blackbob said:

For a number of years...well since my early 20s....i have been aware of frank zappa....i was given his album..joes garage...to listen to by a friend and while i found some of it good....it didnt convince me that i should explore his music more....since then...i have listened to the odd album here and there but.....apart from his ...hot rats....album.....and the odd track here and there....i always think most of his stuff sounds like demos.....no i know he was a brilliant musician.....but his recorded work so far hasnt convinced me......i listened to his ...strictly commercial...compilation the other night but ...again...it didnt really do anything for me.....so if there are any zappa nuts out there....any suggestions on what i should listen to now ...incase i am missing something.....thanks

BB,

Try lather... a 3 cd set of the 4lp WB made him split..... has everything,,,, orchestral, humour, jazz fusion rock etc..... if you don't like that you don't like him.

Because Frank made almost 100 albums, it can be difficult to find out the best place to start.
There are two, "Apostrophe" and "Overnite Sensation". They were both recorded around the same time and seem to have a little bit of funk, rock and jazz fusion. If you can hamdle that then check out "The Grand Wazoo" or "Zoot Allures".
I named my son Zappa. Frank was one of the great musical minds of the 20th century! His music deserves to be heard. Honestly, I didn't really dig it at first glance, but Prince music has always hit me like that to. Upon further listening it's some of the most beautiful music I've heard. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to his music. That's why there's so much of it. You're bound to find something you like!

blackbob said:

For a number of years...well since my early 20s....i have been aware of frank zappa....i was given his album..joes garage...to listen to by a friend and while i found some of it good....it didnt convince me that i should explore his music more....since then...i have listened to the odd album here and there but.....apart from his ...hot rats....album.....and the odd track here and there....i always think most of his stuff sounds like demos.....no i know he was a brilliant musician.....but his recorded work so far hasnt convinced me......i listened to his ...strictly commercial...compilation the other night but ...again...it didnt really do anything for me.....so if there are any zappa nuts out there....any suggestions on what i should listen to now ...incase i am missing something.....thanks

I've been a HUGE Zappa fan since the late 70's, even had the great opportunity to see him perform in concert in the early 80's. I have most of his albums, even the one's that are still being released subsequent to his death. But I'll be the first to tell you, Frank Zappa is NOT for everybody. You've listened to some pretty great Zappa albums already. I'd say that if those didn't do it for you, Zappa is probably not for you. Don't know if you've listened to "Apostrophe" yet, or "Sheik Yerbouti" or "Zoot Allures", but my guess is; as much as I love those albums too, you probably wouldn't get much out of those either.

Don't feel bad, there are many celebrated artists out there that many people love that do nothing for me. Never heard anything by Hendrix that I particularly love, and while I recognize James Brown as a legend, he probably only has a handful of songs out there that I really-really like (aside from the stuff by The J.B.'s - who have plenty of songs that I like). We all have different tastes. I'd say; don't sweat it.

He was pretty versatile, controversial, funny, satirical, offensive, and brilliant, everyone has different reasons for liking him.... and not liking him. You're talking about someone who sings about yellow snow and why it hurts when you pee, then comes up with something complex as Inca Roads and Black Page.

He had huge problems with Warners 5 years before Prince did. That "Lather" album that was mentioned? Remember when they gave Prince a hard time over how much material he was releasing and wanted to put out 3 CDs if he felt like it? Same thing, different era. But what Zappa did was go to KROQ and had his fans bootleg it by recording the whole thing off the radio. And because he faced lawsuits and counterlawsuits with Warners, they tied his royalties up and he just went out on the road, performed, and recorded, and had taken some of the solos he played live, and mixed onto his studio albums.

There's enough out there on You Tube to see and hear all the different things he's done, including plenty of interviews.

There were no sacred cows in his music.

Zappa is it's owm musical journey. His output is so vast and amazing that it's almost logical you can't get into it.

The 2 albums that turned me to Zappa were : Apostrophe (') and Absolutely free. After those to albums I knew I had to listen to more. And so I did. Now 20 years after my first Zappa experience I own all albums on CD and Lp. Still buy the new ZFT releases.

I guess maybe you should try

We're only in it for the money

Overnite sensation

Läther (an excellent journey thru almost all things Zappa)

and if you're feeling rather challenged: Civilization Phase III (instrumental album)

I hope you discover this wonderful weird world!!

starbuck said:

and if you're feeling rather challenged: Civilization Phase III (instrumental album)

Amazingly innovative piece of work! Probably one of the most unusual albums I've ever heard, it epitomizes everything I love most about Zappa. He really liked to experiment with sounds and technology, and this album is REALLY "out there", lol. Just don't expect that you'll be whistling any tunes from this album after listening to it, lol.

PDogz said:

starbuck said:

and if you're feeling rather challenged: Civilization Phase III (instrumental album)

Amazingly innovative piece of work! Probably one of the most unusual albums I've ever heard, it epitomizes everything I love most about Zappa. He really liked to experiment with sounds and technology, and this album is REALLY "out there", lol. Just don't expect that you'll be whistling any tunes from this album after listening to it, lol.

This album still amazes me every time I spin it. I just have to drop everything and lie down and listen to it!! This was truly his magnum opus!!!

How I wish it was released on LP...

why do you think zappa never had much chart success in the us or uk?....was he just too eclectic to sell in large numbers ?....checking his discography...he only had one top 10 album in the us and in the uk....and no hit singles......( although he had some big hits in norway and sweden at the end of the 70s for some reason.. ) it seems like someone as talented as he was should have been better known ...?

blackbob said:

why do you think zappa never had much chart success in the us or uk?....was he just too eclectic to sell in large numbers ?....checking his discography...he only had one top 10 album in the us and in the uk....and no hit singles......( although he had some big hits in norway and sweden at the end of the 70s for some reason.. ) it seems like someone as talented as he was should have been better known ...?

Zappa was a non conformist. So his music was also non conformist. He would swing from style to style. His views were very liberal (open minded) and lots of people were insulted (didn't understand) with his lyrics, his weird musics. He had an opinion on anything and anyone.

The fact that Zappa struggled with Warners and set up his own Barkig Pumpkins label. also contributed to the fact that his music wasn't promoted to the fullest.

But the lack of chart succes didn´t impact his concert sales! They were always sold out!!

starbuck said:

PDogz said:

Amazingly innovative piece of work! Probably one of the most unusual albums I've ever heard, it epitomizes everything I love most about Zappa. He really liked to experiment with sounds and technology, and this album is REALLY "out there", lol. Just don't expect that you'll be whistling any tunes from this album after listening to it, lol.

This album still amazes me every time I spin it. I just have to drop everything and lie down and listen to it!! This was truly his magnum opus!!!

How I wish it was released on LP...

Man, we are on the same page! I love to lie down in bed, let my mind roam free, and even drift in and out of sleep with "Civilization Phase III" playing in the background, lol. It's like the soundtrack to some of the most bizarre dreams you'll ever have, lol.

starbuck said:

blackbob said:

why do you think zappa never had much chart success in the us or uk?....was he just too eclectic to sell in large numbers ?....checking his discography...he only had one top 10 album in the us and in the uk....and no hit singles......( although he had some big hits in norway and sweden at the end of the 70s for some reason.. ) it seems like someone as talented as he was should have been better known ...?

Zappa was a non conformist. So his music was also non conformist. He would swing from style to style. His views were very liberal (open minded) and lots of people were insulted (didn't understand) with his lyrics, his weird musics. He had an opinion on anything and anyone.

The fact that Zappa struggled with Warners and set up his own Barkig Pumpkins label. also contributed to the fact that his music wasn't promoted to the fullest.

But the lack of chart succes didn´t impact his concert sales! They were always sold out!!

i do love his ' watermelon in easter hay ' track... think i enjoy his instrumentals more...

blackbob said:

starbuck said:

Zappa was a non conformist. So his music was also non conformist. He would swing from style to style. His views were very liberal (open minded) and lots of people were insulted (didn't understand) with his lyrics, his weird musics. He had an opinion on anything and anyone.

The fact that Zappa struggled with Warners and set up his own Barkig Pumpkins label. also contributed to the fact that his music wasn't promoted to the fullest.

But the lack of chart succes didn´t impact his concert sales! They were always sold out!!

i do love his ' watermelon in easter hay ' track... think i enjoy his instrumentals more...

Then you are on the absolute RIGHT TRACK! "Watermelon In Easter Hay" is probably my favorite among favorites. To tell you how much: It's one of the songs I've always said I wanted played at my funeral, lol. It's THAT deep for me. It's right on the same level with Eddie Hazel's "Maggot Brain", in my humble opinion.

PDogz said:

blackbob said:

i do love his ' watermelon in easter hay ' track... think i enjoy his instrumentals more...

Then you are on the absolute RIGHT TRACK! "Watermelon In Easter Hay" is probably my favorite among favorites. To tell you how much: It's one of the songs I've always said I wanted played at my funeral, lol. It's THAT deep for me. It's right on the same level with Eddie Hazel's "Maggot Brain", in my humble opinion.

another great track....both are hypnotic....

blackbob said:

PDogz said:

Then you are on the absolute RIGHT TRACK! "Watermelon In Easter Hay" is probably my favorite among favorites. To tell you how much: It's one of the songs I've always said I wanted played at my funeral, lol. It's THAT deep for me. It's right on the same level with Eddie Hazel's "Maggot Brain", in my humble opinion.

another great track....both are hypnotic....

I've been a fan of Zappa for quite a while but for the longest time I only had about 20 of his albums. Recently I've picked up most of the rest but curiously Civilization Phaze III seems to be out of print (I haven't seen it anywhere for less than fifty bucks and it's usually much more than that). I think that the biggest problem with his music is that he was kind of forced into rock music but his heart wasn't really in it. For me the quality of his work takes a big dive in the early '80s but lots of folks love his later stuff.

Oh, if you like Hot Rats definitely give Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo a listen. There's also a Jean-Luc Ponty album (King Kong) that was mostly written and produced by Zappa that is fairly similar to Hot Rats.

Score! Thanks to this thread I just checked amazon.ca and found Thing-Fish and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vols. 3, 4 & 6 for ten bucks each!

I would be curious to hear what some of the more seasoned Zappa fans think of his '80s albums. I just listened to Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention (I found it quite scattershot) and Does Humor Belong In Music (surprisingly good). I've got most of his other '80s albums in my pile of discs to listen to.

You may like some of his classical stuff:

A few years ago I sat down with a bunch of his material and tried 2 get into it as well.

I gave up after a while.

I could NOT feel any of the tracks.

Apostrophe, Overnite Sensation, We're only in it for the money, Shiek Yerlabouti, Weasles Ripped My Flesh are some good ones.

Zappa, i understand he is hard to get into he is political, strange and out there.

My best friend his dad was Zappa's keyboard player int he 80's and we got to hear a lot of there live stuff, and heard great stories of Zappa. He was an incredible musician and only the best of the best got in his band.

His music can be frustrating at first and well many time's but i think it's worth it to try to take on some os his work, but in the end he is not for everyone=]

But it is worth it also to check out his jazz stuff & classical as 2freaky was saying