Frank Zappa Recommendation

Anyone here a fan of him? I have only heard about 2 songs from him, and i like what i hear, i just dont know what album's to get of his.

any recommendations?

 

His catalogue is so diverse. It really depends on what sounds you're into and how abstract you like your music to be.

Some of Frank's stuff is really bizarre, while some of it is rather grounded.

I prefer his earlier, more avant-garde leaning work, such as with the psychedelized doo-wop of Freak Out, and the loopy collage work and tape experimentation of We're Only in it For the Money and Lumpy Gravy.

 

I really really enjoyed "Freak Out!". Very good album, most of the songs are doo-wop based,..a grat protest song is on there as well...the "Help I'm a Rock/It Can't happen here" medly is fantastic...i highly reccommend this album...

 

If you want good, fun "theme" albums, check out Hot Rats, Apostrophe, Overnite Sensation and Bongo Fury.

For a great "guitar" album... "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar" is "spot on!"

 

Joe's Garage

 

i'd recommend freak out

 

there are serious trends in FZs work, and while I find his work deep and complex, as well as occasionally humorous, most everything he does sounds dated to me.

My faves are also the early albums, Apostrophe and Overnite Sensation are great recommendations! Just Another Band From LA and Sheik Yerbouti are also good places to start. Frank is an underrated guitar player, and his lyrics are unique. Plus he gets some of the greatest musicians to back him.

Joes Garage is a bit deep to start with, but well worth getting as it is one of his most famous.

IMO you should avoid a few FZ works, A Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch contains the track his daughter sings, and I run and hide from that one. His later jazz works are great, but I have a hard time sitting thru too much of it.

 

i second apostrophe and joes garage.

 

Oh! I LOVE Frank Zappa!!! I also love the drummer on Sheik Yerbouti, Terry Bozzio!

I only have 4 records with Frank. My favourites is Sheik Yerbouti and (") aphostrofe....(????)

I not so good in english..... sorry.

 

Sheik Yerbouti would be my pick, I've only heard a few CDs of his, but thats my favorite. Good mix of funny songs and straight out good music.

 

I second Hot Rats.
A lot of people don't like Weasels Ripped My Flesh and admittedly you really have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. Some crazy stuff on there.

 

I gotta mention zoot allures. for the guitar work.

 

sooo many choices... i couldn't really get into zappa much, and i appreciate you all listing your favorites... but could you maybe describe the mood set by certain albums? maybe some of your favorites? all i've heard by zappa has been really, really weird stuff which turned me off a little bit. but everyone tells me he's a fuckin genious.

 

Zoot Allures is like...fucking amazing. It totally shows off his influences on other people. You can see Frank's influence on Vai, Porcupine Tree, and so many other bands just from that album alone.

Frank Was a Genius...

 

Think i will start out with Freak out! and see how it goes from there. Thank you everybody

continue to talk about frank zappa and his genious

 

Sheik Yerbouti, Live in New York (my favorite), Studio Tan, plus everything he did with the Mothers of Invention

 

zappa's work is so diverse, I dont think you can really give a good recommendation unless you know what the person is into, really.......

if you are into psychedelic rock.... def check out freak out or we're only in it for the money..

jazz fusion..... hot rats

guitar rock....... zoot allures, joes garage

 

you definitely have to really get into his stuff...... it takes more than one listen... the guy has such a diverse range of music styles.... I think anyone could like zappa if they just give him a chance.

just tell me what kind of music you like??

apostrophe is a good place to start, it was his most commercial album. or if you want to go into freaky, psychedelic rock, try something like freak out or were only in it for the money.

 

Well Freak Out is kind of hard to get into (for me at least). But it grows on you after a few listens, and eventually you find that it's got a very up-beat quality to it.