It’s hard to express how important the Mike Douglass show was to music fans back then. One of the few shows to air live performances

This is one of those songs where you don’t forget listening to it for the first time

Gotta love Frank. His funny and rude songs get your attention when you're a teenager, then you get older and realize what a phenominal musician he is/was.

FZ was way ahead of his time. I saw him three times, and each time, I just could not believe how good he and his musicians were. He was a truly phenomenal musician and guitarist, very creative, and created complex music that captivated. A true original and genius. Love live Frank Zappa!

Even now, in 2020 i still watch this video often. Sure the studio version is great but this is something different. Even now it brings a tear to my eye. Frank was so ahead and beyond of anything and everything in his time. I miss him. Beautiful song

Can't believe they let him play this on TV back in the day? Awesome!

I grew up on Frank Zappa. I’m 59 in 2024. I am a lucky person. 🎶

Frank and Prince, despite the credit they get I still feel they don't get enough. This is beautiful

Plugs in guitar in TV studio then nonchalantly opens a portal into another world via music. Nice =o)

What I really love about this performance is how nonchalant Frank is about the whole thing. To me that speaks to his level of mastery of his craft. It's like he could do it in his sleep and still make it beautiful. It just amazes me endlessly.

Embarrassed to say, I never really sat down and listened to anything by Frank Zappa. Had absolutely no idea he played anything remotely like this. I am stunned...🎉❤

This is one of the best compositions I’ve ever heard of his. Zappa is and always will be a legend ✌🏽🔥

This is the most wholesome blues I ever heard Zappa play. If you dont feel this in your heart, you have no soul.

He goofed around so much, many people forget how talented and brillant he was.

his tone was truly a marvel, rich with overtones, borderline fuzz saturation

I use to know Frank back in the 70's when he produced Ruben and the Jets but I had never heard this before. He was truly a genius and could play different genres. Here's a bit of trivia that not many know because he wasn't mention in the credits but he asked if he could trade guitar licks our lead guitar player, the late Tony Duran at the end of one of the songs I sang, "Dedicated to the One I Love" on our first album "For Real" on Mercury records. It was an honor for him to back me up as this was the only song he played on despite producing the whole album.

My son & I just saw Dweezil play Black Napkins w horns at Tipitina's in NuAwlins. I saw Frank play it when I was my sons age. Special Nite!

Not just a great musician....one of the coolest guys on the planet.....👍

Mike Douglas! Thank you for welcoming Frank. I could listen to Frank play guitar for hours on end. This song is near 50 years old. I honestly remember when Zoot Allures came out! Love this! Franks utter genius shines!

That tone is so perfect

Zappa's appearances on establishment TV programmes like this revealed that a lot of the personalities and producers back then were a lot hipper than we give them credit for. Frank had fans in many places, and they opened doors for him when they could.

The small amplifier he's using is a Pignose 7-100. I have 3 of them. They've been used in the studio on recordings forever. In this case, Frank rocked it live on television.

This man has the soundtrack to my life 60 y/o and still right there everyday if poss Got me through the best and worst I owe a debt to this man a nd his music Thank you frank R i p

I just love when the trumpets join. Especially at the end for the call and respond with Frank

That tone.....

For some reason it's easy to forget how great a guitar player he was. He didn't just compose, he tore up the guitar as well.

Although He grew up composing mostly in the 70's, He was not experimenting with drugs, (He didn't even like playing with players that were high). Frank, was just a crazy loveable, super creative, and, an experimental Genius....as a true Genius tends too 🐝, there is soo much you left, for our enjoyment - Thank you F.Z. & Dweezil for spreading the Gospel

Is nobody going to acknowledge the fact that Frank Zappa is tapping in 1976?

great playing by that studio band !!

I've watched this so many times. It gets better every single time. It ages like an extremely fine wine. This actually may be one of the greatest things ever created, musically or otherwise.

A Zappa follower since 1966 when I was 12. Over the years as this song emerged, dont know why, it brings tears to my eyes, damn near every version. Some more than others.

This is a song you can totally relax by. I love it!!!!!

The older I get the more I understand Frank’s playing. When I was 11 what I liked about him was that he was very funny, but I didn’t get his guitar work at all. After a lifetime of tragedies and struggles, most of the pop music I used to listen to is intolerable now, but when I hear Frank play guitar I feel right at home.

Mike Douglas might look square but he certainly wasn't. FZ sadly missed. A man ahead of his time.

I can listen to this Guys' compositions/solos...ALL DAY ~ never gets old, just better, better appreciated 👍

This is one of the reasons that he is my favourite guitar player

Very good. Frank is a genius.

I saw him at the Barbican in '83...my late husband's go to musician ...I have loved this musician/composer/singer/genius since I was 17 ....we were blessed with him......

Frank Zappa was such an awesome musician... and that still doesn't him him fully. He was unique. He was a visionary. As far as Mike Douglass, he was a visionary in daytime television. I spent many afternoons after school watching The Mike Douglass Show.

For me it's sincerely one of the best videos on UKposts. How amazingly good this is.

Most beautiful tone I’ve ever heard

Zappa was a legendary guitarist, composer, band leader, social commentator, and satirist. I think it's great that apparent "legit" musicians were on to his uncompromising approach to music. And how cool was it that he was on the "Mike Douglas Show"? You know for a guy from an earlier generation he had a lot of cool acts on and he treated them with respect. Kudos to Frank and Mike. Man I miss Frank.

One of the best blues solos that i've heard, beautiful

Bless Mike, the King of Television for exposing Frank to the public!

Zappa was a true genius who actually had most all of his music charted, not just improvised! Yes, all that wild-assed stuff was on sheet music. You really had to be a competent technical artist to hang with Frank, and he demanded perfection. In a head space of his own, with a keen social and hilarious outlook on life, especially in the surrealistic 1960s L.A. environment, Frank blazed a trail few but the intellectually twisted could appreciate. Only Hendrix could riff as fast and good as FZ.

killer tone and playing wow.

Just read on Reddit someone who pointed out how onomatopeoic his music could be. According to that guy, the guitar playing is literally Frank playing a musical interpretation of drinking shots at the bar, slamming the shot glass down with each shot (1:13-1:21 for one) and then getting slightly more inebriated as it goes on, then stumbling out of the bar with the door closing behind him (3:52-4:10; then 4:11). Whether that was intended by Frank or not, it's certainly an interesting interpretation. Point is, I think we all get something different out of Frank's music and it's well known that Frank was composing and performing for careful, thoughtful listeners. He worked tirelessly to make the kind of music he wanted to make. If I had to sum up FZ's body of work (been a great fan for 30 plus years) in one word, I'd use the word "integrity". That's what separates the true geniuses from the rest of us in any walk of life. Driven to do what they must do, it goes the way it goes simply because it cannot go any other way.

A total genius musician, Zappa is Zappa for ever, and period ! (Love his SG !!)

if youve heard the album version you realize how hard he just crushed that performance... possibly even better.what a legend

one of the best guitarist ever!

This was in Cleveland on a local new show my mom supported me being a musician since I was four years old and she came home from work yesterday and I said Pay mom Frank Zappa's on TV and I just love the fact that it's has stood up the test of time on the internet he had Mike Douglas's Orchestra he must have just handed him a chart and they played it back in the days when musicians were everywhere and could read what a great moment that was thanks mom thanks frank Mom thanks Frank

He was a phenomenal guitarist.

Don't know why, but this always makes me think of Funkadelics 'Maggot Brain'

my heart, soul & spirit connected with this tune. the airwaves are packed with passion & feeling

Black Napkins and the entire album of Zoot Allures are my favorite Zappa of all time, have about 20 of his and the Mothers albums in my collection

Genius at another level and I wasn’t ready for him to leave. Rest well Mr. Zappa.

If you look back into the archives, fewer daytime talk hosts EVER featured a cooler list of acts appearing for them than Mike Freaking Douglas! God bless, ol' Mike. He didn't hesitate to let the freaks take over for a few minutes!

The man playing was 100000000 years ahead of his time.i belive this man lived in the future but was in the wrong time zone.after 45 years or so guitar players are still finding out how to get a good tone out of a guitar or an amp.greatly missed genius.

One of the most disrespected geniuses of our time

Still phenomenal in 2022 timeless

You've got to give some props to the band.

Just amazing to watch this master! He’s playing through a pignose amp! ‘Nuff Said!!!! The sound and tonal clarity, diversity of harmonics is awesome to say the least! Such clear definition with a hint of grit there too! Man oh man this video of Frank Zappa is rare gold! 🤘🏾🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥

When he started playing, tears flowed, because of the overwhelming beauty.

Wow! The man is awesome. Disregarded because he was exceptional, but loved by those who experienced the magic of his mind and music.

The legendary Zappa was purely talented, gifted, and intelligent.

Exceptionally Brilliant, glad I got see him in the late 70's

One of my favorite UKposts videos. The song, the set design, the clothes, the camera locked in on the guitar.

That is so pleasing to the ears. I picture myself with a drink sitting and watching people dancing to that all night

You have to give props to the horns at 3:10 for perfectly nailing those notes. I imagine he's soloing over a pre-recorded track but those dudes had the perfect intonation in the recording

My favorite Zappa song hands down. It tells such a desperate story

Zappa was of course, one of the real luminaries of his time. And you know, Damn that old Mike Douglas!!!! He looked and acted so straight, one easily forgot what a true showbiz man he was. I used to watch his daytime variety show, when I was home sick from school. I clearly remember seeing Wes Montgomery, as a guest. I honestly don't think you could do that show today. Zappa on Mike Douglas! What a trip.

Absolute Genius player and brilliant Muso

Frank knew exactly what sound he wanted his guitar to make at any point in that performance - and he knew exactly what to do to get that sound. Blows my mind.

great to just see him with his guitar doing this beautiful performance

When ever I feel life get rough and messy, I like to put this on and remember theres beauty out there. Music is the best.

It's the Baby Snakes....love that guitar!

just noticed the upside down "E" in mike sorta looks like franks goatee

the tapping portion is so beautiful

So glad that I got to see Frank live 4 times back in the '70s.

His best guitar piece out of the lots And well worth harvesting . The tone .Approach is sensational .

Brilliant,I only saw Frank live twice,i've been to many concerts over the years..the Zappa shows stand out as two of the best..that SG is beautiful,I wonder where it is now

WOW!!!!! Man always have Loved Frank's Playing 😎🎸!!!!!!

Black Napkins.. one of my personal favorites.

I am 4 years old I've been listening to FZ for almost 5 years my favorite album is hot rats still blows me away like the first time I heard it when I was 1

Quelle merveille, mais quelle merveille, quelle création !!! je dois avaoir 20 version differentes de ce morceau. Impossible de s'en lasser.

this is absolutely F*****G sublime, wow!

This is the first time I’ve heard and seen this performer, but I’m already incredibly amazed by his performance.

That just shows the immense heart Frank had....just beautiful, completely enveloping those times, the zeitgeist of the 70's

I miss Zappa.

Jeezum Crow, as we say up here in the Northeast! Zappa meets primetime Hollywood TV. Brilliant fusion of orchestra and Frank's unique guitar sound! Thanks for uploading this - made my day!

One of the all time GREATS!

Hard to believe that you belonged to this world, thanks for your existence!!!

Zappa is One my favorite guitarist unique and different from everyone else.

A+F ing Amazing!!! Frank can stand up with ANY or all the best...or maybe he just is!

Saw Frank in concert 4-5 times in the 70's, when I was growing up in Chicago. We always did acid when we went.

master, thank you for all the great music you left us!. RIP

Frank Zappa the most underrated guitarist of all Time. He influenced so many guitarists like Steve Vai, Mike Keneally, Guthrie Govan, Matthias Eklundh, Christoph Godin. Jimmy Herring. Ron Thal a.k.a. Bumblefoot Probably the greatest Innovator Music had in the Last 50 years

I saw this performance on TV when it was on originally, it made me realize that there was something more to Zappa than the goofy/novelty type stuff.

I was a 10 year old snot-nosed punk from Ann Arbor, when I saw this originally aired, little did I know in the not-too-distant future, Frank would end up being a client of mine... He was the conduit for which I get introduced to Vinnie Coaliuta, apparently Frank may have already sick when I met him, because he ended up passing on not too long after... What an amazing talent

Such a talent. So missed. Thank you for leaving all of this wonderful music for us!