Frank Zappa

Yes. The Helsinki Concert is one of the best things ever. Actually all of YCDTOSA is pretty great. It covers both the composition, musicianship and humor angles of Zappa quite well.

I also like that newer release Trance-Fusion.

Edit: Has any one seen The Amazing Mr. Bickford? It's pretty great if your a fan of stop-motion.

Yes, Hot Rats is awesome.

I also can't stop listening to Imaginary Diseases and that hypnotic groove, Zappa's kick-ass guitar solo and that bass run at 4.40 minutes is one of the most awesome things ever.

Yes. Though I haven't listened to Zappa much in my adult life. My dad gave me a really healthy dose growing up, but I just never sat down and enjoyed it like I should in the last 15 years. Though anytime I hear him I stop and pay attention.

I've been curious about Zappa for a while. I like apostrophe pretty good. Any other recommendations for a neo-Zappaphyte?

I saw the Mothers a couple months ago. After twenty minutes I had enough. But I love their early work on album.

Looks like I've got some recommending to do here. I'll get on that tonight or tomorrow. Right now I've got to go fight rush-hour traffic.

Zappa in New York is a fucking awesome live album. "Titties and Beer" is possibly the greatest drinking song in the history of rock and Zappa does some great riffing with the audience members that kind of takes you right into the concert during it. "I Promise Not to Come in Your Mouth" is also an impeccable instrumental track.

YES!

CDs to seek:

Shut up and play yer guitar: every classic riff he ever did ...and he did many

The Yellow Shark..live performance in Austria which gives you a good feel for the musician and the satirist.

Jazz from Hell....G Spot Tornado is just an incredible cut.

Broadway the Hardway....funny as shit, even if you missed the C-Span events Zappa watched. "Jesus thinks you're a jerk" and "Elvis has left the building" are two highlights.

Ok, I listened to Freak Out! and We're Only In It For the Money and for the most part, hated most of them, save for the few moments of traditional songs. I still want to understand why some people love him so much.
Where do I go from here? Should I even bother?

We're Only In It For The Money wins my vote. What's the ugliest part of your body?

My personal favorite is Over-Nite Sensation.

Fuck Yes and then some. Love me a bit of Francesco.

Got into him proper at about 17-18 (full marks to Cuchulain for recommending both Live in New York and especially Titties & Beer), but mum had The Mothers of Invention Weasels Ripped My Flesh in her record collection from when she was a teen herself, so growing up I just remember this image fucking my head a bit...

It's hard recommending Zappa albums as so many of them have very different styles, even on the one record.

That said, I'd start with these:

Overnite Sensation
Hot Rats
Zoot Allures
One Size Fits All
Them Or Us

If you like a song or two off one of those, let us know, and we'll recommend something that might be along similar lines!

If you like that one, you should definitely check out the other albums from this particular era.. thing with Zappa is, he switched style somewhat every few years, so one period could be more to your liking than the other. Apostrophe is from the jazzrock period, with the second version of the Mothers (including keyboard wonder George Duke). Definitely check out Overnite Sensation, very reminiscent to Apostrophe. Roxy & Elsewhere is a must, for me the best live album Zappa did and one of the best ever, period. One Size Fits All is in the same vein, has some filler but starts off with Inca Roads, which is simply my favourite Zappa track.
All these mix the jazz fusion with more traditional pop & rock structures. If you want instrumental stuff that leans more towards straight jazz(rock), go for Hot Rats and the two solo albums Waka/Jawaka and Big Wazoo.

'Popular Rock Zappa' never quite did it for me (appreciate but do not love Joe's Garage or Sheik Yerbouti), but I really like You Are What You Is from that period. Early Mothers is an acquired taste- lots of interesting stuff there but I feel most is a bit dated in relevance nowadays. Same goes for most of his neo-classical and experimental stuff.
Whatever period however, live albums are always worth a listen. Zappa is maybe the only artist where I listen to live recordings as if they were standup comedy albums- the between-song banter is usually hilarious (which is also the reason to track down some of the Rhino bootlegs). And he's probably the only guitarist whose solo's are almost consistently worth listening to, also no mean feat.

Zombiewoof pretty much has it covered in terms of where to start, though I might add Sheik Yerbouti (funny and musical greatness).

If you'd rather not get all those, then pick up Strictly Commercial and go from there.

My vote is for Bongo Fury. Outstanding compositions and Captain Beefheart on vocals. I also recommend Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch.

Joe's Garage.



It's the grooviest, dirtiest, catchiest, and sometimes prettiest material he ever released. Go sample "Keep It Greasy" and "A Watermelon in Easter Hay"