Frank Zappa Appreciation Thread

[Plainview]

Uncle Meat is incredible.

His most underrated release imo is Jazz from Hell. If you're a fan of Zappa and you haven't heard it, dig it out.

Like Bongo Fury a lot too, but don't care as much for Beefheart generally. Frownland will hate me, but TMR is overrated to hell and I don't think it does anything that Zappa wasn't already doing. Like Shiny Beast a lot though

[grindy]

Originally Posted by Plainview

Uncle Meat is incredible.

His most underrated release imo is Jazz from Hell. If you're a fan of Zappa and you haven't heard it, dig it out.

Like Bongo Fury a lot too, but don't care as much for Beefheart generally. Frownland will hate me, but TMR is overrated to hell and I don't think it does anything that Zappa wasn't already doing. Like Shiny Beast a lot though

I've always felt that Beefheart was doing a totally different thing from Zappa.
I love Beefheart and he influenced so much of my favourite music, but I have to admit I don't listen to him that often and TMR, while great, is a little too long and Lick My Decals Off, Baby is more often my album of choice.

Jazz From Hell has great compositions, but the sound of the synclavier is at times slightly annoying.
Uncle Meat is one of Zappas best, but all those skits and interludes and little stories are something that always bothers me about Zappa, I like his music far more than his humour.

[Plainview]

Originally Posted by grindy

I've always felt that Beefheart was doing a totally different thing from Zappa.
I love Beefheart and he influenced so much of my favourite music, but I have to admit I don't listen to him that often and TMR, while great, is a little too long and Lick My Decals Off, Baby is more often my album of choice.

Jazz From Hell has great compositions, but the sound of the synclavier is at times slightly annoying.
Uncle Meat is one of Zappas best, but all those skits and interludes and little stories are something that always bothers me about Zappa, I like his music far more than his humour.

Fair points, I definitely agree on the humour aspect, it can detract when you actually just want to hear the music without distractions.

[Psy-Fi]

I have around 40 Zappa bootlegs (mostly on vinyl) and around 60 of his official releases (about half of those on vinyl) a few CD's and a few VHS tapes and DVD's, along with a couple of tour shirts from shows I saw and a couple of 60's Mothers of Invention concert posters. I've also seen The Grandmothers and The GrandMothers of Invention, and have some albums and CD's and a tour shirt from The Grandmothers. Over the past 15 years, I've also had the opportunity to chat with several members of the original Mothers of Invention as well as several members of Zappa's solo bands from the 70's & 80's.

Needless to say, I'm a fan.

[Byegone Daze]

I'm looking forward to viewing Roxy The Movie! Uncle Meat is great. My first album was Absolutely Free

I saw Zappa 7 times over the decades. The first time was in the summer of 1967 at an amusement park called Lagoon. Frank's opening line was "Salt Lake City Sucks" Jimi Hendrix and The Doors played there the same year.

I went to high school with Tom Fowler in SLC, & my brother knew Bruce. Their dad taught music at Westminster College, they had the hottest Jazz band in Utah.

Oddly enough, over the years, I have really come to appreciate Jazz From Hell & Joe's Garage. Masterpieces both, though I always liked Joe's from the start!

I'm very glad to see that there are Mothers fans around here!

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Plainview

Like Bongo Fury a lot too, but don't care as much for Beefheart generally. Frownland will hate me, but TMR is overrated to hell and I don't think it does anything that Zappa wasn't already doing. Like Shiny Beast a lot though

Ja, I'm with grindy when I say that Zappa and Beefheart are vastly different. Both were unconventional, but they're still quite disparate.

I think that with the exception of the doowop opener, Burnt Weeny Sandwich is Zappa's most underrated album.

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

The Grandmothers and The GrandMothers of Invention

What's the difference between these two?

[Psy-Fi]

Originally Posted by Frownland

I think that with the exception of the doowop opener, Burnt Weeny Sandwich is Zappa's most underrated album.

I've always thought the title of that album is some sort of reference to the album consisting of a jazz/rock middle, sandwiched in-between two doo-wop songs.

Originally Posted by Frownland

What's the difference between these two?

The Grandmothers stopped using the name due to some sort of potential legal hassle, from what I understand...

The GRANDMOTHERS 2002 tour canceled (Band canceled as well!!)

Also, a different lineup (with the exception of Don Preston) when I saw both bands.

[IvanMC]

I've been playing the guitar in an ensemble for some time now. We play Piazzolla and Zappa: had to get to know his music - at last. It really blew me away. Zappa's music is sublime. We play Marque's son, Echidna and Whippin' Post. Then we play Undertango and Violentango, by the supreme Piazzolla. But I must admit I didn't know Zappa's music profoundly, so to speak. Playing in this ensemble has been a heavenly experience, though some parts are indeed tough. Cheers!

[grindy]

This is a great year for Zappa DVDs. First Roxy and now this:

Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

I have around 40 Zappa bootlegs (mostly on vinyl) and around 60 of his official releases (about half of those on vinyl) a few CD's and a few VHS tapes and DVD's, along with a couple of tour shirts from shows I saw and a couple of 60's Mothers of Invention concert posters. I've also seen The Grandmothers and The GrandMothers of Invention, and have some albums and CD's and a tour shirt from The Grandmothers.

That´s a lot of Zappa material, Psy-Fi - you´ve probably got more than Zappa himself kept in his recording studio.

Ever since buying the gatefold Absolutely Free album, I´ve had a love/hate feeling about Zappa; love the serious stuff and hate the jokey material. So it´s not difficult to guess my verdict on some albums:-

Favourite: Hot Rats
Recently downloaded and enjoying: Waka Jawaka, Grand Wazoo, Sleep Dirt
OK with: Zoot Allures, Burnt Weenie Sandwich (yes, I agree it has a sandwich structure), Overnight Sensation
Ultimately dissatisfied with: Absolutely Free (except for Invocation...Pumpkin), In New York (except for Purple Lagoon)

Over the past 15 years, I've also had the opportunity to chat with several members of the original Mothers of Invention as well as several members of Zappa's solo bands from the 70's & 80's.

^ That´s interesting! I´ve read that FZ was a hard task master; I wonder what the opinion of the ex-Mothers and others is.