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the musical box View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Zappa: Where to Start?
    Posted: February 08 2005 at 10:55
Ive never really liked the guy personally, i find he's incredibly overrated, and overuses his humour but anyways... My local record store just got a huge amount of used Zappa discs in, where should i start? Any symphonic ones?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 11:14
I would start at Sheik Yerbouti. That album kicks butt.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 11:20

There are some good compilations - Strictly Commercial collects his more accessible work, and Have I Offended Someone? collects his funniest moments. There are also a couple of good low budget samplers called Cheep Thrills and Son Of Cheep Thrills, which are a bit more eclectic in their approach. 

He didn't really do symphonic prog, but the double CD Make A Jazz Noise Here is largely instrumental and features a big band/small orchestra ripping through some old favourites. 

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 11:31

Start with Varese...

Hot Rats would be a good choice. The humor is in the notes themselves. There are almost no vocals and the musicians deliver the most astounding solos. Zappa's guitar is definitely NOT overrated.

"In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 11:55

TMB:

I got into Zappa late, through "Apostrophe."  I then heard "Overnite Sensation" and "One Size Fits All."  Only after hearing these three middle-period albums did I go back and listen to earlier classics like Hot Rats, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, etc.  Then I got into later stuff like Sheik Yerbouti et al.

Trust me.  Try Apostrophe first.  It has three of Zappa's most brilliant cuts: Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, Stinkfoot, and Cozmik Debris.

Peace.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 11:59

Originally posted by the musical box the musical box wrote:

Ive never really liked the guy personally, i find he's incredibly overrated, and overuses his humour but anyways... My local record store just got a huge amount of used Zappa discs in, where should i start? Any symphonic ones?

Overrated?

But maani is right. Apostrophe and over-nite sensation are good starters.

For more recommendations, just read the last paragraph of the bio I wrote:
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1023

Good luck and HAVE FUN!



Edited by Joren
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 12:13
YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 12:59
Grand Wazoo or Hot Rats 
"Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.”

"No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 13:08

you are what you is is great.

i recommend studio tan for a complex funny sympathic experience.

i like very much his modern sound, from joe's garage to jazz from hell



Edited by greenback
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 13:09
I find roxy in elsewhere(the live album) also a fine one to get into. Very easy to listen, and funky.
Epic.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 13:36

Originally posted by JrKASperov JrKASperov wrote:

I find roxy in elsewhere(the live album) also a fine one to get into. Very easy to listen, and funky.

One of my favourites!

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the musical box View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 13:39

Thanks alot for The suggestions guys; i'll take Maani's suggestion and buy "Apostrophe" next week, and budget permitting, i'll try to get "Hot Rats" as well. Thanks: Keep the suggestions coming!

Also: Any Neil Young fans on the board? My college English prof. just lent me  "Unplugged" and "Trans", and i find them both very interesting. Any suggestions?

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 13:50

Apostrophe & Overnight Sensation to begin... agree. Hot Rats? Yes!! Awesome album... And later ones as Sheik Sherbouti, Joe's Garage or Tinseltown Rebelion (this is a good one!) are very good choices as well...

By the way, Zappa is not underrated... He's a complete musical genious!

Regards

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 14:25
start with Apostrophe and OverNite Sensations, then
you might try - Hot Rats, One Size Fits All, Grand
Wazoo(symphonic), Sheik Yerbouti. Strickly
Commericial is a
good sampler!

Neil Young just released his first one disc Greatest
Hits and it is THE best place to start. Decade(2CD
comp) has Cortez the Killer(which I miss on the new
one) but sound quality is very poor, Decade has
never been remastered and some of Neils stuff was
not recorded well(or scorched masters), so I wouldnt
recommend it.

Edited by DallasBryan
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 17:50
Originally posted by the musical box the musical box wrote:

Thanks alot for The suggestions guys; i'll take Maani's suggestion and buy "Apostrophe" next week, and budget permitting, i'll try to get "Hot Rats" as well. Thanks: Keep the suggestions coming!

Also: Any Neil Young fans on the board? My college English prof. just lent me  "Unplugged" and "Trans", and i find them both very interesting. Any suggestions?



Okay man, I'll make sure to get "Apostrophe" tommorow.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 17:55
A little disgression: I read somewhere that Neil Young is the father of Grunge. It is right?
Please forgive me for my crappy english!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 17:57

Avoid all samplers/compilations, they do no justice to this genius. Get 'YCDTOSA Vol. 2: The Helsinki Concert'. One of his best gigs ever, committed to cd especially for you. To enjoy.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 18:12

You can't do that on stage anymore!

great live albums, if you can find them



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2005 at 20:02
They are very "findable" here in the Netherlands. No problem!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 09 2005 at 02:10
If you're mostly a fan of Progressive, it's better to start with those Zappa's albums which are closer to Classical Progressive Rock (I also prefer them, BTW): Zoot Allures, Shiek Yerbouti, Tinsell Town Rebellion and Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch.
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