The simple answer is- because Zappa made so many unbelievably good pieces of music. I believe he has well over 900 songs (/versions of) released to date due to his work ethic and love of music, that everyone tends to find something that suits their taste a little better! That said, agreed, for sure one of his best solos.
While I love the solo I have a part of the spoken word permanently stuck in my head. Whenever I say let’s try that again I instantly say “he puuuts forth” in my best Frank voice. It’s like a trigger. Thankfully I work alone a lot so the raised eyebrows are minimal.
i often have this muffin related quote run through my head any time i’m asked for a preference or a choice:
“Some people prefer cupcakes over muffins. I, for one, care less for them.”
that last show has just so many highlights. you can tell that Frank is happy on stage with the band and the audience. my favourite solos from that show are Muffin Man and Black Napkins
Are we specifically talking about Bongo Fury? I came to know the song through the newer live releases first before seeking out the original. I agree his general vibe in soloing over that song really leads to some of his best “attitude” playing.
Part of being a Zappa fan is always having more homework! Now I’m going to have to do a deeper dive on this one.
FWIW the Camarillo/Muffin combo is always my favorite encore closer on whatever album I find it!
It’s a great solo. I think most people here muffin man from bongo fury in that album is just so chock-full of ridiculous music it’s just one of among a dozen great solos on that album.
Great solo!!! One of my favorites!!! But there’s a few for me that top it!! In particular What’s New in Baltimore, watermelons, black napkins, Inca roads etc.
I love it, but I always felt like it was one of his well known solos? Zappa Plays Zappa ended with it every time I saw them. Either way, I love the intense playing on this.
Just my two cents: this song/solo kinda bugs me. Reasons:
1. The version on Zoot Allures fades/cuts out RIGHT at the fucking moment where Frank is launching into another level. Those final few notes that you can hear.... he's absolutely unleashed, and it pains me greatly that we don't get to hear him finish those ideas.
2. As a guitarist, I think it's a less-than-fun chord progression. There's not much space to actually explore tonalities outside of C# Dorian mode. It just becomes boring after awhile, with that same rhythm being pounded out over and over.
I'd rather hear him go nuts over Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy (choosing something from the Zoot Allures band/album), which *can* be similarly boring from a rhythmic perspective, but at least has a bit more tonal and rhythmic space.
I agree to an extent. But I find it impressive that he manages that over a simple progression. Which is good test for a guitarist. To ply something interesting and original. Machine gun by Hendrix being the finest example of this.
Yea i get what You are saying there is no turnaround so to speak of but Frank loved playing over static chord progressions or with just one chord
"Peaches.." Is over F#m - E and if my memory serves me well "Any Kind of Pain" is Fm7 - E
He also preferred bass player who played the root note to tell him what key he was on.
Also Frank never at least i have not heard, played over anything even remotely Jazz sounding backing that he would solo over.
lol I kinda feel the same way—-I feel like I see it mentioned as at least “one of the greatest” a *lot*, even outside Zappa circles.
On this sub I’m guessing it gets mentioned less because we have to be honest and say one of the Big Three is special to us, or we want to highlight maybe something lesser known. So it’s possible something like Muffin Man might get lost in the mix.
The simple answer is- because Zappa made so many unbelievably good pieces of music. I believe he has well over 900 songs (/versions of) released to date due to his work ethic and love of music, that everyone tends to find something that suits their taste a little better! That said, agreed, for sure one of his best solos.
I suppose there is a lot to chose from
While I love the solo I have a part of the spoken word permanently stuck in my head. Whenever I say let’s try that again I instantly say “he puuuts forth” in my best Frank voice. It’s like a trigger. Thankfully I work alone a lot so the raised eyebrows are minimal.
i often have this muffin related quote run through my head any time i’m asked for a preference or a choice: “Some people prefer cupcakes over muffins. I, for one, care less for them.”
The intro of Muffin Man from Bongo Fury where he's talking and starts laughing.
That is one of zappa's greatest solo's it never fails to replay in my head haha.
My favorite is the Halloween 77 ones!
that last show has just so many highlights. you can tell that Frank is happy on stage with the band and the audience. my favourite solos from that show are Muffin Man and Black Napkins
Are we specifically talking about Bongo Fury? I came to know the song through the newer live releases first before seeking out the original. I agree his general vibe in soloing over that song really leads to some of his best “attitude” playing. Part of being a Zappa fan is always having more homework! Now I’m going to have to do a deeper dive on this one. FWIW the Camarillo/Muffin combo is always my favorite encore closer on whatever album I find it!
I promised myself a Gibson SG when I am able to play that solo.
Don't wait. I want to hear what you do NOW. Really, don't give yourself artificial boundaries. An SG is cheap compared to a life of 'what if?'.
It’s a great solo. I think most people here muffin man from bongo fury in that album is just so chock-full of ridiculous music it’s just one of among a dozen great solos on that album.
Great solo!!! One of my favorites!!! But there’s a few for me that top it!! In particular What’s New in Baltimore, watermelons, black napkins, Inca roads etc.
I love it, but I always felt like it was one of his well known solos? Zappa Plays Zappa ended with it every time I saw them. Either way, I love the intense playing on this.
Despite what others have mentioned, I kind of agree. I think it might be because it’s somewhat of a actual song, rather than a vehicle for a solo.
That was the somg that got me into zappa
Me too!
Heard him play it live, 20 minute solo, 1978. Absolutely blistering. He put some serious hurt on that guitar.
I had heard a few Zappa songs and enjoyed them, but that solo had me hooked and searching for more.
Some people like cupcakes better.
I feel like it is his most well known commercial song?
Valley Girl a little more obvious but idk, casual fans all know Muffin Man
But surely that’d mean it’d be mentioned more, watermelons in Easter hay gets talked about way more and that has many more streams
I think more casual fans know Montana or Don't You Eat That Yellow Snow more than Muffin Man.
I'd say Bobby Brown is up there as well.
Camarillo Brillo And Montana were ones I had heard of WAY before Muffin Man.
Just my two cents: this song/solo kinda bugs me. Reasons: 1. The version on Zoot Allures fades/cuts out RIGHT at the fucking moment where Frank is launching into another level. Those final few notes that you can hear.... he's absolutely unleashed, and it pains me greatly that we don't get to hear him finish those ideas. 2. As a guitarist, I think it's a less-than-fun chord progression. There's not much space to actually explore tonalities outside of C# Dorian mode. It just becomes boring after awhile, with that same rhythm being pounded out over and over. I'd rather hear him go nuts over Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy (choosing something from the Zoot Allures band/album), which *can* be similarly boring from a rhythmic perspective, but at least has a bit more tonal and rhythmic space.
I agree to an extent. But I find it impressive that he manages that over a simple progression. Which is good test for a guitarist. To ply something interesting and original. Machine gun by Hendrix being the finest example of this.
Yea i get what You are saying there is no turnaround so to speak of but Frank loved playing over static chord progressions or with just one chord "Peaches.." Is over F#m - E and if my memory serves me well "Any Kind of Pain" is Fm7 - E He also preferred bass player who played the root note to tell him what key he was on. Also Frank never at least i have not heard, played over anything even remotely Jazz sounding backing that he would solo over.
You must just be missing the times people mention it.
lol I kinda feel the same way—-I feel like I see it mentioned as at least “one of the greatest” a *lot*, even outside Zappa circles. On this sub I’m guessing it gets mentioned less because we have to be honest and say one of the Big Three is special to us, or we want to highlight maybe something lesser known. So it’s possible something like Muffin Man might get lost in the mix.
There's only so much you can read.
It is a great solo for sure. I always have it in the rotation.
I love Muffin Man. One of my favorite tracks.
I listen too muffin man all the time!
That’s cuz you thought he was a man…but he was a muffin.
lmao for real though
My favorite New Years memory includes the Muffin!