The Zappa Thread

[darkshade]

You all is silly.  I can listen to Hot Rats end to end, then start it again.

its a great album, one of his best. but i never understood why it's his most popular album as far as ive seen.

[Birch Boy]

I love Frank Zappa (And The Mothers Of Invention).

Seeing Zappa Plays Zappa play Apostrophe (') in it's unmitigated entirety in a week.

[Orbert]

You all is silly.  I can listen to Hot Rats end to end, then start it again.

its a great album, one of his best. but i never understood why it's his most popular album as far as ive seen.

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?  It's great, one of his best, but you don't understand why it's his most popular?

Actually, I wouldn't call it his best; I couldn't pick a single "best" Zappa album.  But it's definitely up there.  Part of that, admittedly, is because it came so early in his career, but showed an incredible amount of sophistication as far as composition and arrangement.  Up to this point, The Mothers were known for silly, funny, and/or raunchy songs.  Hot Rats gave us a peek of the composer that Zappa would become, and I actually enjoy it more than his "serious" works.

[Nihil-Morari]

Actually in terms of composing, I've always considered Hot Rats to be somewhat weak. There are some cool composed themes and chord progressions on there, but when you compare it to something like 'Who are the brain police'? I don't know.

[darkshade]

You all is silly.  I can listen to Hot Rats end to end, then start it again.

its a great album, one of his best. but i never understood why it's his most popular album as far as ive seen.

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?  It's great, one of his best, but you don't understand why it's his most popular?

Actually, I wouldn't call it his best; I couldn't pick a single "best" Zappa album.  But it's definitely up there.  Part of that, admittedly, is because it came so early in his career, but showed an incredible amount of sophistication as far as composition and arrangement.  Up to this point, The Mothers were known for silly, funny, and/or raunchy songs.  Hot Rats gave us a peek of the composer that Zappa would become, and I actually enjoy it more than his "serious" works.

you would think, being he was a popular artist at the time, that an instrumental (mostly) album would not become his most popular. i dont know...

i agree, he would also explore the jazz-fusion realm with much more success in subsequent albums (The Grand Wazoo, Roxy & Elsewhere, One Size Fits All). Hot Rats seems like there's more jamming going on, at least on the second half.

[Orbert]

If I had to pick a favorite Zappa period, it would have to be that mid-early 70's period (Wazoo, Roxy, One Size, but don't forget Over-Nite Sensation) because of the jazz-fusion angle.  That's some wicked fun stuff.  I've been a Zappa fan since that period, and it's the one I tend to return to the most.

George, make them dance.

Dit!

I agree that there's a lot of jamming and improv on Hots Rats.  When I said it showed sophistication, it was in the context of a first serious instrumental opus (whatever that means).  I wouldn't say it's "better" than his later stuff, I just enjoy it more.  There's something about the raw, young, indulgence of it all, the whole package, that I find really exciting.  Any time I go back and listen to the first or second album by a band or artist that's been around for decades, it's a neat trip.  There were The Mothers, but this was Frank's first solo album.

[ZBomber]

I love Frank Zappa (And The Mothers Of Invention).

Seeing Zappa Plays Zappa play Apostrophe (') in it's unmitigated entirety in a week.

HOLY DICK

WHAT WHERE

I NEED TO KNOW THIS SOUNDS AMAZING

[Birch Boy]

I love Frank Zappa (And The Mothers Of Invention).

Seeing Zappa Plays Zappa play Apostrophe (') in it's unmitigated entirety in a week.

HOLY DICK

WHAT WHERE

I NEED TO KNOW THIS SOUNDS AMAZING

Beacon Theatre in New York next Friday.

[ZBomber]

I love Frank Zappa (And The Mothers Of Invention).

Seeing Zappa Plays Zappa play Apostrophe (') in it's unmitigated entirety in a week.

HOLY DICK

WHAT WHERE

I NEED TO KNOW THIS SOUNDS AMAZING

Beacon Theatre in New York next Friday.

Pooping myself.

I guess they're playing in Boston too, gonna see if my friend wants to go.

[KevShmev]

You all is silly.  I can listen to Hot Rats end to end, then start it again.

As can I.  Same goes for The Grand Wazoo, which I always consider its sister.

[sneakyblueberry]

If I had to pick a favorite Zappa period, it would have to be that mid-early 70's period (Wazoo, Roxy, One Size, but don't forget Over-Nite Sensation) because of the jazz-fusion angle.

Yeah I like fusion Zappa the best too.  Although I have a soft spot for Synclavier Zappa as well. 

[Nihil-Morari]

George, make them dance.

Dit!

I love Zappa quotes, and this one is a really good one.

Apart from that, I really agree with you on the youthfullness of Hot Rats, and on the best Zappa era. You seem to have a great Zappa taste.

[Orbert]

*takes a bow*

[PlaysLikeMyung]

the muffin man is seated in the laboratory of the utility muffin research kitchen

reaching for an oversize chrome spoon, he gathers an intimate quantity of dried muffin remnants

and brushing his scapular aside, proceeds to dump these inside of his shirt

[Orbert]

Some people like cupcakes better.

I, for one, care less for them.

[Nihil-Morari]

Ketchup is a vegetable!

Oh and I really laugh everytime when I hear this:
"Smash every creep in the face with a rock"

[SPNKr]

You all is silly.  I can listen to Hot Rats end to end, then start it again.

As can I.  Same goes for The Grand Wazoo, which I always consider its sister.

The Grand Wazoo is awesome. I heard for the first time last night.

[darkshade]

George, make them dance.

Dit!

I love Zappa quotes, and this one is a really good one.

well, this is a story about the boogers of Marty Ferellis

BOING!

8 o' clock wake up!!!

Ketchup is a vegetable!

isn't is 'cabbage is a vegetable'? and Frank is cut off by the music in the middle of saying 'vegetable'. or is this another part?

[Nihil-Morari]

Both

The Cabbage one is on one of his first albums (I think We're Only In It For The Money), Ketchup is on an end-80ies album. Can't remember that one.

[darkshade]

Both

The Cabbage one is on one of his first albums (I think We're Only In It For The Money), Ketchup is on an end-80ies album. Can't remember that one.

it's Absolutely Free.

oh, and which 80s album is that from? i have just about everything FZ related

[Nihil-Morari]

Going to look that up rightaway.


Aaah finally, not very easy to find, I believe it's Ike Willis who shouts it during 'When the lie's so big', so it's not in all lyric sites.

On a side note: Broadway the hard way might be the best post-Joe's Garage album. (Apart from the YCDTOSA series).

[darkshade]

Going to look that up rightaway.


Aaah finally, not very easy to find, I believe it's Ike Willis who shouts it during 'When the lie's so big', so it's not in all lyric sites.

On a side note: Broadway the hard way might be the best post-Joe's Garage album. (Apart from the YCDTOSA series).

how about Make a Jazz Noise Here? same band

[Orbert]

I thought Make a Jazz Noise Here was the '88 band, also known as The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life.  But I believe there are at least three official releases from that band, and Broadway the Hard Way might be the other one.  I can't remember now.

Anyway, that was an incredible band.

[SPNKr]

Time for Hots Rats AND The Grand Wazoo in one go. This is going to be great.

[Nihil-Morari]

Time for Hots Rats AND The Grand Wazoo in one go. This is going to be great.

Actually I'll join you in that. Great idea!

[bout to crash]

I have some catching up to do with my new albums...

Can't wait for the ZPZ show Friday!!

[bout to crash]

Hey birch, where are you sitting again tonight??

[KevShmev]

I don't know about the rest of you, but every time I listen to Zoot Allures, I am convinced that it is one of Zappa's best.  From what I have heard, I'd put it up there with Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo and Apostrophe (').

[brakkum]

This is a Frank Zappa ensemble myself and my drummer kinda put together at McNally Smith College of music, check it out!

Purple Lagoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2Et62Hc-4
Peaches en Regalia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eni9C1hfIYc
Uncle Meat Main Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM3stvx4iBU
Black Page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMgDpMS1GMI
King Kong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8pamVD9rgU
Oh No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Cnc2UqYOs
Son of Mr. Green Genes (with variations)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SBN9tHnOQ0

Hope you enjoy.

[Orbert]

I don't know about the rest of you, but every time I listen to Zoot Allures, I am convinced that it is one of Zappa's best.  From what I have heard, I'd put it up there with Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo and Apostrophe (').

I love the title track, and the amazing combo of "Black Napkins" and "The Torture Never Stops" but the regular songs don't grab me the way the some others do.

[Nihil-Morari]

Wow Brakkum. That is incredible.
I've always wanted to do that at my conservatory, but I never found enough Zappa fanatics to actually pull it off.

Great songs you've chosen too, some of my very favourite Zappa tunes there.

[Birch Boy]

Hey birch, where are you sitting again tonight??

Sorry, I was banned.

I was on the upper balcony. I was amazed by the show. What a great venue and performance! They were better than the two previous times that I saw Dweezil's band. But one thing put a major dent in the whole experience.

THE MERCHANDISE STAND GAVE ME AN OLD TOUR SHIRT. I took it out of the bag when I got home to realize that the towns on the back were the towns from the summer tour (which I have a shirt from, and they matched up perfectly)! At the stand, a current one was hanging and that's the one that I told the lady to get, and it's an old one. I'm SO pissed, because I get a shirt at every concert I go to, and now I don't have one from this one. I e-mailed DweezilZappaWorld.com and Zappa.com. Hopefully I'll be able to get a new one. Couldn't find any online.

[bout to crash]

Shit! Maybe emailing them will help. Obviously they screwed up.

And yeah, I agree, amazing performance. Were you in Row J, by chance??

[Birch Boy]

I WAS!

[bout to crash]

I think you may have been sitting almost directly in front of me if I remember pics you posted correctly (but I was a little too... out of it... to say anything because I wasn't sure if it was you. Long story ). Which seat #??