Linn Forums

Evansrahal · 2012-01-14, 06:57

When i was 15, someone gave me a mixed tape of rock bands, i had become a fan of acdc, black sabbath, iron maiden, you get the picture...
So, the tape had rush other bands and a song that i could not stop listening to, something that to me was out of this world spent months without knowing what it was. A friend told me it was FZ and the song was "Marqueson's Chicken" from the them or us album.
in his autobiography he confessed he got into music with edgard varese a modern classical music composer, and he wanted to become one. but he had a wife to feed and rock / hevay metal was his way to allow him to put food on the table and finance his orchestra ventures.
So FZ is similar to Miles Davis and many great artist who where always exploring, you might like some and dislike others pieces.
So my recommendations are:
jazz/rock go for hot rats- listen specially to "peaches in regalia" a masterpiece
Hard rock/ heavy - "Them or us" which has Marquesons Chicken or Sheik Yerbouti
Funny, really funny, and beautiful rock songs "Joes Garage" someone else mentioned "Watermelon ... the best guitar tone in a guitar solo.
He even has a doo wop album.
Yes im a fan but cannot recommend his orchestra works, too heavy, maybe when i grow older, or maybe never...which is ok too

popko · 2012-01-14, 18:12

I got the MFSL gold CD of "We're only in it for the money" and accurateripped it to FLAC. Sounds pretty awesome, and the work is a sheer masterpiece.

starman62 · 2012-01-14, 20:29

"The best band you never heard in for life" is good live album i like this one lot. Another real funny live album is "Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention live at Filmore East" Like this a lot too. But in the end the Apostrophe Album is the best by far!

Kubular · 2012-01-14, 21:24

Popped out to HMV today to see if I could get ahold of Apostrophe but they didn't have it. And, as usual, the Zappa albums they did have were over priced.

There's a reason HMV aren't doing very well.

Mudcrutch · (This post was last modified: 2012-01-16 02:01 by Mudcrutch.)

(2012-01-14 21:24)Kubular Wrote: Popped out to HMV today to see if I could get ahold of Apostrophe but they didn't have it. And, as usual, the Zappa albums they did have were over priced.

There's a reason HMV aren't doing very well.

Frank would write a song about that,If he was still alive. Cool

He could write a song about anything.
Mud.

linnrd · 2012-01-16, 11:36

As an interesting note, I tripped over this earlier in the night. Rather topical to this thread, IMHO.

Tony Tune-age · 2012-01-18, 13:20

(2012-01-16 11:36)linnrd Wrote: As an interesting note, I tripped over this earlier in the night. Rather topical to this thread, IMHO.

Interesting information, thanks for posting this link!

berni · 2012-01-19, 13:50

Has been mentioned before, but Apostrophe(') and Overnight Sensation are great starting points for appreciating Zappa. (They have worked for me, and still do...)

I would also like to add the excellent "live" album Roxy and Elsewhere to start with FZ. "Live" because there are so many overdubs you can hardly call it a live album, but it does capture the great atmosphere at the concerts.

I also think it is a "tester" for your hifi, as especially in the longer instrumental pieces, there is so much going on that it may also depend on your system if the music "makes sense" to you. Of course this mostly depends on ones taste and so on, but a good system may help.

Reminds of a great FZ quote on this very record: "Cheapness in the case of a monster movie has nothing to do with the budget of the film, although it helps." Wink

starman62 · 2012-01-19, 14:36

(2012-01-19 13:50)berni Wrote: Has been mentioned before, but Apostrophe(') and Overnight Sensation are great starting points for appreciating Zappa. (They have worked for me, and still do...)

I would also like to add the excellent "live" album Roxy and Elsewhere to start with FZ. "Live" because there are so many overdubs you can hardly call it a live album, but it does capture the great atmosphere at the concerts.

I also think it is a "tester" for your hifi, as especially in the longer instrumental pieces, there is so much going on that it may also depend on your system if the music "makes sense" to you. Of course this mostly depends on ones taste and so on, but a good system may help.

Reminds of a great FZ quote on this very record: "Cheapness in the case of a monster movie has nothing to do with the budget of the film, although it helps."

Ahh you are right Roxy an Elsewhere as a live album is of course a good start to FZ
too!! Great album, forgot to mention this.

ColinF · 2012-01-20, 08:09

Apostrophe
Fillmore East June 1971
Hot Rats
In New York
Joe's Garage Acts II & III
Roxy & Elsewhere
Sheik Yerbouti
Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
Tinsel Town Rebellion
Uncle Meat
You Are What You Is

All of the above constitute my FZ collection and as others have said, they are all good, but, you have to be in the "mood" and best in small doses. I haven't listened to any of them for a number of years but now that my LP12 is fixed and working again, it's time to get out Uncle Frank and give him a spin.....but which one to start with? I think Live in New York, although it's only 08:00 hrs here and a bit too early for some Ti*ties and beer!! Or maybe I should put on side 3 first and listen to the story about The Illinois Enema Bandit. All GOOD stuff!