I became an instant, life-long Zappa fan as a mere child when in the late '60s (that's right, I'm old, rub it in) I walked into a friend's house and heard "Help, I'm a Rock!" playing. I said,"Wow, what IS that?! That is great!" My friend then gave me his copy of Freak Out (he didn't care for it . . . there's no accounting for taste). After that I just automatically bought pretty much everything Frank/Mothers put out (vinyl, of course) up until about '76 or '77.
I've also been a performing/recording musician/composer since about the late '60s, and would have to say that Frank Zappa has been probably my biggest influence and inspiration. (I have to give the Beatles and Beefheart some credit, too.)
But enough about me, let's talk about my record collection.
I don't have any vinyl anymore, and have only partially replaced my Zappa vinyl with CDs. This is partly a financial consideration, but it's also partly that I don't really want every single thing FZ ever recorded. There are very few albums by anyone that I like all the way through, including Frank's. I certainly don't mean any disrespect -- FZ is truly a hero to me. I just don't need to own every note of his music.
So, my question (finally!) . . . will the day come when Zappa music will be available by the downloadable song? I know a handful of things already are, but I mean pretty much all of it. For example, it would be great if I could just buy 5 songs from Zoot Allures, or 3 songs from Sheik Yerbouti, or just the orchestral bits from 200 Motels, etc.
I've heard the argument about losing the context and continuity of the whole album, and in some cases I agree. We're Only in it for the Money comes to mind. But I don't think, for example, that I really need to own "The Gumbo Variations" to appreciate "Peaches En Regalia," or that I need to own "Disco Boy" to fully appreciate the song "Zoot Allures."
So, whaddya think? Am I crazy? Will Zappa by-the-song ever happen?
I'm just askin'.
S
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