Does Prince fans around the globe dig Frank Zappa? I must b honest & say that i never could stand this freak. I know some Mother of Invention era albums, but his solo career is so irritating 2 me that i'm questioning my feelings about that. Is he really that bad?

Talking about workaholic he officaly relased 62 albums + 49 posthomous...

What you make of this man? Is there a place 4 Mr. Zappa here? Talk 2 me..

stpaisios said:

What songs/compositions from his solo career would u take as standards? OR is there some good compilation album that sums up his classics?

[Edited 2/6/18 16:44pm]

Of course there is room for Frank Zappa on this board. I bought his Greatest Hits around X-Mas and I would have to say he was genius......here is a selection of my favs, starting with the classic Valley Girl (1982) featuring his daughter Moon Zappa

[Edited 2/6/18 21:44pm]

Muffin Man (Live) (1975)

They use to play this song alot of Rage (Aussie tv show) the classic You Are What You Is (1981)

Fine Girl (1981)

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow (1974)

Finally....my fav Frank Zappa song......I'm The Slime (1973)

Ok one more Zappa classic, My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama (1970)

My favourite:

best just to dive in....if you're already intrigued, you're going to find a LOT that you like; but you'll probably find yourself wading through some bullshit to get there...which is which is up to your personal taste.

I could never appreciate Frank until one day I heard (on the radio) a live show. I loved Joe's Garage but with the rest of his work, I didn't understand the "genius" title either.

In this show, he was talking about something in detail and when I listened harder I realized that every word he spoke was accompanied by a note on the guitar. After 10 minutes of this, he tore into this unbelievable solo and then I started to get it. Watched some interviews and he was brilliant. I think he's one of those artists that we're going to still be figuring out in 50 years from now.

Zappa was a Genius. I still don't get a lot of his humor(or lyrics) but the man was pretty damn witty. And one of the best guitarist and composers ever. He was just a all around complex dude.


He was the type of artist though, that needs a definitive box set(might already have one), to wade through some of his more out there music(which he has a lot of). The thing that makes Zappa sometimes hard to get, is his lyrical content and delivery. To some people they both comes off as being absurd or unprofessional. They just don't get it(which is understandable). Also some of Zappa's Production wasn't the best, and a lot of his stuff was recorded live.


Listening to Zappa is like going on a musical Journey. And most of his songs don't offer instant gratification like most pop songs do. It takes a little thinking 2 really appreciate Zappa....Nothing wrong though, with not getting him, as well.

Anyway, i think he has more than enough amazing(and focused) songs to easily complete a 4 or 5 CD box set.

Neversin.

stpaisios said:

NorthC said:

stpaisios said:

What songs/compositions from his solo career would u take as standards? OR is there some good compilation album that sums up his classics?

[Edited 2/6/18 16:44pm]

Sheik Yerbouti is one of the easier Zappa albums to get into. It's got Dancing Fool on it. There's also a compilation album called Strictly Commercial.

In the 90's I started with Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe and then worked to Joe's Garage, Sheik Yerbouti, Hot Rats, You Are What You Is etc.

I never heard any of his music until after someone told me my music reminded them of Frank's. So, i listened, first thing i thought was, he is a really underrated guitarist, but after that? I don't know, i wasn't crazy about a lot of what I heard honestly. some of it I liked most of it I was indifferent. However, I keep meaning to listen to more of his stuff. I do think he was a prophet, his thing fish was what some people thought the AIDS virus was to the black community in the 80's, i thought it was brilliant, I remember playing it for one of my black buddies who was of course offended by it. He was also a great bandleader and a fine musician, i love his covers that i've heard of Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, pristine in their musicianship. Some of his humor? some of it? I don't like, I always called that kind of sarcasm "white boy humor" which to me is the kind of sass that us other folks just don't run around saying because we know we'd get slapped saying stupid shit like that.

Genius is appropiate

The variety, skill and musicianship are staggering. Correct me if I'm wrong, but mostly independent of the music industry.

I can honestly say I don't care for most of it, but the guy was brilliant. There was a point where he had Steven Vai (guitar) playing with him. Those two could shred.

Genius.

stpaisios said:

What songs/compositions from his solo career would u take as standards? OR is there some good compilation album that sums up his classics?

[Edited 2/6/18 16:44pm]

as far as compilation albums go, i'd recommend 'zappa plays zappa'...it's not frank, but dweezil is a very capable musician and bandleader. the band features many of the original players and they really do the music justice. i believe there are 2 or 3 collections from their recent tours.

[Edited 2/9/18 5:38am]

FcKING MONSTER GENIUS>

Compositionally incredible rhythms. best players around.

Best entry way for me.

is........................ Lather.

Prince was the funk Zappa in my book. You cannot like Prince and not like Frank. You should lose your purple papers.

Zappa was a huge elitist, Prince was not.

2freaky4church1 said:

Prince was the funk Zappa in my book. You cannot like Prince and not like Frank. You should lose your purple papers.

Zappa was a huge elitist, Prince was not.

i dunno, i like what i like, some of franks stuff i liked, a lot of it wasn't too interesting, but to be fair i should listen to more. you say he's an elitist, he certainly was arrogant and cerebral, impossible to miss that about the man, however, it's interesting seeing him talk about that classical composer on his deathbed, (forgot his name) but he shows a vulnerability there and he did on a interview once when they asked his kids if he ever spanked them, you'd think a guy like that might be an asshole parent, but his kids said no when he asked them if they remembered any spankings. alot of times arrogance is a front, Prince was certainly arrogant too.

I think he's really interesting and had a lot of gas in the tank. Very prolific, totally unique, and not concerned about being commercial. I respect him a lot. But there's not a lot of his stuff I really love and want to listen to continually. Sometimes I get the feeling that he and his musicians are showing off their ability to move their fingers, rather than creating some emotional connection with music.

.

I'm a lot more into his high school pal Captain Beefheart. That is some seriously weird and out-there stuff, but it honks and shakes like Little Richard. Beefheart sounds like somebody who has a lot of sex; Zappa sounds like somebody who thinks sex is funny and shameful.

Genius in a sense, an extraordinary musician and extremely creative, but very out there and at times inaccessible. His fanbase get real butthurt when he is not ranked among the all time greats, yet I think that's the nature of esotericism. He is but one time capsule though, for when the greats walked the earth.

bobzilla77 said:

I think he's really interesting and had a lot of gas in the tank. Very prolific, totally unique, and not concerned about being commercial. I respect him a lot. But there's not a lot of his stuff I really love and want to listen to continually. Sometimes I get the feeling that he and his musicians are showing off their ability to move their fingers, rather than creating some emotional connection with music.

.

I'm a lot more into his high school pal Captain Beefheart. That is some seriously weird and out-there stuff, but it honks and shakes like Little Richard. Beefheart sounds like somebody who has a lot of sex; Zappa sounds like somebody who thinks sex is funny and shameful.

Yes, Capatin Beefheart could groove. In addition to Zappa, the OP should definitely check out Beefheart(if he/she already hasn't). If he/she is making an effort to get into Zappa, then its not that big of a leap to possibly get into some Capatin Beefheart.

[Edited 2/11/18 15:09pm]