Frank Zappa recommendations? My movie boyfriend likes him...

[tjdee]

Hehehe, I've recently decided that Cillian Murphy is my new movie boyfriend. :loveya: Turns out, he was (is?)in a band that was a Zappa inspired deal.

I've always kind of wanted to listen to Zappa (I've always thought he was really cool), but I don't know where to start. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard one Frank Zappa song. Zappa has a LOT of albums, and that's kind of intimidating when I'm not even sure what kind of thing is his thing, you know? So what are the best ones, to get a good feel for what he's about?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Live in New York

A good selection of the styles of music and playing Zappa offered to the world. All live.

Also good - Joe's Garage; Sheik Yerbouti; Freak Out (his firstl album); You Can't Do that On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 (The Helsinki Concert) (it might be Vol. 3, can't remember)


And to get even further appreciation of his skills as a guitarst, get "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar" and "Guitar", CDs of all guitar solos.

And of course, Zappa and the London Symphony Orchestra Vols. I and II, to get into his classical styled orchestral stuff, which is also brilliant.

[DontTreadOnMe]

7. Zappa CDs

I have been a Zappa fan for over 30 years and seen many of his live shows... the Halloween shows from '78-80 at the Palladium in NYC were considered classic shows. There is a double live CD called "Live in New York" that are excerpts from these shows. At one of the shows I attended, an audience member passed out about 500 Nixon Halloween masks (where did he find 500 of these I don't know!) to the audience in the first couple of rows, before the show started. Frank almost fell down when he walked out on stage -- imagine 500 Nixon masks starring up at the stage -- hysterical. But if I had to recommend some listening material to a new Zappa fan, the three best releases were "One Size Fits All", "Apostrophe" and "Overnight Sensations". -- all available on CDs...

Best satirical song about religion EVER -- "Dumb All Over"

"God created us to be just like him... so if were dumb, then God is dumb.... and maybe a little ugly on the side!" -- FZ

[ET Awful]

2. Live at the Filmor East 1971

Best Zappa album around. Normally just labelled as The Mothers (asin the Mothers of Invention).

GREAT ALBUM. The Mudshark Arpeggio is a classic, as is Bwana Dick :) :) :)

[OneBlueSky]

16. yes, yes, yes . . .

my own personal favorite, as well . . . in an entirely different vein, I'm also rather fond of "Hot Rats" . . . :)

[Drifter]

25. We only like musicians as friends ...

Although we wouldn't mind coming in your bus.

Cheers
Drifter

[Pab Sungenis]

3. Some Zappa recommendations

Accessable:

Apostrophe
Overnight Sensation
The "Strictly Commercial" greatest hits collection

Inspired:

Joe's Garage
Sheik Yerbouti
the first half of Broadway the Hard Way
Them Or Us

Just out and out weird:

Lumpy Gravy
the second half of Broadway the Hard Way
Uncle Meat

These are good starting points.

[Webster Green]

4. Start at the beginning....

"Freak Out" album came out in '65 or '66. LSD was still legal. Ah, those were the days! Zappa was not a druggie himself, and his music is not for everybody, but in my opinion the album is a timeless classic.

[DBoon]

14. Help I'm a rock!

Wow man, its a real drag being a rock. I think I'd rather be a police officer.

Help I'm a cop! Help I'm a cop!

[Drifter]

26. I will love the police ...

as they kick the shit out of my on the streets.

Cheers
Drifter

[Character Assassin]

5. Get his instrumental stuff first.

I love his playing, and hate almost everything that he 'sings' on.

The 3 CD 'Shut up n' play your guitar' collection would be a fantastic start.

[bbernardini]

6. The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life

A document of some great tunes as performed by a 12-piece band on his last tour in 1988.

[DontTreadOnMe]

8. Suzy?

Suzy Creamcheese?.... forget it!

"Do what you want, do what you will.
Just don't mess with your neighbor's thrill." -- FZ

[woofless]

9. "We're Only In It For The Money"

Album cover a take-off on "Sgt. Peppers". Hilarious lyrics. "Bow Tie Daddy", "Make the Water Turn Black".

I have long held the notion that the U.S. should have arrested Frank and sentenced him to 6 years in the Presidency. This would be a different country with that clear thinking, brilliant, sensble man in charge.

Woof

[Liberal Classic]

10. Lots to choose from

If you just want fusion get "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar" or if you want some general weirdness there's "Them or Us" and "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch."

If you want something interesting get "Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention" The Porn Wars track is a techno-sample of the 1984 Parents Music Resource Center hearings. You get to hear Senators Gore and his wife Tipper as well as Hollings and other fun stuff. Gore claims to be a Zappa fan and Tipper claims that they are not censors. There are some good instrumental tracks too.

WHAT DE FUCK GWINE ON HERE?

[Zomby Woof]

28. Tipper was NOT at the hearings

Amazing how this misconception never dies.

The woman you hear (and read in the transcripts) was Senator Paula Hawkins.

Tipper and Susan Baker (wife of James Baker) were the founders of the PMRC, but not once did Tipper ever testify at these hearings, nor show up on any Zappa recordings.

[Beer Snob-50]

11. I love

Joe's Garage and Sheik Yerbouti. In fact the second one was my inspiration for my creative writing class in College (got an "A" or that class!!)

[dpbrown]

12. Joe's Garage

"Catholic girls...with a tiny little moustache..."

My only (and favorite) Zappa album.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[Whitacre D_WI]

21. "Why Does It Hurt when I Pee?"

eom

[cjbuchanan]

13. I say start with the first three

Freak Out, Absolutely Free and We're Only in it for the Money.

See how those treat you.

One bit of advice, Frank did just about every type of music during his time, so if these three are not your cup of tea, don't give up on him. Take a listen to some of his later stuff. I guarantee that you will find something you like.

By the way, you can sample some of his albums at cduniverse.com (if case you did not know).

I hope you enjoy the world of Zappa.

[grannylib]

15. Geez, where's ZombyWoof when ya need him???

They're all good...

[Zomby Woof]

27. well, since you rang...

:-) Thanks for the heads-up grannylib!

The first Zappa album I ever heard was "Joe's Garage Act I" when I was at the young and impressionable age of 16. You can see the ruinous effect it had on me.

It is an outstanding satire on censorship and the lyrics are X-rated, so be sure to play it loudly where it can offend. (or not)

Perhaps start with the mostly instrumental guitar-heavy "Hot Rats", then "Overnite Sensation" (Home of the original ZOMBY WOOF), and the amazing "One Size Fits All". These are all accessible, yet daring in their own little way.

If you get addicted, and you most surely will, try out the early Mothers of Invention albums, the debut "Freak Out!" and then "Absolutely Free" and the landmark "We're Only In It For The Money".

Other Zomby faves:

"You Are What You Is"
"Sheik Yerbouti"
"Broadway The Hard Way" (great anti-Reagan, anti-GOP, anti-TV preacher songs)
"The Yellow Shark" (his best classical work)
"Weasels Ripped My Flesh"
"Lumpy Gravy"

Ok, I need to stop before I list them all.

Oh! And "Lather", a triple CD well worth the investment, if you get hardcore.

And! "Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar" - all instrumentals

[geniph]

17. My personal favorites

Overnight Sensation
Just Another Band From LA
the "White Album"
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Zoot Allures
Zappa in New York
Fillmore East
Joe's Garage part I

...I'm tired of Apostrophe, it seems as if the songs off of that one are all most people know about Zappa.

Lumpy Gravy, We're Only In It For the Money, and Freak Out are somewhat dated, but still brilliant

His other stuff might be a bit much for beginners. Start with Zoot Allures or Overnight Sensation, then move on to the others. You can't go wrong with Frank, once you've started to really listen to him.

I got to see him in concert three times, once during the era when bozos thought throwing firecrackers onto a stage was cool. Frank dealt with that better than anyone I've ever seen; he said, "if one more of those lands up here, or if I hear one more go off, we will stop the show and we will not come back out. So, those of you who are enjoying the show, keep a lid on the idiots throwing firecrackers."

[Nailzberg]

18. My theme song - "Broken hearts are for a**holes"

[PurityOfEssence]

19. Start with "Overnight Sensation" , "One Size Fits All" and "Bongo Fury"

(Bongo Fury is a live album with Captain Beefheart.)

These are great mid-career discs that'll give you lots to latch onto.

[thebigidea]

20. I like the early stuff and the late instrumental thingies

Yellow Shark/Civilization Phaze III plus all the early Mothers material makes me quite happy.

Here's a really obnoxious improvised cover of PLASTIC PEOPLE from "ABSOLUTELY FREE":

http://www.terminalproduct.com/plasticinecoda.mp3

[On the Road]

22. "Hot Rats" and "The Grand Wazoo"

are my favorites. The last one was released under the name "The Mothers."

[tjdee]

23. SO much Zappa! Thanks everyone!

Keep the recommendations coming, I really appreciate the input....having a place to start helps a lot.

[Drifter]

24. So much Zappa ...

So little time.

It depends on what you want to listen to.

Jazz: Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka, Sleep Dirt, One Size Fits All (kinda), The Grand Wazoo
Rock: Overnight Sensation, Apostrophe, Joes Garage(I,II,III), You Are What You Is.
Classical: Orchestral Favorites, A Classical Introduction to Frank Zappa (I forget the name of the album), Yellow Shark.
Live: You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore (vol 1 -6). Roxy and Elsewhere, Live In NY.
Bizaar: Freak Out, Weasles Ripped My Flesh, Absolutely Free

Most of Zappa's releases are either live, or parts are taken from live performances.

Remember, Do not judge him based on the first thing you hear (or 2nd, or 3rd ... etc.). You may have to sample a number of eras (Genres) in order to find the one that you like. He had something like 9 different "Mother of Invention" lineups. Each one is very distinctive in their sound, as well as the overall target of the music.

Zappa is like Scotch. Pretty nasty the first time you try it, but if you give it a chance you will be hook for all you are worth.

Check out the Real Frank Zappa Page. They constantly stream Zappa Radio (I think they simply play albums). Use this to find a particular sound you are interested.

If you do not like any of his music, don't worry you are not alone. My wife tolerates it, but would never initiate playing any of it.

Cheers
Drifter

[Kat45]

29. So many great albums, I don't know where to begin.

I guess I'll just go with the ones that are my favorites:
Overnight Sensation, Live at the Fillmore, Apostrophe, Sheik Yerbouti, Joe's Garage Part I (Parts II and III are also good, but I'd say they get weirder--most of the ones I've mentioned are fairly accessible, if Zappa's music can be called accessible).