How Do I Get into Zappa?

Well the one that made me really love the guy is We're Only in it for the Money but that is not one of his most accessible.

I got into Zappa in high school ( or maybe it was the year before I don´t remember) as a couple of my buddies were big fans. I´ve been a big fan ever since and collected most of his albums. Some both on vinyl and CD ( yep there are differences that is important if you are a real collector, like the lack of vocals on the original LP version of Sleep Dirt, which by the way is very recommendable ( the LP version) if you like instrumental music). Sorry I got sidetracked there. I´d recommend starting with the easy ones like Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe, One Size Fits All, Sheik Yerbouti or maybe Broadway the Hard Way. That´s how I got into Zappa.

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I think I'm going to go with Hot Rats to start, although clearly there is a lot to be appreciated in his discography. Thanks!

If you're a fan of jazz rock, and even a fan of Legend which you seem to be, Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo are excellent starting places, though I wouldn't call the former very representative of Zappa.

All good recommendations. If you see it going cheap (mine was 8 quid in Nodnol once then Lather has it all. This is the apex of Frank's ideas that then were splintered into sorry hemispheres. It's 4 albums (especially the superb In New York album.) Roxy is all great, Hot Rats , Waka Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo for his fusion , jazz orchestral era...

I might treat his Mothers (65 - 69) releases differently though. A very different band. Funny how I think I like his bootlegs (aka ROIOs) more than the official releases. Though Burnt Weeny Sandwich segues into the Zappa Hot Rats era rather well.

The humour goes from biting satire (Money especially) to Flo and Eddie's raps, raves and rants then to the hold up the mirror this is you the sleazy stupid public from then on. And what a savaging and how funny.

Don't forget he could shut up and play guitar too. Who else would hire His-Name-is-Steve Vai for another backing guitar? As well as Adrian Belew.

Oh, sorry what was the question?

It's one of the best musical trips in contemporary music. Ever.

Zappa never made an consistent album to recomend to beginners. On purpose, mind you!

So if you don´t start with the recomended sampler albums you have to buy specific albums to enjoy his different styles.

Slartibartfast wrote: jammun wrote: I hate to recommend or even suggest compilations, especially when it comes to Zappa, but if a newcomer wants a nice overview of the man's output, the Strictly Commercial and Have I Offended Someone compilations, if they are even still in print, give a remarkably good though obviously limited sampling of the years following the release of The Grand Wazoo.  I would imagine they can be had very cheaply and they used to be widely available.  I generally keep them in my car, where two CD's fit way better than 50.   Eh, we all have our favorites.  Hot Rats is a good choice as it is not likely to offend.  Overnite Sensation is musically accessible.  The whole thing when it comes to compilations is that if you really like a song, you'll probably want to get the whole album anyway, which will start to render your compilation obsolete.

Have I Offended Someone is a rare keeper of a comp because of the alternate mixes/versions.

I need to stop posting here

Tsevir Leirbag wrote: I would suggest One Size Fits All as a starting point. Definitely.

Because one size definitely does fit all?   That is a nice album by the way.  And to think that I didn't add that one to my collection until 2005.   But I did get the mini-LP CD and that's really cool. 
I got into Zappa as a teenage boy (of course now I am an old woman ).  I must say that I liked the combination of profane lyrics and great musicianship.  My first album was Bongo Fury, which I wouldn't recommend as a starting point.  I think my second was Sheik Yerbouti, which of course really appealed to my prurient sensibilities.  I already mentioned this, but Zappa really shines live and I still think The Best Band You've Never Heard In Your Life is an excellent starting point.


Edited by Slartibartfast - June 29 2010 at 05:21