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Zappa. I need recommended songs fom him.

Apostrophe was the first album I listened to. Seems to be his most accessible. "Uncle Remus" is a great track, and the Yellow Snow Suite seems to satisfy those that don't like his other music. "Freak Out!" is a great album as well and shows his earlier style, it also has been credited as influencing The Beatles in their creation of Sgt Peppers. "Peaches En Regalia" is a Zappa masterpiece. If you want instrumental stuff check out the entirety of Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo (both albums). Also you can't miss "Muffin Man" with Captain Beefheart, I think they have it on Strictly Commercial, his greatest hits album.
 
just jump in at yer own angle, kid! just get in there and discover you some FZ! then you can tell us all about the "bovine perspiration on her up-per lip area"! :music:

some of the best **** i've heard:smoke:
 
Superdog,

If you hit the ground running with Hot Rats and Freak out, I think you're looking for more than "gateway" Zappa! I second ANYTHING fom Overnight Sensation, Strictly Commercial and Apostrophe as a gateway, but for the more musically ambitious, also look to any thing from the incredible "Roxy and Elsewhere" album "One size fits all "or Zootallures" or even "Them or Us"

I know you were looking for track specific stuff but Frank really is album oriented music! Take a look on allmusic.com for track listings on any of these albums and give it a go.

So that others might help-You might also want to mention what aspect of FZ you dig. The guitar/solo stuff, the composition, the lyrics, etc.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Frank.
 
Overnight Sensation and Hot rats are excellent albums but my personal favorite is One Size Fits All a very good and underrated album.
 
davidb1 said:
There was a release of Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation on 1 CD. It has most of his "hits", also a later release called "Strictly Commercial" has many of the hits as well.
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zappa28 said:
Apostrophe was the first album I listened to. Seems to be his most accessible. "Uncle Remus" is a great track, and the Yellow Snow Suite seems to satisfy those that don't like his other music. "Freak Out!" is a great album as well and shows his earlier style, it also has been credited as influencing The Beatles in their creation of Sgt Peppers. "Peaches En Regalia" is a Zappa masterpiece. If you want instrumental stuff check out the entirety of Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo (both albums). Also you can't miss "Muffin Man" with Captain Beefheart, I think they have it on Strictly Commercial, his greatest hits album.
Click to expand...

If you're going to get Apostrophe, don't get the double album with Overnite Sensation. They chopped the hell out of Uncle Remus, ruining an exquisite guitar solo. The Yellow Snow suite on that album (the first four songs) is something I can't get enough of, as well as Just Another Band From LA (Especially Dog Breath)
 
Rotoplooker said:
Superdog,

If you hit the ground running with Hot Rats and Freak out, I think you're looking for more than "gateway" Zappa! I second ANYTHING fom Overnight Sensation, Strictly Commercial and Apostrophe as a gateway, but for the more musically ambitious, also look to any thing from the incredible "Roxy and Elsewhere" album "One size fits all "or Zootallures" or even "Them or Us"

I know you were looking for track specific stuff but Frank really is album oriented music! Take a look on allmusic.com for track listings on any of these albums and give it a go.

So that others might help-You might also want to mention what aspect of FZ you dig. The guitar/solo stuff, the composition, the lyrics, etc.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Frank.
Click to expand...

Perhaps so.I really can't put my finger on anything specific as far as aspects go.What I am seeing is everyone has a different fav so my initial question my be out of line as far as looking for specific tracks.I guess the person who said just get in there with any Zappa is right.Zappa lps seem very uncommon at the thrifts.I have only seen two his first two which I picked up.
 
keithpgdrb said:
Joes garage is a must have in any Zappa collection. It's where I started.
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I second that.

The title song is on one level, just a great rock & roll song looking back in nostalgia at a garage band. One another level, it is a very complex and sophisticated work full of humor, mourning, irony, business commentary, social commentary, and facetiousness. Its a multi-layered, symphonic collage, Pink Floyd-like, but with a kick. The musicians are like Steely Dan in that they are tight, perfect, and mesh perfectly with the bits of sound effects and dialoge.

Example: The lyrics, "even when you played it on the saxaphone" are followed by a sax solo. But not some solo played by some great jazz musician that Zappa would normally use. Rather, it is intentionally amateurish sounding just like a garage band player would sound.

Just get it man.:music:
 
I began with 1981's you are what you is, that can be described as bizarre rock songs and so would seem to fit your requirements. Still love it, the lyrics (when not silly stuff or puns about Goblin' girls, ) are great social commentary: religious superstition and money grabbing evangelists, small-town cronyism, identity politics, kinky night clubs, etc. You won't ever tire of that LP!

Perhaps we should ask you what types of music and acts you like. then we can direct you better to areas of zappa's work....
 
wingzam said:
Zappa songs are tough cause they're so full of **** until Frank breaks from the BS and plays his damn guitar.Joes Garage as mentioned,but there's probably about all of 20 minutes of worthy guitar work in his whole collection.I think the Rock God laughed when he smacked Zappa with ass cancer.That may sound rude,but it's very Zappa-esque..Mr. Asshole Extraordinaire!Saw him in concert - what an asshole.Probably a cool guy elsewhere...
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man I have no idea where you are coming from. 60 some LP's and plenty of great guitar work. SUAPYG is a 3 record set of nothing but jams. Burnt Weenie Sandwich can be mistaken for Mahavishnu Orchestra.
I'm no expert on Zappa but this is overly harsh and just plain ol' freakin off base.
 
Oh, come on Guys...You Need to Start with the Best...'The Mothers Fillmore East-1971'...It has it All...And, the 'Big Hit Single...With a Bullet'...

"My Dick is a Harley, You Gotta Kick it to Start"
 
Another vote for "Overnight Sensation". It has some of his best and funniest songs on it, "Dyna - Mo Hum", "Movin' To Montana", and "The Slime" are highlights.
 
sled108 said:
Oh, come on Guys...You Need to Start with the Best...'The Mothers Fillmore East-1971'...It has it All...And, the 'Big Hit Single...With a Bullet'...

"My Dick is a Harley, You Gotta Kick it to Start"
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"His Dick is a legend, the Heavens will part, reaming, screaming, da da daaah, dada dah, MUDSHARK!"

Finally someone that knows!
 
I have 28 of his record sets plus several more on casette.
You can check out Frank on You tube and deside for your self.
Enjoy."The crux of the biscut is the apostrophy"FZ.:music:
 
My Dick is a Monster, Give me your Heart...Bwana Dik is a Legend, Enormous Tho Art...My Dick is a Harley, Ya Kick it to Start...Bwana Dik Speaks, The Heavens Will Part...
 
Some early faves

"Wowie Zowie" done in a 50's style

Wowie Zowie baby your so fine
Wowie zowie baby please be mine
Wowie zowie up and down my spine
I don't even care if your dad's a heeb.

And from Uncle Meat
Crusin' for Burger's
 
Roxy And Elsewhere has a good balance of guitar jams, dirty songs, funny songs, amazing playing, great singing (not by Frank even though he talks good), classic Zappa melodies recast, new melodies and good sound. It may be a reasonable introductory Zappa LP.

I just listened to it for the first time in a couple decades and was amazed to find I remembered ever note and enjoyed it.
 
Many of his songs have different versions, so collecting his material does not end with one copy of each. On example being "I am the Slime", the version with Don Pardo on it is essential listening (Overnight Sensation vs. Zappa in NY). The monumental performance of "Yellow Snow" on YCDTOSAM Vol. 1 is another.
 
I can't stand Zappa. What do you wanna waste your time for. Next thing you know, you'll start listening to that other dead guitar player - what's his name - Hendrix or something.

Don't plan on finding Zappa at the thrifts. Never found any at Half Price books either. Got lucky and found Sleep Dirt at vintage stock. Amazon.com has some of his used vinyl reasonably priced.

You have heard several recommendations for Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation. Those are what got me introduced to the wonderful world of Frank. I do recommend getting each one complete. You won't find a single dud on either one. Hot Rats has some of his best guitar work. From there, you can decide whether you prefer to more jazz-influcenced work, the live ribald sets, classical compositions, or more rock oriented. But get Apostrophe or Overnight Sensation. I think Apostrophe is a little bet better musically, but both will give you examples of his musicianship and his humor. Come to think of it, there is nothing on Apostrophe that I don't love.

Enjoy the ride.

Regards,

D-Ray
 
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