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Alucard

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Posted: November 13 2006 at 15:24

Mothermania ( Compilation) First Mothers (1966-1968)

Hot Rats(1969) & Grand Wazoo (1972) (Jazz Rock à La Zappa)

You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol.2 (The Helsinki Concert 1974) [MOI Mark 2] (Polyrhythmics, humour & more)

Sheik Yerbouti (1979) & Shut Up And Play Your Guitar (1981) (Zappa Guitar Hero)

The Perfect Stranger (1984) & The Yellow Shark (1993) ( Contemporary Classic Zappa)

Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear
"Hey there! Rotter's Club!
Explain the meaning of this song and share it"

Chicapah

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Posted: November 13 2006 at 15:35

I still say that, for the person who just wants to stick their toes into Lake Zappa but not get wet, "Strictly Commercial" will give a good basic overview in the span of about 50 minutes. Then the listener can decide which facet of Frank they want to explore further, if any.

"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain

Palmer Eldritch View Drop Down

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Posted: January 15 2007 at 19:35

Fashionably late...

Absolutely Free! for the epic Brown Shoes Don't Make It...thrills!...spills...chills...

One Size Fits All as the title implies, it's all over the freakin' map...

Sheik Yerbouti has your recommended daily allowance of misanthropy and Adrian Belew's Dylan impression to boot!

Heck, I love 'em all* (except Civilization Phase III, which I don't own, and consequently, haven't heard,) even the LSO stuff.

Now on to Beefheart (the jit!)

*Not really, there are a couple I don't care for, but they shall remain nameless so as to not offend that person to whom they are the apex of Zappa's art. But even these usually have a track or two I love. Clue No. 2 - A droodle on the cover...

"That's Confidence in the System, in easy to swallow propaganda form, a new fast-acting thought control. So have some...today." --- Ben Bland

Edited by Palmer Eldritch - January 15 2007 at 20:13

Chris H

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Posted: January 15 2007 at 19:52

Ok kiddies, why dont we let Mr. Zappa88 himself give the opinon, eh?

Okay here we go. Freak Out! should be among the first albums you buy, jsut well because it was the first album recorded so everybody had to start here. Now we'll branch off into genre-land.

Like Blues? Go with Apostrophe. Featues Jack Bruce from Cream on bass.

Like Jazz-rock fusion? Go with The Grand Wazoo. One of the finest jazz moments in history.

Like weird, avante-garde short works? Go with We're Only In It For The Money.

Just a warning, do not start with complicated works such as Uncle Meat, Roxy & Elsewhere or Weasels Ripped My Flesh. They will just confuse you.

OK hope that helped

Beauty will save the world.

Novalis

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Posted: July 09 2008 at 01:35

So Iove Hot Rats and Grand Wazoo, but In it for the Money and Uncle Meat aren't my thing.

Recommend me some other Zappa based on this.

Bilek

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Posted: July 09 2008 at 03:10

You'll probably like Waka-Jawaka & Sleep Dirt, at least partly. Unfortunately nothing tops Hot Rats (IMHO), so although these are mostly in-line with it, don't expect another Hot Rats...
Ahead of Time also has its moments, especially the "Let's Make the Water Turn Black-Orange County-Oh No" sequence works very well, probably better than the so-called studio album... You may want to try that as well...Also pay close attention to King Kong. (this album may also open the door for the earlier "bizarre" albums such as Uncle Meat and In It for the Money etc. I admit not getting into them for a long while, but now I kinda like them. even Freak Out...)

Listen to Turkish psych/prog; you won't regret:
Baris Manco,Erkin Koray,Cem Karaca,Mogollar,3 Hürel,Selda,Edip Akbayram,Fikret Kizilok,Ersen (and Dadaslar) (but stick with the '70's, and 'early 80's!)

Alucard

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Posted: July 09 2008 at 14:29

If you like HR & GW you seem to like the jazz-rockier side of Zappa and I second Bilek's recommendations Waka-Jawaka & Sleep Dirt, but try also the second Mothers Of Invention with George Duke, Chester Thomphson and the great Ruth Underwood: Overnite Sensation,Apostrophe, One Size Fits All, Roxy & Elsewhere & Helsinki concert (YCDTOSA) vol 2

Edited by Alucard - July 10 2008 at 06:01

Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear
"Hey there! Rotter's Club!
Explain the meaning of this song and share it"

mpomy

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Joined: January 18 2008
Location: Philadelphia
Status: Offline
Points: 54

Posted: July 09 2008 at 18:52

One Size Fits All
Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation
Waka/Jawaka

Oh, how I love all the kind words about dear old unkle Frank. My favorite song is Billy The Mountain because it includes all the skills - precision composition, blistering guitar, outrageous comedy, anti-establishment political commentary. It's just brilliant.

For all of those who have yet to discover the cannon of Zappa, I wish you luck and happiness on this twisted journey.

mpomy

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Posted: July 09 2008 at 18:55

Bilek wrote:

Ahead of Their Time also has its moments, especially the "Let's Make the Water Turn Black-Orange County-Oh No" sequence works very well, probably better than the so-called studio album...

Oh yes - yes indeed!

jammun

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Posted: July 09 2008 at 20:16

The easiest though least economical approach is to start with Freak Out, then buy all of the albums in the order they were originally released. This way you will be aware of the Conceptual Continuity.

The hit and miss approach also works but is less rewarding.

Original Mothers: Freak Out, Burnt Weenie Sandwich

Flo & Eddie years: for completists only

Jazz/Fusion/Rock years: Over-nite Sensation, Apostrophe('), One Size Fits All

After One Size Fits All, the albums get somewhat inconsistent, depending on what any given listener likes about FZ. However Sheik Yerbouti and Live in New York are very good and albums like Them or Us have a lot to offer.

Another approach would be to buy the live albums from the final tour: Broadway the Hard Way, Best Band You Never Heard..., Make a Jazz Noise Here. These give a fine overview of FZ's compositions over the years, but you'll miss out on hearing some of the different bands.

Yet another option is to pick up the six You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore albums, where you will hear a wide range of compositions by various incarnations of the bands.

npjnpj

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Posted: July 10 2008 at 09:25

Someone said, avoid 'Lather'. I strongly disagree. Strongly, strongly, strongly.

It has a great range of lot of styles FZ has covered and is a FANTASTIC album.

Why don't you listen to this and then tell us where your preferences are? Then we could point you towards similar recordings.