Zappa.

[Guest Fire and Knives]

Today is a music binge day and I'm considering getting into Zappa. Recommend me shit.

 

K.

[Guest wayzing]

I think the live 2CD "The Best Band You Never Heard in your Life" is a good start.

 

Has really strong versions of some of his best "more accesible" tracks as well as some clever virtous stuff from FZ and the rest of the band. Obviously the Frank Zappa humour is present and this one features some hilarious shots at Jimmy Swaggart.

 

Some covers on there too: On top of my head they are Purple Haze, Sunshine of your love, Ring of Fire, and Stairway to Heaven, plus Bolero and the theme from Bonanza.

 

I have a lot of Zappa records but I've always been more into the stuff that's based on "traditional" songwriting and then spiced up with Zappa's unique way of arranging music.

 

I love this record. Go for it and tell us what you think.

[5_moves_of_doom]

I started with Apostrophe, and I cannot complain. From there, I've been going chronilogically, and have picked up his first three albums. Freak Out! might be a good starting point since it's his debut, but overall, I may very well like We're Only In It for the Money the best so far.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

^All fine choices in the post above me.

 

Freak Out and Hot Rats are the must-own Zappa albums.

 

He went through a ton of phases, starting out with psychedelic composition, experimental stuff, and traditional old-timey pop, in the mid-late 60's, then hit his awesome fusion jazz period in 69 and 70, then he ventured into more pop stylings, always keeping things interesting.

 

There's really no place to start with the guy..if you really like progressive stuff, maybe grab something he did in the late 70's and early 80's. My favorite is definitely his early material, but he's never been actively bad at any point in his career. He's quite possibly the most prolific guy ever, with something like 80 full-length studio albums, a ton of live releases, and untold number of compilations and things, all from 1966 until some time before his death in 94. That's a lotta records.

 

I've got:

 

Freak Out

We're Only In It For The Money

Lumpy Gravy

Absolutely Free

Just another Band from LA

Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Hot Rats

Waka/Jawaka

Live at the Fillmore

Roxy and Elsewhere

Apostrophe

Zoot Allures

Joe's Garage

Sheik Yerbouti

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 1

YCDTOSA vol 2.

 

Personal favorites in bold, but I really like all of those, except Weasels, JABFLA, Roxy, and YCDTOSA vol 1, all of which have their moments, but are pretty weak overall.

[5_moves_of_doom]

Hey, for kicks, anyone want to look up exactly HOW many official full-lengths this guy had, and perhaps list them? I think I've memorized his discography from '66 to '80 by heart, but after that I get lost.

[The Czech Republic]

The famous Brecker Brothers are on whichever recording has the song "Titties and Beer." Having met Randy Brecker before, this amuses me.

 

EDIT: Agent, you gotta pick up Overnite Sensation. It's a pretty good one, I feel.

[Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

Hey, for kicks, anyone want to look up exactly HOW many official full-lengths this guy had, and perhaps list them?

 

http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/zappa/albums/albums.html]This page lists his discography. Not knowing anything about Zappa, I don't know if this is accurate.[/url]