Flip the album cover of Absolutely Free around, and at the bottom right corner us the Message " This will Never Ever be played on AM RADIO" True that Frank.😊. Seen Frank Twice- 12/09/1980 11/28/1984 and Zappa Plays Zappa- 12/11/2006. Eat the Question😅
My very first exposure to Frank Zappa was a TV commercial he did promoting _Roxy and Elsewhere._ I was 12 years old at the time, and I had absolutely no idea who Zappa was. The commercial was intriguing enough that I can still remember it 50 years later--and it was nothing more than Zappa talking into the camera. Somewhere on _Roxy and Elsewhere,_ Zappa makes the comment, "I want to get this on TV." I always thought that that was a reference to the commercial. I had no idea that there was a film associated with the album. When I started collecting records three years later, _Roxy and Elsewhere_ was one of my first purchases, and I loved it. However, it took me a while to buy anything else, simply because information on popular music was still rather hard to come by back in those days, and I knew nothing about Zappa. I did buy _Apostrophe_ because somebody recommended it to me, and I loved side one of that as well--but I wasn't that impressed with side two. When _Rolling Stone_ published their 20th anniversary issue in the summer of 1987, I got my first taste of the idea of a rock 'n' roll canon. _We're Only in It for the Money_ was the sole Zappa album on that list. I must say, I agree with RS on this point because that's Zappa's masterpiece.
I started with "sheik yerbouti." I heard things I loved, often interrupted by things that I didn't love so much. but, overall, I liked it. but I needed to rewind. so, I got "we're only in it for the money." now, THAT was my jam!! & it still is!! "one size fits all" is up there at the top of my list.
I really loved Roxy & Elsewhere. Back in the mid 1970s when I was doing an all night cleaning shift in a restaurant and brought in a box of cassettes every night to keep me entertained, Roxy & Elsewhere was in regular rotation. I do recall getting puzzled looks from anyone else who happened to be there.
I started with Uncle Meat in 1969. I was very young and heard it on a German radio station. I had no idea who Zappa was! For anyone just starting, check in with Freak Out! and just follow the releases from there.
My first introduction to Zappa was via a college friend who played Hot Rats when I was 18/19. It made a big impression specially the dissonant melodies which were unheard on pop music or anywhere on radio. At the time I did not speak or understand English so the lyrics made no difference to me but the music captivated my imagination and the covers of his albums were really intriguing to a young art student like me. Waka Jawaka was another favorite along Zoot Allures. As the years went by I manage to get hold of a good chunk of his works on vinyl but never saw him as a great guitar player a lot of people say he was. His style of playing sounded messy to my ears and some of the lyrics verged the childish realm. The impression I always had of him was of a bitter man with the eternal chip over his shoulder. In 2024 I still listen to some of his instrumental stuff (not the stuff made on Synclavier which to me sounds turgid) but to the stuff that took him closer to jazz experimentaion. Thanks for the video upload.
I started with UNCLE MEAT 53 years ago. Most of the material is topically current. So I would say allot can't be appreciated, even the musical comedy. Some people say Frank was ahead of his time. No. Frank was OF his time ❤
From a general perspective on where not to start with Frank Zappa, I'll say not to start with anything released after 1979, which includes any posthumous albums released "from the vault". Stick with the stuff from the 1960s and 70s. Don't get me wrong: I love his later stuff, especially the '88 tour, but I would not recommend anything from the 1980s or beyond as a place to start.
When I was a kid, I saw a copy of Hustler Magazine featuring Dale Bozzio & The Mammy Nuns from his new record Thing Fish. Thing Fish is a weird spot to start a deep dive into Zappa. I knew the hits & my neighbors copy of ovenite sensation, but an insane broadway play on the origins of AIDS in American prisons, possibly influenced by his fathers work on Cold War weapons research in Maryland & then The Mojave Desert is not a great place to begin.Start with Zoot Alures!
FTR - both of Bruce's solos on Roxy & Elsewhere are overdubs. Btw I don't know what he meant by "bad black-music parodies", unless he's become one of those people who think that rock music as a whole is inherently racist because it's a white person's variant on old-school R&B...in which case here is my fist now kindly run towards it
There is nowhere to start or where not to start. Frank is all things to many. All genres all styles to many so people have their own tastes that appeal to them. It's not like there is a one size fits all that caters to every taste.
I have to agree... along with Roxy by Proxy. I do dig Hot Rats, Burnt Weenie, Weasels, Waka/Jawaka, Grand Wazoo - ah... the jazz poofter. One Size Fits All is a classic. And who cannot love the song - The Muffin Man. Hah! Peace on earth.
For myself, I prefer to start - and end - with his instrumental music. The Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar albums are good place to start. I find his lyric music goofy and unlistenable.
Maybe start with Moon’s book. That way everyone will find out what awful parents she had and not give a sh!t about his repetitive, one-trick pony snore-fest music.
@duledule1127 Why do you have to ruin a comment section with your political crap? Just doing it to be cruel and troll people because you have to make people feel bad?
I started at the beginning with Freak Out & Absolutely Free
Flip the album cover of Absolutely Free around, and at the bottom right corner us the Message
" This will Never Ever be played on AM RADIO" True that Frank.😊.
Seen Frank Twice- 12/09/1980
11/28/1984 and Zappa Plays Zappa- 12/11/2006. Eat the Question😅
My very first exposure to Frank Zappa was a TV commercial he did promoting _Roxy and Elsewhere._ I was 12 years old at the time, and I had absolutely no idea who Zappa was. The commercial was intriguing enough that I can still remember it 50 years later--and it was nothing more than Zappa talking into the camera.
Somewhere on _Roxy and Elsewhere,_ Zappa makes the comment, "I want to get this on TV." I always thought that that was a reference to the commercial. I had no idea that there was a film associated with the album.
When I started collecting records three years later, _Roxy and Elsewhere_ was one of my first purchases, and I loved it. However, it took me a while to buy anything else, simply because information on popular music was still rather hard to come by back in those days, and I knew nothing about Zappa. I did buy _Apostrophe_ because somebody recommended it to me, and I loved side one of that as well--but I wasn't that impressed with side two.
When _Rolling Stone_ published their 20th anniversary issue in the summer of 1987, I got my first taste of the idea of a rock 'n' roll canon. _We're Only in It for the Money_ was the sole Zappa album on that list. I must say, I agree with RS on this point because that's Zappa's masterpiece.
I started with "sheik yerbouti." I heard things I loved, often interrupted by things that I didn't love so much. but, overall, I liked it. but I needed to rewind. so, I got "we're only in it for the money." now, THAT was my jam!! & it still is!! "one size fits all" is up there at the top of my list.
I really loved Roxy & Elsewhere. Back in the mid 1970s when I was doing an all night cleaning shift in a restaurant and brought in a box of cassettes every night to keep me entertained, Roxy & Elsewhere was in regular rotation. I do recall getting puzzled looks from anyone else who happened to be there.
It's in my top 5 FZ albums, probably top 3.
Overnight Sensation was my introduction to Frank. Where not too start? 200 Motels. 😮
love me some Zappa from 1969-1976, my favorite years
I started with “Zappa in New York”. My advice, don't start with Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Uncle Meat, Weasels ripped my flesh, and Lumpy Gravy.
I started with Uncle Meat in 1969. I was very young and heard it on a German radio station. I had no idea who Zappa was! For anyone just starting, check in with Freak Out! and just follow the releases from there.
I'd also add We're Only In It For The Money as a must listen Zappa experience.
First LP I ever heard and probably a personal favorite, although not his best.
mine too
My first introduction to Zappa was via a college friend who played Hot Rats when I was 18/19. It made a big impression specially the dissonant melodies which were unheard on pop music or anywhere on radio. At the time I did not speak or understand English so the lyrics made no difference to me but the music captivated my imagination and the covers of his albums were really intriguing to a young art student like me. Waka Jawaka was another favorite along Zoot Allures. As the years went by I manage to get hold of a good chunk of his works on vinyl but never saw him as a great guitar player a lot of people say he was. His style of playing sounded messy to my ears and some of the lyrics verged the childish realm. The impression I always had of him was of a bitter man with the eternal chip over his shoulder. In 2024 I still listen to some of his instrumental stuff (not the stuff made on Synclavier which to me sounds turgid) but to the stuff that took him closer to jazz experimentaion. Thanks for the video upload.
I started with 'live at fillmore east' because something on the cover made me laugh. I kept going from there, so it worked as a starting point.
One size fits all was my entry album. It was a great start and could have gone very wrong if I had picked the wrong album.
There still are some subtle sync issues on the movie release, but not frequently enough to be annoying. It is a wonderful product in total.
I started with UNCLE MEAT 53 years ago. Most of the material is topically current. So I would say allot can't be appreciated, even the musical comedy. Some people say Frank was ahead of his time. No. Frank was OF his time ❤
"Roxy & Elsewhere" and "One Size Fits All"
His first album is total mind control.
From a general perspective on where not to start with Frank Zappa, I'll say not to start with anything released after 1979, which includes any posthumous albums released "from the vault". Stick with the stuff from the 1960s and 70s. Don't get me wrong: I love his later stuff, especially the '88 tour, but I would not recommend anything from the 1980s or beyond as a place to start.
When I was a kid, I saw a copy of Hustler Magazine featuring Dale Bozzio & The Mammy Nuns from his new record Thing Fish. Thing Fish is a weird spot to start a deep dive into Zappa. I knew the hits & my neighbors copy of ovenite sensation, but an insane broadway play on the origins of AIDS in American prisons, possibly influenced by his fathers work on Cold War weapons research in Maryland & then The Mojave Desert is not a great place to begin.Start with Zoot Alures!
One size fits all or Apostrophe.
Perhaps overnight sensations or Hot Rats if your into Jazz Fusion, it’s my favorite of his
I don't recall which albums my brother had in the early 70s but i liked Montana and Camarillo Brillo as a middle schooler.
intelligent review thanks! zappa fan here
I thought you were going to go with Hot Rats.
FTR - both of Bruce's solos on Roxy & Elsewhere are overdubs.
Btw I don't know what he meant by "bad black-music parodies", unless he's become one of those people who think that rock music as a whole is inherently racist because it's a white person's variant on old-school R&B...in which case here is my fist now kindly run towards it
There is nowhere to start or where not to start. Frank is all things to many. All genres all styles to many so people have their own tastes that appeal to them. It's not like there is a one size fits all that caters to every taste.
I have to agree... along with Roxy by Proxy.
I do dig Hot Rats, Burnt Weenie, Weasels, Waka/Jawaka, Grand Wazoo - ah... the jazz poofter.
One Size Fits All is a classic.
And who cannot love the song - The Muffin Man.
Hah!
Peace on earth.
for starters, Sheik Yerbouti or Zappa in New York, then you can go back and forth. Please don't start with Civilization part III....(but I like it).
Start with The Grand wazoo
Start with ROXY & Elsewhere.
I would avoid Man From Utopia as a first Zappa experience.
Yes, and totally avoid Francesco Zappa.
Thing Fish hands down. Skip it.
For myself, I prefer to start - and end - with his instrumental music. The Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar albums are good place to start. I find his lyric music goofy and unlistenable.
Dude... thrashing apostrophe is not going to make you any friends..
Zappa sucks
Maybe start with Moon’s book. That way everyone will find out what awful parents she had and not give a sh!t about his repetitive, one-trick pony snore-fest music.
A typical example of a COMPLETE MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE MUSIC...OF FRANK ZAPPA...AND PROBABLY ANYTHING. Vote Trump!
The election is over.
@duledule1127 Why do you have to ruin a comment section with your political crap? Just doing it to be cruel and troll people because you have to make people feel bad?
@@bulkvanderhuge9006 Must have been Channeling Gail Zappa!
Voted Trump, of course. Guess what? We won!
@@goatuscrow4135
50.1% of all voters didn't vote for him.
He got 49.9% of the votes.
The majority of voters aren't on board.
Just saying.