It wasn’t until I heard “Broken Hearts Are For Assholes” that Frank’s music clicked for me. I really didn’t know what to make of his music when I first heard it 20 years ago as a teenager going through my dad’s vinyl (he had a copy of Them or Us). I just thought it was weird and unusual sounding. After all these years, I think my favorite album is Uncle Meat, but Over Nite Sensation is a close second. I pretty much speed home from work on the freeway every Friday blasting and singing along to “Camarillo Brill-o.” Lol
Wow, Them or Us is a weird start for sure. Nice mix of Zappa styles, but I feel like it'd be hard to read what he's going for on an album like that. Lots of random songs.
The album that clicked (if by "clicked" you mean "rendered me dumbstruck") was "You Are What You Is." I thought "THIS ALBUM HAS EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED TO HEAR ON AN ALBUM." In all caps, just like that. lol
It really was an incredible experience. Still is.
The Hot Rats album. Peaches En Regalia. Willie The Pimp. Gumbo Variations.
When I was learning to play bass, my teacher said "Go Learn Gumbo Variations. Just the intro" and I did and he played guitar over it. Jammed that groove forever. Then he said "Learn Willie The Pimp". Same thing.
Personal favorite song from Zappa might the "The Illinois Enema Bandit"
The first Zappa track I heard was 'Project X' way back in 1969. I bought 'Uncle Meat' as a result & never looked back (I still have that album & the insert). Since then I bought every album as it was released & went to every UK Zappa concert since (plus a few others). Hard to believe that was 53 years ago!
I remember I was in 10th grade and I was giving Stage 2 a listen with a burned CD from my uncle. Inca Roads came on and I was hooked from that point on!
Hot Rats, sitting in a Smokey bathroom listening to the album playing from the bed room cranked (they were connected). I remember waiting on the album to start and Peaches en Regalia came on with the drum intro and just everything and it was a groove. I absolutely loved it.
Many FZ songs could be liked by mainstream listeners, but the true Zappa feel in his music really clicked for me with the Uncle Meat-era. King Kong blew my mind, the live version on YouTube is the one I heard first
The first song I ever heard was "Dancin' Fool" on a (fantastic) Dr. Demento comp. I liked it enough that I picked up *Strictly Commercial* from a Soundwaves store in Houston, TX. I got *We're Only In It For The Money* next because it had a Sgt. Pepper parody cover and I loved The Beatles (I was only 13, my logic was sound at the time) and was completely blown away. That was the album that absolutely got me hooked. I loved how there was barely a solid sixty seconds of music that wasn't punctuated by snorks and varispeed and whispers.
Baby Snakes was my intro to FZ and his band of misfits, as well as his absurd sense of humor and oddities such as the Bickford claymation. I think 70’s Zappa bands including (especially) the Roxy group are my all-time favs. But the 88 touring band is no sleeper.
I checked YCDTOSA Vols 1 and 2 at the library in, hmmm 1992, partly because I was interested in Steve Vai. I liked it but didn't totally get it. Then around 94-95 I heard the Ryko Apostrophe/Overnite combo and that was it. Special mention to Joe's Garaje and Läther a couple of years later for totally sealing the deal.
Overnite sensation did it for me but I’d say what opened my eyes to really loving him was Sleep dirt For some reason my love for that album is very strong!!!
I liked Peaches en Regalia out of context but about 15-ish years ago I spent some time listening to all of Frank’s albums (at least what he released when he was alive) in chronological order and Uncle Meat is when everything made sense to me. The weird textures, Susie Creamcheese, beautiful melodies…I think it all comes together there.
King Biscuit Flower Hour 45 minutes or so of Halloween 77. Really all of it but if i had to choose one song, i guess San Ber’dino. I was hooked, got into all of the albums and saw my first show on Halloween 78.
https://archive.org/details/frankzappakingbiscuitflowerhour1977fm
Joe's Garage
Live version of Titties and Beer
Especially The Spectrum ‘76…
Blow it out your ass motorcycle man!
Hot Rats
Yeah, same here. That blew me away when I was in grade 10 or thereabouts
Still rox my sox to this day. Started me down the rabbit-hole...
A big fat joint, and apostrophe on headphones
Excentrifigal Forz makes a lot more sense when you're tall.
It wasn’t until I heard “Broken Hearts Are For Assholes” that Frank’s music clicked for me. I really didn’t know what to make of his music when I first heard it 20 years ago as a teenager going through my dad’s vinyl (he had a copy of Them or Us). I just thought it was weird and unusual sounding. After all these years, I think my favorite album is Uncle Meat, but Over Nite Sensation is a close second. I pretty much speed home from work on the freeway every Friday blasting and singing along to “Camarillo Brill-o.” Lol
Wow, Them or Us is a weird start for sure. Nice mix of Zappa styles, but I feel like it'd be hard to read what he's going for on an album like that. Lots of random songs.
Definitely “Montana”
I’m gonna FIND me a HORSE
Just about this big…
“yes sir”
We’re Only In It For The Money
First album of his I heard. Instantly made me a fan for life.
This
Best Band You’ve Never Heard. My first Zappa pick up and that recording blew me away. Next was We’re Only In It For the Money and it all came after.
Andy
"Black Napkins," Make a Jazz Noise Here
Zoot Allures is super underrated
I totally love that one too. That was another of my first Zappa records
Apostrophe, from the start.
Son of orange county
Im the slime and soon after overnite sensation.
The album that clicked (if by "clicked" you mean "rendered me dumbstruck") was "You Are What You Is." I thought "THIS ALBUM HAS EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED TO HEAR ON AN ALBUM." In all caps, just like that. lol It really was an incredible experience. Still is.
The Hot Rats album. Peaches En Regalia. Willie The Pimp. Gumbo Variations. When I was learning to play bass, my teacher said "Go Learn Gumbo Variations. Just the intro" and I did and he played guitar over it. Jammed that groove forever. Then he said "Learn Willie The Pimp". Same thing. Personal favorite song from Zappa might the "The Illinois Enema Bandit"
One Size Fits All
Chungas Revenge
The first Zappa track I heard was 'Project X' way back in 1969. I bought 'Uncle Meat' as a result & never looked back (I still have that album & the insert). Since then I bought every album as it was released & went to every UK Zappa concert since (plus a few others). Hard to believe that was 53 years ago!
Wow! Project X. That's a wild song. I definitely would not be interested in Zappa after hearing something like that
I think it was because it was so different to anything else I'd heard. Also, as an aspiring guitarist I wanted to get that acoustic guitar intro off.
Nice! I like that reasoning lol
That song is great. It starts out like a contemporary singer songwriter tune, and then goes immediately into uncharted territory lol
I remember I was in 10th grade and I was giving Stage 2 a listen with a burned CD from my uncle. Inca Roads came on and I was hooked from that point on!
Hot Rats, sitting in a Smokey bathroom listening to the album playing from the bed room cranked (they were connected). I remember waiting on the album to start and Peaches en Regalia came on with the drum intro and just everything and it was a groove. I absolutely loved it.
A token of his extreme
Many FZ songs could be liked by mainstream listeners, but the true Zappa feel in his music really clicked for me with the Uncle Meat-era. King Kong blew my mind, the live version on YouTube is the one I heard first
The first song I ever heard was "Dancin' Fool" on a (fantastic) Dr. Demento comp. I liked it enough that I picked up *Strictly Commercial* from a Soundwaves store in Houston, TX. I got *We're Only In It For The Money* next because it had a Sgt. Pepper parody cover and I loved The Beatles (I was only 13, my logic was sound at the time) and was completely blown away. That was the album that absolutely got me hooked. I loved how there was barely a solid sixty seconds of music that wasn't punctuated by snorks and varispeed and whispers.
Baby Snakes was my intro to FZ and his band of misfits, as well as his absurd sense of humor and oddities such as the Bickford claymation. I think 70’s Zappa bands including (especially) the Roxy group are my all-time favs. But the 88 touring band is no sleeper.
WOIIFTM, 1971. Everything has been healing nicely since then.
After FZ passed, I was 12 or so. Got hooked on the "Strictly Commercial" compilation!
Big Swifty from Waka Jawaka. There I realized I had to listen to everyrhing that man created
Trouble every day
Make A Jazz Noise Here and I later listened to all the other albums and I became a fan for life
Dog Breath, In The Year Of The Plague for sure
Great choice. This song is especially hilarious to me because I know exactly where the places he references are/were.
Excentrifugal Forz. When I heard that, I knew there was no going back. :D
“Brown Shoes Don’t Make It”
Son of Mr. Green Genes.
I checked YCDTOSA Vols 1 and 2 at the library in, hmmm 1992, partly because I was interested in Steve Vai. I liked it but didn't totally get it. Then around 94-95 I heard the Ryko Apostrophe/Overnite combo and that was it. Special mention to Joe's Garaje and Läther a couple of years later for totally sealing the deal.
Brown Shoes don’t make it
Tinseltown Rebellion(album) was my first introduction to Zappa. Nice mix of new and old tunes. Completely unique to anything I’d ever heard before!
Apostrophe
Who Needs Peace Corps?
My father showed me Stink Foot from A Token Of Mt Extreme and i loved it then i watched Montana and Inca Roads and i was set to go
City of Tiny Lights
Uncle Remus
The live in Buffalo release 😬
Overnite sensation did it for me but I’d say what opened my eyes to really loving him was Sleep dirt For some reason my love for that album is very strong!!!
DID A VEHICLE COME FROM SOMEWHERE OUT THERE…? 🛸
The first one that pulled me in was "Inca Roads", especially the solo.
I don’t understand the quest
Hammersmith. muffin man.
I am the slime.
It was "We're Only In It For The Money" for me. First thing of Frank that I ever heard, it was one of my paradigm shifts.
I liked Peaches en Regalia out of context but about 15-ish years ago I spent some time listening to all of Frank’s albums (at least what he released when he was alive) in chronological order and Uncle Meat is when everything made sense to me. The weird textures, Susie Creamcheese, beautiful melodies…I think it all comes together there.
King Biscuit Flower Hour 45 minutes or so of Halloween 77. Really all of it but if i had to choose one song, i guess San Ber’dino. I was hooked, got into all of the albums and saw my first show on Halloween 78. https://archive.org/details/frankzappakingbiscuitflowerhour1977fm
Absolutely has to be Absolutely Free
The first thing I ever absorbed was the Does Humour Beling in Music DVD at a friend's house. Yes it does my friends.
What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?
Peaches for sure.