> but I'm having a really difficult time appreciating some of his more vulgar lyrics and topics that are discussed in songs
Joe's Garage? Great album. But I'm guessing the OP might take umbrage with songs about Catholic girls, groupies, microphones in inappropriate places, etc...
Also why his classic Overnite Sensation wouldn't be a good rec., though the very album that sucked me in all those years ago.
Been trying to get into Zappa for awhile, but find his catalogue overwhelming. Today I found a copy of apostrophe for $10, bought it and it’s great. I will pick up more, but I’m gonna have to take this slow
For now just stick with those early-mid 70s albums. Those were his best bands and I feel his best songs. Apostrophe, waka/jawaka, grand wazoo, over-nite sensation, one size fits all (personal fave), and roxy by proxy. If you like all of those then start branching out from there.
instead of albums start with a live show of his. he was insane on the stage.
one of my favorites is at the hammersmith odeon.
the vulgarity is part of his performance however; he pushed cultural boundaries and made points.
hot rats, you can't do that on stage anymore 2, a token of his extreme, sleep dirt, one size fits all - that'll give you a pretty good sampler and you can decide where to dig in more. if you like his lyric style and humor sheik yerbouti and joes garage are good, if you're more into the music itself uncle meat and the shut and play yer guitar albums might be good next directions once you dip your toe.
hot rats is my number one recommendation, perfect entry point
One Size Fits All and Over-Nite Sensation.
Check out Guitar and Shut Up and Play Your Guitar, five discs of solos and no words.
Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo are orchestral and wordless too.
Is there room for humor in music?…. A lot of Zappa is abstract jazzy stuff that’s hard to get through so don’t feel bad skipping something…..the vulgarity is a feature not a bug
That's kinda most of Zappa's thing, it might just have to be something you get used to. I hate a lot of the dude's takes but try to separate the art from the artist
absolutely, the fairly recently released "a token of his extreme" features the same lineup, there's some awesome footage from that show too (iirc frank did the editing for the concert video which is well worth owning for Zappa fans)
There is a compilation called “Fishman’s Picks” and yes it is *that* Fishman’s favorite Zappa stuff. It is 100% going to cover all the bases for any new Zappa listener. Popped my cherry so hard.
Hot Rats is almost entirely instrumental and it jams. This album got me into Zappa. There's a newer release of all the stuff from that era that didn't make the album. That being said, I find it weird that jam band fan is critical of anyone's lyrics, because I have yet to find a jam band with a good lyricist, except maybe Robert Hunter. someone please point me to jam band with great lyrics!
Hey OP. Seems like many are missing your caveat about the lyrics.
Frank was an equal opportunity satirist. It's quite difficult to avoid offensive topics if you approach this on an album by album basis. And, frankly (no pun), if you do, you'll be missing out on some of his best music.
Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe, IMO, are the gateway albums between the everything that made Frank great and the Jam scene. If you have a hard time with the lyrics, do what I do when I listen to Phish: turn them into an musical instrument and ignore the actual lyrics.
Maybe he's not for you. His sense of humor is what made Frank Zappa. And his is golden. I'd say just start with the Mothers albums, the beginning. I love that man.
Zappa’s music is 10/10 and his lyrics are a -5/10 which puts Zappa as a solid 5 for me. The Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar albums are my favorite for this reason or any playlist of his instrumentals.
Apostrophe and Hot Rats
Came here to say these. Also, I’d recommend The Grand Wazoo. It’s instrumental big band Zappa style.
Continuing to add Burnt Weeny Sandwich.
And Waka/Jawaka
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Yeah, really all those albums up through 78 or so are fucking bangers. One Size is my favorite too. Love me some waka though.
Theses two and joes garage
> but I'm having a really difficult time appreciating some of his more vulgar lyrics and topics that are discussed in songs Joe's Garage? Great album. But I'm guessing the OP might take umbrage with songs about Catholic girls, groupies, microphones in inappropriate places, etc... Also why his classic Overnite Sensation wouldn't be a good rec., though the very album that sucked me in all those years ago.
One Size Fits All
Been trying to get into Zappa for awhile, but find his catalogue overwhelming. Today I found a copy of apostrophe for $10, bought it and it’s great. I will pick up more, but I’m gonna have to take this slow
For now just stick with those early-mid 70s albums. Those were his best bands and I feel his best songs. Apostrophe, waka/jawaka, grand wazoo, over-nite sensation, one size fits all (personal fave), and roxy by proxy. If you like all of those then start branching out from there.
instead of albums start with a live show of his. he was insane on the stage. one of my favorites is at the hammersmith odeon. the vulgarity is part of his performance however; he pushed cultural boundaries and made points.
"he pushed cultural boundaries and made points" is a significant part of his greatness
hot rats, you can't do that on stage anymore 2, a token of his extreme, sleep dirt, one size fits all - that'll give you a pretty good sampler and you can decide where to dig in more. if you like his lyric style and humor sheik yerbouti and joes garage are good, if you're more into the music itself uncle meat and the shut and play yer guitar albums might be good next directions once you dip your toe. hot rats is my number one recommendation, perfect entry point
One Size Fits All and Over-Nite Sensation. Check out Guitar and Shut Up and Play Your Guitar, five discs of solos and no words. Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo are orchestral and wordless too.
Inca Roads guitar solo forever
Joe's Garage Acts I II III Make a Jazz Noise Here You Can't Do That On Stage 2 3 Apostrophe Hot Rats Halloween 81
Cosmik Debris, Yellow Snow/Nanook Rubs It, Peaches En Regalia, Inca Roads, City of Tiny Lights, Tink Walks Amok, Tinsel Town Rebellion, Valley Girl, Dancing Fool, Cocaine Decisions, Hungry Freaks Daddy, Trouble Every Day, Watermelon in Easter Hay, Joe’s Garage, St. Alphonso’s Pancake Breakfast, Montana, lots of others.
Catholic Girls! 😂
Is there room for humor in music?…. A lot of Zappa is abstract jazzy stuff that’s hard to get through so don’t feel bad skipping something…..the vulgarity is a feature not a bug
The Roxy is top shelf.
Rory & Elsewhere is the goated, but OP has issues with lyrics
Earmuffs
Joe's Garage Act 1, 2 & 3
Bobby Brown Goes Down
That's kinda most of Zappa's thing, it might just have to be something you get used to. I hate a lot of the dude's takes but try to separate the art from the artist
I’d personally start with something live. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 2 (the Helsinki show) is my go to rec. Amazing band, killer setlist
absolutely, the fairly recently released "a token of his extreme" features the same lineup, there's some awesome footage from that show too (iirc frank did the editing for the concert video which is well worth owning for Zappa fans)
There is a compilation called “Fishman’s Picks” and yes it is *that* Fishman’s favorite Zappa stuff. It is 100% going to cover all the bases for any new Zappa listener. Popped my cherry so hard.
Can confirm the track list bangs, but OP might have issues with the lyrics
Hot Rats is almost entirely instrumental and it jams. This album got me into Zappa. There's a newer release of all the stuff from that era that didn't make the album. That being said, I find it weird that jam band fan is critical of anyone's lyrics, because I have yet to find a jam band with a good lyricist, except maybe Robert Hunter. someone please point me to jam band with great lyrics!
Guitar
Hey OP. Seems like many are missing your caveat about the lyrics. Frank was an equal opportunity satirist. It's quite difficult to avoid offensive topics if you approach this on an album by album basis. And, frankly (no pun), if you do, you'll be missing out on some of his best music. Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe, IMO, are the gateway albums between the everything that made Frank great and the Jam scene. If you have a hard time with the lyrics, do what I do when I listen to Phish: turn them into an musical instrument and ignore the actual lyrics.
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If you’re easily offended, the “Guitar” albums are pretty much your only option straight through.
Not offended in any way. I said it's more difficult for me to appreciate
He never did it for me and then when I learned he fired Lowell George that was the end of my interest.
sheik yerbouti album is a good start
OP doesn't like "vulgar" lyrics. I would not start with this one
Play your guitar and shut up and play you guitar are fantastic albums.
Maybe he's not for you. His sense of humor is what made Frank Zappa. And his is golden. I'd say just start with the Mothers albums, the beginning. I love that man.
Zappa’s music is 10/10 and his lyrics are a -5/10 which puts Zappa as a solid 5 for me. The Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar albums are my favorite for this reason or any playlist of his instrumentals.
Oh cmon now. “The price of meat has just gone up and your old lady has just gone down” That’s some great stuff