Zappa.com

Ok, the title of this thread pokes fun at all of the best/worst threads that seem to dominate the message board, but there is a serious question behind it.

I've been a Zappa fan for a long time, but I didn't become a true fanatic until recently. I have a lot of Zappa's masterworks (Freak Out, WOIIFTM, Hot Rats, Roxy & Elsewhere, etc.-- Lumpy Gravy is at the top of my to get list), but I'm wondering which albums might not be top-shelf Zappa but are still a pleasure to listen to.

What say you, freaks?

I always enjoy "Lost Episodes". it's a compilation of material from all over the place, but it's got some great stuff on it. Even the spoken word/non-music stuff is pretty fun and not annoying to me.

Burnt Weeny Sandwich, definitely

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If I'm not alone... How long have I been asleep?

Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch.
Though not one of his masterworks (in "groundbreaking" sense), it is very well done piece of music, does not have weak spots, and side II is one of the best FZ prog suites.

my second though would be "Resolver + Brutality".

1) Sheik Yerbouti
2) Freak Out!
3) Apostrophe'
4) Hot Rats
5) Zoot Allures

6) Waka Jawaka


... i have no rationale for this suggestion, but Roxy would be my seventh favorite album.

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Just curious slime.o.,but what are the 5th and 7th and is there any coincidenses there also?

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

Coincidentally, the Lost Episodes arrived from Amazon just before I read your post.

I actually have most of the albums suggested, and I like them all.

I don't have Waka/Jawaka or Apostrophe', so I'll put those on my list under Lumpy Gravy. I've resisted buy Apostrophe' for a while. I'm not sure why.
Thanks for the suggestions.

So are you saying it was all downhill for Frank after Freak Out! Or maybe he peaked when he played the bicycle on the Steve Allen Show.

Frank's artistic peak in music recording was clearly "The World's Greatest Sinner" with Baby Ray & The Ferns

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Oh No! I don't believe it...
You say that you think you know the meaning of love...

Album # Six Uncle Meat

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Thanks for the music Frank.

Well I'm about to get sick from watching my TV

Francesco Zappa. The rest are tied for 1-5.

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Ship Arriving...

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Lies are like quicksand, soft and comfortable, but they will swallow us. Truth is like bedrock, hard and uncomfortable, but we can always stand on it

Thing Fish*....no wait...that's my 5th favorite....







*It has Amnerika hidden inside

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"You can fly like a Penguin when you're dealing with Turkeys."

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"bit of nostalgia for the old folks."

Numbering best in that order

1. Uncle Meat
2. Apostrophe
3. ROXY & Elsewhere
4. Hot Rats
5. Burnt Weeny Sandwich
6. WOIIFTM

I CANNOT DO THIS! As soon as I type this list I disagree with it. Maybe I hate it.

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If we're dumb . . .
Then God is dumb . . .
(An' maybe even a little bit ugly on the side)

Yeah...that's my "dark horse" candidate that I always seem to go "yeah, this IS a great album" whenever I listen to it!

My "go to" albums (well CD's) are always (and in no particular order)

Sheik Yerbouti (Or Läther... I cheated)
Joe's Garage
Burnt Weenie Sandwich
Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation (the original CD version that had both, ok, I cheated again)
Tinseltown Rebellion
One Size Fits All

Now this isn't including any of the bootlegs, or compilations, or "latter day" live albums.... I could put the two (well three) Guitar based albums in there as well as severe "dark horse" candidates.

There's SO much stuff out there that's amazing.....it's hard to just pick a few, but these are the ones when I have a Zappa "jones" I reach for...

IMHO: Sheik Yerbouti

Just as I'm finally reading this thread, I'm about to order "The Lost Episodes" on amazon.com along with "Fillmore East - June 1971" & "Sheik Yerbouti" for $9.99 each. In my defense, I own "Sheik Yerbouti" on vinyl, which I got in like 2006 for $14

AND, "Waka/Jawaka" is a must. I hope you love it, I wish I could hear it for the first time all over again. Although it was "The Grand Wazoo" that cemented my love for Frank forever. One of these two should be everybody's #6