Frank Zappa: Peaches en Regalia SCORE ANALYSIS & REACTION | The Daily Doug | Episode 341

#FrankZappa #PeachesEnRegalia #ZappaAnalysis

In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm diving into a #WeirdWednesday episode with Peaches en Regalia by Frank Zappa. I have a score to follow along with, too! So, join me for an exploration into why this composition is just so infectious!

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[joshuab]

I was lucky enough to play this song on stage with Dweezil when he came to perform with my university jazz orchestra for our annual Zappa tribute concert

[MattKrogmeier]

I keep challenging Doug to try "The Black Page" - but I do look forward to this one. FZ is a genius.

[GoodCorporateRobot]

I've been listening to this song for 40+ years and I have not once felt tired of it. It's such a beautiful piece. One of Frank's best compositions IMHO. Nice reaction Doug!

[steveford]

I think I've been listening to this album since 1969. One of the greatest rock albums of all time.

[fenderchamp]

The Grand Wazoo is a terrific jazzy instrumental album. Very underrated.

[osculus]

You're right about Dweezil's band. If you haven't seen any of the "Zappa Plays Zappa" concerts on video, I highly recommend them all. An entire night of Dweezil playing his father's music with quite a few alumni of Frank's band, all of them just completely nailing any piece they play. Brilliant stuff.

[adamelliott]

One of your best reactions Doug. Zappa's catalogue is humungous and could keep you entertained for as long as you want. 🙂

[LosAngelesClassicRockOrchestra]

FZ deserves to be regarded among the greatest American composers. Bernstein, Copland, John Williams, Ellington, Monk, etc. - also, Billy Hulting (from LACRO) in Dweezil's version!

[soggytom]

"Peaches En Regalia"- the gateway drug to all things Zappa and Mothers.

[surfdigby]

The "octave bass" was a regular electric bass guitar, recorded at half speed so that when played back at regular speed, it was an octave higher.
It's essentially just an alternative way of recording a regular guitar solo, but Frank did it this way as he liked the timbre of the thicker strings.

The saxophones, flutes and keyboards were all recorded as overdubs by the brilliant multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood.

[michaeldowson]

Zappa ran his band like it was an orchestra, and he was only composer/conductor. The band members were his employees of sorts and played his compositions only(he did do a few covers - look up his cover of Whipping Post), but he composed music to highlight their skills. He wrote stuff for percussionist Ruth Underwood that is incredible

[lcbcreative]

New to Zappa. I have never understood less and enjoyed myself more! Glad to be broadening my musical horizons.

[matsandersson-espling]

The "octave bass" is a sped-up bass guitar. There is some double-speed percussion as well on the Hot Rats version. Ian Underwood plays (as far as I can identify the instruments) flute, soprano & alto saxes, clarinet, piano, electric piano, pipe organ and electric organs. Shuggie Otis, who plays bass, was 16 years old when this was recorded.

[BirdYoumans]

As is usually the case, a great piece can be done effectively in many different arrangements. You gave 3 nice examples of it being done in a somewhat "large" style. And by the way, the son does the father proud. I'm sure Frank must be smiling from wherever. But here is a version of it that just blew my mind because it is only three guys doing it.
I had the great honor of filling in for Tom Fowler in 74 when he broke his finger on tour. Got to play with George Duke, Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood, Napoleon Murphy Brock and of course Frank. Got to record with him at Caribou Studios in Colorado and enjoyed it all immensely. Peaches and Inca Roads were two of my favorite pieces of his. Ruth does stuff on Inca Roads that no human should be able to do with mallets. Frank was truly unique as a composer and in time, and it's already happening, will be remembered as one of the great composers. It may have been labeled "Rock" at the time, but it was certainly orchestral in nature. Some of it I called orchestrated chaos lol! Not to mention, he did write for orchestra as well. He was always very straightforward, but kind and friendly to me. I loved him. He left us way too soon. I often wonder what he would be doing now.

[ClichéGuevara-]

Napoleon Murphy Brock, on sax in the last version. Absolutely proper. Hell of a Mother.

[surfdigby]

The tenor saxophonist with Dweezil is Napoleon Murphy Brock, saxophonist/flautist/singer with the early-mid 70s version of the Mothers of Invention. He featured on the version of Inca Roads that you did a video on.

Keyboards, flute and groovin' alto sax are played by the wonderful Scheila Gonzalez, who was stationed about 10 feet in front of me when I saw Dweezil in concert.

[estebeer]

I didn't expect an analysis. This is one of my favorite Zappa's song. I started to hear Zappa with this song. Thank's!
And I think that the best orchestra Zappa's performance were the songs "Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat" at the Alte Oper, Frankfurt. He made the arrangement by himself. You could find the video here on Youtube or in the album "Yellow Shark". It was the last album befor he died and it is orchestra music.

[JustMe-vkfn]

:D "Whoa, there's a lot going on". What a perfect description of Zappa's musical talent. :)

[DonHG]

Peaches en Regalia is a classic Zappa performance piece. He brought the house down whenever he played it. An all time great piece.

[lanzdona]

One of my all-time favorite tunes! Thanks for featuring it!