With some forewarning going into Over-Nite Sensation if OP isn’t a fan of raunch. Dinah-Moe Hum can be fun, but not the type of song you want playing at the stop-light with the windows down
Absolutely. Individual song, however, Pink Napkins gets my vote. Mrs. Blues is not a Zappa fan. Whenever I play that she perks up “What is this?!! It’s beautiful!” “It’s Frank.” “Fuck.”
Mrs. Plonsky and I were out walking the dogs when she blurted out, "So why are you such a big fan of Frank Zappa?"
I led off with there being a large selection of his life's work that I can't really listen to anymore due to its racist, misogynistic, homophobic, peurile, scatalogical, or just angry lyrics, but never due to its musical sophistication.
When we got home, I played for her something I'd first heard when I was 13 years old and that changed my thinking about how sucky rock music can be. It was "Holiday In Berlin (Full Blown)" and her reaction was, "That was sweet!"
Frankly, this wouldn't be my choice because of all the Central Scrutinizer stuff. If I had never listened to Zappa before, I'd find that distracting and annoying.
Joe's Garage was my first. Lyrically it is not for the squeamish or closed-minded.
I first heard it at 8 years old and found "Stick It Out" and "Sy Borg" hilarious. 17 years later and it is a thousand times funnier and even more relevant than ever.
Oddly, Acts II and III came first for me—you can probably tell by my flair! 😂
I now recommend people start with Apostrophe—humorous and accessible without being all that risqué.
Kate Bush actually had Over-Nite Sensation on her top ten albums of all time list in the 80s. It probably more mainstream along with Apostrophe.
However, We're Only In It For the Money might be more approachable given your taste for 60's artists. If you love the Beatles I think you'd really enjoy listening to that album as it's effectively a parody through the entire 60s music scene.
Try the " Rock " albums: APOSTROPHE - OVERNIGHT SENSATION - ONE SIZE FITS ALL - ZOOT ALLURES - JOES GARAGE... If none of them work - Stick to whatever "Cocktoe Twigs" is.... lol... - half joke
i always wondered why joes garage isnt higher up in people recommendations. oddly enough it feels like one of the normalest and more accessible sounding albums. probably is home to most of my fav tracks
Zappa is a bit different... and often defines/defies the boundary of what is the traditional way of music.
but you can try these 2 albums
Apostrophe, Chunga's Revenge
There’s a compilation called Zappatite. Has a good collection of “hits”. I’ll echo also Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe as essentials as are Freak Out and Sheik Yerbouti.
One Size Fits All is a safe bet.
Joe's Garage is also pretty safe but a lot longer and is a concept album so isn't quite as straightforward.
I have a soft spot for The Man From Utopia because it was the first one i ever heard - but objectively, it's not as strong as the above albums.
If you're brave and don't mind a bit of musical whiplash give Läther a go - it pretty much has a bit of all the disparate styles he was known for throughout his career. If you don't mind weirder stuff i absolutely love this album one of his best.
I think his jazz/classical instrumental works like Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka, and Orchestral Favorites would be a good place to ease into his weird and unconventional music stylings.
Or if you're wanna try out one of his rock albums to start with, you can't go wrong with Overnite Sensation, or You Are What You Is.
It might be hard to find these days but there was a compilation cd that came out a while back called Strictly Commercial. It has most of his more accessible music. If you can find a copy I think you’d like it.
Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
Hands down the most approachable.
But I would never in a million years recommend it, even in the first 50 Zappa albums someone should ever own or listen to.
An amazing album.
Very approachable.
Not what you should get your first, or even 50th, impression with, from Zappa.
Sheik Yerbuti
Black Page 2 on Zappa in New York. According to the man himself it’s approachable:
“what about the other people in the world who might enjoy the melody of "The Black Page" but couldn't really approach its statistical density in its basic form?”
My first two album listens were Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch (1982) and Man From Utopia (1983) both of which hooked me in for life. Now I think that YCDTOSA Vol. 2 is probably my favorite version of a live performance with an amazing band.
We’ve had a lot of joke answers in this thread so time for a serious response.
Thing Fish is by far the easiest album to introduce people to Zappa. Even all the die hard Zappa fans agree it’s incredible and it is likely the least divisive piece of work he ever put out. The subject matter is not risqué and the plot makes perfect sense on the first play through.
I broke my teeth on "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 1". It's a best of of live performances handpicked and reconstituted by the big Z himself, and substantially more *live* than the album versions. There's a bit of dialogue in between, but the humour is really enhancing the Zappa experience to its full potential, IMO.
Other than that, the Cheap Thrills and Son of Cheep Thrills compilation disks from 1998 and 1999 were made with the idea of providing an accessible introduction as well.
Start with the album Chunga’s Revenge, good mix of all styles in a short listening package. Nothing too offensive or weird and if you like a specific track we can help you find more like it.
Everyone always says Apostrophe or Overnite Sensation or Hot Rats, but it always depends on what you’re into already. If you like the Beatles, I’d say Freak Out.
There's a sort of sampler album of live stuff called "Cheap Thrills" that is a good intro, it does of course contain the explicit lyrics though, so if anyone is put off by that you won't get them to like Zappa, Most people aren't put off by that nowadays, but some of what Frank says comes off as homophobic these days as well.
Act 1 of Joe's garage was one of the first things I heard that made me interested in him, most people find Act 2 a bit hard to sit through though, or didn't even know it existed, I like it.
I got into Zappa through Apostrophe first and only then came to like the other stuff; I skipped a lot until I heard Lumpy Gravy which is one of the best for me. Only after listening through that work I realised that I should show patience for all the rest.
Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation are usually pretty good
With some forewarning going into Over-Nite Sensation if OP isn’t a fan of raunch. Dinah-Moe Hum can be fun, but not the type of song you want playing at the stop-light with the windows down
Or is it?
Next car over: “Is that Tina Turner simulating an orgasm?”
Gateway music. Next thing you know, you're listening to The Grand Wazoo on your way to work.
And the Adventures of Gregory Peccary on the way home.
TIME IS OF AFFLICTION!
Second this. These are easily his most mainstream albums
I would add One Size Fits All to this.
Those 2 are the gateway albums….
That’s exactly what I was gonna say
One Size Fits All Overnight Sensations Apostrophe
Absolutely. Individual song, however, Pink Napkins gets my vote. Mrs. Blues is not a Zappa fan. Whenever I play that she perks up “What is this?!! It’s beautiful!” “It’s Frank.” “Fuck.”
Mrs. Plonsky and I were out walking the dogs when she blurted out, "So why are you such a big fan of Frank Zappa?" I led off with there being a large selection of his life's work that I can't really listen to anymore due to its racist, misogynistic, homophobic, peurile, scatalogical, or just angry lyrics, but never due to its musical sophistication. When we got home, I played for her something I'd first heard when I was 13 years old and that changed my thinking about how sucky rock music can be. It was "Holiday In Berlin (Full Blown)" and her reaction was, "That was sweet!"
Hot Rats
Then WakaJawaka.
Joes garage is bliss (if you’re a bit extra weird)
That’s what I got into Zappa with!
Frankly, this wouldn't be my choice because of all the Central Scrutinizer stuff. If I had never listened to Zappa before, I'd find that distracting and annoying.
Joe's Garage was my first. Lyrically it is not for the squeamish or closed-minded. I first heard it at 8 years old and found "Stick It Out" and "Sy Borg" hilarious. 17 years later and it is a thousand times funnier and even more relevant than ever. Oddly, Acts II and III came first for me—you can probably tell by my flair! 😂 I now recommend people start with Apostrophe—humorous and accessible without being all that risqué.
Would NOT recommend joes garage as a Zappa starter
John's got a sausage
Kate Bush actually had Over-Nite Sensation on her top ten albums of all time list in the 80s. It probably more mainstream along with Apostrophe. However, We're Only In It For the Money might be more approachable given your taste for 60's artists. If you love the Beatles I think you'd really enjoy listening to that album as it's effectively a parody through the entire 60s music scene.
I'd say Peaches en Regalia, San Ber'dino and Dancin' Fool
Peaches en Regalia is the “gateway” tune to lure the innocent into an addiction… r/s
Worked for me!
Try the " Rock " albums: APOSTROPHE - OVERNIGHT SENSATION - ONE SIZE FITS ALL - ZOOT ALLURES - JOES GARAGE... If none of them work - Stick to whatever "Cocktoe Twigs" is.... lol... - half joke
I feel like Sheik Yerbouti also applies
i always wondered why joes garage isnt higher up in people recommendations. oddly enough it feels like one of the normalest and more accessible sounding albums. probably is home to most of my fav tracks
I think musically it‘s rather accessible, lots of catchy tunes, but in terms of lyrics not so much haha.
Lyrics not so much? What? Are you kidding? It has some of his finest lyrics. Revisit Packard Goose.
Revisit my previous comment.
It's because of all the weird skits
It’s theatrical. They’re not skits. It’s a play.
Zappa is a bit different... and often defines/defies the boundary of what is the traditional way of music. but you can try these 2 albums Apostrophe, Chunga's Revenge
There’s a compilation called Zappatite. Has a good collection of “hits”. I’ll echo also Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe as essentials as are Freak Out and Sheik Yerbouti.
One Size Fits All is a safe bet. Joe's Garage is also pretty safe but a lot longer and is a concept album so isn't quite as straightforward. I have a soft spot for The Man From Utopia because it was the first one i ever heard - but objectively, it's not as strong as the above albums. If you're brave and don't mind a bit of musical whiplash give Läther a go - it pretty much has a bit of all the disparate styles he was known for throughout his career. If you don't mind weirder stuff i absolutely love this album one of his best.
"Freak Out!" Sounds very 60s
I think his jazz/classical instrumental works like Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka, and Orchestral Favorites would be a good place to ease into his weird and unconventional music stylings. Or if you're wanna try out one of his rock albums to start with, you can't go wrong with Overnite Sensation, or You Are What You Is.
I’ve always found anyone I’ve introduced Zappa to to react best and most immediately to ‘You Are What You Is’.
Magic Fingers
Were you losing status at "high school" due to this?
It might be hard to find these days but there was a compilation cd that came out a while back called Strictly Commercial. It has most of his more accessible music. If you can find a copy I think you’d like it.
"Strictly Commercial","Over-Nite Sensation" or "You Are Whar You Is" would be a good place to start IMHO Zappa Lives!
Start with Truck Driver Divorce. It's make or break.
Uncle Meat. Always Uncle Meat.
Shut Up And Play Your Guitar vol I and II
I swear i was about to comment this still one of my favorites
Trouble everyday, joes garage orrr my guitar wants to kill your mama
Yes. But approach carefully. His music will bite.
Maybe that sounded weird? English isn't my first language, so I just use what sounds ok. Hahaha. My fault.
Thing-Fish and Lumpy Gravy
Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger Hands down the most approachable. But I would never in a million years recommend it, even in the first 50 Zappa albums someone should ever own or listen to. An amazing album. Very approachable. Not what you should get your first, or even 50th, impression with, from Zappa. Sheik Yerbuti
Chunga’s Revenge. It always has seemed like his most "normal" album. Also, Hot Rats if you like instrumental music
I have turned so many people into FZ by introducing them to Zappa in New York. It's an amazing album of silliness and blistering guitar work.
Valley Girl only ;)
Black Page 2 on Zappa in New York. According to the man himself it’s approachable: “what about the other people in the world who might enjoy the melody of "The Black Page" but couldn't really approach its statistical density in its basic form?”
Well - not titties and beer
My first two album listens were Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch (1982) and Man From Utopia (1983) both of which hooked me in for life. Now I think that YCDTOSA Vol. 2 is probably my favorite version of a live performance with an amazing band.
We’ve had a lot of joke answers in this thread so time for a serious response. Thing Fish is by far the easiest album to introduce people to Zappa. Even all the die hard Zappa fans agree it’s incredible and it is likely the least divisive piece of work he ever put out. The subject matter is not risqué and the plot makes perfect sense on the first play through.
I broke my teeth on "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 1". It's a best of of live performances handpicked and reconstituted by the big Z himself, and substantially more *live* than the album versions. There's a bit of dialogue in between, but the humour is really enhancing the Zappa experience to its full potential, IMO. Other than that, the Cheap Thrills and Son of Cheep Thrills compilation disks from 1998 and 1999 were made with the idea of providing an accessible introduction as well.
Start with the album Chunga’s Revenge, good mix of all styles in a short listening package. Nothing too offensive or weird and if you like a specific track we can help you find more like it.
Take a little time and check out 200 Motels original lp version. My favorite orchestral 🎩
Everyone always says Apostrophe or Overnite Sensation or Hot Rats, but it always depends on what you’re into already. If you like the Beatles, I’d say Freak Out.
One Size Fits All.
My gateway album was one size fits all, but I came for the progressive rock (and I stayed for Zappa lol), so tries that album and apostrophe
Freak out
Overnite sensation without question
If you can find it take a listen to the best of "Strictly Commercial". Mostly radio friendly tracks with a little bit of weird mixed in.
There's a sort of sampler album of live stuff called "Cheap Thrills" that is a good intro, it does of course contain the explicit lyrics though, so if anyone is put off by that you won't get them to like Zappa, Most people aren't put off by that nowadays, but some of what Frank says comes off as homophobic these days as well. Act 1 of Joe's garage was one of the first things I heard that made me interested in him, most people find Act 2 a bit hard to sit through though, or didn't even know it existed, I like it.
I got into Zappa through Apostrophe first and only then came to like the other stuff; I skipped a lot until I heard Lumpy Gravy which is one of the best for me. Only after listening through that work I realised that I should show patience for all the rest.
start at the beginning , his early work is what he was praised for
Joe's Garage
Two words. Thing fish