How did he even come up with the name "apollo C. Vermouth"... Like what does that even reference or mean.

And he played ukulele on it.

The B side was The Canyons of your Mind. There are 3 versions of this song. The mono single version has a spoken intro and a different first verse. The 2 stereo versions have another first verse and only one has the spoken intro. There is rumoured to be a 4th version, which is the stereo mix of the single version, but without the spoken intro. And I'm singing just for you, covered in sequins!

@@bigtone1348 Nah! It's about a super-modern yuppie-type person. At the end, it says "Here comes the twist... I don't exist. Urban space (parks, etc.), my arse.

@@Ndlanding Listen to interviews with Neil Innes. He wrote the song. Neil explained on local radio in 2005 that the urban spaceman sits in his apartment on the 20th floor of a tower block, looking out at more tower blocks. He fantasises that he is a superhero, in order to cope with the boredom of life. Urban space refers to small areas of man made park land between tower blocks, which were built in the early sixties onwards. At the end of the song, he admits that it is all in his head.

He'd be 'canceled' today for some of these comments.

@@slide4180 Cancel culture isn't real except for those exceptions when the people are actual creeps. But that's just called the justice system.

@@slide4180 sure would; he’s always been relatively based

Frank was never short on opinions... and his take on things was always uniquely his own. Zappa was an original.

@@slide4180 nah he wouldn't be canceled....You never would have heard of him in the first place. Non conformists like him wouldn't have a chance to release a single album in today's world.

indeed.

he had no filter back when everyone had a filter

A focused mind

Super interesting video; I’d consider subscribing to this channel if it wasn’t for robot voice narrator…

Typical hypocritical liberal mindset, says "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" in one breath then in another how he prefers blacks to essentially stay within their cultural lane and not get too sophisticated, reminds me of that 'uppity N's' quote

@@oldskoolfool141 I think you are misinterpreting the intent behind his words. In 1968 the concept of PC correctness was virtually non-existent and ppl were not as constrained by language as they are today. Zappa critiqued black music no differently than he did white music, and he liked and disliked elements of both. He has had several black musicians in his bands over the decades who have contributed much to his music and who loved and admired him greatly (George Duke, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Ike Willis and others). Whatever your young 21st century mindset interprets of Zappa, pretty sure its quite a bit off.

Hmmm.. a lyrical influence on Neil Peart perhaps?

Yeah, look at all the memorable music he produced? LOL. The greatest collection of "Smell My Farts" muzak ever recorded. How many copies have sold in the last forty Years? Virtually zero,

He played with Chick Corea before Al Di Meola joined the band and also with Mose Allison later on. Middle-Class White-Boy is a fun song from Mose Allison.

@Lupco. Poverty Train. Eager to check out that version. I don't remember the album track as being psychedelic.

Thanks for the info. "Poverty Train" is my favorite Laura Nyro song.

My last name is Farrell. I was always so proud that someone with my surname was a world famous jazz musician. Until I found out he was an Italian guy who changed his name to Farrell. I was mad. Hahaha!!!!!

Good catch. It's obviously The Wrecking Crew. They did everything for the Fifth Dimension. It's either Hal on drums or the equally great Earl Palmer. I read somewhere the way to distinguish whether it's Hal or Earl, is to listen to the toms. Hal, apparently tuned his toms lower than most drummers, giving his drum fills a deeper, richer tone. And notice the arrangement credit is Bones Howe. His resume is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Oh, and look at the record label it's on. Liberty Records. Founded by the legendary Sy Waronker. I thought the label folded by the mid/late sixties, but I guess not.

He did not lack Huberis though,, "You could learn something" can be a little condescending if you don't want to work for a narcissist. Frank is one of my favorite guitarists, but he did have an EGO.

@@timscarrow9151 Zappa did not suffer fools gladly- or any other way for that matter.

Later he was even harder on Keith Partridge.

@Chris Waters Makes me wonder what FZ would have done to Alan Partridge.

Why Colored people ? oops People of color, do they walk backwards too?

They played Dock of the Bay on American Bandstand. The song blew my 10 year old mind. Then Dick Clark said Otis Redding, the song's singer had died two weeks before. Devastated me, I never forgot that moment, the song has never gotten old.

@@charlesgallagher1376 Think of his partner Steve Cropper. He put together the sounds of the seagulls and added the now famous lead guitar. When he was finished after about forty-eight hours, he put on a suit, flew to the funeral, and was one of Otis' pallbearers.

Did he say "finger poppin' spades"? Lol

That's a cool story! Judging by Zappa's tastes, I'm guessing he liked the very early Motown acts like the Countours but he probably disliked most of the mid to late 60s stuff.

I don't think the record at 1:02 actually had Buddy Holly on it; the Crickets kept recording without Holly long after his death and had a number of minor UK hits (though almost no U.S. ones) during that time. Their version of "I fought the law." was a flip side from 1961 before being made popular by the Bobby Fuller Four and The Clash.

@@pcno2832 You're probably right, although there were Buddy Holly songs with just his solo guitar recorded in hotels I think, that were released after his death with the Fireballs adding a backing. Some of them are quit good such as Crying, Waiting, Hoping. And that was The Hollies, not Buddy Holly who had the #1 record. My bad. I need more sleep. I changed my comment at the top.

@@YesterdaysPapers We know Frank loved his Doo Wop And When he had his studio early 60's in Cucamonga? his guitar work and recordings were that surf and R&B styles and novelty (that's another story, why we can't be drafted.)

My friend's mom gave us jobs catering. So, she got a contract with David Forest, a big rock promoter in LA. The highlight was always Zappa's new year's eve shows @ Pauley pavilion (UCLA). When Terry Bozzio was with him, and Dale was there too.

In the UK It was a double album or 2 single albums. One studio and 1 live.

Yes, I was shocked to see this!

Those We're the Days

@@johnkeating4084 🤣 clever Reply.

Yes they were……🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Never heard of this article so I went and checked it out, very insightful stuff as to Frank's view of the music business and social morays of his day. Especially liked the last paragraph, definitely could see his brain planting the seeds that would eventually become 200 Motels

Kind of ironic since Frank's music was unique and impressive but his lyrics and voice were kinda crap.

@@suds5214 Totally agree! 🤣👍😇

@@suds5214 His lyrics were okay in the earlier years, but they definitely took a steep quality dive in the later years. I don't think that he believed he had a great voice, because he kept hiring people who were much better singers than he was. I'd still have preferred that he had put more emphasis on the instrumental material.

The drummer was Hal Blaine it was the usual Wrecking Crew backing on 5th Dimension.

I’m guessing he didn’t know Charlie was a jazz drummer ? Or knew and still wasn’t impressed.!

Saddly your favourite musician could not recognise Elvin who is also my favourite drummer. This means that he never paid attention to Coltrane's music, which is a capital offence for ANY musician, let alone such an highly rated one. Big disappointment.

@@musamusashi lol

but only in the USA, overseas it was the Jimmy Web Hit "Up Up and Away" and the Hair song "Aquarius" that were their hits.

What he said about Diana Ross was frightlyly true! The man knew his stuff! Great channel is always love it!

I don't know about "musical IQs" but it was an opinion from someone who's music was a taste not many people acquired.

@@racketman2u You may be right, but it is difficult for me not to like a bloke who warned us all not to eat the yellow snow!

Zappa was a genius but because the music industry is what it is, they hated him so not many people listened to him. People are starting to listen to him now, but the ones who have for years, decades love all his music which is quite difficult to listen to .

It never charted.

Although, knowing Frank, he might just defy expectations, and like something you wouldn't expect. As when he commented favorably on disco music in the '70's.

@@tomripsin730 You’re right! But I didn’t say he was predictable, just that he didn’t hold back and had a unique perspective. He was irrepressible.

@@dynjarren8355 Understood. And I agree.

@@tomripsin730 He was also very funny! I miss that guy.

@@tomripsin730 Heck, Lennon said he liked Disco, too! I guess he liked to see people dancing like they used to with Rock n Roll. Before it became cerebral music you sit down and listen to. And I still like Whatever Gets you thru the Night by Lennon and Elton. It’s almost a Disco song and I still like Fame with Bowie. Great Tune! I liked some Disco except when they played Violins and went Classical. Disco Beethoven was terrible! The Violins drove me nuts! 👎🏻🦨 Good Disco was The Bee Gees, Donna Summer (I Feel Love) the Moroder classic and Chic! 👏🏻 And Lippsinc-Funkytown! That’s the best Disco song ever! In my opinion! The production sound on that song blew my mind! It’s so great with Headphones! 🎧 There are only two kinds of music! Good songs or Bad songs. Don’t you agree? The following opinion was my own and feel free to disagree or agree. Your choice! 👏🏻😎

@Victor Alexander Sorry...no idea what you're banging on about!

Yeah, middle-class, Italian-American Zappa banging on about "spades" and heaven forfend that black music should be sophisticated. He was always a jerk.

Rick Beato has a cute name for that "sprinkler system" rhythm figure you're referring to: he calls it the "cicada."

Direct yes! Honest? Perhaps! Mature? NEVER! He never grew up and was always like a teenager with his dick jokes and misogyny always craving and needing attention and being provocative for it's own sake, like the annoying kid at school ('Look at me I'm a genius and everyone else is crap') never crediting any of his contemporaries for anything. Frank was the very epitome of the spoiled Baby boomer. Arrogant, cocksuure all while being an insecure (thus lashing out at others) asshole! The hypocritical moralist who put down pot smoking and then died from smoking commercially produced cancer sticks. Yeah real smart" NOT!!

It was reissued in 1968: www.discogs.com/release/3797132-The-Crickets-My-Little-Girl

I guess this Blind Date was done before or after the Mothers filmed this 30-minute show at BBC studios: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hqiBprGonLTNo4k.html Most of these Blind Dates were done that way. The people from the Melody Maker would meet up with the artists at BBC studios before or after they filmed appearances for shows like Top of The Tops, etc...

@@YesterdaysPapers Good stuff!!

The first incarnation of The Mothers of Invention broke up about a year after this.

@@YesterdaysPapers I always liked King Kong. I can never understand why Peter Jackson didn’t use it in his version of the movie, especially a version I heard where Frank introduced it talking about King Kong like he was a real great ape in the archives of human history-can’t remember where that one was recorded.

@@YesterdaysPapers I saw them at the Festival Hall on this UK visit (end Oct 1968). It's the "Uncle Meat " period (recording, not release). IIRC the MOI did some crap sketch and "King Kong" (a la BBC recording) with other bits and pieces from "We're Only In It For The Money". The sound was great.

I think his point is that he preferred JB when he was focused on music more than wealth and self promotion. Frank was a genius totally focused on music and never had to try hard to appear intelligent.

@@andrewparkin8497 But that's equally wrong-headed. I think he liked James Brown in the 50s when he was doing doo wop and R&B that was more familiar and that he simply hadn't been paying attention because this period, from about 66-69 is when he was really his creative peak. You can't blame Zappa because he was deep into his own idiosyncratic bag, but it illustrates the danger of spouting off with first impressions because while I'm sure he didn't mind sounding snobbish and arrogant he wouldn't have wanted to sound stupid.

@@andrewparkin8497 And my point is that that comment ignores or even belittles the supreme funkiness that James was inventing/innovating in 1968 and would continue to invent/innovate over the next few years. Focused more on wealth and self promotion than on music? Give me a break... (pun not intended)

@@BCThunderthud Yeah, Zappa admits to not being plugged into the current scene. If you combined to that the reality he was only doing this rundown because he was getting paid, you’re asking for bad judgement. That’s without mentioning the obvious attachment you have to an artist’s era from the time you first discovered them.

@@robertmccauley754 I feel a little dumb for taking it so seriously, it's really neat that they even asked him to do this way back in Mothers days, and he probably spent 15 minutes on it. It just hasn't aged that well.

Obviously, Zappa didn't hate all jazz since he gives his highest praise among this group of records to the Elvin Jones Trio. Also, he praises the great jazz drummer Tony Williams of Miles' band. He just expresses scorn for the "easy listening" jazz he hears on the radio, which I suppose was prescient.

Frank only told the truth about hippies. To most all of them it was nothing but a fad! The one's who didn't od ended up being yuppies, very few stayed true.

He's sounds exactly like them, the fuck are you talking about

Yes, but only because Marvin Gaye's Super Hits was released in 1970 ;)

I agree with that but still find almost all of his music unlistenable.

@@bagofnails6692 music like King Kong played on a demented ice cream truck or his opera Thing Fish were aquired tastes

@@bryandawkins ~ King Kong has "serious" music that finishes with hilarity via the ice cream truck. LOL !

@@bryandawkins I don't want to imagine a world where Zappa had never existed, but that doesn't mean that I ever want to sit down and listen to the music that he produced. :)

Tell us what you listen to that you think is better than Zappa

Was that Flo And Eddie ( alias Kurt and Mark from The Turtles?)

Yeah, the band that recorded live at Fillmore and Just Another Band... I think Frank loved that lineup and chemistry. It's a shame he got attacked and put out of commission which kinda ended the band.

That means he wasn't at all familiar with Coltrane's music, which is kind of depressing from someone with such high aims as a musician and composer.