I'm reading a biography of Frank at the moment which is very entertaining but I've never heard any of his music and fancy doing so. I have two questions - should i bother (is it genius or genesis) and where should i start?
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 6:41 AMthe problem (or great thing, depending on your point of view) is that there's 2 frank zappas. the crazy, zany, "yellow snow/titties & beer" guy and the "jazz from hell/black page" serious, can it be done, why not try it guy...
he had always amazing sidemen, though... -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 7:00 AMOooh, I got the Goats CD T, thankyouverymuch. I'm still working on your list as I haven't had much time for browsing lately -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 7:13 AMHe was a great guy.
Unfortuately, Zappa's music seems tailor-made for the fourteen-year old mentality. A bright, rebellious fourteen-year old, sure, but a fourteen year old just the same. I read that book as well and thought it was brilliant, but I've always found Frank the story-teller/philosopher/humorist more engaging than Frank, the musical genius.
That being said, the early Mothers of Invention albums (Freak Out, Absolutely Free) are good, in a dorky satirical way. We're Only In It For the Money is probably his masterpiece.
His seventies work seem pretty sophmoric now in hindsight, though there are a lot of smart people who would disagree with me.
I never really cared for Zappa in his serious composer guise. If cranky seventies eccentrics are what I'm after, I'll take Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits and even Todd Rundgren over Frank. -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 7:20 AMThank you, I will investigate We're Only In It For the Money then, obviously it won't be as good as the Supergrass album of nearly the same name! -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 8:43 AMMy hubby & I are Zappa fans from way back.
You should also check out "Apostrophe" (has the "Yellow Snow" song refer to above on it along with other great ones). Although perhaps I am just fond of it due to my experience listening to it on the radio while driving an hour through the snow to pick up my hubby from work one time...
"Just Another Band From LA" has a favorite song of mine "Billy the Mountain" plus "Call Any Vegetable" which is pretty cool.
"Joe's Garage" is one of my very favorites. It's a great story and I like the music as well. -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 8:55 AMI think I'm going to have to make a list of your suggestions and work my way through - that's why i thought i'd ask as there's so many of the damn things, probably not as many as The Fall though and I've got most of those! -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 9:34 AMI completely and utterly agree with Mr. Fu on this one, Quimmy. I like Frank's early albums, but I think he quickly became too enamored with his "genius" and it made his music and lyrics suffer drastically. My suggestions:
1.) We're Only In It For The Money
--Where FZ & the Mothers say that hippies suck.--
2.) Freak Out!
--Damn experimental, for a rock band in '66.--
3.) Hot Rats
--Mainly "jazzy" instrumentals, but in a rocking sort of way. Features Capt. Beefheart on a track.--
Everything else, IMO, is sketchy to say the least. -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 28, 2004 - 9:38 AMWell at least there's agreement on one or two, cheers. I shall return with my Zappa record review later..watch this space....or not
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Re: Frank Zappa
Sun, May 2, 2004 - 11:35 AMthere's different aspects of zappa. it depends on what you're looking for:
zappa the comedian/satirist: sheik yerbouti, joe's garage, just another band from la
zappa the guitar god: hot rats, shut up and play yr guitar, zoot allures
zappa the avant garde composer: lumpy gravy, orchestral favorites
all of the above: lather (3CD set)
and then of course the classic MOTHERS OF INVENTION albums: freak out, absolutely free, we're only in it for the money
happy zappin' -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Sun, May 2, 2004 - 2:38 PMi was a big zappa fan when i was a bunch younger, the burnt weeny sandwich years. stereo's summary is pretty good...but you have to add there is frank zappa the musician-talented and sometimes even a genius-and there is frank zappa the person who was pretty much a complete ass. like frank took legal action to keep the mothers from touring as the mothers. so you get the genius that ripped "hey joe" and you get the ass that did Dinah Moe Hum. That is the crux of the biscuit with Zappa.
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Re: Frank Zappa
Thu, March 15, 2007 - 12:47 PMGreat googly moogly!!!
One Size fits all
Apostrophe
Hot Rats
check out those 3 and keep an open mind!!!
if you're like about 85% of the general publc you'll probably turn it off just when he starts geting too "personal"!!!
If you can take the heat and have a good l-arf!...(at yourself, mostly!) you'll understand the genius behind the nutcase!!!
one of my favorite hobbies in life is watching people's faces the first time i play em some zappa!!!
ha ha!!! enjoy!!! -
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Re: Frank Zappa
Wed, April 4, 2007 - 9:08 AMWithout a doubt without a doubt without a doubt...
Apostrophe.
Without a doubt.
(The other stuff is super out there.. and you need to step into the shallow end.
I might also say... for accessability... even more than strictly commercial.... "best band you have never heard in your life" (has a few covers... Stairway with a 9 minute brass section, or something)...
or I saw someone say shutup and play yer guitar...
one of those three should be fine.
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