Echidna’s Arf (Of You): Piano Version
Have a little patience while the guy Ian Tanner wrestles his way through Village Of The Sun first, then… check it out:
Far from Not perfect, yet really impressive. I mean: would you have the balls to record yourself having a go at — of all FZ’s tunes — Echidna’s Arf (Of You), and then put it on YouTube for everyone to see?
...
April 8th, 2009 at 12:34 pm » Quote
Yes, I find it quite impressive and in the end is a very good job. Vocals are also clean and with the right timing! I liked Village, and even if Echidna’s arf is really hard it flows well, and I also like the piano rendition of the guitar solo at 4:15….
April 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm » Quote
VERY impressive – I like it Barry. The perfect example of how alive FZ´s music is in the living-rooms of our world. This one made my day – thanks Barry.
Wouldn´t this be a nice competition on KUR, private people play FZ´s music (PPPZ), no professionals please.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm » Quote
I do an acoustic version of Regyptian Strut, but I’ve never recorded it…
April 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm » Quote
A quote from Roland:
Sounds like a grand idea… does anyone else beside Sterbus (and Roland?) feel like playing along?
April 8th, 2009 at 3:20 pm » Quote
Oooops, I can only play “Louie Louie” on the ukulele and this isn´t even a real FZ tune. Plus, I hardly can´t sing and play at the same time, yet. But when it comes down to it, I would do my best!
April 8th, 2009 at 3:46 pm » Quote
A quote from Roland:
Lucky dude. I can *neither* sing *nor* play any FZ tune for anybody else than myself.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:28 pm » Quote
Robert, there´s nothing better than to sing “Uncle Remus” lying in hot water in the bathtub. I am a star in my bathroom!
April 8th, 2009 at 5:34 pm » Quote
Nice job, guy. A+.
He also gets bonus points for having the transcription book to Tarkus on his piano.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pm » Quote
A quote from Tim:
True! Why not show the front cover? Do FZ fans hate ELP fans? (yes, they do
)
April 8th, 2009 at 5:54 pm » Quote
That’s one funky, tubby, keyboard-thumping geek! Heavy rendition even on that crappy piano! Dweezil pick up the phone and make the call!
(This reminds me how one time i was in a hotel lounge somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and the guy who’s paid to provide the “cocktail background music” starts playing the piano intro to Firth Of Fifth; i immediately ran over and complimented him–which made him keep playing more early Genesis–the management wasn’t pleased, and eventually the guy was fired.)
April 8th, 2009 at 6:25 pm » Quote
I wanted it to keep going, into DYEWTT?, which I always think of as part of as an inseparable part of Echidna anyway.
Frank would be proud.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm » Quote
I liked it. If there would be anything (just anything) I could do half as good as this guy plays the piano … well, cooking maybe … anyways. Nice video!
April 8th, 2009 at 9:44 pm » Quote
A quote from Roland:
I’M IN!!! I have 2 stupid tries on guitar!
On the other hand: I REALLY liked this one above!! Thanks for playing it – thanks for posting it!
April 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm » Quote
Ian’s version of Echidna is kick ass! I admire his abilities.
Keep it up Mr. Tanner, you have found your audience
A quote from Roland:
And the acoustics are great in the bathroom. I recorded my first cover tune singing into the toilet. No shit. Just be careful with the video camera in the tub, Roland (if you chose this setting for your piece).
A quote from Roland:
That sounds like fun. I might be tempted to make a fool of myself for the sake of (hopefully)entertaining you guys.
April 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pm » Quote
Barry, you evil person, how can you say it’s “far from perfect”? Grrr!
Now listenning to it again I’ve enjoyed each and every minute. This is MUSIC: when someone LIKES and knows the music he plays. Thanks (anyway), Barry – thanks Ian!
And a big YES again for PPPZ!
April 8th, 2009 at 11:24 pm » Quote
Fucking awesome. This guy’s my new hero.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:49 pm » Quote
Amazing. Enthusiastic.
George Duke would be proud.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:07 am » Quote
Brilliant – he really captures the groove and feel of the music, so the fact that the notes aren’t 100% fades into insignificance. Good singing voice too.
I can sort of busk my way through Uncle Remus on the piano and some of the more power chord oriented numbers on guitar. I’ve been trying to play Zoot Allures but my fingers just aren’t long and flexible enough.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:43 am » Quote
Makes me want to throw my piano off a bridge, great video.
My 8 year old sings a funny version of “Eddie are you Kidding” (our cats are named Flo and Eddie). He drags the poor cat around by the neck and sings it to him. Maybe I can talk him into it.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:37 am » Quote
Life is good, made my day!!!
There is a dog, arf.
April 9th, 2009 at 5:56 am » Quote
A quote from Barry’s Imaginary Publisher:
Barry, are you kidding?
A quote from Bálint:
My impression was that he did a better job on Echidna, than he did on Village (most likely due to the amount of practice to master the runs on Echidna, versus the relative simplicity of Village? The more complex parts of Village is where he erred).
And I somehow took the
A quote from SOFA – Philostopher/Chef:
statement as a reference to the Harry Chapin tune “Mr. Tanner”, which makes a bizarre sense if you consider the alcohol intake at this time of night, but – otherwise – has little or no relevance to this post…
(I’m dying to see how my quotes are going!)
A quote from Kevin Hoover:
I think Frank would admire his balls.
April 9th, 2009 at 5:57 am » Quote
(Damn, I am so fucking close!)
April 9th, 2009 at 6:29 am » Quote
always wanted to able to swish by a piano in a cafè, on a cloudy afternoon. sit down, and give a nice rendition of flambè for the punters.
a true joy, it is where its at, hats off to the man in the cap for keeping it alive.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:16 am » Quote
I can’t believe my half-assed (ok.. I used my whole ass!) version of this Zappa classic made it to the KillUglyRadio blog!!!
I am so honoured!!
Thanks for all the comments… even the one who called me “Tubby!”
I would also have accepted PORTLY!!!
Thanks again. It really is a thrill to see this get heard by the people who really CAN tell the difference between good noodling and just… noodles!
Ian
April 9th, 2009 at 7:17 am » Quote
Sofa, those quotes get rather tight this late at night. I hear you!
By now, you probably realize that “Mr. Tanner” is name of the guy in video posted above and not a Harry Chapin reference (didn’t he die in a VolksWagon?). Though, I bet off-topic Bernard could spin this post toward long-gone Harry.
A quote from el effel:
el effel, I have had a very similiar day dream. Except in mine, I’m in my high school auditorium and playing in my underwear. Oh, wait . . . that’s my nightmare!
April 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am » Quote
Ian,
(regardless of the comment above by sterbus)
It would be great to hear your versions of the Tarkus album. If they exist? Let us know.
Sterbus, please don’t hate me for liking ELP.:)
April 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am » Quote
A quote from Ian Tanner:
Hey Ian, my pleasure! You know, I owe you an apology with my “far from perfect” comment in the post. Your playing is simply fantastic — Echidna’s Arf in particular, which I’ve been putting on replay throughout the day. We want more!!
April 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am » Quote
Yeah Ian, give us another one – encore, encore !
April 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am » Quote
Encore, encore, yes! Or else max and eddie will be coming over shortly.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:12 am » Quote
And Hugh, anyone who quotes the Dr. is ok with me.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:55 am » Quote
Hey Barry, nice turnaround to correct the KUR page according to “the guy” formerly known as Ian Tanner
April 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pm » Quote
A quote from Hugh:
No probs, but NO tracks from Love Beach !!!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm » Quote
i think it’s a splendid rendition of FZ work.
and yes indeed, we want some more videos/ audio of people doing their best at some FZ classics.
btw, i also like ELP (but i also like Motorhead (the band), black sabbath, old school punk, occasionally even death metal — does that make me a freak)
April 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm » Quote
… how about ELO … ?
April 9th, 2009 at 1:44 pm » Quote
A quote from Sterbus:
…but the cover is wonderful!!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/ELP_Love_Beach_cover.jpg
The pants! The sunset! The knotted blouse!! aaaaarrrrgh….
April 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm » Quote
To me that is keeping FZs music alive… the yelling along on the last quintuplets just kicks arse… as Larry Coryell once said something to effect of “Being able to experience the music through your own body”… great stuff… more more!!!
April 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm » Quote
A quote from Roland:
I love ELO !!! anyway I wondered what could have been if Hendrix really joined ELP.. i remember reading that they were cplanning to change their name in HELP… (really)
But Zappa is the best.
April 9th, 2009 at 2:04 pm » Quote
You people are fabulous!!
Thanks again.
And no offence taken with the “far from perfect” reference. It really IS far from perfect. The ending isn’t really even close to being right. There was a guy on YouTube who sent me what I think is the correct way to play the brutal ending part. I still can’t play it right, but thanks to the joy the music brings, I’ll keep at it and get it closer to perfect eventually.
And ELP Tarkus… my left hand technique has never been good enough to play Emerson’s stuff. That guy was a monster… albeit a somewhat tasteless monster in the sense of unnecessary wankage (IMHO), but it’s far beyond my playing level. There was one piece from the Tarkus album (forget the title, but it had an Ostinato in the left hand and was in the middle of the album) that I can pretty much play, but otherwise, that book was from my teen years trying to learn hard music for the first time.
And Love Beach… yeah… pretty sad way to end your career eh?!
Kind of like Giant For A Day by Gentle Giant.
Thankfully… I can’t think of 1 Zappa album where he “phoned it in!”
Thanks again Zappa friends. Your kind words and encouragement are very, very appreciated.
Cheers!
April 9th, 2009 at 5:27 pm » Quote
A quote from Ian Tanner:
STOP WHINING NOW!
ONE MORE SONG PLEASE
April 9th, 2009 at 6:22 pm » Quote
This guys brings the “eyebrows” – who needs ALL the right notes when you have the right attitude. Plus, that is way more right notes than I could hit. I am grinning with joy listening to this. Thanks Ian!
April 9th, 2009 at 6:27 pm » Quote
Ian, funny you mention GG. I heard them for the first time this year, how could I have missed them! Kerry Minnear is quite the monster himself, talk about sweet knotted blouses. The 35th anniversary live version of experience on “In a Glass House” is right up there with FZ stuff (and funny too, in its own medieval way,especially Gary Greens elf boots). Whip out the clavinet dude! Thanks again for the video, it is inspiring.
April 10th, 2009 at 1:45 am » Quote
Now do DYEWTT? !
April 10th, 2009 at 1:53 am » Quote
Yeah, I want to see how he pulls off the drum solo!
April 10th, 2009 at 8:32 am » Quote
A quote from Sharleena:
Sharleena it is obvious that you need a holiday in the sun. Barry! Please get your wife & baby someplace sunny & warm, quick!
A quote from Sterbus:
Agreed!
A quote from Plooker:
Which Dr.?
April 10th, 2009 at 5:28 pm » Quote
“Brain Salad Surgery”, Dr. John.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:36 pm » Quote
That was simply stunning!
April 12th, 2009 at 3:39 pm » Quote
Nice performance Ian!
Listen to a piano verision of a Zappa tune is not common and you’ve made it!
respect.
July 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm » Quote
thats an awsome article. thanks.