FZ Poll - Final

[BFrank]

OK, Frank-o-philes. One more. Let's vote on our favorite era.



[A couple qualifications: 1) After submitting this, I realized that it's not totally by "era", but you get the idea. 2) "Instros Only" selections aren't totally instrumental albums, but close enough.]

[john williams]

I have to go with the Roxy/Helsinki 73/74 band for sheer kick ass live playing with the least cringeworthy singers. (ie flo and eddie and the stuff Bozzio "sang" was pretty 'orrible) However I really liked Ray White's and Ike Willis's singing. But the Roxy band was it.

I love most of the YCDTOSA series but it was hard to vote for these because they are from different eras and some are much better than others. I thought 2 was superb but the first disk of 3 was abysmal.

I like much of FZ's orchestral stuff too, except for the LSO - many of the players were drunk and it sounds like it too. Zappa managed to sue them for that one. He wasn't too impressed with the LSOs either. I think Civilization Phaze III might very well be his masterpiece.

"Instro" albums vary a lot too - I love Shut up...but hardly listen to Hot Rats or Wazoo anymore.

[GoodSpeak]

The George Duke Era is the BEST!

There is a certain sophistcated humor here that combines Jazz, Rock, Blues and FZ density into some great and completely listenable albums.

BTW, Go GIANTS!!!


[BFrank, you absolutely slay me sometimes ;-) ]

Napolean Murphy Brock, George Duke, Tom Fowler, Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson. Nuff sed. YCDTOSA Vol. 2, Roxy, One Size.....Oh what fucking great albums those were!!

But I'll also agree with JBW, I thought that Ray White and Ike Willis were the best singers that he ever had, while I have always found Flo an Eddie to be extremely irritating. Some of their stuff was funny, but I thought most of it blew. The live Fillmore album is probably the only Zappa album that I truly hate.

[Underhound]

I sort of like Civilization Phase III although I cannot listen to it unless I've got the remote in hand ready to skip past those useless spoken word interludes. They ramble on, they're not funny, and they add nothing to the music. The two disc set could have been weeded down to one were it not for FZ's habit of insisting that every stray noise he happened to record was worthy of being presented to the public.
I loved Zappa but I wish he would have edited himself a little more.

I was listening to YCDTOSA #2 (Finland) and there's a stretch of about five tracks on disc one that burn like hell. Great band with Duke, Brock, Underwood, etc.

Aw geez!!!! Underhound, I believe you may have just inadvertently given BF the next Zappa thread. Zappa's best five song run.

But I think just about everything from Vol. 2 smokes. But that run of tunes on disc one, Inca Roads, RDNZL, Village of the Sun, Echidna's Arf, Don't You Ever Wash That Thing, and Pygmy Twilight just never lets up!! If they hadn't thrown in what I consider to be somewhat lame versions of The Idiot Bastard Son, and Cheepnis(the version on Roxy being far superior) then that would have almost been a perfect disc. Not that disc two is anything to sneeze at either.

[D.D.]

FZ's solo on RDNZL here is one of my favorite FZ solos. Fuck, it's one of my favorite solos period!

I agree regarding CPIII - it's such a striking piece of music - why would you insert all these idiotic diologs in there!?

'Instrumentals' section is somewhat mixed - I think Waka/Jawaka and Shut Up.. are masterpieces, but I never cared for Hot Rats and Grand Wazoo.

JBW, FZ never sued LSO - he sued the British orchestra (forgot which one - London Philarmonics?) he recorded with 10 years before LSO (ill-fated 200 motels opera performances) - you can read a hilarious account on how the trial went in The Real Frank Zappa Book. Also, LSO were not drunk! (or at least that wasn't the reason for the disastrous results on 'Strictly Genteel') - the trumpet section went to the pub and returned too late and according to the musicians' union rules the overtime was not allowed.

[BFrank]

Hey, everybody!

What do you think Zappa's best five song run is???

[john williams]

I stand corrected on the LSO albums, though I still think they sound crap compared to the folks on the Boulez album or Yellow Shark. The LSO "drones" might as well have been drunk IMHO.

I am not sure whether humor was FZs intention for Civ III, I think it may have been more serious - something much more bleak. I agree it is a flawed masterpiece but a masterpiece none the less.

What do you think Zappa's best five song run is???

That's a hard one! I know its a joke but I will give it a go.
For my first selection I will agree with those above about "Helsinki", though six or seven choices would be easier.
1)Helsinki (YCDTOSA V.2 - I kept Inca Roads at the expense of Pygmy Twylyte.

Inca Roads
RDNZL
Village Of The Sun
Echidna's Arf (Of You)
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?

2)A little Something for the old folks - Weasels

The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue
Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama
Oh No
The Orange County Lumber Truck

3)One Size Fits All

Po-Jama People
Florentine Pogen
Evelyn, A Modified Dog
San Ber'dino
Andy

4)Joe's Garage - I like this part of the set the best.

Keep It Greasey
Outside Now
He Used to Cut the Grass
Packard Goose
Watermelon in Easter Hay


There are lots of possibilities here.

"1)Helsinki (YCDTOSA V.2 - I kept Inca Roads at the expense of Pygmy Twylyte." - JBW


This is an outrage!!!!! I demand a recount!!!!

I hear you though, if I had to choose one over the other, it would be pretty silly to take Pygmy Twilight over Inca Roads. But goddamn, that version of Pygmy Twilight does absolutely smoke!

Damn, I got sucked in. To add some more to JBW's fine list:

Live In New York-
-Big Leg Emma
-Sofa(greatest version ever!!!)
-Black Page #2
-The Torture Never Stops
-The Purple Lagoon


You Are What You Is-
-Sinister Footwear
-Society Pages
-I'm A Beautiful Guy
-Beauty Knows No Pain
-Charlies Enormous Mouth
-Any Downers(couldn't leave this one off)

-You Are What You Is
-Mudd Club
-The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
-Dumb All Over
-Heavenly Bank Account


Make A Jazz Noise Here-
-Fire And Chains
-Lets Make The Water Turn Black
-Harry, You're A Beast
-The Orange County Lumber Truck
-Oh No

[BFrank]

Totally lost in the shuffle.
Somehow I figured that the early stuff would win.

[GoodSpeak]

Time to resurect this thread...too many doldrums in this here Alley.

Question:

What would be your favorite FZ song lyric?

Post it here.




Chump Hare Rama.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by JBW
ALL time best in lyrics, bay-bee.

Pick one.

G'head.

[GoodSpeak]

BEST Frank Zappa lyrics-Sofa No. 2...in German:

I am the heaven
I am the water
Ich bin der Dreck unter deinen Walzen
Ich bin dein geheimer Schmutz
Und verlorenes Metallgeld

Ich bin deine Ritze
Ich bin deine Ritze und Schlitze

I am the clouds
I am embroidered
Ich bin der Autor aller Felgen und Damask-Paspeln
Ich bin der Chrome Dinette
Ich bin der Chrome Dinette
Ich bin Eier aller Arten

Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte
Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte
Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte
Ich bin alle Tage und Nächte

Ich bin hier
Und du bist mein Sofa

[BFrank]

Sure. Pretty much everything on "One Size Fits All" is good.

His running dialog with the audience on Don't Eat The Yellow Snow on YCDTOSA Vol.1

[frankiepop]

is zappa dead? or does he just smell funny?

i dig hot rats..

[Dr Dave]

I've never heard some of the live stuff you guys are talking about. Since I also find the Phlorescent Leech and Eddie endlessly irritating, take it, Scott: What should I get?

A band with Terry Bozzio and George Duke and say maybe Darryl Jones could form the nucleus of the fuzoid band of my nightmares...how about Al DiMeola on guitar...aaiiiiiiii.....

[clinthopson]

I wish I knew what the hell you guys are talking about.

OTOH, maybe I don't.

[Deke]

Yeah, you do.

[GoodSpeak]

Evelyn...was a modified dog.

[BFrank]

"Arf", she said.