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Joined: October 15 2010
Location: Finland
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Points: 8
Topic: Zappa's more serious prog/jazz Posted: November 23 2011 at 00:10
I've been lately listening to Zappa a lot, mostly hot rats. Because he has made so much and different music, it's hard for me to find the albums to listen to. So, i'm asking you to name he's best (mostly) serious prog/jazz-rock albums, so i can get forward with my listening.
Joined: November 19 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 10964
Posted: November 23 2011 at 01:20
The Grand Wazoo Waka/Jawaka Roxy & Elsewhere Make A Jazz Noise Here Lather (disc 1)
Those are the essentials.
Of course, there is more spread out throughout his discography, particularly on Zappa New York, One Size Fits All, and The Best Band You've Never Seen.
Some others of interest would be the posthumous albums Imaginary Diseases and Wazoo, these are the live albums of Zappa's "Wazoo" bands, the latter being the full "Grand Wazoo" band, the former being the "Petite Wazoo" band. Can't miss these, as there is more new music and improv.
"Imaginary Diseases" by Frank Zappa with the great Jim Gordon who was the most "in demand" studio drummer in the 60's and 70's in the entire music industry. I actually never heard him do anything serious with his drum playing until I heard this Zappa title. This is a must if you enjoy his instrumental work.
Joined: March 07 2010
Location: Australia
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Points: 13382
Posted: November 23 2011 at 10:30
One Size Fits All is superb. Granted, there is a fair amount of humour in it, but trust me when I say it does not hinder the quality of the album in any way. It makes it even better!
Weasels Ripped My Flesh is also another one of my favourites, and I do recommend it. But it's very funny in places, and that's not what you're after, right?
Joined: October 15 2010
Location: Finland
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Points: 8
Posted: November 23 2011 at 11:32
Oh, humour is fine, and probably makes the album just better. I just meant that i don't want it to be all "let me take you the beach"!:D (which is by the way a song I actually like a lot)
Joined: March 07 2010
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 13382
Posted: November 23 2011 at 11:51
finjuanican wrote:
Oh, humour is fine, and probably makes the album just better. I just meant that i don't want it to be all "let me take you the beach"!:D (which is by the way a song I actually like a lot)
Oh nah, the two albums I suggested are not like that.
Joined: May 29 2005
Location: hell
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Points: 28427
Posted: November 23 2011 at 20:59
daslaf wrote:
Despite a couple of doo-woop / r&b songs, I think Burnt Weeny Sandwich should be a good addition too
This is what I was gonna say... I've been really enjoying that album lately. The doo wop songs are just the intro/outro and they're just short enough to be fun without becoming obnoxious. The rest of the album is top notch avant-fusion Zappa.
Joined: July 03 2009
Location: Chile
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Points: 290
Posted: November 24 2011 at 07:40
The Miracle wrote:
daslaf wrote:
Despite a couple of doo-woop / r&b songs, I think Burnt Weeny Sandwich should be a good addition too
This is what I was gonna say... I've been really enjoying that album lately. The doo wop songs are just the intro/outro and they're just short enough to be fun without becoming obnoxious. The rest of the album is top notch avant-fusion Zappa.
Yeah it's a great record... I think it's more chamber oriented than jazz-wise, but you know, drawing a line trying to define some kind of classification on Zappa´s music it's almost impossible, since he goes from one style to another
Edited by daslaf - November 24 2011 at 07:41
But now my branches suffer
And my leaves don't bear the glow
They did so long ago
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Zappa's more serious prog/jazz
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finjuanican wrote:
