Frank Zappa

[Old Uncle Toe]

What Frank Zappa do you like and why?

What Frank Zappa should I listen to?

Inevitably, I've included a longer explanation. But I thought you'd appreciate me getting to the point first, so you don't have to read it all.

When I was young and he was releasing records, I understood how important he was but I couldn't get a handle on what albums to listen to. A few friends had some of his records. What they played seemed more theatrical & artistic than melodic. That didn't appeal to me much. I didn't want to go out and spend paycheck after paycheck on his vast catalog trying to figure out which ones I liked. So I gave up and listened to what I knew.

This song represents my impression of Frank Zappa in the '70's:

Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station

Plenty novel, but hardly a song I wanted to listen to more than once

On the other hand, today I heard Black Napkins, which is right up my alley.

Which says to me that I still don't know where to start. I listened to some of Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar today. While I like guitar solos, it's a bit much. It's nice to have them enveloped by some kind of song.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I always preferred Beefheart to Zappa. But then I'm weird that way.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

I listen to Zappa regularly but would never think of listening him if I were asked to list, say, my top 25 artists. Part of the issue is his diversity. While some albums are fantastic, others are almost unlistenable - not because they're crap, mind you, just because he is going in an experimental direction that I'm not into (or that hurts my ears). He's a truly eclectic artist - who else would mix the classical work of Varese with psych rock, jam guitar, or 50s doo wop - so all but the obsessive Zappa fans are going to love stuff and hate other stuff.

I think of Zappa the same way as I do as pet cats - once I had an awesome pet cat and after that, my wife and I kept getting pet cats with the hope of getting that perfect cat only to find, this cat was mean or this cat was a pain in the ass or this cat was sweet but peed where it shouldn't and stunk up places. Some Zappa albums are so wonderful or so sublime that you approach other Zappa albums thinking you're gonna find that diamond only to say WTF is this?

Then there's his humor which often is cutting and insightful then other times veers into childish potty humor. Joe's Garage is a prime example of a concept album that is wonderful musically and interesting in its concept then will diverge into a man having sex with appliances.

I think his early career is wonderful and most consistent with Only In It For the Money his pinnacle but all of his 60s/early 70s stuff intriguing. I enjoy his ventures into electric jazz like Hot Rats though agree it's an acquired taste (Ojai, if my memory serves me, really doesn't like it. Late 70s stuff that ventures more into guitar showcases are pretty darn good too (I see you just played Zoot Allures). I enjoy his Shut Up series but like you enjoys when he mixes his guitar in with songs.

My son noted recently how much Zappa I have on vinyl - why I have 200 Motels I don't quite know - others like Absolutely Free, Uncle Meat make sense. Still, I probably have a lot more that a casual fan should

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

One last comment: as I often do, I have several times started a chronological Zappa listening series starting at Freak Out and proceeding forward. I have never finished it inevitably hitting one album or another that just makes me want to stop.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Zappa is one of a handful of artists that I really think I should like but don't. What's the best place for a non-fan to start? Hot Rats from Zeeba's Jazz Excursion didn't do it.

 

[Nickyboy]

Zappa is one of a handful of artists that I really think I should like but don't. What's the best place for a non-fan to start? Hot Rats from Zeeba's Jazz Excursion didn't do it.

try "Apostrophe". That seems to be a good starting place for lots of people. "The Great Wazoo" has fun music with entertaining story lines (are you thinking of moving to Montana soon and starting a dental floss farm?). The "Shut Up" albums are good, as said above, but I see them as more background music or stuff for stoners. His live album (can't remember the name. the one in NYC on Halloween) got played a lot in college, but he might have better live albums I don't know about.
If this doesn't help, you should ask the Central Scrutinizer. He has all the answers.