Frank Zappa

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Zappa is with out a dought my all time favorite guitarist (anastasio in a close second). I just would like to know who else likes zappa. What are your thoughts on his music, guitar tone (i think his tone is INCREDIBLE),techniques,styles(yes - as in numerous styles),etc. What are your favorite Zappa CDs? What are you favorite zappa solos? (i know you cant pick just one!) If you hate zappa, lemme know why, no matter what I will still think you are a sick individual. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[jsmith]

hehehe, i have the cd "jazz from hell" next to me. it's not particularly good - somewhat commercialized if that's possible with his music. i heard he used these little guitars so his fingers could fly over the smaller frets.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

I havent heard jazz from hell, i most likely have heard songs off it. About the small guitars, first of all all the pictures i saw he used regular sized guitars, second of all, a mandolin is half the size of a guitar but that doesnt make it easier to fly all over the fret board. I think that may be a false rumor - just doesnt make sense to me.

Also, I play a Paul Reed Smith with a thin neck, which makes it easier to get my hands around the neck, and yes this helps my finger movent, in-turn making it easier to make my passages faster. Does this make me any less of a guitar player? Nope - i dont think so. People use .9 strings so they can bend easier and further, people fingerpick so they can hit more notes and more simultaneous notes that people with picks, people use doubler effects to make it sound like 2 guitars are playing at the same time, I dont think this is cheating, I think its creative playing. Its all about what works for you.

[jsmith]

don't get me wrong, i'm not criticizing his playing at all - just amazed by it actually. "whatever works" is ok by me. part of the images of my youth is the famous "John" poster. Frank's passing was a sorry loss...

[StoneDragon]

Frank who???

You mean that ugly guy in the Phi Zappa Crappa poster???


Frank experimented with using D'mini guitars around '81 - '82 (Read what he has to say about them here (http://www.zentao.com/NonFoods/Interviews/allman.htm). Scroll down to question #8.) His reason for trying smaller guitars was based on the weight factor and how it affected his ability to sing rather than anything to do with flying around the fingerboard. He eventually abandoned the idea because of the trouble with keeping the things in tune.


Jazz From Hell was a flop and garnered a lot of criticism for the fact that the entire album (save for one guitar solo track) was composed and delivered via the Synclavier (very expensive digital sampler/sequencer). I don't think you could call Frank's choice to make that album "commercially" motivated. If anything, I would bet that he was very aware of the fact that the album would alienate a large part of his audience and the rest of the "people" wouldn't bother to listen to it. I happen to think it is a brilliant album... zappa hampered by the limitations of a machine rather than the immaturity (and limitations) of real musicians.

A couple of interesting side-notes about that album:

A christian owned chain of record stores in Washington state refused to carry the album. When questioned about this, their spokesman said the decision was due to "lyrical content". When informed that the album was entirely instrumental, the spokesman offered that it must have been due to the cover art then.

The cover is a face shot of Frank.

Due to the press criticising the album for "lacking in human element", Frank released LSO Vol II which showcased very sloppy performances (complete with a drunk and out of tune horn section) by the London Symphony Orchestra of Frank's classical work. Unfortuanately, Frank went to great lengths to edit and clean up the performances rather than release than in all their "human element" glory.


As far as Zappa's guitar playing is concerned, I think that Frank playing a solo was the only time anybody got to hear the "real" Frank. The fact that he could absolutely spew on that plank of wood and yet, at the same time, expose incredible tenderness and sensitivity, marks him as one of the true masters of the instrument.

My favorite Zappa tone comes from the '74 - '76 period.... fat and loud. I also really like those burnt-Hendrix-Strat clean tones that he whipped out during the Joes Garage period.

If I had to pick one Zappa CD to take with me to a desert island, it would be hard to decide between Zappa in New york and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2. Either way, I would be lonesome for the rest of the catalog.

I really can't say enough about the influence that listening to Zappa has had on my own approach to music and life.

I miss him terribly.

[jsmith]

i used to think that album went way over my head. then i brought it to work to rip into mp3's in my spare time so i gave it a listen again and thought "what was he thinking". i guess it went over my head like last time but i did always like the solo guitar track. i couldn't place the music period-wise and thought he was trying to sound like something else...

[oderus800]

I love Zappa, thats what got me into jazz. My first album was Joe's Garage. I was only into rock at the time, so the only tracks I really listened to were the funny ones (Joe's Garage, Crew Slut,Cath. Girls). But after some time I started to appriciate more jazz and improv music, and when I went back and listened to the whole album it blew me away. I swear Watmelon in Easter Hay is one of the most beutiful pieces ever written. From there I went to Were Only in For the Money, then Sleep Dirt, then I was totally hooked. As far as Jazz from Hell goes, I like Night School and the last track, the others I don't perticularly care for. I could rant about this all day but I'm just gonna leave on this note: music is the best

[StoneDragon]

Wisdom is the domain of the wis.

[zappatude]

Frank who? Oh that guy.http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif Hot Rats seems to be the record of Franks that I play most often.

[Guitarzan]

The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe.

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smokin.gif

[zbalz]

I have listened to tremendous amounts of music over the past year...in fact I still have a huge list of recommendations that I need to "borrow" from audiogalaxy http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Being I havent gotten to Frank Zappa yet, I am going to bump that to the top and get some stuff in a few days.

I always had the impression that he was a weird fusion like Pink Floyd style player...Im probably wrong.

Thanks for bringin this guy up and making commentaries...Looking forward to taking a look at him.

-zbalz

[StoneDragon]

I always had the impression that he was a weird fusion like Pink Floyd style player...Im probably wrong.

More wrong in considering Pink Floyd as "weird fusion" than in considering Zappa as "weird fusion". In fact, if I could only use two words to describe Zappa's recorded output, "weird fusion" is probably about as accurate as I could get.

You might want to check out my Zappa Discography (http://www.zentao.com/NonFoods/Discography/) pages if you're thinking of venturing into his catalog.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Nice link stone. Good call on the "weird fusion" thing.
Zbalz - Zappas music i think covers a WIDE varity of music. There are songs that sound like prom dance music, songs that sound like modern rock, songs that defy all musical reason, and songs that sound like musical mayhem. The spectrum is incredible! The main fact is, no matter what the music sounds like, his compositional skills are INCREDIBLE! Not to mention his ability to play the guitar like his fingers are tap dancing all up and down the fret board. Great soul in his solos and wonderful feel to his music. What can i say im obsessed! I recommend - Hot Rats (my favorite). The compositions on this one are great. The thing about zappa is that its really hard to reccomend a CD to a new listener, considering all his CDs have different aspects that make them special. Hope this helps - sorry i rambled so much. Take it easy!

[zbalz]

Yeah I shouldnt have said "fusion" for Pink floyd..but Im not giving up on the WEIRD part. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Hey Im sure many of you heard/saw Pink Floyd's "the Wall"..tell me that wasnt weird http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by zbalz (edited July 02, 2001).]

[StoneDragon]

"Arty"... maybe... but I don't think it is weird.

200 Motels, on the other hand......

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Pink Floyds "the wall" isnt really wierd in my eyes. Just very dramatic. I must admit i liked the album less after seeing the movie. Only for the movie mad me feel sickly, therefore now the songs related to the movie give me the willies. Comfortably numb still reigns as a beautiful song in my eyes though. Kinda strnge considering its playing during one of the most disturbing parts of the movie.

Hey stone- how is 200 motels? Whats it like? Its outta print isnt it? Ive got the sound track, but i still havent seen the movie.

[oderus800]

I'm the biggest Zappa fan there is, but I must say 200 motels is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It had potential, but...oh you'll see when you watch it.

[StoneDragon]

For me, 200 Motels just took some getting used to.... pretty much like most of Zappa's stuff (aside from the down and dirty, which appealed to my juvenile mentality when I first got started with Frank).

Considering the hoops that Frank had to jump through to actually put that movie together, I think he did a remarkable job. I still pop it in the VCR every now and again.... I enjoy picking out the conceptual continuity clues, and some of the scenes just leave me rolling on the floor. Other scenes provide a glimpse into the chasm between what Frank was trying to accomplish and what the "band" (and most people) thought he was trying to accomplish.


FPG,

Here (http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/3374/200about.html) is a short overview of the cast and plot(?). I think you can still get the movie. MGM still owns the rights to it. I found my current copy at Hastings. Reel.com claims that you can rent it at most Hollywood Video stores. Do they have one of those in your area?

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Yeah ive got hollywood videos around here. Im gonna check that one out. Hopefully they will have it. Thanks for the overview link. I think i would probably enjoy the movie. I should be able to pickup on the majority of the underlining jokes considering i own majority of his albums and know a little bit about him and the mothers. Thanks again.

[Eat A Peach!]

HAHA i just brought back the oldest thread,,, I am bored

[Zappa]

and it's about the master....cool

edit* 200 motels has been on one of the cabel channel pretty regular for several months now....had it saved on my dvr till we moved

[Acoustic]

Not the biggest fan of Frank. He's a great guitarist but his style of play and mine aren't the same. But that doesn't stop me from listening to him. I usually listen to him as music in general...less then for his guitar play. But I can always dig some zappa a couple times a week or so :)

[RHJohnson]

As a guitarist, I love what he has done. But as an artist I think he is mediocre. Just kinda writes about dumb things most the time. Overall Ill give him a 7/10.

[f1rocco]

....When I was growing up I never heard of him..mid 70s-80s.....I later found out about him by his record covers.....But never heard his music...........Now since Ive been on this forum I see how much he is liked.................I recently scored 10 of his CDs to load into my PC...........Ive still to find whats so great about him but Im trying....I really am.................Was Zappa Anti Drug..........What cult following did he have.....College students?......Non drugs or drinkin type?.....Just wonderin..

[Frethead]

frank zappa is great, i enjoy his work alot.... his lyrics and songwriting can by quite funny especially in albums like freakout and joes garage as he's picking at whats socially accepted and the music industry.... although he is a great soloist etc... id have to say my favourite zappa song would be "peaches en regalia"

[Zappa]

fret, peaches is a masterpiece.....you should check out the gumbo variations

[Frethead]

gumbo variatons?

[Zappa]

gumbo variatons?

the gumbo variations..........i'll send you a pm shortly