How Good are Frank Zappa's Solo's?

Zoot Allures my first Zappa CD

Sexual Harassment In The Workplace is another great moody piece...

Hey, I just stumbled across your channel. Nice pick for Zappa. My 1st Zappa show was in Troy, NY 9 days after what you just listened to here, and he did play Black Napkins at that show

If you like Frank, his solo’s are great. If you aren’t fond of Frank —— well

Big Swifty by FZ, Big Swifty by FZ, Big Swifty by FZ, Big Swifty by FZ, Big Swifty by FZ,

GENIUS!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Woo! Love it! Black Napkins is one of favorites🎼🎸

Zappa was alone on the top of the talent mountain.
Great composer.

Bucket head has a great solo.

Def my favorite Zappa song.

One thing this video demonstrates better than anything is just how much better daytime T.V. was in the 70's.

Zappa is King...whos elvis....nz

You must listen to Hot Rats. Start with Willie the Pimp, then the next two songs. All hits!!

Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan. Larry Carlton does a master class in the guitar solo. Great overall song too.

Check out the epic instrumental albums from the early 70s: Grand Wazoo and Waka Jawaka! The title names say it all. Masterpieces.

Black Napkins IS Frank's best guitar solo. It's from one of my favourite Zappa LPs: Zoot Allures and the studio version is breathtaking. I place Zoot Allures in the top 3 of Zappa LPs. But Polo, you need to listen to entire LP to see how this tune is framed inside some amazing songs with crazy lyrics. BTW how does anyone give this a thumbs down? Probably some rabid progressive who thinks Frank should have been jailed for not being politically correct. I hope the irony is not lost on everyone.

BTW I saw Frank Zappa live circa 1980 - I cherish that opportunity. I distinctly remember that it was about a month after having seen Bob Marley and the Whalers at the very same venue. I was a young teenager at the time, and was god-smacked to have the chance to see both of these artists back to back. While watching Zappa, I remember reflecting on how different the two artists were, with seemingly the only common link was the fragrant smoke in the arena. The Whaler fans enjoyed ganja while the Zappa fans in Toronto seemed to prefer hashish 🙂. Suffice to say the Zappa crowd was a little more of a sophisticated gathering 😂

For some of younger folks, let me put into perspective the live shows that were flowing through Toronto in those years. I googled other shows that I remember going to in 1980 (Grade 10 for me) and it includes The Who opened by Heart, Queen, AC/DC, YES, Elton John, Cheap Trick, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Triumph, Genesis and Peter Gabriel (separately) and The Cars. That's just the bands I went to and can remember! in case you didn't notice, these are some of the greatest Rock artists of all time - in one year alone. If I started to list the few years before 1980 and the several years after 1980, I would literally break your heart. I got to see just about everyone with ticket prices in the $10 to $40 range.

Of course Watermelon stays out (and Chunga's Revenge). But speaking of Santana who also makes great job of which Europa is a favourite. But what Spotify says I heard the most last year was an artist who inspired Carlos Santana a lot: Gabor Szabo! Try his Gypsy Queen! I can't say if it is a solo or a song or a piece... Beautiful anyway. Actually Santana cover it at the end of his break through song Black Magic Woman (which also was a cover from Peter Green who founded Fleetwood Mac).

Check out Surfing with the Alien -Joe Satriani for good road music

I was in HS when Zappa was new to the scene. Billy the Mountain was a popular tune at the time in Seattle area.

Another great artist on guitar is Steve Vai-you May remember him from the Crossroads movie bar scene. He actually played they guitar for both parts. He has some other special works as well. Also played with Joe Satriani.

How good? The Live Album with Captain Beefheart in Austin, Texas is all you need. His live performance of “Muffin Man” is the shit I used to measure others. Glad I was alive to see him in concert. His seriousness and intelligence afforded him several TV appearances in the 80’s and 90’s to debate Conservatives and Christian Conservatives about their Bronze Age belief system they wanted to impose on the country that he had no trouble shredding. Just like his playing. Go back and watch, he predicted the political climate we now live in. He was also a true Composer who both read and wrote compositions and hired only those who could read as well. He was a pro.

First off, thanks for the reaction to one of my favorite Zappa tracks. In the past I have heard The Grateful Dead referred to as country music for hippies. With that in mind, Frank Zappa is jazz for hippies. Of all guitarist, Carlos Santana is my favorite. Peace

Watched this dozens of times. I like how the E in Mike Douglas' name looks like it could be Frank's logo. Cool also, he doesn't bring his band but rather teaches the tune to the house orchestra and plays with them.

I was so hoping this was the song you were going to do. Its one of my favorites. I would have gone with the studio version. The female vocalist gives it a whole different feel and there are no lyrics.

There is so much more to Frank Zappa than just his music. He's a genius and totally predicted our current state of affairs in the world. We lost him way too soon.

This & "Watermelon In Easter Hay" are such superb instrumentals from Frank.

A genuine genius and a gentleman to boot. His talent is grossly overlooked and he was taken from us way too soon. Rest in peace with all your cosmic debris.

Stevie ray Vaughn, all along the watch tower

Remember watching this on the Mike Douglas show.

Thanks for talking about Frank's solos. I don't care about the song, the composing, etc. I'm all in on Franks solos cause he can jam for 8 minutes and stay interesting the whole time. But they are absolutely hit and miss as he improvises. Black napkins, watermellon, meh not a fan. Check out the Guitar and Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar albums, and the br1tag yt channel for the real deal.

In that you mentioned Santana, here’s one to check out from Frank Zappa. It’s called “Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression”. It’s from a triple album called “Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar” and in fact the title track is also absolutely fantastic actually even better than the one I previously mentioned, but hope you get around to one or both.

At my wedding party (after a 3 month tour across Europe) We sang Acapella, 'cocksucker's Ball' by Frank Zappa. Best memory ever, posh venue and everyone applauded not knowning what they just witnessed, except one.. George. He said to me 'I almost dropped my beer, I couldn't believe you were performing that song' Divorced now but that memory was worth all of the crap..

The studio version is better

This is hilarious, I could do a reaction to your reaction. Love that solo!, first time I’ve heard it.

His solo can be hit or miss too. My favorite Zappa as a guitarist is the early 80s. One of my favorite is the solo on "Truck Driver Divorce"

You'd probably like Occams Razor by Frank

He's one of a kind that's for sure.

Mike Douglas show. Philly. Many great guests on that show

There's an instrumental I listen to at least weekly: "Zoot Allures". It's better. I use it to get me going on those mornings when I just can't do it. Same album. Check it out.

cool to see him on the mike douglas show.

My favourite solo by Zappa is at the end of Muffin Man on the live album Bongo fury, which is Frank Zappa and the Mothers, including a collaboration with Captain Beefheart.

Whoa, Never thought I would hear Black Napkins on a reaction channel. One of my favorites from Zappa. Huge thumbs up to the person who recommended this
Edit: Polo, you should include "Black Napkins" in the video title. I nearly passed on this because I thought it was a collection of solos, not a single song. And you deserve the views!

Not one solo by frank was repeated the same way.
They were always different.
It depended on how he felt.
RIP FRANK ZAPPA

What a bad ass

My favorite Zappa instrumentals with badass solos: “Rat Tomago” from the album “Sheik Yerbouti”, and “apostrophe”, the title track from the album of the same name.

As for other solos, I could list a bunch, but one mainstay from when I was just a 12 year old hippy skater kid in the 70’s:

Ted Nugent- “Hibernation” must hear the Live version from his album “Double Live Gonzo”. It’s pure 🔥, and a stone cold killer instrumental jam at that!

I listen to it at first snow, every winter.

I started listening to Frank Zappa when is 13 in the early 70s I think that’s why my musical interests are so broad

This was great! I know some of his stuff!

Style, intensity, articulation diversity, mastery, popularity, direction -all ways genius can be manifest

Frank feared nobody. For me the proof is in NG Biz.