Frank Zappa- Stinkfoot (REACTION//DISCUSSION)

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

“Ain’t this boogie a mess”. Lol Frank kills me sometimes. Great reaction.

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

This album and Overnite Sensation could have, and perhaps should have, been issued as a double album. They came out at virtually the same time and cross reference each other in lyrics and musical sensibility. You should do Overnight Sensation next.

[@RedPillMode]

OS is very very good. Silly lyrics may fool some, but it is great musically too.

[@monsieurlehigh4912]

I think he should give Inca Roads another listen. :-)

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

@@monsieurlehigh4912 or watch the video.

[@markdrechsler5660]

@@monsieurlehigh4912 or just do all of “One Size Fits All.” 🙂

[@monsieurlehigh4912]

​@@BertJamesMcKinney hence "another", because that video was quite some time ago and now Justin would probably appreciate the song more. :-)

[@markdrechsler5660]

“One Size Fits All” should be your next Zappa album. Right up your alley. Nice reaction!

[@Hrth6]

Agreed.

[@Rowenband]

JP, I think I remember when you first listened to FZ, you asked yourself if humor belonged in music. I just see laughing while listening to that song. I suppose you now have the answer :-D

[@JustJP]

I think you're right :)

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Does humour belong in music? This is a serious question!!

[@thelyricologist9568]

"Conceptual continuity" actually refer to what Zappa was doing, both musically and lyrically. Taking a word, phrase, topic, a theme, a tune, and then musically or lyrically re-working it in another song in another context.

[@markspooner1224]

Frank's voice is great when doing voice-over type lyrics, no-one wrote funny songs like him, 'Gregory Peccary' the name alone sets me off.

[@-davidolivares]

…and here comes Gregory…

[@markspooner1224]

@@-davidolivares Haha!

[@marcribe6483]

Here comes Gregory Peccary; the gregarious wild swine. Franks storytelling here, both musically and in narrative, is possibly his most ambitious. His sense of "conceptual continuity" giving us shades to Billy The Mountain and New Brown Clouds. Not to mention a nod to Louie Louie.

[@markspooner1224]

@@kosta380 Crikey, a year ago? Filth, love that word. I saw Al Murray get 2 women to say it to each other.

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

"Poodle bites" is a call back to the song, "Dirty Love". "The way your mama make that nasty poodle chew."

[@chazblitz]

Not a spec of cereal!

[@egapnala65]

Nothing but the best for my dog.

[@egapnala65]

"The poodle bites, the poodle chews it". You need to do "Dirty Love" next.

[@Claytone-Records]

First Zappa I heard on the radio! Right? Blew my 12 year old mind back in the early 70’s. But I was disappointed when I found out he was not black.

[@spazimdam]

"...to the place where they keep the imaginary diseases", "where the shark bubbles blow", "the crux of the biscuit, is the apostrophe". Frank Zappa is my linguistic hero! This, for whatever strange reason, is my favorite FZ song. I first heard this back in '74 when a friend of mine put it on the stereo and did a pantomime of this song. We were influenced at the time by the devil weed and I laughed continually the whole time. I really dig his guitar tone in the solo following Fido getting the slippers. It is so unique and really sounds like someone holding their nose. Too much man. I have been a fan ever since. I got to see him and his band in Des Moines Iowa in like '77 and it was the best sounding concert I have ever heard. I don't know how they did it, but the sound was on a level with my home stereo, only much louder. No harshness, no undesirable distortion, perfect balance of instruments. And this was in an auditorium that was used for sporting events. Unreal. He was the shit, no doubt about it.

[@jfergs.3302]

A fine, slow, bluesy, groovin' tune. Throw in some great guitar, and one of Frank absurd tales, and there you have it. Classic Frank, great stuff.

[@gabrielkourieh5920]

Only Zappa could come up with this kind of insanely genius song..the whole album is a masterpiece.

[@reishin6]

Another Zappa album that you need to check out is "Hot Rats". Quintessential jazz fusion. It's also less zany.

[@steevenfrost]

Lifted my mood instantly,not many can do what he does with humour in music and make it work. I didn't see that succession of words having an apostrophe.Makes the song, makes sense.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Saw FZ in concert over 40 years ago. Frank was a genius. Underrated guitarist. Great reaction Justin.

[@timcardona9962]

The crux of the biscuit...apostrophe's....JP gets it This was a live staple throughout his touring career and he always RIPPED killer solos on it

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

I am enjoying the music,and I feel Justine & Orlando nipping my toe's- Weasel's have Ripped My Flesh!

[@daveking9393]

One of his best LPs for me. Thanks

[@Wolffie64]

key phase here is conceptual continuity. FZ mentioned it several times, hinting that ALL music he composed is a part of one mammoth piece. It is not the dog who negates, its the man. Dog says: Zes yes yes, I do it all the time.

[@leoscone4036]

For more fun with biting poodles you should check out "Dirty Love" from "Overnight Sensation". Also, "Cheapnis" from "Roxy and Elsewhere". A giant poodle named "Frunobulax". When I saw Zappa New Year's Eve '75-'76, with Captain Beefheart, Zappa had a ten foot tall stuffed poodle on stage.

[@buddystewart2020]

I love the use of the Mu-tron III envelope follower on the acoustic guitar, what a great sound. I had one years ago I used with my bass. And yes, this whole album is great.

[@leoscone4036]

Zappa and poodles. On "Dirty Love" the poodle is nicknamed "Frenchie". And you heard him say "Fido" as well. But...Zappa had multiple tour buses at one point named Fido I, II, III. However, he spelled it "Phydeaux". I saw Phydeaux II in the parking lot at a concert in Santa Barbara in the later '70's. It was painted on the side of the bus in two-foot tall letters.

[@ricobonifacio1095]

My awesome Teacher in high school made me a tape with a bunch of 70s bands and this song was on it. Blew me away haha

[@estroncio1959]

gr8 review. the song ending is a hint to "dirty love" (from the "overnite sensation", the previous album) :)

[@kuhnhan]

Good catch on the apostrophe thing, there are some words that the apostrophe is before the two last letters; you'll, should've, I'll, could've are a few. Anyway, what I like about Frank Zappa is that he doesn't pander to the audience with trite little songs about teenage puppy love, he puts out interesting music instead.

[@stlmopoet]

Agreed on the good catch.

[@SpaceCattttt]

He has plenty of "teenage puppy love" songs. Sharleena. Doreen. Half of the "Freak Out" album. Almost of all of "Cruising with Ruben & the Jets". Plus a million doo wop songs. The only difference is that he didn't take them seriously. But he still loved soppy love songs.

[@blitztim6416]

We were all over the LP when it came out. Always loved when Frank let loose on the guitar.

[@frankaviza6362]

You're awesome JP, I just discovered you. You are very highly articulate; a real pleasure to listen to.

[@JustJP]

Thank you so much Frank! I really appreciate that!

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

If you want to see a great great musicianship performance, go seeing the tribute concert by his son, Dweezil Zappa. I’m not a Zappa fan, but they blown me away.

[@tomfabozzi6309]

The one time I was lucky enough to see him live, they opened with this song. It was the Broadway the Hard Way tour - which I think was his last one (1988). Astonishing, as I'd expected. Only sorry that I didn't see him about 20 times more

[@kb4446]

Awesome u picked up on that.

[@frankaviza6362]

There's an additional definition of the word "apostrophe" noun: apostrophe; plural noun: apostrophes an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified).

[@donthomasdunigan7004]

Thanks for this. I was fifteen years old when this came out and I already had Overnite Sensation. A few years later, I saw Frank and the Mothers with opening act Flo & Eddy in Detroit. Peace.

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

Ok. There was a product being advertised as a medical solution to foot odor. The commercials featured little vignettes. An airline passenger sticks his stockinged feet into the aisle causing the stewardess to pass out or the dog brings the slippers only to pass out at the stinky man's feet. Zappa gives us his take on it.

[@stevious7278]

Never forget, Justin; that the crux of the biscuit...is the apostrophe... :D :D

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Can not recommend the documentary on Frank Zappa enough.It is a must watch! Peace.

[@-davidolivares]

Very goodly doodly. May watch it again soonly. It’s on Hulu right now. Right now the doggie said, Right Nowow said the Bowow. (right now)

[@MissAstorDancer]

@@-davidolivares LOL! I think you and James must be twins!

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

@@MissAstorDancer Twin Son's Of A Different Mother?

[@MissAstorDancer]

@@jamespaivapaiva4460 Yes! I was actually gonna say that, if you two are not twins, then you gotta be "Twin Sons of Different Mothers"!! (That's one of my fave old albums! Wish JP would do some reactions to Dan!) ;)

[@-davidolivares]

@@MissAstorDancer of Invention

[@stlmopoet]

Great review. I only knew Zappa from the yellow snow song and thought of him as a proto Weird Al, but now I see he had much more going on.

[@the_proteus_void]

One of the best things about your channel is that you're covering so much music that I ran parallel with in the 70's and 80's. The more I hear Zappa the more I realize the overarching impact he had on Steve Vai, whom I've listened to a lot. This is awesome and I look forward to hearing what's next. By the way, the only reason I found this channel is I went looking for a Klaatu reaction. So definitely, thanks for that!

[@JustJP]

Thanks so much Roland! :D

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

The riff with Fido is from the television commercial that inspired the song.

[@davidgale7384]

Definitely Overnight Sensation is your next treasure trove of Zappa's satirical world.... The band is so very tight and the lyrics are generally an excuse to use vocals as instruments

[@dana_brooke_27]

I knew someone who had this problem. I'd come from work and I knew when he was over. Needless to say he did not appreciate this song. I thought it was hilarious. So glad he got over that problem.

[@egapnala65]

Re. "conceptual continuity". In "Nanook Rubs it" you get somebody saying "Here, Fido" during the circular motion and in the chaotic section of "Inca Roads" somebody shouts "Who's Python boot is that?".

[@erikahlander3489]

I am happy that you liked also this one. Intresting observation about the Album name. I m not sure you got it right - but interesting! The poodle also occur in "Cheepnis" Frank's tribute to the really bad horror movies of the 1950s and on (Album: Roxy and elsewhere). If You react to that one you must include the introduction "preamble". You have got a lot of suggestions! Keep for a while to the mid 70s albums - since you seems to like them. Otherwise you can overview the production like this: the first some 7 albums in the 1960s, experimental, not so easy, here are the first versions of many songs. Four albums in late 60s jazzy, mostly instrumental, 70-71 three albums including "Flo & Eddie" (from the Turtles) Mudshark, Billy the Mountain etc. Music with a group really having fun on stage with a lot of stupidities. 1972 two albums with mostly jazz (great!). 1973-1975 like the one you heard. After this it is more difficult to group the albums, they are more diverse. One album with a symphony orchestra and the next pure rock - but the Zappa way. Etc

[@johncagnettajr344]

There’s a lot of references to the previous album OVERNIGHT SENSATION in APOSTROPHE

[@barrystanton6693]

Pay close attention to the guitar solos in each side of the phones. Great production.

[@maruad7577]

My exposure to Zappa was always a bit limited but I really enjoyed this album. Thanks.

[@Dopi-1956]

Very good review. Thank you.

[@JustJP]

Thanks Dopi!

[@tamiryael9896]

There's a live version of this u gotta listen.where frank distorts his voice it's awesome

[@DarthDuress]

I think you’d enjoy Zappa’s Discrete album. Has Dental Floss Tycoon and other favorites.

[@marcribe6483]

Jason, although I agree with the folks that ask you to do full album of Overnite Sensation and One Size Fits All; I do think that, albeit at a higher level, it's still more of the same phase-wise. Which is why I'd suggest you go back a couple years in time and do either Waka/Jawaka (release July 1972) or Grand Wazoo (released Nov. 1972) albums. This is his big band phase, all written and recorded whilst in a wheel chair with a broken leg. By autumn of 1972 he was touring this material with two versions of the big band (appropriately named 'The Grand Wazoo Band' and 'The Pettite Wazoo Band') due to its high cost. I think it was less than 15 dates for both tours due to expenses. Whoever saw it, saw it. And it was never repeated again. I am positive that you will learn a great deal about Franks composing prowess within a more commercial framework whilst the material still sounding very much like a Frank Zappa composition. Please consider full album listens for either of these two exceptional artistic statements. As always I greatly enjoy and look forward to your song analysis. Stay safe. Stay healthy. .

[@masterofparsnips5327]

Great album ... glad you enjoyed it.

[@Pcrimson1]

Overnight Sensation should be next, it's the companion to Apostrophe. If you want more FZ humor and a couple of beautiful instrumentals, Zoot Allures is a fun one...

[@stefanbranden4898]

One cool track

[@thomasmcintosh390]

I find myself listening to his Freak Out album a lot lately. I wore out Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation back in the day but Freak Out seems pretty up to date. "Trouble Coming Everyday" and "Who Are the Brain Police?" seem pretty pertinent even now.

[@barrystanton6693]

You nailed it. Good job. Amazing album. Genius. X.

[@JustJP]

Ty Barry!

[@barrystanton6693]

For clarification; I was calling Zappa a genius… Lol

[@JustJP]

@@barrystanton6693 Haha Oh I know; Its definitely not me :D

[@barrystanton6693]

I’m listening to King Crimson at the moment. Have you heard any of their music? 21st Century Schizoid Man and Lark’s Tongues in Aspic. Both songs and indeed both the albums to which they belong are amazing and certainly among my top prog rock albums. By the way, I’m 67 years old so I was there when prof rock started and I’ve been listening ever since!

[@JustJP]

@@barrystanton6693 Thank you Barry! Yes, absolutely! If you look in the playlist section of my channel, you'll find my reactions to all of In the Court and Discipline. We're also currently going through Red :)

[@kengregory6026]

excellent JP...the more people that hear FZ ,the better,in my opinion..keep up the good work..would love you to work your way through Sheik Yerbouti (City of Tiny Lights first maybe)..cheers

[@JustJP]

Ty Ken! :D

[@craiggallagher9110]

Frank Zappa was a musical genius on drugs with no filter. He surrounded himself with the best musicians of the time

[@DLH0007]

Justin, you may be on to something with your second theory .. I never thought about it that way before - the placement of the songs on the album paralleling the placement of an apostrophe in a word. Zappa maybe breaking the 4rth wall in Stinkfoot to point this out to the listener - like "Hey if you didn't get it by now I'll have the dog explain it to you .." (which is funny in it's own right). The dog says "The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe" like saying .. the point of the album (or all Zappa really wanted to say) was in this song- the second to last song, where the apostrophe would be in the contracted words the dog used - Uncle Remus - the one song that has a strong socio/political message. Ok still maybe a long reach but kinda cool if Zappa actually planned it that way ..

[@supasoulproductions]

I won't admit how many times I heard this album and track before I got that all those words spoken after the 'crux of the biscuit' line had apostrophes in them.

[@jimwilson5148]

Wait, what? I've been listening to this song for 50 years, and I never realized that

[@jimbricker4982]

Side 2 of Roxy And Elsewhere. Save it for a long-song Saturday if you must. Trust me, Justin!

[@jimhardiman3836]

I just saw the Zappa Band play this medley at the Greek Theater. Fantastic!

[@lennyc624]

I've listened to this song a million times and never connected the apostrophe part.

[@timkaufhold4739]

More Zappa please

[@kb4446]

Wafting. Procuriously.

[@progqueen6219]

An ' can also be third to last, I've we've you've they've. Nice to see FZ clicking for you, me I'm still firmly placed on the fence. I do have "The Grand Wazoo" and like that quite a bit (a FZ take on big band jazz I think, mostly without silly lyrics).

[@randylee1777]

Apostrophe is a good album and one of my first Zappa albums. Another good album from that time is Overnight Sensation. A stupid story about my first Frank Zappa album. My brother had overnight sensation and used to play it a lot. I liked it so much that I decide to go out and buy my own Frank Zappa album. I went to the record store, and the only Frank Zappa album they had was freak out. The listing on the outside jacket said it was a two record set. I took the record home and opened it up and there was only one record, And on the record the sides were listed as side three and four. I was dumbfounded. Was I ripped off? And then it hit me, the name of the album is freak out and here I was freaking out. what a pretty genius marketing ploy. there was only supposed to be one album. I found out years later I was ripped off. it is a two albums set.

[@kookoothebirdgirl1]

So where did the other record go? Sides one and two? I’m sure by the time you found out, it was far too late to get a refund, right? Funny how you assumed that, and I’m sure Frank would’ve gotten a big kick out of your story…sometimes ignorance is bliss. Btw…Overnight Sensation a “good album”? It’s a fantastic album!! Please let it be next, Justin! 🙏👍💕

[@randylee1777]

About 10 years had gone by and the pkace I bought it at had gone out of business. And of course I was ok with it. It was the early 70’s so there was no internet and it seemed inline with something Zappa would do.

[@kookoothebirdgirl1]

@@randylee1777 Right! Which is why I said it was funny! 😂

[@itssimple7285]

Ok. Now, what does an apostrophe replace in can't, don't, hasn't, won't, ain't, shouldn't...? Same letter the sound of which ends the lyric lines in the first track Yellow Snow. What does that mean? :)

[@pilesovinyl]

You're beginning to get a feel for FZ as an artist. Again, want to hear you respond to Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus from the LP The Grand Wazoo. It takes brass and a big horn arrangement and mixes it very uniquely into his groove.

[@donaldb1]

_Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus_ is possibly the funniest instrumental track I have ever heard.

[@iainjohnson1235]

we have? where is the apostrophe in the contraction?

[@MrFtoudalk]

Great reaction...lol

[@wowwhywow]

well...since you're going the classic route... the next album should probably be Overnight Sensation... or Sheik YerBouti. But if you want to see just how much of a left turn Frank can take... try his grammy winning album Jazz From Hell.. then you'll be totally confused.

[@goldenboy140]

For Frank's jazzier side, check out his album Grand Wazoo.

[@somersetcace1]

I've spent way too much time thinking abut that question and answer. "What is your conceptual continuity?" - "The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe." And in my insane inner ramblings, this is what I think: The question could be reworded as "What is the your epistemology?" or "How do you know anything at all?" What gives your conception continuity? and the dogs answer...Well, the "crux of the biscuit" is a phrase that means "the core of the matter." and an apostrophe, is a symbol that has many meanings depending on where it's place. In "Don't" it's an O, In "should've" an HA (which by the way answers your question about where apostrophes are placed. Not always second to last.) etc etc. So what does all that mean simply: How do you know anything? It's all contextual or relative.

[@steveobrien9937]

One of his bluesiest albums...it lacks some of the brilliance of other works..but always brings a smile...highly recommend One Size Fits All next!!!

[@kb4446]

You have experienced the wafture.

[@Christoth2012]

Seriously you have to do "todd rundgren's utopia" it's probably the greatest prog album ever! :P

[@ydoesgooglesuck1960]

The motif of poodles is strong with this one. Read his autobiography. And don't look back. The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@-davidolivares]

Stinkbigfoot. Stinklittlefoot too. I should’nt’ve.

[@davetosch1970]

You still need to get back into Uriah Heep with your slow but steady album reviews. Since you reacted to Salisbury and The Magician's Birthday, both title tracks to both albums, but both albums are sophomore albums, in their own rights. Start with their first album before Salisbury and Demons and Wizards before The Magician's Birthday. I'll keep asking here and there. lol

[@SpaceCattttt]

I've always assumed that when the girlfriend says "Could your rinse it off, do you suppose?", the guy tries to get the dog to lick his foot clean! But the dog has other ideas...

[@richardtodd6843]

I could've, would've and should've disagreed with the idea that the apostrophe is always second last. They're sometimes not there.

[@russellmcgraw777]

Did you ever think that music could be so weird and yet so damn entertaining?

[@grahamkey8496]

From Stinkfist there is only place to go, and that's Stinkfist by Tool.

[@randybaker6042]

Gotta love Frank's irreverence. Doesn't matter if it's classical, jazz, blues or rock. He's going to piss on it. lol

[@cazgerald9471]

"This is the dog talking"

[@JustJP]

🐶

[@jonathansmith3742]

I like Frank, he's a killer musician. Sometimes though, for me, he's just a little freaky. I wonder who he's Jivin with that Kozmic Debris.

[@vincelersch4849]

JUSTJP LISTEN TO LIVE IN NY BY FRANK ZAPPA

[@bobholtzmann]

Fun doing this song - I remember the commercial that Frank based the bit about the dog and the slippers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWfWd2R6ZdFop6M

[@jimhardiman3836]

Judging by your reaction humor does indeed belong in music.

[@joemaurone7923]

I can never hear this without thinking of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN (Al "Stinkfoot" Bundy.)

[@damonhines8187]

C'mon, man! Sorry, shouldn't've gone there. Where's my bacca lorry at?! That's next for auto-corrupt... good boy, who's a good little tablet? You are, yes you are. 🐶 Baccalaureate. 🎓. 'Til later, then. 😂

[@davetothebeard]

The live versions of this song are better because there are extended solos that KILL!

[@Rowenband]

When I was a kid I was able to put both feets behind my head. I better not try today, I may end in the hospital !!!

[@floydshambles]

sometimes they're sooner in the word

[@stretchgilbert]

The Apostrophe IS the 3rd to last- 'nt

[@cazgerald9471]

Penultimate? Should've, would've, could've,... we're, they're, you're..., we'll, she'll, who'll, where'll..., ma'am, o'clock, ne'er, 'twas..., how 'bout somethin' like I'd've? 8-P

[@cwerner3566]

The apostrophe isn't always next to last. You're wrong...

[@jonsey156]

You're / I'll Who knows ?

[@pixelsailor]

Apart from the brilliant music the lyrics are hilarious

[@iainjohnson1235]

or you are?

[@saturninebear]

Apostrophe(') is a great album. And still it wouldn't make my top ten Zappa albums.

[@aronrhys4920]

The 1 person who 👎this obviously has an issue with their feet lmao

[@fostercathead]

Ain't this boogie a mess?