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Topic ClosedWhat Are The Top 5 Frank Zappa Albums?
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Green Shield Stamp View Drop Down
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    Posted: October 03 2009 at 07:46
I think it's time I started getting into the music of Frank Zappa.

I love Prog, Jazz and Classical music.

I've heard some of Zappa's music but not enough to make informed judgements about which albums to buy.

I would really appreciate some advice.

I'm not too keen on some of satirical parodies that Zappa produced.  I know humour is a big part of his music, but I'm looking more for what you consider to be the excellent music of Zappa, rather than the excellent satire of Zappa (maybe it's impossible to separate the two).

When (or if) if get a good number of suggestions, I will see what, by common consensus, are the top 5 albums and will order them all from Amazon in a couple of weeks time.
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Points: 900 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 10:25
His 70s period is much less satirical than his other ones, for the most part. There's no definitive list, but if you're looking for some good jazz along with some good classic prog, here you go:

Hot Rats (100% jazz fusion, and darn good jazz fusion)
One Size Fits All
Roxy & Elsewhere
Make a Jazz Noise Here (it does have some lame tracks, but I'd say it's worth it)
The Grand Wazoo or Joe's Garage (the complete set) or Sleep Dirt
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Points: 679 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 12:28
Apostrophe
One Size Fits All
Jazz From Hell
Studio Tan
Waka/Jawaka
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Points: 15745 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 14:04
0% of humour(well almost) and top-notch compositions:

- Hot Rats
- The Grand Wazoo
- Waka/Jawaka

Top-notch stuff but inflected with his humour:

- One Size Fits All
- Zappa in New York
- Roxy & Elsewhere
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Points: 5195 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 14:44
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Matthew T View Drop Down
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Points: 5291 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 14:52

You will have even less ides after this question because everybody has different ones, here is my 5 favouritesSmile

Overnight Sensation
Apostrophe
Waka Jawaka
Hot Rats
Chungas Revenge
 
and there is another 3 I have to mention 
Joes Garage
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
One Size Fits All
Matt

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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 16:41
Pick 5, any 5.
Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Points: 4287 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 01:16
We are Only in it
(')
Sleep Dirt
Over Night
Orchestral Favorites
 
 
Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours
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Points: 544 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 07:25
Roxt & Elsewhere
Hot Rats
Absolutely Free
Uncle Meat
The Grand Wazoo
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Points: 2619 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 07:35

Hot Rats

Apostrophe

Sheik Yerbouti ( city of tiny light in this album is very great. this is live album)

The man from Utopia ( the continue of Joe's Garage style.  Realy modern jazz)

Jazz from Hell ( with breathtaken instrumental : Night school)

 

 
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Points: 530 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 10:09
I'm not too keen on his satirical parodies either, I just don't get them. I'd recommend One size fits all, The grand wazoo and Hot rats. I just downloaded Sheik Yerbouti but haven't listend to it tyet.


Edited by SgtPepper67 - October 04 2009 at 10:09

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Points: 18292 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 10:54
Hot Rats
Waka/Jawaka
Apostrophe / Overnite Sensation
Roxy & Elsewhere
Uncle Meat
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Points: 10964 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 14:08
look online at his albums' release dates from '72-'81 and go "eeny meeny miny moe"

before and after those years, you have to watch out (depending on your tastes)
My Last.fm
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Points: 3126 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 04 2009 at 20:53
Originally posted by Green Shield Stamp Green Shield Stamp wrote:

I think it's time I started getting into the music of Frank Zappa.

I love Prog, Jazz and Classical music.

I've heard some of Zappa's music but not enough to make informed judgements about which albums to buy.

I would really appreciate some advice.

I'm not too keen on some of satirical parodies that Zappa produced.  I know humour is a big part of his music, but I'm looking more for what you consider to be the excellent music of Zappa, rather than the excellent satire of Zappa (maybe it's impossible to separate the two).

When (or if) if get a good number of suggestions, I will see what, by common consensus, are the top 5 albums and will order them all from Amazon in a couple of weeks time.
Roxy Elsewhere is a worthwhile purchase. If you can deal with the satire because this album is unlike any other. Lots of instrumental composition and improv.
 
Orchestral Favorites
The Grand Wazoo
Imaginary Diseases.....This is a more serious side to Zappa'a instrumental writing. The horns are great. 
Hot Rats
 
When listening to his catalog, which I think I might have about 50 titles, the observation becomes tedious. There are too many musical transitions and  member changes. Orchestral Favorites is classical and Imaginary Diseases is on the jazzy side. Imaginary Diseases features the great Jim Gordon on drums. He was a session drummer that recorded with everyone (it seemed), in the 60's. He has been institutionalized for quite sometime. 
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Mr Greeen Genes View Drop Down
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Points: 298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2010 at 00:36
1. Uncle Meat
2. Burnt Weeny Sandwich
3. Hot Rats
4. Lather
5. Waka/Jawaka
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Points: 18626 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2010 at 21:50
Hi,
 
I think that if you have to choose one album over the other you are not listening to the music! ... I can not say that one is better than the other since they all are just fine with me and so many of them have so much different stuff, and so many different influences and works and what not ... and the live albums are scary that someone can play that much for so long and not take a deep breath ... it's down right insane!
 
I'll tell you which one I like, but it's not so much the music ... it's the fact that no one gets it and it's worth a mint in my imagination and one of the best things ever done that no one can appreciate! ... it's 200 Motels.
 
I do hear that it is scheduled to be released later this year, and I'm picking up the first one!
 
 


Edited by moshkito - April 05 2010 at 21:51
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MFP View Drop Down
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Points: 9495 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2010 at 07:33
Zappa in NY
One Size Fits All
Hot Rats
Overnight Sensation
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
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Points: 7826 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2010 at 07:53
It depends on what you're looking for. Most of Frank's albums are completely different from each other, but these are the ones that I would start with...

Hot Rats
Over-Nite Sensation
We're Only In It For The Money
Absolutely Free
One Size Fits All
Apostrophe (')
Roxy & Elsewhere
Joe's Garage Acts I, II, and III

Oh darn.... that's more than five Embarrassed

Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime
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Points: 10964 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2010 at 17:58
Roxy & Elsewhere
The Grand Wazoo
One Size Fits All
Make A Jazz Noise Here
Lather (and Zappa New York while im at it)
My Last.fm
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Points: 21795 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2010 at 19:33
We're Only In It For the Money
Hot Rats
Lumpy Gravy
The Grand Wazoo
Uncle Meat
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