• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Talk with me about Frank Zappa

Slightly off topic ... I remember watching the Senate PMRC hearings and I was blown away as a teenager by how well Frank Zappa spoke, how he surgically made critical points and just how SMART the guy was. I went out and bought Joe's Garage and Ship Arriving To Late To Save a Drowning Witch. I made myself listen to both LP's over and over again and I never looked at his music as silly again. During the PMRC hearings, I thought he took control; his tone and diction were impressive - I agreed with pretty much everything he said and even now as a parent, I stand behind what he told the Senate that day.

From that point on, I realized if you were going to stand against something "know your subject better than your opponent" be respectful but assertive and the words you choose can be as important as the points you make.



Joe's Garage will always be a favorite of mine, I just wish I could have met the man and shook his hand.
 
Frank Zappa was a fantastic composer of Contemporary Classical Music and his masterpiece of so far released Classical Music is "Civilization Phase III". He was a great Jazz musician, my favourite Jazz album is "Imaginary Diseases", but there are other great ones. Frank was a musical Comedian on stage, check the dvd's "Roxy" or "Baby Snakes". And he was a great Rock musician, see for example "Chunga's Revenge". He even liked Doo Wop (Crusing with Ruben & The Jets) and and and and and......

Dweezil was a student of van Halen, he is a very talented Guitar player. All his albums are good, but there are no milestones amongt them. His father produced almost nothing but milestones. I have about 80 Lps and 25 CDs with music by Frank and also a couple of Lps with music by Dweezil...

Frank Zappa was the greatest musical genius of the 20th century.
 
Last edited:
botrytis said:
2. Frank was dyslexic and couldn't write down his music.
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that dyslexic comment? I have never heard or read anything about him being
dyslexic.

I also believe that he could write music and here is a quote.

ZAPPA: I don't read very well myself I can write fast, but I can't read worth a ****.
 
In my experience, Zappa's music can be divided into three main categories (generally speaking)

1) His early stuff with the Mothers of Invention (sometimes wacky and funny for the sake of being wacky and funny. With hindsight it can sound a little contrived but always entertaining.)
2) The middle years. (more experimental musically, but still accessible, still sometimes funny. I think the messages became sharper and more personal - some songs can be a little too self-indulgent and we begin to see more and more live albums and 'concept albums')
3) The neo-classical or avant-jazz stuff. (you either like it or you don't. Personally, not my cup of tea)

Personally, I found Joe's Garage (all of it) to be a perfect intro to Zappa because it contains a little bit of everything: Awesome music, pointed satire, long and wandering solos, a strong and clear political message and a narrative to follow. As mentioned before, Apostrophe is also a great intro for much the same reason.

Since his death, there have been (at least) two "greatest hits" type albums: Strictly Commercial and Have I Offended Someone. Both would be a great intro to his music (though, mostly the middle years) and a good starting point to track down other albums.
 
He had a lot of great quotes. Once he said "high school is a state of mind".

I fondly remember one song he did entitled, "Evelyn A Modified Dog". His albums were so well recorded.

Capt Beefheart was from the same mold.
 
HarmanKardon said:
Frank Zappa was a fantastic composer of Contemporary Classical Music and his masterpiece of so far released Classical Music is "Civilization Phase III". He was a great Jazz musician, my favourite Jazz album is "Imaginary Diseases", but there are other great ones. Frank was a musical Comedian on stage, check the dvd's "Roxy" or "Baby Snakes". And he was a great Rock musician, see for example "Chunga's Revenge". He even liked Doo Wop (Crusing with Ruben & The Jets) and and and and and......

Dweezil was a student of van Halen, he is a very talented Guitar player. All his albums are good, but there are no milestones amongt them. His father produced almost nothing but milestones. I have about 80 Lps and 25 CDs with music by Frank and also a couple of Lps with music by Dweezil...

Frank Zappa was the greatest musical genius of the 20th century.
Click to expand...
Well, Stravinsky and a few other old dead guys might be in the running, too ;)
 
Poultrygeist said:
... His albums were so well recorded...
Click to expand...

The second best sounding (reproduced) recording of drums of which I am aware is a little piece called Hands with a Hammer from a collection called You Can't Do that Onstage Any More (Vol. 3).

This YT won't do justice to it, but here it is anyway :)

(unlike most drum solos -- it's short!)

If I recall the album notes correctly, this was recorded, very carefully & thoughtfully, for potential quadraphonic release.
 
I recently bought a CD of Apostrophe'/Overnite Sensation for $1 at the local Goodwill. I hadn't listened to Zappa in decades; I had a roommate in college who was a fan. Some of the lyrics are still too puerile for my taste, but the talent the man had is quite evident. "Montana" was still as great and as dada as I remembered.
 
One of my favorite Zappa quotes, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

Read his biography, it provides some great perspective to what he was doing musically, what was going on in the music scene and his battles with the PMRC, along with some nice raunchy road stories...
 
I recently read a biography of Frank Zappa and there was no mention of dyslexia. Also, there were numerous references in the book to him writing music down as he was composing it, and I doubt he could have composed his many orchestral pieces without doing so. Neither do I recall any reference to him needing/getting help to write music down.
 
fuzzywobbles said:
One of my favorite Zappa quotes, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."
Click to expand...

Current thinking is that comedian Martin Mull originated that quote.

misterjones said:
I recently read a biography of Frank Zappa and there was no mention of dyslexia. Also, there were numerous references in the book to him writing music down as he was composing it, and I doubt he could have composed his many orchestral pieces without doing so. Neither do I recall any reference to him needing/getting help to write music down.
Click to expand...

According to this Life magazine article, Gail and the four kids are dyslexic, but doesn't include Frank as such:

http://www.afka.net/Articles/1988-08_Life.htm
 
Last edited:
botrytis said:
2. Frank was dyslexic and couldn't write down his music.
Click to expand...
olson_jr said:
Are you sure about that dyslexic comment? I have never heard or read anything about him being
dyslexic.

I also believe that he could write music and here is a quote.

ZAPPA: I don't read very well myself I can write fast, but I can't read worth a ****.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about that too. I've never heard anything to that effect. I know he developed complex parts for all his musicians, so if he couldn't read or write music, what did he do, use semaphore flags?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom