Frank Zappa Appreciation Thread

[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.