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Topic ClosedWho IS Frank Zappa

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 23:18
Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

Here's Frank's memorable appearance on the Steve Allen Show, 1963.  Still clean shaven at this point, and still fancying himself a composer as opposed to a rock musician.  And still as funny as ever.




Saw that vid once. A nice little precursor to the percussion antics of Larks - era King Crimson.
He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 21:31
Been listening to Make A Jazz Noise Here today, if you like more instrumental side of Zappa's music, with a dash of humor, this is the album to get. Masterpiece status, and goes well with Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life, I just wish there weren't so many covers on that one.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 21:25
Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

Here's Frank's memorable appearance on the Steve Allen Show, 1963.  Still clean shaven at this point, and still fancying himself a composer as opposed to a rock musician.  And still as funny as ever.



Awesome!! Thanks.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 21:22
Originally posted by CCVP CCVP wrote:

All I know is that Frank Zappa IS dead.


He's not dead. He just smells funny Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 20:22
All I know is that Frank Zappa IS dead.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 18:30
Here's Frank's memorable appearance on the Steve Allen Show, 1963.  Still clean shaven at this point, and still fancying himself a composer as opposed to a rock musician.  And still as funny as ever.


My other avatar is a Porsche

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 17:59
Originally posted by Textbook Textbook wrote:

Joe's Garage is the place to start in my opinion.
No.
 
"We're Only In It For The Money" for early Mothers
"Uncle Meat" for late Mothers
"Hot Rats" for his early fusion
"Grand Wazoo" for spectacular big band
"Just Another Band From L.A." for weird theatrical comedy rock
"Over-nite Sensation" for seventies fusion/rock blend
"Roxy & Elsewhere" for more great fusion/rock
"Sheik Yerbouti" for funny songs
"The Best Band You've Never Heard In Your Life" for an idea of what his concerts were like.
 
Eacl album has great stuff on them, but for a sampling, these are what I recommend.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 14:24
Frank was also a master of the live show, as can be heard on many of this live albums. However, a lot of stuff has gone unreleased, and going on Zapateers.com can be very worthwhile. The site features LEGAL torrents of unreleased live shows from Frank's entire career, and many of them are soundboard quality, which more or less means it will sound like an official live album.

I recommend this show, as it's the same lineup as the Roxy & Elsewhere live album (which is one of his best albums.) It's A+ quality, meaning it's pristine and clear.
http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=22363&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

You have to be a member of Zappateers to view the download links. It takes literally 3 seconds to sign up if you're not already a member.


Edited by darkshade - April 24 2012 at 14:25
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 24 2012 at 14:17
Originally posted by darkshade darkshade wrote:




I should mention, for the Zappa noob, or novice, that even though this album was released in 1996, it was SUPPOSED to be released in 1976, so this is a true 70s prog album (excuse me, I mean, masterpiece).
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 05 2010 at 09:18
All very much like theater to me. He got pegged for a while to actually be the person promoting porno sex through lyrics. Although he was handing out lyrics to band members directing them as if they were in a play. Many times each member would take on a role. His sacastic humour regarding sex in society was played out with individual characters. Underneath it all, (and on many albums), there was a message to not be a zombie and follow society's rules or overall indulgence into something that felt normal but in the real world was unhealthy and quite abnormal. This mission of expression turned up on "Were Only In It for the Money", where he is feverishly promoting the idea that hippie ways are are quite brainwashing. His most revealing idea was with the subject of the hippies wishing to over throw the goverment. A lot of my friends bought his records because they thought he was promoting sex for what was on their agenda. In the end, Zappa was making fun of all the stupied behaviour in the U.S. but, I think that because he was so sarcastic and intelligent about it, that it went over many people's heads and they took it with a different meaning. I make reference only to the east coast.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 02 2010 at 22:09
If this doesn't hook ya it wasn't meant to be.  Wink

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 21:16

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:49
Originally posted by Bea Bea wrote:

*crap* - I wasn't supposed to post anymore. :( I had 108 posts. :( Cry


what is the significance of that?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:49
*crap* - I wasn't supposed to post anymore. :( I had 108 posts. :( Cry
"I Asyvw Rnxawcfbo Tohtrf Eaksp Allemnga Irthem Andq Nofqubj Eroamatt."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:47
LOL @ lack of poop joke reference. 

God zappa is awesome. 
"I Asyvw Rnxawcfbo Tohtrf Eaksp Allemnga Irthem Andq Nofqubj Eroamatt."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:37


This one's the best, from a "lack of poop jokes" perspective
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:36
Don't follow these people giving you specific songs.  You're a prog rock fan so you know this, you gotta get ALBUMS.  Apostrophe and One Size Fits All are pretty accessible starting points (I've gotten many a Zappa fan started with Apostrophe).  From there if you just look up descriptions of his albums/era's you should be able to find whatever you're looking for.  

Personally my favorites are Grand Wazoo, Hot Rats, Roxy and Elsewhere (my absolute favorite), Weasels Ripped My Flesh (far from a good starting point though...), and Chunga's Revenge.  Though I have well over twenty Zappa albums, all of which are great.  I'd have to say my least favorite I've heard is Overnite Sensation, it's good, but a little poppy for my preference of Zappa.  

And all Zappa truly is good Zappa, but the people saying "just pick something and go" might possibly lead you astray.  I know for a fact that the first Zappa I ever heard was Waka/Jawaka, and while I thought it was interesting, it was a little in my face and hard to grasp.  Then after working my way from Freak Out up to it, I absolutely loved it and it remained my favorite for a year or so.


Edited by himtroy - October 26 2010 at 20:39
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:29
Originally posted by SaltyJon SaltyJon wrote:

Who is Frank Zappa?  This guy:




you make me so happy. Smile Embarrassed

also - I'm in the all zappa is good zappa camp. - Pick one and jump in - he evolved alot - start at the begining - start at the middle - it's all great for what it is. Smile
"I Asyvw Rnxawcfbo Tohtrf Eaksp Allemnga Irthem Andq Nofqubj Eroamatt."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:22
Originally posted by Hawkwise Hawkwise wrote:

Best Place to start for New Zappa devotee  Overnite Sensation.  
 
That is an easy one to mention because it was a commercial success and got him on radio big time. However, in many ways it is not exactly representative of the majority of his work at all, much of which may have some extended jams and other musical delights, whereas this album is less of that and much more radio oriented than anything else.
 
He knew it too! And his next album had a couple of long cuts to break the "song" and "radio" mentality right away ... (Apostrophe).
 
Best place to start with Frank is ... close your eyes, turn around and grab one and don't look at it until you have heard it all ... this way it won't matter what it is called. When you get done listening, you can look at it ... and I guarantee you that you will say, more than once ... that was cool ... totally cool ... and different too!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2010 at 20:15
Originally posted by Finnforest Finnforest wrote:

Zappa is a major commitment if you want to know the complete artist.  Be ready with time and lots of cash. 
 
Nahhhh ... just run down to the nearest used store and you will find 3 albums in there for $3 dollars each! Good enough start ... and is in keeping with the Frank "scene" that expense is the defining factor in music ! ... he would love that one today I'm sure!
 
I do a lot of buying in Amazon and such and pick up some used stuff. I simply can not afford all the prices out there. I still buy a lot of new stuff, but a certain percentage of it is used, and they are not always expensive at all.
 
But yeah ... $30,000 would probably be the amount I would need to buy all the CD's in my record collection ... and that means that I have not even started buying the stuff I want and love to have, that is new ... that would easily be another $30,000 .... so I have to depend on what's left and be thrifty with my expenses.
 
But if you buy Frank, get it direct from them ... if there is one family that has fought so much against the rip offs and the corruption and is still putting it out for you with a lower price than the top 100 on Billboard ... you just have to decide if you want cheap music ... or real music!


Edited by moshkito - October 26 2010 at 20:16
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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