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A review of all the albums that Frank produced from other artists like Beefheart, Lenny Bruce, and Grand Funk Railroad.

I think it's probably the worst album that I've heard in my 68 years of life. I have been a Zappa fan for 52 years of that life. It has no feeling, at all, for me. A robotic release. No mistakes. I imagine the latter is what Zappa liked - as he likes his music played without error. A nightmare. Ego, given free reign, in my view.

I just got the cd ( had it on cassette in 84) and I can't stop playin' it.But then again,I love stupid shit.

Fantastic review! Thank you!!! My first shows were the Irvine Meadows '87 shows, as well. I remember people talking about "Can you believe he survived the coma?!?" and I had no idea what they were talking about... Until I got hooked, and started asking questions. I'm still asking questions to this day. The world of the Dead is never-ending, and very, very, deep. Again, THANK YOU for a fantastic review that really hit home.

Their Zappaesque stuff comes mostly in the form of their early instrumentals. Then in shy spoonfuls. Cardiacs is really more like their own thing, and comparisons fall short. Btw you might grow fond of On Land And In The Sea with time.

Would have rotated stranded and manifesto great review.

Stranded way too low

1 thru 4 iconic . Hard to rate

I was at one of those shows.

Has any band ever had a better four album run?

I wasn't a great fan of Flo & Eddie, I'm still not. So I have never heard this, nor do I want to!

One of the truly awful Zappa albums.

The Zinclavier ( sic ) is an instrument ( I use the word loosely ) I can't stand. Emotionless and antiseptic. Jazz From Hell, which contains "music" made from that "instrument" is completely awful.

"Caravanserai" is probably my favourite, more jazz-fusion than rock, but darn fine.

In light of Mike Ratledge’s passing would you be interested in ranking Soft Machine?

Just want to correct Abraxas as #3 - is listed as #2

With all of your accolades for David Crosby, what do you think of his If I Could Only Remember My Name album?

Winterlong has a Beach Boys vibe.....Dont Worry Baby?? Neil is a Beach Boys fan so it makes sense...........speaking of Neils extended guitar solos........Neil and Jerry would have been some interesting guitar trade offs......

This is a weird one for me too.....Captain Kennedy and Hitchiker are typical moody Neil and pretty good tunes..... really all the material is good I just dont find myself returning to it very often.....a little low energy maybe ?? Of course Pocahontas and Powderfinger are classic Neil.... great songs and possibly its just a mood specific release Im not sure......possibly I just need to visit it more.......Im a playlist guy and I moved this to right after Decade which I use as a Neil background record......great comp! I

I saw this line up at The Hammersmith Odeon at the time this album was released . It was great concert. I like the album.

Wonderful review sir! Honestly, half of these songs confuse me man, like there can be some shitty songs, there can be some solid songs, then there can be some really awesome songs, I guess it just depends on the song right?

Of course I love this record....I agree with Neil....this band was incredible......Neil does get campy whenever he does country but it still works....even Buffalo Springfield had a country feel in their music....Grey Riders is hot so we are in agreement there.........I love any music Neil comes up with....its Neil.....I agree Flying On The Ground is gorgeous....and Motor City is a clunker.....agreed again.....I just really like this era for Neil...Southern Pacific is awesome.....I think vocally Neil was still very strong at this point in his career......

The Mothers live in 71. I can't stand it. It's funny once. After that it's an endurance trial. Like most comedy albums, they pale very quickly.

It's an excellent album! Good choice, old chap!

maybe a theme that goes with whats happening at the moment, best Zappa political song, there's a whole bunch on the first few albums and then on yawyi and then on Broadway, not sure if we can list a list of 60 plus though.

It's not oboe on MM it's soprano sax.

Spelling.....Ian Gillan........yeah Space Truckin....Lazy.....awesome jams!

This is where Im at for Deep Purple......Machine Head/Burn are my favorite albums........love Made In Japan..I used to have it and its missing!! One of the rare occasions an album disappeared from my collection?? This is the ultimate live Deep Purple......I saw the Ian Gillian band in a 2000 seater back in the 70s....they played a few Purple tunes.....the crowd went crazy!!

My least favourite Zappa albums are, Jazz From Hell, Just Another Band From LA, I haven't heard Thing Fish, and I haven't any intention of doing so either.

This is a great line up Shame about Bolin such potential , what a waste of

When i suggested Alumni is should have said mVp The v being most important This is not about prowess but what these people brought to Frank that freed or inspired him Being a clonemeister or ability to make Frank laugh , all important factors To that end I would include Cal Schenkel as one of my picks

My wife doesn’t like me playing Zappa in her car. How about a list of the most accessible Zappa songs. Uncle Remus, dirty love, magic fingers, Doreen,peaches en regalia and Watermelon are the kind of songs that came to mind.

you could do released live shows, or just posthumous albums in general

Is the 3 hour groupie tape public domain or something exclusive and private? Sounds fun looking forward to it!!

Best set list ;)

I saw him here in Melbourne back in 85, he did a heavy version of "Misfits" with Crazy horse, absolutely brilliant, this is the way it should have sounded !

How about favorite or most iconic FZ album cover art?

Great video! Always been sort of here and there on this album, love Once An Angel though. I highly suggest you check out Songs For Judy!

So like Trans this was a record I’d avoided for a long time. So long that in fact this week was the first time I’ve ever heard it. I don’t own this one so streaming here I come. And yeah… it’s a rock n roll album and not a great one. I think i like the story behind the record more than the album itself. Thing is a couple tracks are so darn catchy, I’ve had the doo wa bop bit of Wonderin’ stuck in my head all week. Easily bottom so far but I was routing for it and wished I liked it more . I give each at least 3 plays per week doing this, some more depending on how much I’m enjoying. This one i think I did. 4 times and it’s saving grace being its short. Drifitin’ Back on psychedelic pill is longer than this entire album. More on that later though won’t get to that for 4/5 months! 1 rust never sleeps 2 everybody knows 3 after the gold rush 4 zuma 5 time fades away 6 on the beach 7 tonight’s the night 8 Harvest 9 Trans 10 Re-Ac-Tor 11 Comes A Time 12 American stars and bars 13 self titled 14 long may you run 15 Hawks and Doves 16 Everybody’s Rockin’

Thank you shaggy for making me go back to Neil’s turds ie hawks and doves ect. I’ve just played old ways for the 2nd time it was quite a nice experience Jim reeves care home incontinet sedated vibe. Luckily it excited me enough not to piss myself. Great review as always. But give me zuma. FZ rules EC is god peace!

I have to respectfully disagree....I really like this album....however....I do understand your thinking....this album is a creeper..it creeps up on you....there are some production issues but the songs are solid.. I think Neil is trying to be authentic on the 2 duets and a little campy on the some of the rest......but Neil is a genre hopper much like Elvis Costello ( Blue , Kodak Variety).....Elvis is trying to be serious part of the time and campy part of the time....neither one of them draws a distinction in their music....its Elvis and Neil music to them Give this one a little more time and the songs will bring you around.....I think ANY recording made in the 80s suffers from overproduction and it all has a layer of obnoxiously layered gluck...........Neil has always been halfway to country anyway he just decided to dive in instead of a toe at a time on this.........I listen to this one more than Harvest or After The Gold Rush but not as much as Tonight's The Night....if that makes sense?

I understand the issue with his voice on this album. I actually really prefer the three solo played Old Ways 1 songs from the Evolution disc of the archives. My favorites from here are “my boy” and “bound for glory.” 21. Everybody’s Rocking 20. Old Ways 19. Hawks And Doves 18. Long May You Run 17. Deja Vu 16. Comes A Time 15. Neil Young 14. Trans 13. Re*ac*tor 12. Homegrown 11. Chrome Dreams 10. American Stars N Bars 9. Rust Never Sleeps 8. Early Daze 7. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 6. Zuma 5. Harvest 4. On The Beach 3. After The Gold Rush 2. Tonight’s The Night 1. Time Fades Away

Because Neil's shown an affection for Country in the past (I'm reminded of his cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me"), you couldn't call OLD WAYS a stylistic cul de sac but these Geffin albums lack a sense of total commitment because, for the most part, the songs just aren't there. The genre works best with the songs are solid. Here, it's an example of form over function. It's not necessarily a case of 'Look what I can do!' because Neil follows his own muse; it feels more like he lacks the foundation to pull it off convincingly. Neil's 'old ways" are Rock and Folk, not Country. While he probably heard a lot of the latter growing up, he's still a tourist in Nashville. He'll be back on the plane by the next album. Good on him for using his star power to connect with some heavy weights (Waylon & Willie) as well as getting Farm Aid off the ground.

Most outstanding band member.

I do like the idea others stated of ranking favorite live shows. Includeing unnofficial stuff.

Every known version of Black Napkins on Zappateers. Would help introduce viewers to more tapes. It would maybe even get Joe to do that box set youve always talked about lol.

Best Zappa instrumental sounds good or Best Zappa small group "arrangement".

Zappa related: I would go with best posthumous Zappa release - could be interesting because unless it's had a special edition it excludes a lot of his albums pre death Either that or Worst Zappa album - perhaps my vain hope that for a change it WON'T be Thing Fish. I just feel that's an easy one to hate, so it's an option that people that follow the trend would go for. Everyone else hates that, I do too. For Non-Zappa: It might be niche and it would require people to be major fans to listen to a body of work of this size, but best Residents album would be my choice

Have been a huge Neil fan since the late 60s.....his shift to conservative leaning politics disturbed me at the time....Captain Kennedy is pure Neil and fantastic and I do like the title cut musically.....definitely a low point in Neil's career

BEST PROG ROCK SONG. Zappa included obviously.