Frank Zappa - Rat Tomago (original unedited version)

[cacacaz]

thank you for this pearl! grazie!

[kienmoor]

Energia pura........bom demais.....Frank you are one of the best gitar player.....

[BradWest96]

Sooo fucking goooood...

[MrFingers008]

He used to be such a nice boy

[TheKruce]

this is the best guitar solo of all time

[TheBolillo310]

i have the full version on my channel

[Alexmaley1]

ooh yes ,I have not thought about that,i am were 13 years old and not the best frank zappa fan ;)

[Alexmaley1]

simply brilliant,frank zappa was the greatest guitar player,1992 is a day of mourning

[davidphilipsmusic]

@Alexmaley1 A very sad day when he died, although it was in 1993 (December sometime). R.I.P. genius!

[barfcoswill]

its a portion from "The Torture Never Stops", the recreational cries of ecstasy (ie torture victim moans) were possibly pre-recorded and played live, and are the moans of none other than Suzy Creamcheese herself.

[TheAdamPL]

It will be first dance on my wedding party.

[DudeSpectre]

If anyone can give me a backstory to this, was this solo improvised?

[geddunn]

@DudeSpectre  i aint sayin this is exactly correct but here goes,,.... what he would do is take a recording of a solo that he improvised iive over one song and then dub it over another backing track, sometimes of a completyly different song/chord progression etc. i think almost all of joes garage solos were done like this. if you go to on the bus on joes garage its originally a recording from a solo from occums razor which you can get hold of on some album or other. it

[geddunn]

@DudeSpectre the crazy thing is that if you take the same bunch of notes and put them over something else, they change modes and everything sounds the same but completely different if you know what i mean. not just rhythmically which is kinda obvious but with the whole majar minor modal thing. its fuckin nuts. sorry im not much of a musician but youget the gist. maybe some berklee geek can put it better ....

[grant1r]

@DudeSpectre

Completely improvised. It comes live from Berlin in 1978. Frank Zappa edited the solo to put it in Sheik Yerbouti. Crazy huh?

[The1belal]

What is wrong with these people who give Frank a thumbs down ?

Frank is the greatest musician that ever lived......period !

[loislombardo]

ive had this album since it first came out, frank cut a lot of this solo out of the record

[elbay2]

Well thanks for posting this!.. I never realized that Rat Tomago was a lifted solo from another song (although, come to think of it, he did this all the time, didn't he?)... and from 'The Torture Never Stops', no less!

Is this from the YCDTOSA series?

[timmo1782]

@elbay2 yeah he did this a lot, take live solos and put them on record, especially from the mid-70s onwards. No this isn't on the Stage series, it's from an audience field recording!

[elbay2]

@timmo1782 An audience field recording? The sound quality is quite good! Did you do this?

[timmo1782]

@elbay2 i wish! was born too late to see the great man play live :(

[kurtizzyflush]

@timmo1782 It makes me feel good about the future of the world to know someone your age appreciates Frank Vincent Zappa this much. He'd be very happy.

[MrMariodave]

@elbay2 soundboard

[elbay2]

@MrMariodave Oh, ok, thanks!

[knighterrantfilms]

@timmo1782 that's a nice description: an audience field recording!. You should always have audience field recordings. I wish security would realize this

[davidphilipsmusic]

So incredibly inventive. Bluesey and yet totally original.. Zappa was an absolute master at searching while he played.. I nevee get bored of this. The 3 people who disliked this must be Justin Bieber fans... "turn it off mommyyy!!!!

[salimlog666]

@davidphilipsmusic I totally agree and give 100 thumbs up for each jerk which disliked Zappa's music. I do not understand how or why anyone goes to a place that does not like ... and still has the audacity to go out there badmouthing. I've never watched a video of Justin Bieber nor intend to, but I respect the artist and I will not give him a dislike. I wonder if those thumbs down couldn't mean that he (she) disliked the version of music or the quality of upload or something like this...

[Erghumeno]

Shit, ive always wondering where is the full version...this is the best zappa solo, then punkys whips...

[Claudiobenyossef]

Moraisito Ametista - The best...

[cunterkooter]

is this solo on the sheik yerbouti album?

[MWL4466]

@cunterkooter No I don't think so. It may be spliced together from other performances

[aniagniech]

super!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geekman333]

Rock and roll the way it should be. Loud, raw and oozing with soul. Thanks Frank, we miss ya.

[leifjellow]

it is a `yo mama` solo!!

first time that i check this, after all this years!!

stupid me!!

[timmo1782]

@leifjellow hate to be pedantic (love it really.. muhahaha), but it's from 'the torture never stops'!

[leifjellow]

@timmo1782 it is just the end that sound like that, i think, but you are right.

[djdjany]

@leifjellow No, it's a "torture never stop" solo !! stupid me !

[tapeduk]

sounds like the screams from The Torture Never Stops-at the beginning

[geneiv]

Whenever I want to get someone into FZ's playing... I reffer to this recording

[1marcko11]

The rest listened,watched, and waited..

[DudeSpectre]

everyone in the band is at the top of their game. can you imagine how hard it must be to keep up with Frank dufing this piece?

[MWL4466]

This song takes me away everytime I hear it!!! AMAZING What a great band!

[djdjany]

This is actually the solo from a "the torture never stops" session !!!

[koaik]

youn know Rato Tomago is extracted from the solo he did for The Torture never stops ! notice the scream sounds background in the solo? :)

[DudeSpectre]

I remember hearing this at the young age of 16, I'm 24 now, my mother was keenly aware that I was into the guitar and suggested I listen to this vinyl album of hers that had the picture of what seemed to be a man with the craziest and most recognisable moustache (bar Hitler and Chaplain :P) dressed in arabian garbs.

I'm enjoying the album, its pretty funny, until I come across this motherfucker of a solo and I swear the world shifted, I was swept up in auditory, arely controlled chaos. <3 Frank

[bwanna23]

is it long or short a in tomago? i'd really like to know.

[decsdad]

@bwanna23 long

[olimpioalvares]

Mama mia what a solo!!! Transcendental.

[ferretious]

This is my alltime most sublime, altimate, greatest, bestest, favouritest, covetedest, moreished, divinesed and all those other desireable words, favourist Zappa guitar solo!!!!!

[fadethetrade]

@ferretious vicerol controlled chaos at it's best.there were virtuosos and there's zappa.he's the best ever because he was so unique.

[TheRealDerfMan]

0:00-0:28, 0:42-0:57, 2:49-3:31, 6:33-end

....all sections edited out of the Sheik Yerbouti version.... if I'm not mistaken... Thanks for the upload!! =D

[BleekerSoL]

I have been listening to the Sheik Yerbouti version for years - I always knew it was a live recording overdubbed in the studio and I assumed it was such a spine tingling, hair-raising absofuckinglutely SCORCHING solo because of the overdubs - seems I was wrong. I don't know how anyone can make a guitar sound like this - it's a beautiful and terrifying thing. FZ FOREVER.

[pineappaloupe]

i never knew this song went so deep.... wow. fuck.

[sanclementekid]

yeah zappa!

[shirleyz29]

This man was ahead of the freaks and psychos, he listened, watched and waited

[bwanna23]

and to think that every note of this is written down somewhere.

[GDarkstar74]

@bwanna23 FZ didn't write this one out. Rat Tomago is the guitar solo from The Torture Never Stops - Berlin, February 15, 1978. It's all improvised. Although some Zappa fan out there has probably taken the time to write out this solo.

[GDarkstar74]

@bwanna23 In case you don't know, in a lot of his "studio" made albums, the solos and other parts were taken from recorded live shows. You can usually tell when something was pre-written and when it was improvised.

[Jiboplexer]

@bwanna23

Well, perhaps by Steve Vai...

[Asskicker32294]

One of the best songs on Sheik Yebouti...

[ImSpiFF]

dosent this song make you wanna...sheik...yerbouti?

[IgnatiusChinaski]

I am not even sure what to say about FZ's playing here. I guess all I can say is that I will never figure out why people worship guys that Zappa could fucking *CRUSH* (i.e. Page, Clapton, SRV, Townsend, etc.) Actually the reason i think it is is b/c he was "commercial" like they were.

[IgnatiusChinaski]

@IgnatiusChinaski I MEANT TO SAY HE WAS ****NOT**** COMMERCIAL LIKE THEY WERE. SORRY FOR THE TYPO!!!!!!!!!!

[loislombardo]

@IgnatiusChinaski Hey and what about that Slash dud Frank would smoke him bad.Slash this

[bakinek]

SICK solo, one of the best I ever heard in my life.

[loislombardo]

@bakinek Keep lisning soon u wont be able to deeide what yer favrit ts.

[bakinek]

@loislombardo I know this solo is strong and one of the best, because I heard many guitarists in rock genre and this thing is still in my mind, its clear masterpiece and im glad i got this original version. I know all off the important icons of rock and roll history. its my hobby, will be my job (jazz conservatory) but still ofcourse its my personal opinion:)

[loislombardo]

@bakinek I agree withu but look at Black nNapkins and Zoot Alurs all of Franks solos are strongRatTomago is also one of the solos in The Torcher Never Stops i never new that till i got a computer.Thank u for talking to hope i here from u again i like talking about Frank ive been a fanatic since i was 14 im 50 now.

[bakinek]

@loislombardo Yes i know all solos what you said, Whole album Zoot Allures is good, Very nice material of guitar is on Shut up and play guitar 3CD, there are super pieces for any guitar listener. I like life 2CD album The best band you ever heard from late years of Zappa life, all songs there has great sound and elaboration than those first realesed in 70´s like Andy, Inca roads, I really recommended, but i think you already have listened it:)

[loislombardo]

@bakinek I own all of Zappa i dont no what to lisen to but i no when i die i want watermelon in easter hay playd at my wake.

[azurenscens]

what comes to mind when i hear FZ wailing on the guitar is nothing less than sheer delight.

[loislombardo]

All these years i never knew this was the solo from the tourtur never stops till i got a computer

[markwoodruff777]

Zappa was a guitar master...Dweezil was taught by the best in my opinion. RIP Frank!

[theo9952]

great, but i prefer the edited version of this, from the SHEIK YERBOUTI album.

Frank Zappa must have been of the same opinion, which is why he edited the solo for the official release.

[slyme1711]

Frank said " I may not be the best guitarist out there, but I'm the most dangerous " !

[beethovenzappa]

Hey, I'm really glad to hear this one in its entirety, thanks. And I agree that this is just a root vamp, no progression. The Torture Never Stops, indeed.

[Chronepsis5]

Uncle Frank is a gaint among men i could discuss his work for hours.

[dooooms666]

Let the time shows the greatest guitar solo ever lived ,No one can do Mr. Frank Zappa's work any moor (R.I.P) absolutely AMAZING

[Chronepsis5]

you might wanna check out dweezil the boy got awsome to spare these days

[jaffijoe]

Excuse my typos. :)

[fadethetrade]

dominant 7th to 1 ,I meant

[jaffijoe]

Zappa is probably the best soloist ever. He didn't give a shit about what was the cool lick to throw into his solo, he just went with the groove... Complete improve pushing the border of his own comprehension and knowledge. It might sound "off" to the standard listener, but there is no mistaking his sound, nor discounting the number of musicians (especially guitarists and composers) that know and admire what his is doing on the level of musical theory.

[jaffijoe]

Most people notice that Frank loved to solo on I-IV and I-V foundations. But, if you know jazz, then you know that all progressions involve chord progressions that encompass the root/4th and root/5th movement. Frank just simplified it. And, his solos went far beyond (thanks to the cycle of 4ths/5ths). The only difference is that he was that he was working within the scope of rock music. But, when I hear him choose certain extended chords and modes, I know that pushing that envelope.

[fadethetrade]

also I-VII progressions. (stink foot,early versions of city of tiny lights) and just plain I chords.Thats all I here in this solo.improv off of the root of 1 chord.

Satriani,vai and the rest might be the best virtuosos ever but zappa was the best controlled chaotic vicerol guitarist ever.

[isaactroth]

eh?

[cjk9013]

Thanks for posting. This is the version of the band I saw the month prior on New Year's eve; absolutely phenomenal performance by phenomenol musicians.

[ghostofzappa]

shows you what a genius Zappa was,,he got rid of the duff notes to put together the ABSOLUTE FUCKIN perfect guitar solo,,I´m not kidding the final version of this solo was /is as good as sex.

[ghostofzappa]

one of the best guitar solos of all time!!!

[mriseborough]

The tone of this guitar has always killed me, and Frank was able to do so much with it. For those of you who don't know, it was the custom red SG.

[FlyingFooBalls]

checkout his amp setup, thats where the magic happens (and the two extra eq toggles built into that git)

[TheRealFZ]

GREAT!

[senileanimal79]

This solo always gives me chills. Lots of people cite his solo on Inca Roads as his best, but this one is definitely up there..

[flammaster]

All the notes are there but yet it sounds different. Ahhhh but it must be a different recording because I do here some different notes.

[bignz721]

@flammaster Zappa overdubbed much of what was recorded live.

[acloakwithahood]

The Torture Never Stops Guitar solo.

[squanto2]

zappa=so good

[Kakkapieru]

Your god has nothing to do with this.

Zappa=God

[fraidwoodcesco]

....wow...!

[MonkHouse93]

Keep in mind this was before digital recording and all that stuff really came around. he did this editing by splicing tapes or whatever the hell he was using. makes it that much more impressive. the edited version is seamless.

[Zappo32]

Oh yeah. They played splendidely as well.

[sanclementekid]

Gotta give the backup musicians some credit, also....

[azkbc]

I think God played through FZ in this solo!

[squanto2]

no doubt about it.

[Zappo32]

Fantastic. When Zappa plays his guitar you have to shut up and listen.

[malmsteenfan]

@Zappo32 Yes!!!! Brings you to another planet.

[dyeballa04]

@Zappo32 anything else would be just obsurd

[Zappo32]

@dyeballa04 My comment shouldn't be taken literally, what I mean is that Zappa's music deserves our entire attention

[dyeballa04]

@dyeballa04 naturally

[Lyktwz]

@Zappo32 I agree...

[ketchupisevil]

I wish I could see Zappa play this live...

[bigfootpegrande]

Timmo!

[jaubrey543]

Had a friend whose older bro listened to FZ all the time .. but I didn't pay attention until I heard "I'm So Cute" on the radio. Sounded fun - went out and bought Sheik Yerbouti. Then listened to this solo and was hooked for life.

[jansonmorr]

timmo, you're a beast.

[MrAssbaron]

I feel like I just dropped acid and put a

needle in my arm.

[monkryman411]

God, this was the first guitar slo I ever heard, and I nine when I heard it, it still makes me hate my playing haha. Both on guitar and drums and keys

[rimbaud660]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA...!!!  :*

[rimbaud660]

THANK YOU TIMO1782!

[MrRubberbullets]

it doesn't seem that many people know he was such a guitarist! i got this album(sheik yerbouti) 3 days b4 he died! & shut up & play yer guitar.. if i listen to this now it plays in my head for weeks! this is good but listen 2 the edited version on sheik yerbouti..

[skwijeebob]

I love this, not just great guitar, but Frank sure knew how to edit too.

[thespewking]

what a way to wake up !!

Im awake now !!!

and so are the neighbours!!!

[xkitties]

I listen to this song on my way to work when I know I have a areally bad day ahead of me.. sets the tone.. take no prisoners...

[loislombardo]

@xkitties LOL

[evernetherall]

@xkitties

Amen, yah Man! Right ON {!} xkitties! Thx fer th'refresher course in 'take no prisoners!' Yay!

[subatomicllove]

Rock on ZZAAPPAA. The best in the world!

[szt1964]

What a tone, what an energy....one of his many great songs.... There's so much more than playing music correctly.

[superfuzzymomma]

Frank edited out the same stuff i would have for the release - If I were the perfectionist he was - Burning solo! - My favorite! - never knew Rat Tomago was from Torture Never Stops.

Thanks - Thanks FZ.

[squanto2]

One of my top 3 zappa solos.

Nobody ever played the guitar like this.

[koaik]

i can assure you no one ever will !

[hoyvenmavin]

Top 5 guitarists of all time. Way underrated, especially by those morons at Rolling Stone. Who had him around 50 or something silly like that.

[Nofuture91]

yeah, they put kurt cobain, kirk hammett, and keith richards (all in top 20) all above randy rhoads, frank zappa, steve vai, yngwie malmsteen, and eddie van halen, all who didnt even make it into the top 50.

[JedTomago]

What did the Germans ever do for us.apart from this? My brother Rat 'n me done been finishe d linching niggers 'n shit, we's come down from da mountain, wes parked our hillbilly asses down on a leather 3 piece 'n all, and whadddyyyaaa KNOW!!...we turns from mountain folks inta, ...sorry..ahem... into sophisticated East Coast aesthetes with a taste for the exotic, and and , hey!! there you go, we find ourselves talking a whole heap of different shit, but sophisticated, don't you know....

[allenp109]

Fantastic Guitar Solo by FZ, great upload,

Thank you again.

[fadethetrade]

The original Lp version,to my recollection was recorded in hammersmith,england,this is another version ,however,zappa apparently used alot of the same themes and melodic passages on both solos!

[timmo1782]

This is definitely the performance from which the Sheik Yerbouti version is derived, it starts at approx 28 seconds in.

A lot of the rest of SY was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon though!

[fadethetrade]

however there is a slight variation on his meolodies on the sg which do not corrospond with bouti album.maybe he had some shredding overdubs on album.The solo after 28 seconds is still not entirely identical but so close.

[timmo1782]

The differences are why this is called the 'unedited' version (!!). FZ cut out some small sections for the SY release. Check your LP, it says recorded in Berlin.

[strav12]

Timmo, your uploads are absosheikyerboutily fucking amazing - and it is really depressing to think that all these amazing variations (eg your brilliant of only HALF of 13) are not available to us - is there anyway this and other stuff of yours can be made available on cd?

[dunnged]

its the same with the on the bus solo on joes garage, it was originally a solo for inca roads, its available on the one shot deal cd as occams razor. its the same solo but its been edited so some stuff is missing and there maybe an overdub or two.what also throws you is he varies the speed of the original for on the bus so that the stronger notes fall in better places with on the backing track. so its speeded up and slowed down without changing the pitch i fuckin love this shit. genius.

[funnyguise]

Gonna have to disagree with you on its origin. I feel it's from the torture never stops, hence the screams.

[RobManDudeGuy1]

Where did you get this version??I hear several differences and nuances. COOL!!!

[tomtiddler]

I uploaded Rat Tomago, but no joy! Nice one..