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Offical Frank Zappa Thread

Scored a minty vinyl copy of "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" this past weekend, the price was fair and I thought I would give it a shot. The Doo-wop thing had kinda put me off and I never really sought it out. I'm glad I got it because it's quite good and adds another arrow in my FZ appreciation quiver.
 
Dswankey said:
Scored a minty vinyl copy of "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" this past weekend, the price was fair and I thought I would give it a shot. The Doo-wop thing had kinda put me off and I never really sought it out. I'm glad I got it because it's quite good and adds another arrow in my FZ appreciation quiver.
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I'll have to give that a shot as I was shy of it too, because of the doo wop thing which I wasn't particularly a fan of on Freak Out. I really like the albums part of his "no commercial potential" idea, especially Money and Gravy.

Absolutely Free is another favorite of mine, along with some later albums like Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe.
 
Zappa autograph's

I mentionend it already in another thread, I would like to repeat it in this Zappa thread again. There is a German website that is about Zappa autographs. Almost all offered Zappa autographs are fakes even if they got the obscure COA certification.

Look at this marvellous website. It is in German, but anyway enjoy the fantastic pictures. The term "echt" means "genuine", and the term "fake"... you know that one folks... :rolleyes:

www.arfarf.de

I am owner of a signed Hot Rats LP. It is signed by Jean Luc Ponty and Frank Zappa. The LP is from an in Germany wellknown Zappa Collector, Rainer Steinike, he got those two signatures by the artists in a Hotel in Berlin.

Sorry for the wrong apostrophe above, another crux?
 
SUnPYG (3LP Dutch CBS 1981)

http://www.discogs.com/Frank-Zappa-Shut-Up-N-Play-Yer-Guitar/release/395323

1797628_1621445481419609_7075017034487027054_n.jpg
 
I'm going to see Zappa Plays Zappa on April 6. Ain't the real thing, but pretty close.
 
Here's one you won't see anywhere. :smoke:

In the '70s, Terry Bozzio and I used to score pot from the same guy (who is still around, owns a production company, and is still playing jazz keyboards) and on occasion I would see him (Terry) there. Of course he was called bozo.

EDIT: I noted that he has a Facebook page and has a production company showing various albums he's done one with Tom Fowler and others accompaning him. He lists that they do Zappa and George Duke-style (and others) music. May be a way to get some Zappa flavor if you are in the San Fernando Valley area.

Funny thing is that I got him into Zappa music with "Dynamo Hum" and he just loved it. Note the Zappa influence here in his music.

http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/10939876/14282774.m3u
 
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Saw the Fowler brothers in the late 80's do a show in a small venue w/ a number of Zappa alums, i.e. Ike Willis, Chester Thompson, etc. They did a nice album "Breakfast for Dinosaurs", that I recommend.
 
It's always gonna be his Verve, and Bizarre years for me. Burnt Weenie Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, and We're Only In It For The Money (Masterpiece) are are high points.
I always liked how Freak Out would start off sort of innocuous, and then grow darker as the album progressed.
A Friend of mine had one of his Aunts as Teacher.
 
Been listening to a TON of Zappa lately.

In particular

"Black Napkins" Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka Japan 2/3/76
"Outside Now Again" Rudi-Sedlmayer-Sporthalle (Early Show), Munich 3/31/79
"Duprees Paradise", Soliden Skansen Stockholm, 8/21/73
"City Of Tiny Lights" Make a Jazz Noise Here
"Mr Green Genes Medley" Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin TX 10/26/73
"The Old Curiosity Shoppe" Finer Moments
 
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Saw Zappa 3 times. First at the Carousel Theater, generally a "high brow" venue in Framingham Ma 1965. Then at the Boston Tea Party after the move to Landsdown St, and finally at the Berkley Performing Arts or whatever it's called at the corner of Boylston & Mass Ave, Boston. I have most of his albums, up until the album with Valley girl. Also don't have Ruben & the Jets. I didn't go for the later albums which were usually rehashed live performances.. Still have at least one in the 6 slot cd player in the car.


How many of you saw 200 Motels when it was a first run movie?
 
What would be a good album to start with? Don't have any Zappa but am interested, particularly after seeing Steve Vai's audition experience.
 
Johnno_Oz said:
What would be a good album to start with? Don't have any Zappa but am interested, particularly after seeing Steve Vai's audition experience.
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Start with Over-Nite Sensation, then you got about a couple of hundred to go...................
 
You could start like I did with "We're Only In It For The Money"

Then Freak out, Lumpy Gravy and then progress chronologically.


Suzy Creamcheese broke up my two young daughters...Their mother's name is Suzanne.
 
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Johnno_Oz said:
What would be a good album to start with? Don't have any Zappa but am interested, particularly after seeing Steve Vai's audition experience.
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If you like extended jams, with killer guitar solos check out the "Hot Rats" "Waka Jawaka", "Grand Wazoo" period on vinyl. Another one would be "Imaginary Diseases" on CD. Little to no lyrics to distract you from the brilliant musicianship that is FZ and his band/bands.

If you like a good story with an interesting plot line check out "Joe's Garage acts 1,2,and 3. The booklet that comes with the vinyl will give you a better understanding of the characters, the time frame they exist in and FZ's vision of what supposedly was and could possibly be. In my book one thee greatest rock operas out there.

FZ played and toured with a lot great musicians, George Duke, Adrian Belew, Jean Luc Ponty, and the aforementioned Steve Vai who contributed to a vast mosaic of musical tastes.

I could go on but wherever you start, go in with an open mind you might not like what you hear first but keep going as you'll bound to find something that will pique your interest.
 
Johnno_Oz said:
What would be a good album to start with? Don't have any Zappa but am interested, particularly after seeing Steve Vai's audition experience.
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The better Zappa/Vai albums are You Are What You Is & Them Or Us

I agree with DJ G-Man about starting with Overnite Sensation.
That or Zoot Allure are his most accessible albums with the most straight ahead rock content.
Bongo Fury is another excellent hard rocker but Beefheart vocals are an aquired taste.

More live Zappa than you could shake a Telefunken U47 at - http://www.zentao.com/NonFoods/Discography/ycdtosa.htm
 
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"Chunga`s Revenge", if you want to get the Flo & Eddie Experience....

"Apostrophe" just to hear Jack Bruce`s MONSTER bass solo on Apostrophe....

"One Size Fits All"....Lotsa good stuff on here....
 
If you listen to Late Zappa, you might not get the feel of his early years.

Listening from the beginning always prepares you for the unexpected, which you will find in the later stuff.
 
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