FZ Poll!

[BFrank]

Can't list ALL of his albums, so I've picked a representative few that we can all DISagree on.

[walto]

Let's make the water turn green.

[Brian Olewnick]

Burnt Weeny gets my vote, edging out Hot Rats. I would've liked to see Lumpy Gravy on the list.

[al j]

Hot Rats, yes, but where's Sheik Yerbouti?

[john williams]

My favorites are different for different periods, but I voted for BWS in the poll.

Mothers - Weasles Ripped My Flesh. It has "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbeque" on it.

1970s (early) - You Can't do that on Stage Anymore Vol 2 (The Helsinki Concert 1974) Prety much Roxy and Elsewhere but much tighter and with faster tempos.

1970s (mid) - Bongo Fury

1980s (early - 1981 though actually recorded in 1979) - Shut Up n Play Yer Guitar (complete 3cd box version)

1980s (late) - Meets the Mothers of Prevention or Make a Jazz noise Here. (1988 but actually released in 1991)

1990s - The Yellow Shark

Honorable mentions

Freak Out
Lumpy Gravy
We're Only in it for the Money
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats

Skip Flo and Eddie

The Grand Wazoo
Waka Jawaka
Apostrophe
One Size Fits All

FZ albums start to go downhill a bit here methinks

Joe's Garage
Guitar
Jazz From Hell
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
Civilization Phaze Three

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[Gentle Giant]

I picked Hot Rats, a bit obvious perhaps, but there were only a limited amount of choices. I have Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation on a single CD, which is probably my most-played. I got into Zappa at the time of Sheik Yerbouti, so I have a soft spot in my heart for that, even though it's not as "serious" as his earlier stuff. Also dig Zoot Allures and Zappa in New York (Titties and Beer!). Used to dig Fillmore '71, but now it's kind of boring. Too much dirty talk, not enough dirty playing.

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, I'd have to say that Make a Jazz Noise Here is definitely my favorite. Actually anything from that short lived '88 tour was great. Very tight band.

Speaking of tight bands, my second favorite would have to be the '74 band. One Size Fits All was a great studio album, but their masterpiece was You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol.2: The Helsinki Concert(great call JBW!!). Roxy And Elsewhere for that fantastic version of Cheepnis.

And of course We're Only In It For The Money. What a great album front to back!!

Motherpeople!!!!!!

Count me as one of the very few who didn't care much for Sheik Yerbouti. Flakes was great, Yo Mama was incredible, but everything in between just felt a little weak to me.

[tippy]

Burnt Weeny Sandwich definitely. Now if I only knew what a FZ was, but then I'm a member of j.s.t.f.w.a.d.

[BFrank]

I wanted to keep the list manageable, but realized as I was making it that even if I listed 20 albums, it would not cover all the great stuff.

Maybe we should have different FZ polls for each era.

BTW, I voted for "One Size Fits All". It just ROCKS!




Oh, Bobby, I'm sorry you got a head like a potato
I really am!

[john williams]

Originally posted by BFrank
I wanted to keep the list manageable, but realized as I was making it that even if I listed 20 albums, it would not cover all the great stuff.



Yes, there are around 60 albums not including the Beat the Boots series or compilations. Many of these albums are excellent it is very hard to choose one.


Fairly complete list-

1966 Freak Out!
1967 Absolutely Free
1967 Lumpy Gravy
1968 We're Only In It For The Money
1968 Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
1969 Uncle Meat
1969 Mothermania
1969 Hot Rats 15
1969 Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1970 Weasels Ripped My Flesh
1970 Chunga's Revenge 23
1971 Fillmore East - 1971
1971 200 Motels
1972 Just Another Band From L.A.
1972 Waka/Jawaka 5
1972 The Grand Wazoo
1973 Over-Nite Sensation 7
1974 Apostrophe' 22
1974 Roxy & Elsewhere 10
1975 One Size Fits All 25
1975 Bongo Fury 2
1976 Zoot Allures 29
1978 Zappa In New York 13
1978 Studio Tan
1979 Sleep Dirt
1979 Sheik Yerbouti
1979 Orchestral Favorites
1979 Joe's Garage
1981 Tinseltown Rebellion
1981 Shut Up 'N' Play Yer Guitar
1981 You Are What You Is
1982 Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
1983 The Man From Utopia
1983 Baby Snakes
1983 London Symphony Orchestra vol 1
1984 The Perfect Stranger
1984 Them Or Us
1984 Thing-Fish
1984 Francesco Zappa
1985 FZ Meets The Mothers Of Prevention
1986 Does Humor Belong In Music?
1986 Jazz From Hell
1987 London Symphony Orchestra vol 2
1988 Guitar
1988 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 1
1988 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 2
1988 Broadway The Hard Way
1989 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 3
1991 The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life
1991 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 4
1991 Make A Jazz Noise Here
1992 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 5
1992 You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 6
1992 Playground Psychotics 27
1993 Ahead Of Their Time
1993 The Yellow Shark
1994 Civilization, Phaze III
1995 Strictly Commercial
1996 The Lost Episodes
1996 Läther


Bootlegs rereleased with Zappa's permission:

BEAT THE BOOTS 1 1991
'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JELLY (live 1967)
THE ARK (live 1968)
FREAKS & MOTHERFU*#@%! (live 1970)
PIQUANTIQUE (live 1973)
UNMITIGATED AUDACITY (live 1974)
SAARBRUCKEN 1979 (live 1978)
ANYWAY THE WIND BLOWS (live 1979)
AS AN AM (live 1981 & 1982)
BEAT THE BOOTS 2 1992
ELECTRIC AUNT JEMIMA (live 1968)
OUR MAN IN NIRVANA (live 1968)
TENGO NA MINCHIA TANTA (live 1970)
DISCONNECTED SYNAPSES (live 1970)
SWISS CHEESE/FIRE (live 1971)
CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY (live 1976)
AT THE CIRCUS (live 1978)



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[BFrank]

Don't forget the companion piece to "Fillmore East" that is part of John & Yoko's "Sometime in NYC". One 'side' (of the LP anyway) is John & Yoko jamming with the Mothers. The liner sleeve is even the exact "Fillmore East" cover with all sorts of writing over it - great concept.

[john williams]

Originally posted by BFrank
Don't forget the companion piece to "Fillmore East" that is part of John & Yoko's "Sometime in NYC". One 'side' (of the LP anyway) is John & Yoko jamming with the Mothers. The liner sleeve is even the exact "Fillmore East" cover with all sorts of writing over it - great concept.


1. Cold Turkey [Live]
2. Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) [Liv
3. Well (Baby Please Don't Go) [Live]
4. Jamrag [Live]
5. Scumbag [Live]


Zappa rereleased this on Playground Psychotics-
Here is the tracklist - Zappa renamed some of the tunes.

Diphteria Blues
Well
Say Please
Aaawk
Scum Bag
A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono

[BFrank]

If I'm not mistaken Cold Turkey [Live] and Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) [Live] are recorded in London with an all-star rock band (Clapton, Keith Moon, etc.).

[john williams]

Originally posted by BFrank
If I'm not mistaken Cold Turkey [Live] and Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) [Live] are recorded in London with an all-star rock band (Clapton, Keith Moon, etc.).

Sorry my mistake.
Was FZ only on Well, Jamrag & Scumbag?

[BFrank]

JBW, I believe that is correct.

The other tunes are at the Lyceum with (these are the "names"):
Jim Bordom/Drums
George Harrisong/Guitar
Derek Claptoe/Guitar
Raus Doorman/Base
Robby Knees/Sax
Kief Spoon/Drum
Dallas White/Drums
Billy Presstud/Organ
Sticky Topkins/Elec. Piano

[Brian Olewnick]

The thing is to put a motor in yourself.

[Slurpy]

That jpeg's a riot. Groening was always a huge Zappa fan.

[Clay Fink]

Anyone ever been JUKED by a baby octopus and spewed upon with cream corn?

[Scott Dolan]

"Anyone ever been JUKED by a baby octopus and spewed upon with cream corn?" - Clay


No, but I have soaked in Ebsom Sauce though.

Hey BFrank, make this poll much harder next time and ask what everyone's favorite FZ TUNE is!!




Round things ARE boring.........

[walto]

"I picked Hot Rats, a bit obvious perhaps"

It's not obvious to me!

[SinginSumo]

Count me as another who has enjoyed "Hot Rats" best with a nod to "We're Only In It For The Money" as a runner-up. Clay's post reminded me that I really liked the "Live At The Fillmore East" almost as much as the others that I mentioned.

What a mindblower - Frank Zappa and the Turtles in one band!

[Scott Dolan]

I just wanted to pose a question here if I may. I noticed a lot of you have gone with albums from the 60's and early 70's. They are great albums without question. But I have noticed a trend in many people that I've spoken to online who are Zappa fans who usually don't own any of his material past something, like say Overnight Sensation. Now I personally think that Frank continued to make great albums throughout his entire career, not just early on. So my question is to those who have named his early albums as their favorites, do you truly believe that those are his best or is it that you may not be as familiar with his later material?

I feel like he had great albums spread all throughout his career, though no one period stands out heads and shoulders above the others. but he also had clinkers all throughout as well. And I've always thought that his '84 band with Ike Willis and Ray White was just as strong as the '74 band with Napolean Murphy-Brock and George Duke.

I voted for Make A Jazz Noise Here but it's a pretty hard choice between that and We're Only In It For The Money for me personally. I'm rambling now, so I'll just slide out the side door quietly.......................

[Dr Dave]

Most of youse have never even heard "Freak Out." If you had, you'd vote it NUMBAH ONE.

[gonzo]

live in NY
best band you never heard
shut up and play your guitar series

[Cem]

I'm with Scott on this one. Most folks tend to favour the earlier stuff. There's so much more Zappa to check out. I love the old stuff, but the straight-ROCKER albums for me are 'the shit', as they say. Maybe because I didn't grow up with rock'n'roll and FZ made such beautifully nasty rock albums, which were exotic to me.

Check out Zoot Allures, One Size Fits All, and even The Man From Utopia. You kinda gotta get past the scatological nature of some of the stuff or revel in it -whatever works. I think all the scatological material was an excuse for great music.

Wonderful Wino from Zoot Allures is probably my favourite.

http://www.ciudadfutura.com/poprock/zappa5.jpg

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[Brian Olewnick]

Scott, I'm one of those old cranks. At the time, I followed his work 'til about 1975 when I gave up. Nowadays, I can't stomach anything past about 1970-71. Listened to a friend's copy of Grand Wazoo a few months ago (which I greatly enjoyed when it came up) and it bored me no end.

The other obvious missing release from the poll is 'Uncle Meat', which I'd rank right up there with HR and BWS.

[jeff54]

Originally posted by JBW

Skip Flo and Eddie


Ya can't skip Flo and Eddie

I loved the Filemore East record

[D.D.]

Originally posted by Brian Olewnick
Scott, I'm one of those old cranks. At the time, I followed his work 'til about 1975 when I gave up.

Well, then you might be missing some of the most inventive guitar playing!

Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar' and Guitar are indispensible in you are interested in guitar improvisation (and something tells me you do).

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000009TH.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

[Brian Olewnick]

DD, I actually bought that for a friend when it appeared (iirc, as a three LP set around 1983). Before handing it over, I gave it a listen. Again, it's been a long time, but I remember liking a few pieces, finding others tiresome. But you're probably correct that, among his post-1975 output, this would be one I could find listenable.

Incidentally, I borrowed 'Yellow Shark' from a Zappaphile friend a few years ago and, aside from the rearrangements of WOIIFTM tunes (wonderful melodies!), I found it pretty tedious slogging.

[Il Anto]

Brian O took the words right out of my keyboard. Uncle Meat is my favorite Zappa album. However I did vote for Hot Rats.

[BFrank]

Up

Still time to vote!

[SinginSumo]

How could I have forgotten "Uncle Meat"? - certainly one of my runners-up.

Also wish that I could vote for just my own selected tracks called from "200 Motels."

[BFrank]

Originally posted by SinginSumo

Also wish that I could vote for just my own selected tracks called from "200 Motels."

Start a new poll!

[BFrank]

Hey! I forgot all about MY poll!

Looks like "Hot Rats" is the winner of this one. No surprise, I guess.

Should we do another with different selections?

[graypencil]

missed the poll, but I gotta go with Hot Rats ..

with a close second to Apostrophe ..if for no ther reason than the incredibly executed xylophone/ synnth( violin ?) passage ...

[GoodSpeak]

I disagree.

The only Frank Zappa you need to know:

[GoodSpeak]

!

[achilles]

i tend to admire zappa more than enjoy him.

i think his old high school buddy Don's music has aged better--that is, it's as fresh and exciting today as ever, and I don't feel that way about frank's work. and this is coming from someone who came to both of them late (too young to have been into them in their prime). I can put just about any Beefheart and love what I'm listening to.