and do the Palladium gigs he used for this record. It was an event of opportunity. Right after this he did a short European tour in February with only the rhythm section and kept Jobson. But by September he'd dropped Jobson and gotten a whole other group adding Adrian, Tommy Mars, Peter Wolf, and Ed Mann.

[@goldenboy140]

You need to listen to the 28 minute version of Black Napkins from that same concert. It came out with the Deluxe Edition and is probably my favorite Zappa piece

[@HisboiLRoi]

"Like you see like the continuity" "Is it conceptual?" Sweet

[@rolfjamne8922]

Love this. There is a great version of black page part 2 with Baard Kolstad and some other young students. I think Kolstad was around 18 years when this was recorded and today he is one of the best and plays in a Prog band called Leprous.🤘

[@davetothebeard]

I’m guessing there aren’t many guitarists who can play this. Frank often presented this song to players during auditions and said “play this.” That will weed out those who can’t read very well. l know Val plays it. Mike Keneally. Dweezil. If you want to see it played with an emphasis on guitars, check out Dweezil’s live shows. BTW it was around this period when Frank started hiring “stunt guitarists” play the hard parts. Seems he realized that he would write really tough material but then had to sit down and take the time to figure out those parts on guitar, Which took up too much time. Hence the appearance of the virtuoso guitar players like Vai and Keneally.

[@jabu003]

you should react to this band on SNL with belushi .....just some days before these concerts ..the SNL host regular band loved it so much ,that they asked Frank to be included in the concerts . So he had to write all new arrengments for the wind section to play Zappa in New York ....with heavy dudes like the Brecker Brothers ..and it is a hell of fun to watch !!

[@nesseq]

Try Dancing Fool at SNL. The poor girl at the end of the song. I would pity her, but it was hilarious. So very Zappa.

[@colincoho]

Pure Genius. Thank you

[@DukeofPrunes11]

frank also enjoyed bringing people on stage to dance to "the next song" which would inevitably be the black page lol

[@buddystewart2020]

I think Steve Vai used some of these melodies on his track, Little Green Men, on his Flexible album.

[@LEAN14LBDT]

"The Purple Lagoon" or "I promise not come in your mouth" in NY

[@stevedotwood]

The "latter" - sorry Läther lol

[@kerbygator]

The Zappa movie, "Baby Snakes", is a must watch.......it is available out here in KZbin land.

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

Adrian Belew couldn't read or write music when he joined Frank's band either. Apparently he asked Frank if he should learn how to, & Frank just told him "It's not essential. Do whatever works best for you"

[@HisboiLRoi]

As if Part 2 was actually simple.

[@jfayme]

Maybe more confortable ;-) If you want to study Zappa further in jazz composition please listen to Purpuel lagoon, Love... (FZ in NY 1978)

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Jean-François!

[@jazzzman8050]

I think the cats “Frank became Frank” with were the original Mothers Of Invention, ‘65-‘69. They could barely play what he wrote, and he learned to write to their strengths and capabilities, as all great bandleaders do (like Duke Ellington in his time).

[@paulmartin3682]

Dan ..you should grow a Zappa moustache...you'd look just like Frank! Great reaction again guys!

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

Zappa's moustache is actually an imperial.

[@Peter-K]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 not really, imperials had curled up ends, more curled than a handlebar, he never did that with his. Zappa's stash was fairly unique if you ask me.

[@stevedotwood]

goatee

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

@@stevedotwood i a goatee not just around the chin?

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

@@Peter-K yep, you are right.

[@DukeofPrunes11]

he named it the black page because when he wrote it out there was so much more ink than blankness on the page, it appeared to be a "black page"

[@damonhines8187]

Just incroyable. Splendiferous. Woow. Differently tuned kits playing chords, or at least paired notes, plus percuss shun. lol Whodya funk indeed.

[@Grithron2]

The guy who KZbins under the name The Opinionated Hippie claims to have played Black Page 2 while DJing at a high-school disco and been delighted to see all these young Zappa novices making a valiant effort to dance to it - presumably much as Adrian did in the movie....And an even better anecdote is Ruth Underwood in the supermarket hesitating amidst the fruit and vegetables, and suddenly realising with embarrassment that her mind had been wandering and she'd been not only humming Black Page 2 but playing air-marimba whilst doing so!

[@SightAfterDark]

☺️

[@richardwirt3193]

Saw this one live too

[@bryanhale5254]

Oh wonderful thing I forgot to mention the reason they called it the black Pages cuz it has so many notes all over it it somehow looked black from all those notes all clustered together

[@kengregory6026]

wow..just got in from my darts match and saw you've got around to the black page..haven't even watched it/your reaction yet..I've had a few and will come back to this in the morning when i'm a little bit more sober (only taken me 10 mins to type this properly lol)..this can't be commented on til I'm sober..laters x

[@tommccafferty5591]

Black Page #1, Horror Movie Score, Black Page #2, Film Noir Detective Movie Set in a NY Night Club Score.

[@robertallen6593]

FRANK ZAPPA IS THE BEST!!

[@TheOriginalFILIBUSTA]

The Disco Vamp.

[@Breitreif]

138 / 5.000 Übersetzungsergebnisse Between 77-78 I heard the songs on the car radio, slightly stoned. I just thought: What is that. :-) After that I bought all his records.✌

[@AndyMmusic]

You are really getting down into the weeds with Zappa music here. This is definitely not for beginners!

[@SightAfterDark]

We’re enjoying it! Thanks Andy!

[@davehagi9883]

Music is the Best.

[@teresacaetano5536]

MAGNIFICO💟

[@DrSardonicuss]

Who still has the flexi disc from Keyboard Magazine? :)

[@prodoverjeff2876]

To try something more conventional, look for Tuba Skinny, a group of New Orleans street buskers, who have attacted a following from youtube videos then traveled some of the US, Australia and Europe. Their style is best called New Orleans jazz, some ragtime, some blues. I like that they are young kids keeping youthful creativity alive.

[@roccotom1864]

My favorit Composition ✌ I never get tired of it 😚

[@roccotom1864]

...is hard to dance to it 😆

[@martinstarnes2237]

Frank debuted both Black Page versions at the Palladium in NYC in 1976 - both were played on all four nights (26th-29th December) and I think both versions you reacted to were from 28th (with overdubs, whisper it, added the following year). Do not ever think that what you hear on Frank's released albums is exactly what actually happened live; for that you need to delve into the many hundreds of live audience recordings of complete Frank shows that circulate (I have around 900 shows, and there are quite a few more than that). So listening to the Palladium 76 shows as they happened is not like listening to the released album(s). If that makes sense. Bozzio the dog says hi and that he enjoyed this choice a lot.

[@bryanhale5254]

This song reminds me of something Sapa said a long time ago you can go back and forth between the slide rule and the gut bucket obviously this song comes from the slide rule right there inside the pocket protector okay U Brooklyn Heights sorry Google got it wrong that time

[@michaelmalodrums9674]

Actually it’s not really how it went as far as choosing the band members . He didn’t just randomly ask people to join his band for the most part . He would hold musician casting calls before a tour and just for drummers alone there would be hundreds of people in line , which most didn’t last 15 seconds before he’d say thanks for coming , ok next ? . Once he chose the people that could actually play his complex pieces they would rehearse 5 days a week , 8 hours a day for 6 months before a tour . Just wanted you to know it wasn’t a throw together type of group . It’s a highly organized orchestra .

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks so much Michael!

[@Peter-K]

I believe it was 3 months, 40 hours a week, about 500 hours of practice, give or take. But to make it more challenging, Frank kept tweaking things along the way, so by the time they hit the road, they were ready to play the base music, along with multiple variations on the basic theme, as FZ put it.

[@michaelmalodrums9674]

@@Peter-K I know I saw frank Zappa on 3 separate tours . At any moment with hand signals the band would change the song to reggae or any other base rhythm he decided ;-) 👌🏻

[@Peter-K]

@@michaelmalodrums9674 I saw FZ quite a few times from 70-80's, and they were, by far, the tightest bands I ever saw. There was never a lull, no stops to tune up or fart around, when a show started you got 2 hours of non stop music, only break was the one before the encore!

[@michaelhansen7516]

yeah #2, helen feng music, yt channel, surprisingly beautiful piano cover

[@markdearlove8634]

Deep Joy

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

you will probably not get a lot of views reacting to Frank Zappa. but, you will make a small chosen few very happy. and that is far more important. so to quote Frank Zappa. 1. don't stop and 2. keep going. does that ever happen at a Barry Manilow concert?

[@stevedotwood]

The views and comments on FZ are always huge

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

@@stevedotwood beg to differ.

[@stevedotwood]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 Not the instrumentals, i agree

[@scottgjerdingen]

Elvis has left the building :-)