Frank Zappa - Fifty-Fifty (Reaction)

[@mustardtigerbaaaaaam]

The bass line in this piece is just incredible.

[@brucepieroni9102]

The one and only Jon-Luc Ponte on violin. Amazing!

[@MrTortureneverstops1]

Jean Luc Ponty on violin, french guy just like me !

[@portapotty69]

J'aime la musique française! People in the US have no idea.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

I have this album autographed by Frank. Saw him on Midday Live getting interviewed by Bill Boggs. He was on early in the show and as soon as his segment was over, the audience got up to follow him out. Bill needed the audience to stay to finish the show, so Frank offered to hang around an sign autographs after the show. I also got my chest on air with the camera zooming in on my concert shirt when they went to commercial.

[@billrehberg9271]

What Bob Dylan is to lyrics Frank is to music comp and ability.

[@michaelbriefs9764]

Yes! Jean Luc Ponty on electric Violin!! He is awesome!!

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Later on, Zappa would have L. Shankar on violin, and also produce (and sing on) Shankar's solo album - check out "Dead Girls of London." Also, Shankar's dad was the sitar master Ravi Shankar.

[@ronaldhascher1412]

You need to see the claymation 100 motels

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

@@ronaldhascher1412 I don't remember clay animation in 200 Motels. There is animation in 200 Motels and the is clay animation in Baby Snakes. Has someone done clay animation to 200 Motels? The animation in Baby Snakes is awesome.

[@ronaldhascher1412]

Your right its been a long time since I was into the Mothers of Invention

[@Noobshire]

Which leads us to Mahavishnu...

[@timkaufhold6163]

Happy birthday. Love the drums .George Duke on key boards. Hard to imagine this is 50 years old. Sounds fresh. Great reaction .

[@NondescriptMammal]

That's the legendary George Duke on keyboards btw (just one not two lol), and Jean-Luc Ponty on electric violin

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Tom Fowler on the fine, fresh and funky bass, Rickey Lancelot on vocals, Fearless Frank shredding, and John Luc Ponty on electric violin.

[@williamtaylor5193]

Welcome to George Duke (keyboards), and Jean-Luc Ponty (electric violin) my friend. Frank only hired the most accomplished musicians.

[@building436]

That was a fantastic birthday surprise for you! The bass and drums are absolutely fantastic. This song once again shows the potential of Zappa's guitar virtuosity and the violin genius Jean Luc Ponty. And what a damn clean, honest voice! What great George Duke! The composition has it all...

[@micahjared8082]

I started playing bass in the early 80's because of this song. Way ahead of the times. Its taken me 30 yrs to even begin to touch this musical masterpeice. Cheers from deeep in the Mtns of NY, Brother!! Subscribed. Not many reactors to this masterpeice

[@ronaldhascher1412]

I love to hear and see young people gittin' into Zappa and the Mothers. In the sixties, always had my Mothers of Invention 8 track and casset tapes on, in my shiney black VW BUG.

[@stevious7278]

Yes, that's an electric violin, played by the fabulous Jean Luc Ponty. His solo jazz albums are well worth exploring as you have said you like 70s jazz fusion.

[@stretchgilbert]

This is an otherworldly jam. My favorite song on the album.

[@todddouglass870]

Over-Nite Sensation doesn't have a bad song on it, and is arguable Frank's most pop oriented album, yet still the quality is superb. For example, many KZbinrs have used "Montana" for a reaction video, it has a killer guitar solo, and Tina Turner and the Ikettes on backup vocals! Fifty-Fifty show cases some incredible talent. You have George Duke on the keyboard solo, Jean Luc Ponty on electric violin solo, Zappa on guitar solo, and Ralph Humphrey on drums; check out the drum fill just before the keyboard/organ solo starts, wow! Ralph went on to play with Weather Report. Of course, Zappa always had the very best drummers... Jean Luc Ponty had 12 consecutive albums, all of which reached the Billboard jazz charts top five, and has toured with Al DiMiola and Chick Corea. For example, check out his album "Enigmatic Ocean". Listen to how hard he swings on his electric violin solo on Fifty-Fifty! Other incredible musicians include: Sal Marquez - trumpet, vocals on "Dinah-Moe Humm" Ian Underwood - clarinet, flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Bruce Fowler - trombone Ruth Underwood - percussion, marimba, vibraphone Tina Turner and the Ikettes - backing vocals (uncredited) (Tracks 2-3 and 5-7) (not on this song, but on other songs on this album like Montana and Dirtly Love) To really hear Sal Marquez check out Grand Wazoo, a mostly instrumental jazz ensemble album that compares to the composition skills of Coltrane, or Miles Davis. It's one of my favorite Zappa albums! From the same time frame is the album Waka Jawaka, also well worth listening to. Blessed Relief - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl60nGuMrbqqq68 The Grand Wazoo - kzbin.info/www/bejne/apTIh6Roq5ihjNU Waka Jawaka - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIOlg5KJhbWLgbM Please do a reaction of the Berklee School of Music Zappa Medley (no one has done a reaction video on this yet to the best of my knowledge, or at least listen to it if you don't do a reaction video). It contains Waka/Jawaka, Inca Roads, Peaches en Regalia, and Zomby Woof. I guarantee that you will be blown away, well worth the time spent. Berklee School of Music Zappa Medley - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGWXmmCDgKuDapI Regards and thank you for checking out Frank!

[@michaelbriefs9764]

Happy birthday Teez! Thank you for the Frank Zappa (a.k.a., “the other Frank”)! Excellent jams!!

[@marceltiel7919]

This song is one happy rollercoaster...love playing it LOUD in my car ;)

[@jasper7914]

I've been watching some of your Zappa reactions and you've fallen into the Zappa Rabbit Hole...How far will your journey take you...enjoy the trip.

[@stevedotwood]

Singer is crazy Rikki Lancelotti

[@jameskennedy721]

Is he imitating Slade or Kiss ?

[@stevedotwood]

@@jameskennedy721 Just being himself. In an interview Ralph Humphrey - then Zappa's drummer - talks about him, saying: (paraphrasing) "I don't know where Frank found these characters, but Ricky was really crazy" - Anyway, he had a great unique voice. I love it. He also sings on Zomby Woof. RIP Ricky Lancelotti.

[@jameskennedy721]

@@stevedotwood If this Rikki guy was a country musician , I think I actually saw him perform w Zappa . He sang the beginning part of YELLOW SNOW and Frank sang the longer funnier part .

[@buddygripple7512]

@@jameskennedy721 That was Kin Vassy. He sang the Yippy Ty O vocals on Montana and played a few dates in April and May 1973 until Frank found out he was an alcoholic after he racked up a huge bar tab at the band's expense.

[@jameskennedy721]

@@buddygripple7512 I had the crazy experience of watching Frank rehearse the band in Princeton NJ that spring . The Kin guy was heavyset with curly hair and glasses . I think he was playing a 12 string acoustic . Crazily , at this time , the YELLOW SNOW song almost sounded like a folk song , until Frank began to sing the FUR TRAPPER part , which sounded more like the famous version . My respect for Frank increased watching this rehearsal , because Kin seemed to not really fit in , yet Frank was finding a place for him in the show , and didnt treat him like a nobody . I remember wondering where he had found him , how he became included , and Im still curious .

[@bikingfencer]

not many bands could put together three magnificent solos on three different instruments and vocals from another dimension

[@iarocks44]

Happy birthday late!! Great reaction! One of the best songs on a great album! It was electric violin. That is Jean-Luc Ponty - one of, if not the best electric violinist there has even been. He literally brought violin to rock/jazz. I saw this band configuration live and it was amazing. I wonder if you have gotten to I Am The Slime yet. It's a commentary on TV that the band played on SNL and was ultimately the reason he was permanently banned from SNL. LOL Frank being Frank!

[@Grithron2]

Answers: That sound at the end is some speeded-up keyboards. The keyboard solo is probably played on a Farfisa organ (it's George Duke of course). Ricky Lancelotti sings lead on this. I'm always promoting the instrumental side of Zappa - and the violin solo in this has reminded me that a good place to go if you want to hear Jean-Luc Ponty shredding is the Oblivion Medley, which is in the last approx 21 mins of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6LJqWWZicp2fM0

[@datmanknow1454]

Happy Birthday, Dude ! Your face at 4:28 - priceless !

[@TeezMcGee]

Lmaoooo thank you so much!

[@wimbot9904]

The best solo sequence ever!

[@mannylopez42]

Frank Zappa's, HEAVY-DUTY.

[@TeezMcGee]

Very! lol

[@chuckwood699]

The violin player is Jean Luc Pointy. One of the most amazing violinists ever!!!

[@michaelledford4751]

George Duke has a left & right hand,thats why your hearing " two set of keys " .

[@bikingfencer]

that sound was a shredding guitar

[@bryanglassglass8971]

Hello it was jean luc on violin

[@10roombizarro55]

First violin then Zappa shredding on that very fast solo

[@andykelly4056]

One of my favourite albums fuckin tremendous

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

Hey! happy birthday man. Just found you and just subscribed. Another great piece by the master. Shows you how diverse Frank Zappa was.

[@NondescriptMammal]

I like how his music leaves you speechless at times... you want to say something but you just don't know what to say haha... don't worry, it's a perfectly normal reaction when confronted with something so grand and wonderful as this

[@T23000PLUS]

Happy belated Birthday Teez McGee

[@DukeofPrunes11]

shoutout to james for the zappa!!! keep it coming!!!

[@gelsol]

I think the singer Rikki Lancelotti died pretty young and wanted to do voice-over work, which he woulda been awesome at. He's on Zombie Woof and is on a version of Wonderful Wino. I really thought his voice was cool. He definitely sounded like a cartoon character.

[@darvondickydicky530]

Were you aware he sang vocals on the original Banana Splits show theme song ?!?!?

[@gelsol]

@@darvondickydicky530No, and now I must check it out. Thanks!

[@woofy9887]

Happy Birthday Teez!!

[@TeezMcGee]

Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@cd6914]

The only chaotik things in Zappa, s music is our mind

[@maryc8046]

that artist with the violin is Jean Luc Ponte

[@timheller8475]

great reaction, Zappa Rules, try Zappa in New York, its live it would be nice to hear rhe song "The Ilinois Enema Bandit" its based on a true story, I've never heard this song you are reacting too, i love it

[@andrewhoran7088]

Saw it live Felt forum in NYC. What a show.

[@roffep216]

Welcome to the world of Zappa!

[@Monkeyboy2457]

best piano accordion

[@dreggymon]

Thias was Frank's best BAND, Imo. Only George Duke on Keyboards. Ralph Humphrey is one of the best drummers ever. Great Jean Luc Ponty violin solo, followed by Frank at his finest shredding magnificence.

[@PaulPadoan]

Ralph is soooooo tight on thes albums, sadly he has flown under the radar. He should be more reconiced as really great drummer.

[@NondescriptMammal]

That was guitar and violin doing the cacophony at the end yeah

[@billlanier203]

He has the longest melodic lyrical solos in the world.

[@paulmahon1613]

This song parodies James Brown.

[@dana_brooke_27]

This entire album is crazy. It's great! Not a bad song on it. Couldn't play Dinah Mo Hum around my mother if I wanted to keep this album. She'd of broken it Lol I see you didn't listen to that one. It's out there for sure.

[@DukeofPrunes11]

seeing you get zappa is soo satisfying lolol

[@TeezMcGee]

Man he grew on me a lot! Lol

[@Shaktidej]

Zappa on steroids... Some people are exhausted just by listening to this :p

[@briancotter2666]

THE VIOLIN IS PROBABLY "JON LUPONTE" WHO FRANK USED TO JAM WITH DURING THE DAYS WITH "THE MOTHERS"...AWESOME!!!

[@robizoobi6016]

Insane Zappa ❤️

[@MrButch8844]

Capt. Beefheart vocals I do believe

[@mustardtigerbaaaaaam]

Naw. It’s not. Sounds similar though.

[@stefanoterragni999]

Ricky lancillotti

[@trumpsucks3624]

Frank I miss you every day. 27 years. Hope to see you on the other side

[@TeezMcGee]

❤️❤️❤️

[@mikeobrien2243]

Best track on that album

[@maryc8046]

as a point of interest, listen to Jean Luc Ponte Cosmic Messenger - he's awesome

[@jamesoconnor9027]

Captain Beefhart " I know I ain't cute, and my voice is kapoot."

[@angustdog3656]

That is not Captain Beefhart.

[@jamesoconnor9027]

@@angustdog3656 Thanks, you made me look it up. Ricky Lancelotti, I'm not familiar with this guy with the exception of this song. Captin Beefhart has done a lot of work with Zappa and, to me sounds kinda similar so the assumption isn't a streatch. Thanks again.

[@angustdog3656]

@@jamesoconnor9027 Ricky was the go to guy for funny voices at that time period for the band.He was not a member of the,per se.

[@bikingfencer]

not just any violin

[@pirobot668beta]

Zappa didn't consider a piece worth recording until it was fully charted for each instrument! That incredible run? It was on paper first. Well, in his brain, then on paper. Frank felt that he shouldn't be an indispensable 'star', so he kept everyone involved in the process supplied with individual sheets they could mark up during rehearsal. Constant fine-tuning, all of it written down! How can it be Chaos when it's written?

[@mannylopez42]

That's, George Duke singing and playing the keyboards. He's Amazing!!!

[@donkarnage6032]

George Duke isn't the one singing on this song. It's a guy named Ricky Lancelotti. Although, yes George Duke is amazing keyboardist and singer.

[@todddouglass870]

@Teez, you heard George Duke sing with Napoleon Murphy Brock on Inca Roads. His singing is more traditional than Ricky Lancelotti who sang on this song.

[@jameskennedy721]

george duke ponty on fiddle then uncle frank .

[@bryanglassglass8971]

Just doesn't get any better!

[@steelingcable6350]

Uh

[@Noobshire]

At the end, guitar with lots of dirty 'flange' on it. :)

[@teedub9295]

the song's lyrics are about two themes. First, you may think it's about the singer singing a bluesy type song. Second, listen to the words, it's also about Zappa. As Zeppelin would say, sometimes words have two meanings.

[@kevinlundgren1169]

If you study the album cover ,,it actually describe s the songs that are on the album,, but you do have to have a warped mind

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

More Zappa wonderfulness. Jean Luc Ponty, man… you should listen to some of his solo stuff. You have very wide taste, and I think you’d dig it.

[@kellydelay18]

Muffin man

[@fasteddie777666]

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY

[@williamkuhn2053]

kapoot..my gawd i never knew

[@elysehfm8797]

50/50!

[@davidw.hulbertiv5211]

Baked one??? Ooh... Don't Teez me... Seems like chaos, but I have seen Zappa's notation... wild...

[@DUBEE43]

A ship too late to dave a drowning WITCH is a great ZAPPA album that deserves a listen bro.....

[@mikedemike5393]

the album cover is a hotel room with his road manager and the grapefruit or orange is the overnight sensation...sexually..

[@tonynowakowski3144]

I like the fact you don't interrupt the songs.

[@TeezMcGee]

I appreciate the love fam! I try my best not to 💯

[@findlesplurb]

If you like this one check out another one by Zappa called Filthy Habits. The man could play guitar.

[@findlesplurb]

Here's the link to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6bKe6V4Z8-Mo5I

[@cd6914]

You are trippin as I so fantastic creator Zappa

[@justinbakerking]

If you dig Zappa you should check out the band Phish.. plus they have a ton of fans that tend to eat up phish reviews

[@leestamper9451]

Don’t worry I’m gonna be requesting some Phish jams soon haha

[@jennhurl]

✌❤🎵

[@williamkuhn2053]

i know i ain't cute and my voice is shot too..

[@abelashes2676]

I thought his voice was "kaput".

[@jameshenry8629]

Frank has a very large band ..

[@todddouglass870]

Frank often played rock with a jazz ensemble (gross oversimplification)...

[@nathanield4035]

Get up on some spinach and listen!