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Zappastolethetowels View Drop Down
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    Posted: September 01 2023 at 23:20
You want to play 5 Zappa albums for your clueless friend to get the best reaction out of them; which 5 would you pick and why?

Mine....
Meat - It's all over the place in a good away - showcasing everything the Mothers were doing up to that point. Idk about you, but I love it when Zappa randomly throws in juvenile humor spoken word bits for no reason other than to mess with you! LOL
Fav Song - King Kong medley

Wazoo - Jazz Fusion in the manner you would expect from Frank: weird, creepy, unpredictable, insane, and funny!  Fav Song - Title or Blessed Relief - so hard to pick!

Money - Hippy satire and all cast in a humorous light while underpinning a dark depth and message.  Fav Song - Mom & Dad or Lonely Little Girl

Roxy - His most accomplished band playing original tunes on stage (with added overdubs!) - what's not to like??  Fav Song - "Don't you ever...." or "Son of Orange"  I just can't believe you are such a foooool ah ah!

Best Band '88 - A recharged Frank with a giant rock ensemble playing all sorts of tunes from Cream, Hendrix, Cash, Zeppelin, to Bolero and Bonanza!  Fav Song - Stairway (w random noises) 
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Really hard to pick five, and great thread!

One Size Fits All - Inca Roads may be the best song ever written and the guitar solo on this version is perfection.

The Grand Wazoo - A fusion masterpiece.

Thing Fish - I personally hate this album, but if you want to get a reaction from anyone this is a top choice. See if they can make it all the way through. This is an album you play when you want to clear a room.

Baby Snakes (the movie) - General weirdness of Frank onstage is a must see. The claymation is bizarre and seeing a very young Bozzio performing Punky's Whips is jaw dropping. Oh, and Black Napkins, wow. Also, a young Adrian Belew is in the band. Frank always surrounded himself with superb musicians.

Roxy: The Movie - Zappa was best live, and he was at his prime here. I saw him live several times, and you never knew what to expect. One of America's greatest treasures.


Edited by Grumpyprogfan - September 02 2023 at 00:49
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Most of my "clueless friends" enjoy 1970's rock and would probably respond more positively to the Mothers-era than the 1970's full blown experimental fusion days + dirty joke lyrics. I think this could work as a nice starters kit, for someone relatively openminded and curious. About half of the suggestions so far would probably have them begging me to turn the music off.

Freak Out! - packed with highly enjoyable, slightly leftfield 1960's rock.
We're Only In It for the Money - I actually consider this a masterpiece of sorts. Kind of crazy that Zappa could make this satirical concept album in the midst of the hippie era.
Hot Rats - 'Cause it's great, and feature some undeniable classics.
Waka/Jawaka - My personal favorite, and for me where to find some of the finest Jazz Rock of the 1970's.
Zoot Allures - All the songs are enjoyable and it rocks.
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Hi,

I think I would put on LIVE AT THE ROXY ... and if you can take that ... good ... if not ... go home and take your pacifier with you! LOL
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Sorry, but only two, and that is the ones I'm fond of myself:

Hot Rats   and  Over-nite Sensation
                      quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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I don't even need 5 albums to get someone into Zappa just maybe these tunes...
Watermelon In Easter Hay
Inca Roads
Deathless Horsie
G-Spot Tornado
Black Page V2 (Live '81)
Deafmoon
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For my picks I would try to expose some of the different sides of Zappa's work: Jazz Rock, wizardry, silliness, contemporary music and a wonderful live rendition of his work:

Hot Rats
The Grand Wazoo
Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III
Civilization Phaze III
The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life

The razamataz is a pain in the bum
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Civilization Phaze III
We're Only In It for the Money
The Grand Wazoo
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats
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Stressed Cheese View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Most of my "clueless friends" enjoy 1970's rock and would probably respond more positively to the Mothers-era than the 1970's full blown experimental fusion days + dirty joke lyrics.


I think it's kind of the opposite. The 60's Mothers era has a lot of weird, annoying stuff, particularly on Uncle Meat and WOIIFTM. Even Hot Rats can go on a bit long at times. But I've played Freak Out! for my friends, at least the first disc, and they thought that was funny. Over-Nite Sensation and some of OSFA worked out as well, as did Joe's Garage. YAWYI is pretty accessible too. But I've also played a lot of Zappa back when I still lived with my parents, and my siblings and my mom really do not like any of it, really. Especially the guitar solos. But my friends took to Dirty Love and Wet T-Shirt Nite pretty easily.

I guess if I had to pick 5 albums I'd spread them out over different facets of Zappa. So,

Freak Out! simply because it's groundbreaking for 1966 and a completely unique album
Orchestral Favorites because it's the best representation of his classical music
One of the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar albums...whichever I'm in the mood for I guess
Roxy & Elsewhere because it's a good represtation of both his more accessible and fusion focused aspects of this era
You Are What You is because it's a good culmination of his late-70's onwards era and a good proof that he can write more accessible stuff (if you cut out some of the lyrics and the occasional weird touch).

But really, friends of mine become at least acquainted with Zappa sooner or later because he's my favorite artist, and my oldest friends and family will pretty easily pick out a Zappa song if I just play random sh*t.


Edited by Stressed Cheese - September 02 2023 at 15:22
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Zappastolethetowels View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Stressed Cheese Stressed Cheese wrote:

Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Most of my "clueless friends" enjoy 1970's rock and would probably respond more positively to the Mothers-era than the 1970's full blown experimental fusion days + dirty joke lyrics.


I think it's kind of the opposite. The 60's Mothers era has a lot of weird, annoying stuff, particularly on Uncle Meat and WOIIFTM. Even Hot Rats can go on a bit long at times. But I've played Freak Out! for my friends, at least the first disc, and they thought that was funny. Over-Nite Sensation and some of OSFA worked out as well, as did Joe's Garage. YAWYI is pretty accessible too. But I've also played a lot of Zappa back when I still lived with my parents, and my siblings and my mom really do not like any of it, really. Especially the guitar solos. But my friends took to Dirty Love and Wet T-Shirt Nite pretty easily.



I guess if I had to pick 5 albums I'd spread them out over different facets of Zappa. So,

Freak Out! simply because it's groundbreaking for 1966 and a completely unique album
Orchestral Favorites because it's the best representation of his classical music
One of the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar albums...whichever I'm in the mood for I guess
Roxy & Elsewhere because it's a good represtation of both his more accessible and fusion focused aspects of this era
You Are What You is because it's a good culmination of his late-70's onwards era and a good proof that he can write more accessible stuff (if you cut out some of the lyrics and the occasional weird touch).

But really, friends of mine become at least acquainted with Zappa sooner or later because he's my favorite artist, and my oldest friends and family will pretty easily pick out a Zappa song if I just play random sh*t.

Wha?? I thought that aspect is what captures the attention and praise of somebody unfamiliar with him (as if you don't have to like his style, but the solos are the WOW factor nonetheless). 

- Agree!
- I would put that second right after Yellow Shark.
- A whole disc of guitar solos! Big smile That might burn them out unless your goal is to test their patience. 
- Agree!
- But that's what makes Zappa! If you do that with YAWYI, you wash all the life out of it. 

Did your friends and family watch the YAWYI music video?? SmileTongue
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Saperlipopette! View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Stressed Cheese Stressed Cheese wrote:

I think it's kind of the opposite. The 60's Mothers era has a lot of weird, annoying stuff, particularly on Uncle Meat and WOIIFTM. Even Hot Rats can go on a bit long at times.
I think there's weird and annoying stuff spread out all over Zappas career. But to me those you mention both work well as a full album experience. And as I don't mind their weirdness, I'm not annoyed by it.

Originally posted by Stressed Cheese Stressed Cheese wrote:

Orchestral Favorites because it's the best representation of his classical music
One of the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar albums...whichever I'm in the mood for I guess
You Are What You is because it's a good culmination of his late-70's onwards era and a good proof that he can write more accessible stuff
If those were played I would be the one leaving the room along with my friends, I'm afraid. I'm exaggerating a bit, but endless guitarsoloing don't have to be weird to annoy me. And I hardly know anyone who has the patience for that (those I do know are are already Zappa-fans). It's not what I personally look for - or long for in music at all. I'm not particularly interested in Zappa's "classical music" either. For someone whose listened to over a thousand moviescores (which is what it reminds me of), I think Zappas uniqueness is largely lost in translation. I'm quite certain I would get something resembling an angry, almost aggressive response from any friends of mine that wasn't already into Zappa (I know plenty who is though). The way I see it these three would all be completely disastrous introductory albums , and not for newcomers at all. 

I think you simply enjoy a lot more and obviously prefer a differnt Zappa than I do. And we probably have very different friends too.
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At least one of my friends enjoyed "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" immensely, the other thought it was a song from Veggietales.

There was also a time I just had a bunch of songs on shuffle play and thought to myself "It'd be awkward if something like 'Broken Hearts are for a****les' played next"... and then it did, with no intervention. The only time something like that had ever happened to me.
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Originally posted by Snikle Snikle wrote:

At least one of my friends enjoyed "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" immensely, the other thought it was a song from Veggietales.

There was also a time I just had a bunch of songs on shuffle play and thought to myself "It'd be awkward if something like 'Broken Hearts are for a****les' played next"... and then it did, with no intervention. The only time something like that had ever happened to me.
Fun Story! Big smile

So you played that on yourself? Or you mean nobody in the room intervened to say a word? 

What was the condition of the room when the song was over? LOL
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Since I am my own best friend (and also my own worst enemy, but I can ignore that for now), and I'll imagine back to when I was clueless:

Freak Out!
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats
Waka / Jawaka
One Size Fits All

I Frankly think that for one of my old friends Weasels Ripped My Flesh would be a great Zappa one to try out. He would like lots of Zappa I suspect if he does not know those albums already (have not seen him in considerable years)
Duos for fave acts
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Originally posted by Zappastolethetowels Zappastolethetowels wrote:

Wha?? I thought that aspect is what captures the attention and praise of somebody unfamiliar with him (as if you don't have to like his style, but the solos are the WOW factor nonetheless). 



Maybe they like some of it, but the solos go on too long for most non-fans I think, and they also tend to be kind of hyper and all over the place. My mom in particular doesn't like "nervous" music (like fast jazz fusion riffs and solos), so playing her one of the Shut Up title tracks would drive her mad. Even though she listens to metal with obnoxious blast beats, so I've told her how much of a hypocrite she is.

And no I have not played people the YAWYI video, but I've played the song, and people liked that one.

Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

I think there's weird and annoying stuff spread out all over Zappas career. But to me those you mention both work well as a full album experience. And as I don't mind their weirdness, I'm not annoyed by it.

I think the main difference is that the annoying stuff on, say, Uncle Meat is harder to ignore, even if played as background music. I wouldn't dare to play the entirity of Uncle Meat and have to subject people to King Kong V or Szolar Czakl or however you spell that, but I've played the entire 3-act Joe's Garage and people enjoyed it. I guess it helps if you have friends who think stuff like Dirty Love or Wet T-Shirt Nite is funny.

Quote If those were played I would be the one leaving the room along with my friends, I'm afraid. I'm exaggerating a bit, but endless guitarsoloing don't have to be weird to annoy me. And I hardly know anyone who has the patience for that (those I do know are are already Zappa-fans). It's not what I personally look for - or long for in music at all. I'm not particularly interested in Zappa's "classical music" either. For someone whose listened to over a thousand moviescores (which is what it reminds me of), I think Zappas uniqueness is largely lost in translation. I'm quite certain I would get something resembling an angry, almost aggressive response from any friends of mine that wasn't already into Zappa (I know plenty who is though). The way I see it these three would all be completely disastrous introductory albums , and not for newcomers at all. 

I think you simply enjoy a lot more and obviously prefer a differnt Zappa than I do. And we probably have very different friends too.

Sure, but the OP asked for what you'd play to get a reaction out of people, not what you'd try to get people into Zappa.

We might have very different friends, yeah. But in my experience, 70's Zappa isn't that bad to put on once in a while. Honestly, it would make for an interesting thread topic to discuss what prog-fans play for their friends if they're the one in charge of the music.
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^I think the 60s stuff stands out more as "annoying" to some because of the difference in production. Play the album version of Pound For a Brown, and then play a later live version, and ask a friend which one they'd rather not turn off immediately. All the pitched up wind instruments and vocals from the mid-late 60s era really get under many folks' skin.
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Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

^I think the 60s stuff stands out more as "annoying" to some because of the difference in production. Play the album version of Pound For a Brown, and then play a later live version, and ask a friend which one they'd rather not turn off immediately. All the pitched up wind instruments and vocals from the mid-late 60s era really get under many folks' skin.

I think you bring a good point! 

Which 5 would you play for a newbie to get the 'best' reaction from them (best is subjective here)? 

I used to play as much Zappa as I can to my grandpa for the best reactions haha LOL
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Hi,

OVERNIGHT SENSATION is the one album that is "easiest" to play for your friend. The whole album was put together with the idea of it breaking into the FM radio that was playing so much FZ already, and of course, the album became a massive hit, with many of the pieces that we can still hum to or easily flip a lyric or two.

But, in many ways OS is not exactly what FZ was about ... which was way more than just a few rock songs fit to be tied neatly on the radio lists at the time!
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Originally posted by Zappastolethetowels Zappastolethetowels wrote:

Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

^I think the 60s stuff stands out more as "annoying" to some because of the difference in production. Play the album version of Pound For a Brown, and then play a later live version, and ask a friend which one they'd rather not turn off immediately. All the pitched up wind instruments and vocals from the mid-late 60s era really get under many folks' skin.

I think you bring a good point! 

Not a particulary good point. Some of Zappa/Mother's 60's stuff's lasting popularity obviously tells another story. You are all proggers and don't really understand how complex brassy jazzrock-fusion with dated jokes rub A LOT of people the wrong way. I'm quite certain that both Freak Out! and Hot Rats are the two of the easiest first encounter/introduction for the majority of clueless friends.
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Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Originally posted by Zappastolethetowels Zappastolethetowels wrote:

Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

^I think the 60s stuff stands out more as "annoying" to some because of the difference in production. Play the album version of Pound For a Brown, and then play a later live version, and ask a friend which one they'd rather not turn off immediately. All the pitched up wind instruments and vocals from the mid-late 60s era really get under many folks' skin.

I think you bring a good point! 

Not a particulary good point. Some of Zappa/Mother's 60's stuff's lasting popularity obviously tells another story. You are all proggers and don't really understand how complex brassy jazzrock-fusion with dated jokes rub A LOT of people the wrong way. I'm quite certain that both Freak Out! and Hot Rats are the two of the easiest first encounter/introduction for the majority of clueless friends.

Hi,

I would add that at the time, the ability , talent ... and ABOVE ALL ... DESIRE ... to do something different that was not marked, controlled and defined by how "music" and its myriad of mathematical concepts were in control of the art. The 20th century has been one for the experimentation, changes and very different things in the arts, music likely being the most visible of all due to the incredible rate that radio, then commercialization brought music to the front via rock and jazz music.

Some of the younger generation is not going to enjoy and appreciate a lot of things, and 200 MOTELS is a perfect example, that a lot of folks hate because it's so all over the place, and folks don't even realize how ANTI-COMMERCIAL the whole thing is, and the point that it makes, with a lot of fun, weird, and bizarre jokes. 

I'm not sure that you, or I ... can convince anyone of anything ... it reeks of something else. Folks ... and you all know this well ... need to FIND things on their own way, so they can figure out who they are and what they are. 
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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