Zappa Fans: Your First Zappa album (what era)?
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=96341
Printed Date: December 12 2024 at 07:40
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Topic: Zappa Fans: Your First Zappa album (what era)?
Posted By: HolyMoly
Subject: Zappa Fans: Your First Zappa album (what era)?
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 14:22
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I'm really more interested in which specific album Zappa fans started with. I'm told that "Apostrophe" and "Overnite Sensation" are generally considered the most popular, but my own experience growing up in the 1980s was much different. So the question is: If you consider yourself a Zappa fan, with what album (grouped for simplicity by my rough estimation of different eras -- please don't bother to correct me on these, it's not that important to me) did you BEGIN your Zappa journey? For me, it was "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch", which I bought because I thought "Valley Girl" was funny. Who knew, eh? Thus, I am voting "1980s" ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Replies:
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 14:44
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I didn't do albums right away. First two songs I heard was Peaches En Regalia, and It Can't Happen Here. Then later I heard Inca Roads, a live version that I believe is the Dub-Room Special version. From there, I just cherry picked songs for a while. However, I remember Hot Rats, Freak Out!, One Size Fits All, and Apostrophe were albums that were spinning the most before I into more of his albums. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 14:54
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One Size Fits All was my first album. So Roxy era for me. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 14:56
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I was introduced to Frank's music during the Roxy era, and was so enthralled I bought all of his back catalog, and proceeded to get tickets almost every time he played in the area until his untimely passing. ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 15:02
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I was in the middle of a Gothic party and someone who hasn't hairs raised on the head put the CD of Apostrophe.
The absolute shock. It was like if the room was suddenly divided into several countries. The next day, I bought the record, then I began to look for music close to this one. I fell accidentally on the Firebird of Igor Stravinski. Zappa had introduced me to classical music.
 |
Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 15:04
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Started with Freak Out, listened to it about a dozen times, then about a year later I got Waka/Jawaka at the library, listened to that a few times, and then I listened to Apostrophe about a year ago and listened to that several times. Then I realized how much Zappa material I was missing out on and went nuts in January and February. Now I think the only albums I haven't heard are a few posthumous live ones and Thing-Fish ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow">  The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: bloodnarfer
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 15:09
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I bought grand wazoo and apostrophe at the same time. I think I gravitated to those two because they were the two albums referenced in the Beardfish song 'A Love Story'. Crazy Zappa love from then on
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ramza1316" rel="nofollow - www.last.fm/user/ramza1316 https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845 |
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 16:28
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I bought Hot Rats (the 1987 remix) shortly after Frank died. I think in the '70s Overnite and Apostrophe were probably his most well known, but in the last 10-20 years Joe's Garage and Sheik Yerbouti seem to be his most well known.
------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 16:32
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Compilation album: Strictly Commercial. 1st real albums were Freak Out! and We're Only In It For The Money; both borrowed from the library. ------------- 
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 16:59
| Apostrophe was my first |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 17:00
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Late seventies stuff because of this Italian girl I was hanging out with at the time who was into it. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 17:01
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I started with Chunga's Revenge followed by Mothers live at the Fillmore and Overnite Sensation.
My second rock concert was Zappa with Curtis Mayfield and Tim Buckley , something like 1972 ..... ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Xonty
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 17:08
The first album I'd heard about was We're Only In It For The Money, but I never heard it in full until a long time after. The first one I listened to and the first (and only!) Zappa album I own is Hot Rats. My favourite, mainly because of its accessibility and combination of jazz fusion, blues, and eccentric styles  Nice bits of humour and improvisations (although some go on for a little too long IMO)
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 17:58
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Mellotron Storm wrote:Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 18:34
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Not the biggest Zappa fan here, but I have several of his albums and enjoy all of them. I started with Jazz From Hell. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 18:35
 This girl was absolutely beautiful, and we hung out a lot but I was too shy back then to try to get it on with her while "Tryin' To Grow A Chin" was playing. Yes I have a few regrets.------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 18:46
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Bongo Fury ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 18:50
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I think my first ones were Freak Out!, Apostrophe and Mothers Of Prevention (in that order). This was the cassette era - I had not yet graduated to cd's. Once I made the switch I started getting them piecemeal - whatever was available used. It all started with hearing various of his songs on the old Dr. Demento radio show. ------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: Eria Tarka
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 18:54
| My first was Freak Out! |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 19:04
| Hot Rats was my first, I then proceeded with no particular order until only yesterday I got the only 70's album I was missing Zoot Allures, now I have the 80's to explore. |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 19:29
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Don't usually read the Zappa threads; not a "Zappa fan" per se. I believe that (other than Valley Girl!) my first listen to Zappa was checking Freak Out! from the library. Probably listened to it only once; not impressed. I did end up getting Hot Rats a few years later. Liked that one (of course?!). Then got Waka/Jawaka, which I also like (the longer songs, anyway). Nothing after that until this year when I got One Size Fits All. Unfortunately I apparently am not "All", because I don't get anything out of it. Definitely will not be getting anything else without first hearing it. Anyway, voted "Jazzy solo thing" era. ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 22:47
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Long time ago....can't recall the first one but prolly was Were Only In It For the Money ....knew some Zappa heads at college who played the earlier ones for me. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 22:55
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I first became acquainted with Frank in 1972, when I memorized the lyrics to "Billy the Mountain" while on a camping trip. It went downhill from there. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 23:56
| Setting the scene, during the late-80's (about 17 years old) I was heavily into dope, Floyd, Airplane/Starship (Jefferson's of course), Quicksilver and The Grateful Dead. I did my usual Friday night visit to the local 2nd Hand record shop - conveniently, a bike-ride from home. One evening I entered the store and heard this amazing guitar solo, it straight away brought to my mind 'Quicksilver'. The Prog-Guru behind the counter, Doug, told me it was Frank Zappa - Hot Rats, the song was about half-way through 'Willie The Pimp'. I asked if the LP was for sale, he said "yes", and I told him "sold". The rest is history. |
Posted By: Metalmarsh89
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 01:37
| Joe's Garage for me. I picked the late 70's option since that was when the first parts were released. |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 05:18
------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: PabstRibbon
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 05:21
| the jazzy stuff and the Roxy era were the first, I really fell in love with Hot Rats and Waka/Jawaka when I was around 14. Great time |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 05:56
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Incidentally, the inspiration for this poll was this interesting flow chart darkshade posted in the Zappa thread, showing a recommended path to take with discovering Zappa. http://images.wikia.com/4chanmusic/images/4/4a/Frank_zappa_flowchart_2.png" rel="nofollow - http://images.wikia.com/4chanmusic/images/4/4a/Frank_zappa_flowchart_2.png ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 06:51
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Somebody actually forgot Joe's Garage at my home. I started with it.
------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 07:31
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Orig Mothers with Over-Nite Sensation.
------------- Welcome to the middle of the film. |
Posted By: King Manuel
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 07:40
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many many years ago my younger brother bought MOTHERMANIA: THE BEST OF THE MOTHERS
I still love this compilation to this day. Brings back childhood memories. My brother and me must had been around 15 or 16 when we listened to this album over and over. |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: December 18 2013 at 16:26
Got Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo, Roxy & Elsewhere and You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 a couple of months ago. HR and TGW are the ones I've listened to the most, so I guess I'll go with Jazzy Solo Things.
I really enjoy both HR and TGW so far, so I guess I'll get Waka/Jawaka, Sleep Dirt, Imaginary Diseases, Bongo Fury and Apostrophe (') next. -------------  
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: December 18 2013 at 17:32
That all sounds good to me. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: December 18 2013 at 19:16
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Lumpy Gravy is the first I bought/heard. Boy, that was a huge mistake. ------------- |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 21:01
| Started vaguely aware of Zappa since Dancin Fool came out. I remember hearing some guitar in a drunken stupor from Sheik Yer Bouti, and thinking "boy, that's awesome." Then I got some friends who were Zapoids when I started college. I "started" by listening to their stuff. The first I remember was Them or Us. I thought Truck Driver Divorce was hilarious, but even the guitar leads left me giddy. They played and taped Joe's Garage and You Are What You Is for me. The first I actually bought, though, was the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar box set, which is still among my favorites of all time. Not long after I got a used copy of Freak Out and We're Only In it for the Money. Many other albums entered my collection after that. I managed to get both my parents interested in Zappa too eventually. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 08:44
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Hi,
Believe it or not, I got started with Chunga's Revenge, and then 200 Motels about the same time.
I always thought of 200 Motels as a very special experimental film in more than one way, but sadly, no one can relate to it.
Beleive it or not, the group that got me into Frank Zappa was BABE RUTH, who did a killer version of King Kong in their first album ... which made me go out and get Frank's album right away. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 11:13
Gotta love these little stories of PA....As for the poll: my first Zappa album was Hot Rats. I heard Peaches en Regalia over VH1 (Yep pretty strange) and was completely hooked from the get-go. After all I was a huge Samla Mammas Manna fan from way before, and it doesn't take a sonic professor to hear the similarities there, although Franky boy's take on circus music was entirely his own. I then purchased The Grand Wazoo and Freak Out! and haven't really looked back since. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 11:35
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Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies. I only make polls when I'm
genuinely curious to know something, and your input has given me what I
was hoping for.
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 20:22
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Apostrophe - My father bought that album and introduced me to it about, I dunno, five years after he got it. I liked it, then started getting into the first three Mothers albums, then Joe's Garage, then Flo and Eddie... it kind of bounced back and forth. Last year, when his stuff temporally went out of print due to the Family Trust's issues with Ryko, I freaked and bought a bunch of his stuff, at one point buying a used vinyl copy of Sheik Yerbouti for 30 bucks, which was worth every penny. My most recent purchase was the latest reissue of Bongo Fury.
------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 00:41
| Hot Rats was the first FZ album I owned. |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 04:37
| Orchestral Favorites. It was either going to be that or In New York. Friend of mine had the Sleep Dirt album. Loved 'em all. Still do, albeit for different reasons. |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 16:00
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I've started with Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage, but just because my father got these albums in his collection. I think I've checked Mothers of Invention's material some years later, when I found Freak Out! or Weasels Ripped My Flesh at my local library. |