Zappa

[soundave]

Looking for recommendations!

I started listening to Zappa in a kind of strange way, in that the very first thing I ever heard was 'The Yellow Shark'. I was studying music composition at the time, and I really enjoyed how he injected humor into his music. Even in passages that were purely music. It takes a special talent to do that, I think.

I moved on to 'Orchestral Favorites' after that, and then 'Lumpy Gravy', both of which I enjoyed for their weirdness. But I sort of stopped building that collection for a while.

Then, recently, I got 'Hot Rats', and it is just amazing! His guitar work is unbelievable, especially on 'Willie the Pimp'. It's so different from what I owned of his repertoire.

Here's my question. Given that Zappa has, like, 100 albums, what are the recommended ones? Are there some stinkers? Some real standouts?

 

[Incarnation]

I've always been especially fond of "Joe's garage" and "Sheik Yerbouti". But as a (sort of) starter album, I recommend "Läther". A 3 CD compilation compiled by Frank himself.

The story behind the album is that he had 3 (or 4) albums left to do for Warner (If I remember correctly). He wanted out of the deal, so he offered them a 3 (or 4) LP compilation. They refused to release it, so Frank decided to get some air time on the radio to broadcast the entire compilation instead. And in 1996 it was released for real as a 3 CD set.

 

[FRUGiHOYi]

I haven't heard them all, but I agree with Incarnation on Joe's Garage. That is my favorite of the ones I have.

 

[Prognostic]

get 'shut up and play yer guitar'

 

[arzachel]

apostrophe & weasles ripped my flesh imho

 

[Heckelgruber]

I don't have anything like all of his albums. I agree with recommending Joe's Garage and I would say Hot Rats, but you already have that.

 

[illidurit]

I've got all his albums

 

[arzachel]

lmao

 

[Opethian666]

I've got all his albums

You mean you have all his mp3s :Smug:

 

[Heckelgruber]

That MAY have been the joke.

 

[Opethian666]

Sorry for being slow, I just got up when I made that comment + I was still intoxicated. Actually I still am, but then again, when am I not?

 

[Heckelgruber]

Speaking of being influenced by things, note anothor site making the jazz influences claim.

http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/10236/Opeth.html

 

[Opethian666]

Anothor have jazz influences, how can anyone deny that?

 

[arzachel]

^not to forget the badass psychedelic funk that was splattered all over 'brothor from anothor mothor'

 

[Black Rose]

Don't forget Baby Snakes! Punky's Whips will make you chuckle.

 

[gabaghoul]

for funny lyrics, noodly bits and catchy tunes:
- Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation
- Sheik Yerbouti
- Zoot Allures
- Joe's Garage

for great, trippy, busy jazz compositions:
- Waka/Jawaka
- Hot Rats

for sheer WTFness:
- Weasels Ripped My Flesh

for the timidly curious:
- Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa.

-gg
np: Enslaved - Below the Lights

 

[RedinTheSky]

Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo are my favorites. Shut up and play yer guitar is good too. Zappa is definitely high on the creative/unique/inspirational scale.

 

[Don Corleone]

 

[Talking Meat]

Zappa is tough, because as far as I can tell most people hear Hot Rats first and think "Holy sh*t, this guy is amazing I've got to get everything", only to find out that he never really made anything else quite like Hot Rats. I've been going through his stuff......Apostrophe and Waka/Jawaka are sweet. Live recordings are definitely dope, he was a fascist about being tight. The London Symphony Orchestra stuff is interesting. Can't stand the Mothers of Invention stuff, especially cause they were a ridiculously good band.

 

[Demilich]

I've always been daunted by the huge discography and never actually checked out a single thing. I've seen Shiek Yerbouti in some top X albums of (whatever decade) lists so i think i'll go with that one.