Frank Zappa: Peaches en Regalia
Musicians:
Frank Zappa (guitar), Ian Underwood (keyboards, flute, sax, clarinet), Shuggie Otis (bass), Ron Selico (drums).
Composed by Frank Zappa
.Recorded: Los Angeles, July 18-August 30, 1969
Rating: 95/100 (learn more)
Oh yea naysayers, who doubteth the jazz credentials of Mr. Zappa . . . please note this composition made its way into The Real Book. Not the legal version of The Real Book, but the underground, photocopy-of- a-photocopy-of-a-photocopy edition that passed from the innards of the Berklee College of Music and out to the world via ten thousand underemployed jazz musicians. Getting into this fake book was the ultimate insider credential for a jazz composer. But why they picked this song is a bit of a mystery. Not because it isn't great—vraiment, c'est magnifique—but because "Peaches en Regalia" is one of those crazy, complicated Zappa tunes that is not your typical jam session fare. This music has a unhinged, majestic quality; it could serve as the soundtrack for the coronation of a mad king. Ian Underwood is a one-man band, the great Shuggie Otis joins on bass and Zappa adds a brief but very accomplished solo. Give that man a crown!
Reviewer: Ted Gioia
Tags: fusion
The greatet song ever, no question
This song has definitely endured the zircon encrusted hands of time. My guitar teacher uses it to sort out candidates for his band, along with two other songs. This is a fabulous song for study. It took me about an hour or two to chart it, and about 7 attempts to get this recording on youtube. I am no Shuggie for sure. He recorded this when he was a teenager I am told. All the credit to his mastery of the bass.
This song has endured the zircon encrusted hands of time for sure. My guitar teacher uses it to sort out the candidates from the non candidates in his band. I was bugging him to help me chart it and tried to do it myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgUAIkKaemM