Frank Zappa Whats This Song? PLEASE SOME MUST KNOW!!

[monkeybutler20]

its amazing how frank taught himself

[JBingre]

Yes, it sounds like Transylvania Boogie. You can hear it on "Ahead of their time" and "Chunga's Revenge".

[msfingerstyle1]

That's Transylvania Boogie!

[DreamedOfHugeSpiders]

although some people have already identified this as an improv from a live show, it sounds a little like Orange County Lumber Truck from Weasels Ripped My Flesh. i can see why you'd be desperate to hear this in full. such a funky bit of guitar playing.

[Raysynn]

This "IS" Transylvania Boogie live. There are a few different versions from 1968 - '69

[tjafs1]

The orange county lumber truck i think, most likely. concert prbably recorded by Frank himself.

[deborahdreamer]

sounds like an improv solo to willie the pimp with bad rythm track.

[astroman2006]

It is an improvisation from the Sportpalast show in Berlin, October 16, 1968.

globaliaDOTnet/donlope/fz/vide­ography/BBC93DOThtml

On that site, scroll down to "The Music Heard" section, and it's the first listing.

[tab1990]

Wow. Thanks, do you know what song the improv started with?

[astroman2006]

Nope, I haven't found the entire set list. I have a bootleg from a show on 10/26/68, and it starts out with an improvisation. The tape cuts in, so they might have played a song before the improv, or just started with improv.

[thegirl44]

Sent this to my dear ole dad, who did sound for Zappa for the fist 15 years of my life and he says that it's an improv of OC Lumber Truck.

[tab1990]

Thats so cool, thanks for the info!

[jravell]

And may we ask the name of your father? :)

[thegirl44]

I've kept my maiden name and I like to preserve my anonymity online, so giving my dad's name would be counter productive to that :).

[reldditmot]

What was your father's name by the way?

[thegirl44]

@reldditmot

Again, I kept my maiden name when I married and as I tend to piss off some unpredictable people on this site, as my page illustrates, I don't like giving out any potentially identifying info.

I can tell you that he's one of three men who worked for FZ as his live sound engineer between 1974 and 1992, he isn't gay and he never engineered any of Zappa's studio albums. You should be able to find the info on any FZ website (eg. Kill Ugly Radio) from those clues..

[BryanSymptom]

@tab1990 It actually sounds like the beginning of The Gumbo Variations from Hot Rats. Doesn't mean it is though because Zappa Does alot of improvs in all of his shows.

[zzombiwoof]

I have been trying to find out this song since 1993 when I saw this documentary and have figured out from seeing different footage he was wearing overalls and playing a gold top les paul and it was in Germany at the Rockpalist in 1968 when a riot started and they had to sneek of the stage when the crowd started rushing the stage but still dont know the song...still trying to figure that out.

[tab1990]

Wow, thanks for all the info.

[zzombiwoof]

Let me know if you figure out what song it is...I have a documentary that shows about 10 seconds of that show when the crowd rushes the stage...I'll dig it up and load it on here and let you know.

[milaymonja]

i think DIRTY LOVE

[gypsum20]

Its part of the solo in "St.Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast". (where I stole the margarine.

[earstroke]

i would like to know this song also.

it sounds exactly like what i thought zappas music would sound like when i first discovered him.

[mistrijah]

this is a live improv that was peformed i think in frankce in the late 60's, i used to buy a zappa fanezine in the 90's and someone there actually got hold of a copy of this whole peformance, if i find the writing i will mail the details, but it is something unreleased!

[redunzl5]

sounds a little like the bridge in "Tell Me You Love Me"

[eyeohh]

This is the sound check for monterey. UNDERSTAnd?

[koaik]

This is not Willie the Pimp, I have all the versions for it and non has anything similar to this ! it's being played totally solo, there are no other instruments playing at the same time, this could be at his studio reharsing, and very much could be one of the songs that are not reliesed yet ! if you watch the documentary on his records, they say he has 100's of songs that didn't make it out yet !

[tab1990]

Yeah I don't think it sounds like Willie, I think this a live performance because the footage is all so used on the BBC and A&E documentaries. Thanks.

[koaik]

Now I'm irritated, I want to know what is the song, I'm making it my mission, I never failed !

[haarpcloud911]

dude, there are drums bass,and they even show the piano being played, listen.

As for the name of this song, not too sure.

[koaik]

you're right I've noticed that later, I have worked since then on finding it and I found allot of clues, from what he's wearing in the video, this seems like the Berlin concert where things went wrong ! I looked up the songslist and it looked like in almost every concert back on those days they started the show with guitar improvisati0on ! so it's a very much one time performance not related to any song, until it's released.... we'll never get to hear it !

[haarpcloud911]

And there you have it....

I was 19 when I saw him in '79 at the Tower in Upper Darby Pa. That's exactly what he did.

But it was usually something that was later heard, not hidden. Keep searching.

I saw him again in '86 at the Tower 2 nights, 3rd row(he wouldn't play the spectrum in phila) smart man.

We sat across the isle from Dweezil and Moon Unit. It was awesome!

[ClaytonT53]

an arrangement of "Willie the Pimp" is my best guess also

[pimpstacker]

I think it's 'Willie The Pimp Pt 2' off Live at the Fillmore East

[zappaNRW]

wow, cant believe it, i´ve been searching for this, too ! For many years.........but never found it out.

[tab1990]

I feel the pain.

[george383]

Look up Frank Zappa Biography part 1. Around 1:45 there is the same piece - a bit longer but still could be one of many . . .

[tab1990]

I've seen that its the same footage and there both from a BBC program.

[george383]

You might never find out - even Frank were he alive today might not remember. He constantly rearranged his music, did tunes different ways and this piece sounds like an excerpt from an improv solo . . .

[gosia127]

It sounds like a 'Willie The Pimp' thing to me, personally.

[gosia127]

The riff played at 17sec - 23sec is certainly on another album. Gonna go find it.

[needtashow]

yeah Chunga's Revenge -which is funny since Chunga was never a vengeful person

[civilian37]

song: chungas revenge

[simonhoule]

CRAP! I met up with Dweezil and Joe Travers (drummer for ZPZ and vaultmeister at the UMRK) at the Quebec show last saturday. I totally forgot to ask them what piece this is from! DAMN!!!

[Inooorbit]

I got this one on one of my Zappa Bootlegs, can't remember wich one it is

[thegirl44]

I think that it's called noodling :). That's what my husband calls it when he's fucking around in rehearsal and I ask him what he's playing.

[Informatisse]

some rearranged notes and noises from "My Guitare Wants To Kill Your Mama"... ?

[Sleepwalker1977]

"Hieronymous Bosch - In Memoriam" from the Mothers' 1967 appearance at the Bottom Line in NYC, taped/filmed for television. They also mimed to "Son Of Suzy Creamcheese," and FZ decided to mouth repeatedly the word "Motherfucker" when the camera was on him.

This song can easily be found on bootlegs, but it is very avant-garde, and what you heard was the "coolest" sounding part.

[tab1990]

I have seen the Motherfucker footage but didnt hear this. Do you have a link? Thanks

[exentr]

It's unknown to me. I don't think it's from Burnt Weeny Sandwich or Transylvania Boogie.

[poyoung]

It's Transylvania Boogie, from Chunga's Revenge

[tab1990]

I do not have this LP and I am trying locate it, Thanks. I hope this is what I've been waiting for.

[robertdothatgmail]

As far as I'm concerned, what song this is is one of the most significant questions which mankind must answer before being able to move forward. Good luck to us!

[tab1990]

Yes!!

[sloquick]

Just Another Band From LA, about 3mins 40 secs in. However, after listening to that yesterday, I'm not sure it's identical. Perhaps it's a version morphed through time as Zappa was prone to do. In any event, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

When I first listened to the snipet you are interested in though, I could swear I had heard that identical piece before, so maybe it's elsewhere. I'll give another look.

[tab1990]

Witch album is it on? and the same footage was used in the BBC zappa Documentary

[sloquick]

Its part of the instrumental section of "Call Any Vegetable" but could have been used in any number of Zappa's numbers.

[tab1990]

Which version on Vegetable, because I can't hear it in the Absolutely free one.

[sonicdeath10]

Everone in this room is wearing a uniform, don't forget it!

[tab1990]

I don't know what that means

[sonicdeath10]

Something Frank says at the end of The Little House I Used To Live In from the Burnt Weenie Sandwich album, in response to a guy yelling at the police officers to take off their uniforms! The guy continues to scream, and Frank says "you'll hurt your throat, stop it!" The sad part about it is, Frank promises to try to do Brown Shoes won't make it, but the track cuts off before they try.

[onlygoodhunsadeadun]

I think its from the famous berlin concert that ended in a riot in 1968 and the song is featured in the uncle meat dvd ! its played on franks gold top les paul guitar ! its called wow wow wow nah only joking

[tab1990]

Is that available on DVD anywhere? thanks

[onlygoodhunsadeadun]

I think so, try Zappa . com shop I had it on vhs and then copied it to dvd , but my dvd drive died during the week, waiting for a new one to arrive , so will check it out then , i have maybe 50 Zappa albums and i don't think this is on any of them , its definitely early mothers

[uppercutINC]

Agree with Hun sentiment

[tab1990]

Thanks.

[neshobanakni]

Sounds like "Hot Rats."

[2bsom1]

sounds fkin good whatever it is ,do you know yet?

[tab1990]

Yes this fking good! But still don't know, hopefully I will find out by the end of this decade.

[simonhoule]

Does any of you guys have Dweezil or Joe Travers phone number? Let's ask them! Try myspace.

Dweezil is realy hard to reach, I've sent him several messages asking for permission to photograph the ZPZ shows in Montreal two years straight, never got any answers and he rarely logs in. Joe's got a myspace too, maybe it would be easier. This guys is THE vault keeper and ZPZ's drummer.

[DhanishtaDevi]

It sounds like its Orange county lumber truck to me.

[simonhoule]

I was just listening to Zappa radio and heard what sounds the most like that little bit. "Eat that question" from Grand Wazoo. When I first tried to identify the song, I spent a lot of time listening to it, found it really similar alltough I could not find the same "hook" with the same tone...

Zappa had many reoccuring themes in his music and I'm pretty sure that what we are hearing in that video exerpt is the theme from "Eat that question", different rendition.

[tab1990]

Yeah is dose sound similar especially about a minute before the end

[krt332]

i think its actually frank soloing off of, "my guitar wants to killy your mama" possibly...

[tab1990]

It could be. Thanks

[TheRealDerfMan]

Try listening to the bass line...  That should help in telling if it's from Trouble Everyday or O.C. Lumber Truck.... hope that helps!

[tab1990]

thanks

[umpfco]

I think it is a version of "Trouble Everyday" from the Freak Out album.

[tab1990]

i'll have a look for that. thanks!!

[theledzeppguy]

sounds like a live improv part of "Orange County Lumber Truck" but I'm not sure.

[tab1990]

yeah "fruhko" wrote that to. thanks!

[fruhko]

this can be seen and listened better on Frank Zappa Bio - Late Show BBC 1of5, or on the first part of Frank Zappa Biography by A&E. The song is hard to track down because is an improvised solo of a song, but if i should guess, it's probbably "the orange county lumber truck" solo.

[tab1990]

what album is that?

[fruhko]

from "weasels rip my flesh". but you wont find something even similar to that, just the tone of the guitar with the wah can be listened, search for "get a little" from the same album as well

[sketchr]

"Chunga's Revenge" and "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" sound kinda similar to this...

[tab1990]

yer it sounds like a load of songs but none have this amazing lick

[paulbellemare]

I believe it only exists in that documentary footage...Is it any longer than this version?...

[tab1990]

its also in the 2:00 min of the Frank Zappa Bio BBC this is a video responce!

[paulbellemare]

Do you know what the BBC Bio is titled?...I don't seem to have this document in my archives...(maybe I have an old VHS somewhere) Thanx for the tip!

[paulbellemare]

Oh! I have this BBC documentary, I just never paid attention to this particular song...But yeah it's right there at 2:00...The search continues...

[paulbellemare]

Mmmm...the jam #5 has some similarities but doesn't have the same drive...I searched thru all the concerts from 68 to end of 70 and couldn't find that excerpt..greggarypeccary has the closest version with "Baked-Bean Boogie" (YCDTOSA vo;.5)

I don't know how accurate the background footage at the beginning is ( ie The "Texas against LBJ War" )but he played in Texas twice in 68 and 70...I'll keep searching...

[paulbellemare]

This is surely from 1970...and there is a "song"( the 5th on the Live at the Valbonne Festival in France, July 25 CD) that is really almost identical in the riff and it is simply called "JAM # 5"...But again it could be from another concert during the same 70 tour..I will keep searching...You now have 3 guys in Quebec on that case!..lol...

[tab1990]

whats the cd title (wikipedia link please)?

[paulbellemare]

There is a bootleg titled simply Zappa & Ponty at the Festival de Valbonne...it is the first live meeting of Zappa and the famous violinist...5 tracks on CD...I have tons of recorded Zappa concerts and mostly every shows available from 66 to the very last concert of 73...I would suggest you search thru the Zappa Gig List on Google it has EVERYTHING you need to know about what song in wich concert of what year...etc..Good luck on your search!...I

[tab1990]

first search top site a download of five tracks Intro, Jam1, KingKong, Jam2, Jam3 listening to it now.

[paulbellemare]

I have to retract myself, it's NOT 1970 since Motorhead is in the line-up....

[simonhoule]

Well, I listenent to many Zappa albums lately... I got awful exited at some parts, Willie the Pimp for example. The guitar's fuzz & tones and identical. But I never heard the hook.

I was watching the BBC Zappa Biography yesterday and heard it there (The same bio as A&E's) with the same footage.

Is it possible that it might be some never released on vinyl? And only remains on film?

[tab1990]

yeah this footage is from a BBC documentary on Matt Groining the creator of the simpsons.

[tab1990]

Where can i whatch(or buy) the BBC Zappa Biography?

[simonhoule]

Tab1990... You really got me going crazy! I saw the video yesterday and this is REALLY familiar. I started to scan my CDs. First I tought it was on YCDTOSA vol.5-disc 1. There's a lot (well exclusively) old M.O.I. material. The guitar sounds like something from the Chunga's Revenge era.

Anyways, thanks to you, you got two guys here in Quebec obsessed with finding what piece this is from. We will keep on researching it until we find it.

[tab1990]

i know how you feel i saw this 7 years ago i went to the music shop and listened to all the zappa cd's thay had. if you find out what it is please tell me so i can finally listen to the whole song

[GreggaryPeccary]

Definitely something from the original m.o.i.

[tab1990]

is that "Mothers of Invention"?

[GreggaryPeccary]

Yeah. Sounds like something from Disc 1 of "You can`t do that on stage anymore" Vol.5, but I couldn`t find it on there. Sorry. But I know this, so I`ll find out

[tab1990]

Good Luck!!

[tonlitt]

Sounds like the Solo from 'Magic Fingers' off the 200 Motels Album 1971 . .

[tab1990]

thanks but thats not it i just search the video

[tab1990]

Please Tell me the name of the Song hes Playing and From what album