The Roxy era!
Over-nite Sensation is funky Frank. This is when Frank went "commercial". Classic Frank Zappa also appeared on this album for the first time, witty, humorous, just the right amount of cynicism and sarcasm. I didn't appreciate this album right away, I preferred the follow ups Apostrophe and One Size Fits All. Over time I've really gotten into this album and love it for what it was. An accessible album as only Frank could make, as there are plenty of crazy parts throughout, Fifty Fifty, Montana, but what made this album popular back in the early-mid 70s was the controversial (and very funky) Dirty Love, and Dinah Moe Humm. The lyrics might not seem as crude in 2016, but in 1973 they were.
This album, though, is not the best Zappa album, but I'd argue this is one of the best albums for a noob to check out, it doesn't scare off the listener within the first 2 tracks, it's catchy, features great solos and improv, and gives you a dose of that classic Zappa sound (think Montana), along with Frank's voice being very prominent, with humorous topics, and another singer, Ricki Lancelotti, who only appears on this album (and The Lost Episodes)
It should be noted, that this album is preceded by another 'era' of Frank, between the Wazoo era; the '73 band with Jean-Luc Ponty, Sal Marquez, Tom Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Ralph Humphrey, Ruth Underwood, Ian Underwood, and George Duke. Probably the most serious jazz-rock line-up besides Mahavishnu Orchestra or Miles Davis' early 70s lineups. There is a lot of great music from that era.
Albums to check out (not many):
Road Tapes Venue #2 - great sounding official posthumous release.
Piquantique the sound is poor, though. (the main show (1973/08/21 Stockholm, Sweden) is available in Soundboard (SBD) from Zappateers--it sounds way better)
One Shot Deal - Only on a couple of tracks performing Yellow Snow; also features the Wazoo lineups as well (and other eras).
1973/06/25 Sydney, Australia is another full show in SBD from Zappateers, with good sound.