His music made about as much sense as his taste in women:
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| Frank Zappa https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=97826 |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Mon Dec 21, 2015 10:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Frank Zappa |
Doing a youtubedump thread on what would have been the 75th birthday of my favorite musician of all time. Might be a lonely thread. Frank wrote Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo when he was confined to a wheelchair, having been pushed off a stage and into an orchestra pit by a crazed fan. He used the time to really explore orchestrated jazz fusion, like the title track of the first of the two albums. The part where the chimes come in at the end is beautiful. The trumpet and Mini-Moog solos are pretty great too. I love a good Mini-Moog. It's hard to pick a favorite Zappa song because there are so many different eras, but "What's New in Baltimore?" is always in the team photo. You get guitar work from Steve Vai and FZ on this one, in addition to Zappa's trademark marimba (albeit programmed on the Synclavier this time) runs. One of the things people have ragged on FZ for is that his music is somehow dispassionate, too concerned with wankery for you to really feel anything. I won't deny that it's a concern, but when Zappa wanted to make you feel, as he did here, on "Watermelon in Easter Hay," "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk," among others, he could make you feel. No apologies, this was the first Frank Zappa song I ever listened to, back in my sophomore year of high school. I don't even remember what prompted me to download it, but it was as good a choice as any. |
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| Author: | Jaw Breaker [ Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Zappa is someone I've always respected but whose music never really clicked with me. Here is a story Vai has told many times about his first audition with Frank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cplMM3d_Q |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Vai should tell the story of a groupie giving him a sphere of shit in a mason jar. |
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| Author: | DannyB [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Last year someone here recommended a Tunein Radio station called Peace Radio--very eclectic with a healthy dose of Zappa. Big hit coming through my beloved Insignia Rock Speakers ($99 for the pair at Best Buy). Nothing from We're Only in it for the Money though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYGyySCI9kE |
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| Author: | Scorehead [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: Doing a youtubedump thread on what would have been the 75th birthday of my favorite musician of all time. Might be a lonely thread. Frank is in my team photo of favorite musicians of all time. He was a musicians musician & many non musicians hated him and his music because they didnt understand or appreciate it. Sure he was a cranky cantankerous SOB, but Frank was a musical genius & a very under rated guitarist. Gonna listen to some FZ tunes tonight starting with Roxy & elsewhere & Zappa in New York. |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
"Outside Now" in its superior Broadway the Hard Way iteration. My favorite song in 11/8 time. I don't know what #2 would be. Ike Willis is my favorite Zappa vocalist for sure. The theme to Night School, a public affairs sort of TV show that Zappa wanted to do with Dan Schorr but never got around to. This was one of FZ's first Synclavier pieces, I like the way it has kind of a brave-new-world sound to it. |
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| Author: | Rod [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: but when Zappa wanted to make you feel, as he did here, on "Watermelon in Easter Hay," "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk," among others, he could make you feel. I don't think "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk" is anything but a cartoon song. "Watermelon" is definitely a heartfelt guitar solo if you like that sort of thing. I would say the song "Joe's Garage" makes me feel as much as anything he ever did. But here's the problem I have with Scorehead's pompous statement above. If people really don't understand Zappa or his music (and I'm not at all convinced that's the case), that's on him. He's the one who has failed to communicate with his audience. Anyway, I don't think anyone disputes the musicianship of Zappa and his band members. Talk about putting a song across with heart and feeling, not many can do it better than Flo & Eddie, not to mention they just have gorgeous voices. The thing is, with Zappa it always seems like some kind of inside joke. His sense of humor (and it's a weird one) was always going to trump any sincerity or deep feelings he had when it came to expressing himself via music. I think he is a good example of a guy who was simply too smart or had too much thought to be a real great within the context of rock and roll. |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote: I don't think "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk" is anything but a cartoon song. I was thinking of the very end, And if you don't know by now, The truth of what I'm tellin' you, Then surely I have failed somehow Coming at the end of the album from his final tour, it's the perfect cap to his oeuvre. Joe Orr Road Rod wrote: But here's the problem I have with Scorehead's pompous statement above. If people really don't understand Zappa or his music (and I'm not at all convinced that's the case), that's on him. He's the one who has failed to communicate with his audience. Eh. There was a lot that I didn't understand initially, but I came to get it. Zappa is a journey. Same with the Grateful Dead, Phish, and other cult bands with immense discographies that most people hate. I mean, everything can't be three chords and the truth. |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
His music made about as much sense as his taste in women:
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Why do you contribute to any conversation I ever have. |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: Why do you contribute to any conversation I ever have. Let's hang out! 
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
If it makes you feel any better, his widow who got old and fat died a month or two ago. |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: If it makes you feel any better, his widow who got old and fat died a month or two ago. Well,I didn't know that. She must have been something in her prime. 
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Hey look,your hero and mine on the same cover: 
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
"Trouble Every Day" from the first Mothers album, Freak Out!, has aged quite gracefully. I don't know what's up with Absolutely Free sounding like it was recorded on a telephone; it really ruins "Brown Shoes Don't Make It." I've always been a fan of these two cuts off lesser-known '70s album Studio Tan, "Revised Music for Guitar and Low-Budget Orchestra" and "RDNZL." Love the beginning of "RDNZL." |
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| Author: | Rod [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: Eh. There was a lot that I didn't understand initially, but I came to get it. Zappa is a journey. Same with the Grateful Dead, Phish, and other cult bands with immense discographies that most people hate. I mean, everything can't be three chords and the truth. The Grateful Dead is much different than that. I'm not a big Dead fan, but the band- neither purposely nor coincidentally- ever made me feel like I was missing something or like I was on the outside, and that in spite of a rabid fan base with all kinds of arcane traditions. In the case of Zappa I have no idea whether it's purposeful or coincidence, but as I said, his music often plays like some sort of inside joke. And though I do believe there is nothing more forceful than three chords and the truth, my complaints about Zappa have nothing to do with a lack of appreciation for more complex forms. |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Well, the Dead never felt like an inside joke to me, but the whole Deadhead thing was somewhere between daunting and alienating just because of how established the whole cult phenomenon was. With Zappa, the material itself is the gatekeeper more than the community. Like I've said before, I was so surprised that a lot of Grateful Dead just sounded kinda like CSNY and stuff. I figured it had to be even more abstruse than Zappa. |
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| Author: | BigW72 [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Apostraphe Joe's Garage I think there's truth in what both CH and JORR are saying. I haven't explored nearly enough of Zappa's catalog, but will over time. The problem is....a lot of it requires some effort, which is very un-rock-n-roll. Huge respect for him...truly one of a kind. |
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| Author: | doug - evergreen park [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Hot Rats Apostrophe Sheik Yerbouti Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Joe's Garage Guitar Strictly Commercial Jazz From Hell |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Black Napkins |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Broken Hearts Are For Assholes |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Curious Hair wrote: I couldn't agree more. That song could be talking about the unrest of today. |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Flakes |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
wdelaney72 wrote: Apostrophe Truth. Apostrophe |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Willie the Pimp (Captain Beefheart on lyrics) |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Muffin Man |
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| Author: | Chus [ Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Disco Boy |
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| Author: | Chus [ Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Dirty Love |
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| Author: | Chus [ Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Bobby Brown |
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| Author: | Chus [ Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Frank Zappa |
Catholic Girls |
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