Beginners Guide : How To Buy Frank Zappa

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Time-Span

First LP : Freak Out, 1966

Last LP : Civilization Phaze III, 1995

Classic Line-Up

Frank Zappa - Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer

Don Preston - Bass, Keyboards

Jimmy Carl Black - Percussion, Trumpet, Drums, Vocals

Roy Estrada - Bass, Vocals

Ian Underwood - Piano, Keyboards, Wind, Woodwind

Sound And Vision

His moustache was a famous thing, image wise. Image wise, that moustache dominated above all else, along with his habit of posing with a guitar replicating every Rock Cliche ever regarding the guitar as a penis substitute. As far as the Mothers Of Invention are concerned, weirdness and freakiness were key aspects to the image. Summing up the sound of Frank Zappa is near impossible as he covered pretty nearly everything, but the guitar playing of Frank is key. Twiddly and incredibly complicated guitar parts. Frank also more than just dabbled in classical avant-garde music, and that is also key in understanding him.

A Common Misconception

That's he's really just a Weird Al Jankovic type figure, a pure novelty humour figure and not to be taken seriously. You can forget the lyrics, they were just there. Frank was always about the music, the music was key.

How To Buy

'Were Only In It For The Money' with original cover art parodying The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' is the finest of the early FZ albums, Frank surrounded by The Mothers Of Invention a band with a unique combination of characters that was impossible for Frank to replicate in the same way, later in his career. 'We're Only In It For The Money' should not however be taken the same way as a 'Sgt Peppers'. The lyrics are key, and perhaps off-putting if you want and expect works of art. The music is frequently astonishing however, and the cumulative effect of the whole creates a work of art. 'Hot Rats' was a collaboration between Frank and band member Ian Underwood. A ( nearly ) purely instrumental work that showcased virtuoso Jazz inspired playing. 'Hot Rats' to this day remains perhaps the best way to approach Frank Zappa, because you won't even have to think or worry about any penis jokes, or humour you may just not find funny.

'Sheik Yerbouti' is the greatest thing. The lyrics are full of humour and right on the edge of what's acceptable. The music is approachable in terms of Frank Zappa, just great Rock music played very fast and played damn fucking well. 'Sheik Yerbouti' offers a few instrumentals along the way too, as well as a couple of songs approaching a hit single, at least in countries that didn't speak English as a first language. Again, the music is key to an understanding of Frank Zappa. The easily offended probably shouldn't apply, but if they don't, they're missing out.

Download Frank Zappa

A selection of Frank Zappa songs to download from the web, also forming a nifty 53 minute CD compilation.

1) Peaches En Regalia
2) Wind Up Working In A Gas Station
3) Black Napkins
4) Dinah Moe Humm
5) Inca Roads
6) Holiday In Berlin, Full Blown
7) Cheap Thrills
8) Help I'm A Rock
9) Absolutely Free
10) My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama
11) Aybe Sea
12) You Are What You Is

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