Frank Zappa Appreciation Thread

Molecules · 03-03-2009, 10:11 AM

I have been brainstorming a provisional top 100 albums for want of anything better to do (to be posted on the forum over my dead body, unless i can think of an ingenious new twist) and was picking out my favourite Frank Zappa albums.

Only In It For the Money is extremely compatible with me, but Uncle Meat might just take the biscuit. It was realised by Zappa as a companion to the film, and one side of the album is a long edit of excerpts from said film. The other side (like Lumpy Gravy) is Frank just on the cutting room floor with miles of tape from various aborted orchestra sessions and live performances, random treated found sounds all cut and pasted together, to form a glorious whole.

I always loved the low-budget meanderings of the 60's stuff most, Only In It For the Money is the 'pop satire' album; Uncle Meat and Gravy are all fusion and 'alt-classical', very stream-of-consciousness, they only work really when heard in one sitting.

Having said that it's a nostalgia thing, I heard the 60's stuff first, and the distended motifs and ideas strewn about those tape music albums came into remarkable fruition on Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh only a year later. The man really churned them out... Oh yeah and in-between he did Hot Rats, which for some reason has never fully connected with me. Maybe it's just too polished.

1969

jackhammer · 03-03-2009, 11:39 AM

I have finally managed to get his discography together - 136 albums! Next is the 100+ bootlegs I have an eye on

Robotnik · 03-03-2009, 12:09 PM

Frank Zappa is probably my favorite musician ever.

I don't think I could pick a favorite album. If I had to, Hot Rats probably. It's the one I listen to most at any rate.

The dude was a legend, a guitar god, and had a sense of humor; something a lot of musicians sorely lack.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 03-03-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I have finally managed to get his discography together - 136 albums! Next is the 100+ bootlegs I have an eye on

I've got all of his official studio & live albums and that comes to about 88 albums , so what the hell are the other 40 odd if they're not bootlegs?

Compilations?

Molecules · 03-03-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I have finally managed to get his discography together - 136 albums! Next is the 100+ bootlegs I have an eye on

you're sick

I have a couple of the official live albums from the early seventies and the endless scatological comedy is pretty bad, especially as you can't see it

also is Läther worth getting?

jackhammer · 03-03-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I've got all of his official studio & live albums and that comes to about 88 albums , so what the hell are the other 40 odd if they're not bootlegs?

Compilations?

Yeah it's 88 albums, plus a 12 disc set entitled 20 years of. When I clicked on properties folder I read some releases as double albums hence the number. I do have approx 90 bootlegs on the way. So it's 100 ATM.

ElephantSack · 04-01-2009, 07:12 PM

"Now I'd ride along the border...
With my tweezers gleaming in the moonlight at night.
Then I'd.. GET A CUP OF COFFEEEE.
And give my foot a push.
Just me and my pygmie pony, over by the dental floss bush!"

Antonio · 04-01-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhishFood

Frank Zappa is god, comments?

yes.

henry · 04-08-2009, 04:29 PM

sheik yerbouti

vacuumnoise · 04-16-2009, 12:00 PM

whats the craziest Zappa album for someone who really likes noisy stuff?? please suggest...

caus i much prefer Captain Beefheart to Zappa, but I have more Beefheart albums, caus i Just got more into that stuff...

03-03-2009, 10:11 AM	#171 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	I have been brainstorming a provisional top 100 albums for want of anything better to do (to be posted on the forum over my dead body, unless i can think of an ingenious new twist) and was picking out my favourite Frank Zappa albums. Only In It For the Money is extremely compatible with me, but Uncle Meat might just take the biscuit. It was realised by Zappa as a companion to the film, and one side of the album is a long edit of excerpts from said film. The other side (like Lumpy Gravy) is Frank just on the cutting room floor with miles of tape from various aborted orchestra sessions and live performances, random treated found sounds all cut and pasted together, to form a glorious whole. I always loved the low-budget meanderings of the 60's stuff most, Only In It For the Money is the 'pop satire' album; Uncle Meat and Gravy are all fusion and 'alt-classical', very stream-of-consciousness, they only work really when heard in one sitting. Having said that it's a nostalgia thing, I heard the 60's stuff first, and the distended motifs and ideas strewn about those tape music albums came into remarkable fruition on Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh only a year later. The man really churned them out... Oh yeah and in-between he did Hot Rats, which for some reason has never fully connected with me. Maybe it's just too polished. 1969 __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

03-03-2009, 11:39 AM	#172 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I have finally managed to get his discography together - 136 albums! Next is the 100+ bootlegs I have an eye on __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

03-03-2009, 12:09 PM	#173 (permalink)
Robotnik Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 27	Frank Zappa is probably my favorite musician ever. I don't think I could pick a favorite album. If I had to, Hot Rats probably. It's the one I listen to most at any rate. The dude was a legend, a guitar god, and had a sense of humor; something a lot of musicians sorely lack. __________________ STRAWBERRY PIE

04-08-2009, 04:29 PM	#179 (permalink)
henry Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 112	sheik yerbouti __________________ tumultuous thoughts

04-01-2009, 07:12 PM	#177 (permalink)
ElephantSack Man vs. Wild Turkey Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ATX Posts: 948	"Now I'd ride along the border... With my tweezers gleaming in the moonlight at night. Then I'd.. GET A CUP OF COFFEEEE. And give my foot a push. Just me and my pygmie pony, over by the dental floss bush!"

04-16-2009, 12:00 PM	#180 (permalink)
vacuumnoise Groupie Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 29	whats the craziest Zappa album for someone who really likes noisy stuff?? please suggest... caus i much prefer Captain Beefheart to Zappa, but I have more Beefheart albums, caus i Just got more into that stuff...