I am a Frank Zappa neophyte--tell me everything!

[bliss_eternal]

(Instead of ask me everything, TELL me everything)...

Zappa fans, show off your vast array of knowledge about Frank and school me about all things Zappa.

:hi:

[edbermac]

1. Hi boy & girls! I'm Jimmy Carl Black, I'm the Indian of the group!

Whooooo are the Brain Police?

I love FZ...

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. "I'm not black, but there's a lot of times I wish I weren't white"

[bliss_eternal]

5. Wow--is that one of his lyrics

or something he said? What a statement!!

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. It's from the song "Trouble Every Day", a song about the riots that went

off in the 60s. Great song - the line isn't included in these lyrics, since it appears at a point in the music that isn't about lyrics...



Well I’m about to get up sick
From watchin my t.v.
Been checkin’ out the news
Until my eyeballs fail to see
I mean to say that every day
Is just another rotten mess
And when it’s gonna change, my friend
Is anybody’s guess
So I’m watching and I’m waiting
Hopin’ for the best
Even think I go to praying
Every time I hear them sayin’
That there’s no way to delay
That trouble comin’ everyday
No way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day

Wednesday I watched the riot
I’ve seen the cops out on the street
Watch them throwing rocks and stuff and choking in the heat
Listen to reports
About the whiskey passin’ round
Seen the smoke and fire
And the market burnin’ down
Watched while everybody on his street would take a turn
They stomp and smash and bash and crash and slash and bust ’n burn
And I’m watching and I’m waitin hopin’ for the best
Even think I go to prayin’
Every time I hear em sayin’
That there’s no way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin’ everyday

You can cool it
You can heat it
Cause baby I don’t need it
Take your t.v. tube and eat it
And all that phony stuff on sports
And all those unconfirmed reports
You know I watch that rotten box
Until my head begin to hurt
From checkin’ out the way
The newsmen say they get the dirt
Before the guys on channel so and so
And further they assert
That any show they litter up
They bring you news if it comes up
They say that if the place blows up
They will be the first to tell
Cause the boys they got downtown
Working hard and doin swell
And if anybody gets the news
Before it hits the streets
They say that no one blams it faster
Their coverage can’t be beat
And if another woman driver
Gets machine gunned from her seat
They’ll send some joker with a brownie
And youll see it all complete

So I’m watching and I’m waiting
Hopin for the best
Even think I go to praying
Every time I hear them saying
That there’s no way to delay
That trouble comin’ everyday
No way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day

Well I’ve seen the fires burnin’
And the local people turnin’
All the merchants and the shops
Who use to sell their brooms and mops
And every other household item
Watch the mob just turn and bite em
And they say it serve them right
Because a few of them are white
And it’s the same across the nation
Black and white discrimination
Yell and you can understand me
And all that other crap they hand me
In the papers and t.v.
And all that mass stupidity
That seems to grow more everyday
These time of year some asshole say
He wants to go and do you in
Cause the color of your skin
Just don’t appeal to him
No matter if it’s black or white
Because he’s out for blood tonight

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Perhaps the most creative and important composer of the last half

of the 20th century. Not just rock musician, but composer.

And a wicked INCREDIBLE guitarist.

And hella fucking smart. He tore the shit out of everone, intellectually, at the PMRC hearings.

Brilliant satirist and social anthropologist.

To not like Frank Zappa is to hate music, to hate art, to hate intelligence.

[bliss_eternal]

6. I read that he was against traditional education

and refused to pay for college for his kid's (if they wanted to go). I don't know if this is true, but I immediately liked that about him.

Your average parent, is working their asses off brainwashing the kids about the value of college from the earliest possible time.

I dig that he was brilliant--not from school programming but from embracing who he was and just observing everything around him.

:thumbsup:

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Yes he was. He supported his children dropping out of high school, too.

I know that Dweezil and Moon both dropped out when they hit 16. I'm not sure if the younger ones did, but I would assume so.

He was never against LEARNING - in fact, he was virulently anti-ignorance - but he saw the bullshit of the school system that makes consumers and workers, and not people who think.

And yes, he said to his kids that they can go to college if they want, but they're paying for it themselves.

Thankfully, they went off and became creative and independent instead.

[bliss_eternal]

15. I think that is awesome!

Very cool...I wish I had someone in my life to point out the truth to me, early on about the education system. I think I would have been much better for it.

I've cringed when I've heard family members tell their kids "you won't be anything without college..."

:banghead:

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. I think it's cool, too!

And certainly, for some, college is the way to go - it was necessary for me.

But I'm with ya on the idea that college is the ONLY way to get ahead in life. It's a SAFER way, perhaps, but not always the best, nor an essential, way.

Bill Gates - no college degree.
Johnny Cash - probably didn't even finish high school.

And it goes on.

People have really fallen into the trap of college college college college

I say, finish high school (if you want), take a year or two and travel and experience the world, THEN decide if you want to go to college.

[bliss_eternal]

21. Absolutely--

I feel that college got off track somewhere. I grew up with the idea (not at all sure where I got it from, as no one told me this), that college was to make you a better person. College helped you become an educated, well rounded person. That was my ideal.

I thought career training was through trade school. Pretty delusional on my part, 'huh? LOL!

I had a rude awakening when I started college, and found that people were far more focused on the idea of 'career training.' I wasn't into that and really resisted it.

Sure for many careers, it IS a necessity--doctors, nurses, teachers,lawyers, etc. Being drawn to the arts and artistic endeavors, I can see now why it all left me cold.

[AllegroRondo]

65. Even classical musicians consider him a genius

Check out his albums with the London Symphony, or even better "The Yellow Shark"

He wrote a woodwind quintet called "Times Beach" (after the toxic waste site) which is so difficult it has never been played in its entirety.

[Rabrrrrrr]

70. I got to hear a concert of his orchestral stuff the year before he died

at Lincoln Center. It wasn't the Ensemble Contemporain, I can't remember who it was. But it also had Mike Keneally, and that blind pianist guy whose name I can't remember. They did Varese's "Deserts", then all Zappa stuff, including a WONDERFUL chamber orchestra version of The Black Page. It was hilarious watching the musicians, glued to their music, while the rock band was just happily playing along from memory...

They also premiered (I am pretty sure it was a premier, or at least it was an American premier) Zappa's Concerto for Rock Band and Orchestra. That piece was pretty good, but it's a real tough fit to match rock band and orchestra, and like everyone else whose tried, it didn't quite make it, at least not for me. Though it's the best attempt I've ever heard. I just don't think that anyone can do it.

Also funny, I sat next to an older woman - had to be close to 70 - who was there with a couple of her sons. She musta been a fan of Frank from way back, because she was hootin' and hollerin' at the end of every piece. Little white haired lady, she was awesome!

Frank was supposed to have shown up for that concert, but alas, he was sick and couldn't make it.

[evlbstrd]

84. Do you have The Yellow Shark?

The Ensemble had to beg him repeatedly to transcribe Jazz from Hell, but he kept saying it was too hard to play, since he composed it on the Synclavier. He finally relented, and they did a wonderful job.

[Rabrrrrrr]

86. Yep, I have that one!

Got it right when it came out, of course!

[Itchinjim]

4. Watch out where the Huskies go,

and don't you eat that yellow snow.

[bliss_eternal]

7. Which song/album is this from?

As a Zappa student for the day, gotta' get the facts straight.

;)

[Initech]

9. Apostrophe! (')

[Initech]

8. What would you like to know?

Here are my 10 personal favorite Zappa albums:

1. Freak Out! (this album is seriously fucking classic!)
2. We're Only In It For The Money
3. Mothers Live At The Fillmore East June 1971
4. Make A Jazz Noise Here
5. You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore
6. Bongo Fury
7. Roxy & Elsewhere
8. The Best Band That You Never Heard In Your Life
9. Zoot Allures
10. Zappa In New York

[bliss_eternal]

12. Anything you want to share!

This list is great!

Just want to see how many of his fans on DU are encyclopedias of Zappa knowledge... and how much I can learn from all of you!

[Initech]

25. I've been listening to Zappa for YEARS!

Do you want song recommendations? Album recommendations? Live stuff?

I've got some 70+ Zappa albums in my collection (well over 1/3!!).

[stlsaxman]

62. to add to those-

200 Motels (soundtrack)
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats
Weasels Rip My Flesh
Burnt Weenie Sandwich
Absolutely Free

and of course- the inimitably inevitable "Joe's Garage" - featuring Ike Willis on voice and guitar. Ike was my first childhood buddy. Here's me and Ike jamming "Black Napkin" with Zappa tribute band Project/Object on Ike's b-day two years ago. Don Preston and Napoleon Murphy Brock were playing as well.



If EVER you get a chance to hear Project/Object live- GO! It is the Best tribute band EVER! Even w/o Ike, Nappy or Preston.

Favorite Zappa quote- To an older crowd at a nightclub in Vegas in the '60's- "If your children knew just how lame you really are- they'd murder you in your sleep!"

[regularguy]

11. His guitar wants to kill yer mama!

"weasels rip my flesh" is the album

[WeRQ4U]

13. "YOu sniff the reaking buns of Angels"

"And acted like it was coca-e-a-e-aine."

This message brought to you by, "Broken Hearts are for Assholes"

[bliss_eternal]

16. That's a great lyric!

He had a gift with words!

[MN ChimpH8R]

18. One of his best - "Heavenly Bank Account" :

And if these words you do not heed
Your pocketbook just kinda might recede
When some man comes along and
Claims godly need
He will clean you out right through your tweed

That's right, remember there is a big
difference between kneeling down
and bending over...
He's got twenty million dollars
In his heavenly bank account...
All from those chumps who was
Born again
Oh yeah, oh yeah

He's got seven limousines
And a private plane...
All for the use of his
Special friends
Oh yeah, oh yeah
He's got thousand-dollar suits
And a wembley tie...
Girls love to stroke it
While he's on the phone
Oh yeah, oh yeah

At the house of representatives
He's a groovy guy...
When he gives thanks
He is not alone...

He is dealin'
He is really dealin'
IRS can't determine
Where the hook is

It is easy with the bible
To pretend that
You're in show biz

They won't get him
They will never get him
For the naughty stuff
That he did

It is best in cases like this
To pretend that
You are stupid

He's got presidential help
All along the way

He says the grace
While the lawyers chew
Oh yeah
They sure do

And the govenors agree to say:
"he's a lovely man!"
He makes it easier for
Them to screw
All of you...
Yes, that's true!

'cause he helps put the fear of god
In the common man
Snatchin' up money
Everywhere he can
Oh yeah
Oh yeah

He's got twenty million dollars
In his heavenly bank account
You ain't got nothin', people
You ain't got nothin', people
You ain't got nothin', people
Thank the man...oh yeah

(Emphasis added)

[bliss_eternal]

22. OMG--brilliant!

Don't you miss music that actually had a message, a point of view?

[Initech]

26. YES!!! My personal favorite Zappa song!

I quote that song all the time when arguing with fundies! :evilgrin:

[Dr Fate]

19. He was supposedly a drug tee-totaler.

But not his band.

[bliss_eternal]

23. That's quite a rarity in the music industry, isn't it?

So many stories that go the other way. We've all seen them on 'Behind the Music' and the 'E! True Hollywood Story.'

[Dr Fate]

24. For some odd reason, he is popular in Eastern Bloc countries as well.

Anyone know why?

[evlbstrd]

28. They could only get FZ bootlegs in the East.

And his lyrics spoke directly to their experiences. I read where one person was quoted as saying the police would threaten to "beat the Zappa out of you."

[XNASA]

20. Now believe me when I tell you that my song is really true....

I want everyone, to listen and believe.
It's about some little people from a long time ago,
And all the things the neighbors didn't know.

[m_welby]

27. some of the greatest musicians were in his band

adrian belew
terry bozio
tommy mars
Sting


Flo and Eddie (from the turtles) for a while (just another band form LA)

He was a brilliant musician and composer. Thouroughly revered in Europe, (check out yellow shark) and totally unappreciated in the us

He, in fact, did not do drugs (tried 'em amd didn't like em). except for cigarettes and coffe.

He had little patience for stupidity and regularly skewered the popular culture if the day.

Some of my favorites (in no particualr order):

Hot Rats
Live From New York
Zoot Allures
Jazz From Hell
Lather
You are what you is


..the list is actually endless.


If you ever had the opportunity to see him live, you would have learned the his concerts are just that; concerts. Not parties, no 'screaming guy' no drunken dancing guy'. none of that. At the beginning of the show he would invariably tell everyone to "sit down, relax, quiet down, enjoy the show" and the show didn't really start until everyone sat down (as oppossed to standing screaming mindlessly for hours).

I know this because I saw frank no less than 6 times before he passed away. Once immdiately after my own wedding reception (thats right my new bride and I went to a frank concert in between our wedding and honeymoon).


I could go on and on. He appearred on Staurday night Live twice. Once as music guest and once as host.

The first time Candice Bergen hosted and they played "i'm the slime", with real slime pouring out of the stusio monitors all over the audience.

I could go on and on

[yorgatron]

29. Penguin In Bondage

She's just like a penguin in Bondage, boy
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh...
Rennenhenninnahenninnenninahennn
Way over on the wet side
Of the bed (Knirps for moisture)

Just like the mighty Penguin
Flappin' her eight ounce wings

Lord, you know it's all over
If she comes atcha on the strut & wrap `em
all around yer head

Flappin her eight ounce wings, flappinumm

She's just like a Penguin in Bondage, boy

Shake up the pale-dry
Ginger ale
Tremblin' like a Penguin
When the battery fail

Lord, you must be havin' her jumpin' through
a hoopa real fire
With some Kleenex wrapped around a
coat-hang wire

She's just like a Penguin in Bondage, boy
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh...
Rennenhenninnahenninneninahenn
Howlin' over to some
Antarcticulated moon

In the frostbite nite
With her flaps gone white
Shriekin' as she spot the hoop across the room

Lord, you know it must be a Penguin bound down
When you hear that terrible screamin' and
there ain't no other
Birds around

She's just like a Penguin in Bondage, boy
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh...
She's just like a Penguin in Bondage, boy
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh...
Rennenhenninnahenninneninahennn
Aw, you must be careful
Not to leave her straps
TOO LOOSE

`Cause she just might box yer dog
She just might box yer doggie
An' leave you a dried-up dog biscuit...

[bbernardini]

30. You forgot Mike Keneally...

My personal all-time favorite Frank Zappa sideman. Heck of a nice guy, too.

[stlsaxman]

63. Check out "Radio Keneally"- 24/7 keneally and it's WONDERFUL!

www.radiokeneally.com

[never cry wolf]

31. I saw them live right after Apostrophe came out

The tightest band I ever saw, including Santana of the same era.

[MN ChimpH8R]

32. and Aynsley Dunbar,

Steve Vai, Chad Wackerman, Scott Thunes, Eddie Jobson. The list of great players who worked with FZ is nearly endless. And you HAD to be good to be able to play that music.

"Now this is a hard one to play..." -FZ

[Initech]

34. My friend says there's a band of Zappa rejects that plays in Big Bear, CA

The name of the band escapes me at the moment, but they do exist.

[evlbstrd]

36. The Grandmothers.

Jimmy Carl Black and a few ex-Mothers of Invention.
He originally just called the band the Mothers, but the record label pressured him into adding "of Invention." Just one reason he formed his own labels later on. Warner Brothers fucked him over royally.

[bliss_eternal]

38. Do you know if it's true, that after WB shelved

an album, he went on a radio station and played the entire record live, and told fans to tape it?

True or not, that story makes me lmao! Shame on WB!

[bbernardini]

42. Yes, that's true. It was called "Lather".

There's supposed to be an umlaut over the "a", but I don't have that kind of time. :) It's been officially released now, and it's spectacular.

[bliss_eternal]

47. Over the years, (do you know if) critics were kind

regarding his work? Or did they not get him?

edited to correct grammatical error.

[evlbstrd]

53. I did know that.

It's one of my everlasting regrets that I didn't tape it.
edit for spelling dammit.

[Initech]

72. Yes, it's the album "Lather".

Great stuff! It's one of Zappa's more expensive albums (I havent seen it retailed for less than $35) but it's worth it!

[m_welby]

61. Also Project Object

They play around (often out here on the east coast). The closest you'll ever get to seeing Zappa Live. The band features Ike Willis (longtime guitarist and vocalist in the mothers) as well as Mike Keneally and other members of the mothers. They're apparently out of new york, I've seen them play once and they are as good as you could hope.

Just to Clarify, They're not really a tribute band. They're more like an orchaestra playing zappa music. Your local philhamonic isn't a tribute band that plays mozart is it?

[stlsaxman]

87. Yup! See post #62

Project/Object is tops!

[bliss_eternal]

40. Terri Bozio

said on a Where Are They Now show, that Frank Zappa was the reason she ever made an album. I found that interesting, as I didn't know much about her prior to that, and knew (or at least read that)he only worked with top notch, gifted musicians.

It's cool you are your wife share a love of Zappa's music. :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

58. Terry is a guy. Dale is the woman that he was married, who sang

in Missing Persons (and Terry played drums for).

http://www.terrybozzio.com/

[bliss_eternal]

91. Ah--yes. Thank you for the correction!

Did Dale play? Or did she primarily sing(ala Missing Persons)?

She stated in the Where are they Now thing, that Frank encouraged her to sing, he thought she had a great voice (or so she said).

[Rabrrrrrr]

59. And Steve Vai, Chester Thompson, Warren Cucurollo, Jean Luc Ponty,

Tommy Mars.

Vai was aften (maybe always?) listed as "Stunt Guitar".

Sting, however, was never in his band. Sting sang with the 1988 band one time doing "Murder By Number", recorded on the Broadway the Hard Way album, but that was it for Sting.

[mr_hat]

68. Please don't forget Lowell George. >

Zappa had the foresight as a boss to fire him after Lowell presented "Willin'." And the rest, as they say, is Little Feat...

[enigmatic]

33. "Black Napkins" is one of the greatest instrumentals

of all-time, and thouroughly shows his amazing ability on guitar. And His band did "Whipping Post" better than The Allman Brothers..

[Initech]

35. My personal fav is The Purple Lagoon

It's off the excellent Zappa In New York album.

[bbernardini]

44. That's one of three pieces he asked not to be played live after his death.

Black Napkins, Watermelon In Easter Hay, and Zoot Allures. (I'm positive about the first two, a little iffy on the last one.)

[AllegroRondo]

37. Frank on Religion

"If you want to raise a healthy and happy child, keep them as far from church as possible"

In his autobiography, he describes going to the hospital when his first child was born. The hospital paperwork asked for religion - he filled in "musician"

And my favorite Zappa tune - G-Spot Tornado. Its on "Jazz From Hell", but the version on "The Yellow Shark" is amazing.

[bliss_eternal]

39. The more I read about this man,

the more I like him and wish he was still around.

:(

[Initech]

73. I know, we need Zappa around right now.

Especially in this day and age of fundamentalist Christian insanity. He'd have DECADES of material from the last 5 years alone!

[Rabrrrrrr]

78. Of all the dead celebrities, Zappa and Bill Hicks are the only ones

I constantly mourn that we don't have in this day and age.

[bliss_eternal]

89. Do you think he would have fought it all--

or possibly have relocated (at least temporarily) to a more progressive part of the world?

[evlbstrd]

90. Before he got sick, he was going to run for president.`

I still have my tee shirt.
:-)
The slogan: We had a bad actor. Let's try a great guitar player.

[bliss_eternal]

92. I like his slogan--

He definitely would have fought--good for him.

Such a shame he got sick:(

He did so much with his time here, it saddens me that a man that cared this much was taken so soon.

[evlbstrd]

93. As so many in this thread have already said,

we need a voice like his now more than ever.

[evlbstrd]

94. I'm wearing the shirt at the DC rally and march.

Even dead, Frank is better than *.

[Zomby Woof]

41. I can't add much to what others did

Rabrrrrrr's comments come closest to my own.

Of course, I owe my screen name to him. :-)

I'll just recommend my 11 favorite FZ albums to start:

"You Are What You Is"
"One Size Fits All"
"Lather"
"We're Only In It For The Money"
"Weasels Ripped My Flesh"
"Hot Rats"
"Joe's Garage: Acts I, II, & III"
"Broadway The Hard Way"
"Uncle Meat"
"Lumpy Gravy"
"The Lost Episodes"

That list is in no order, and subject to change.

[bliss_eternal]

43. Have you heard that Dweezil and Ahmet

will be performing his music--in a special show? Overseas, of course...

:hi:

[bbernardini]

46. It's been postponed...

They had a whole tour scheduled, but it's been permanently postponed. The Zappa boys really have a lot of trouble getting their shit together, which is a shame. Their band Z (at least the Ahmet/Dweezil/Mike Keneally/Bryan Beller/Joe Travers lineup) was one of the most mighty bands ever to exist in the history of the universe.

[bliss_eternal]

48. awwww- I'm sorry to hear that...

(about the canceled tour). There must be a lot of disappointed fans. :(

Has Z got it together enough to actually release any of their work?

[bbernardini]

66. Z hasn't existed for quite a while now...

They released a few albums in the mid-90s, and that was it.

[Whoa_Nelly]

45. Zircon-Encrusted Tweezers

That's all you need to know...

[lockdown]

64. "Wait a minute, lemme sterilize 'em"

[graywarrior]

49. I met him at my art school which was above the Psychedelic Supermarket

in 68 or 69.

The Mother's were performing there.

[bliss_eternal]

50. Really?! What was he like, in person?

:hi:

[graywarrior]

51. Piercingly funny. Not impressed with much.

Real.

[bliss_eternal]

55. Cool.

Thanks for sharing.

[Tallison]

52. Joe's Garage - watermelon in Easter hay

a great guitar solo

[jpgray]

54. For music, try Freak Out!!, and We're Only in It for the Money to start

For Zappa the man, watch this:

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2658805?htv=12

[Initech]

75. Also be sure to go buy the first season of Ren & Stimpy!

Zappa does the voice of the Pope in one of the cartoons!

[evlbstrd]

85. He also did the theme song from Duckman.

And Dweezil was the voice of Ajax. "Help, the escalator stopped and I can't get off!"

[CanuckAmok]

56. It's a real Mexican poncho. No foolin'.

n/t

[firefox]

57. The Real Frank Zappa Book

It is online and written by Frank Zappa- http://s115622334.onlinehome.us/cd/bl/zappabook/trfzb30.htm

He talks about being thrown in jail and reading "The Legend of Do-Do Mite" on the wall. He calls it jailhouse poetry. You would think you could find something about The Legend of Do-Do Mite online, but you can't.

[Gothic Sponge]

60. We want a guy from a group who's got a thing in the charts

:)

[auburngrad82]

74. I think I still have a copy of that book

It's great.

[ProfessorGAC]

67. I Had Breakfast With Him Once

Walking through the atrium of the Frankfurter Hof (in Frankfurt, Germany) he was sitting by himself drinking coffee.

I just said that i respected his music and that i really enjoyed the whole "Shut Up & Play Your Guitar) series of records. He said thanks and "You want to sit down and have breakfast?"

I said sure. So, we ate and talked for about 45 minutes. Then, he had to go, because he had his kids with him, and they were going to see the city. Just after he left and met his kids near the elevators, the guys i was traveling with came down.

I told them i just had breakfast with Frank Zappa! Of course, since that's the kind of thing that elicits the "Oh sure" response, i said, "Well, you can go ask him. He's standing right over there!" When everyone turned around, Frank looked at me, smiled and waved. I always thought that was his way of knowing what our conversation was about and he helped validate that i wasn't BS'ing my colleagues.

Very nice man. Taken too soon.
The Professor

[bliss_eternal]

88. What an incredibly cool story!

Thank you for sharing it...

It's such a statement to me that he wasn't about the whole 'star' thing. Doesn't sound like he was about the ego or I'm above everything and everyone, blah, blah.

I know it was a different time, and in some respects there wasn't the sense of fear there is now about stalkers and such, (and he was in another country as you said). But it says a great deal about him, that he was so open and willing to just dine and chat with a stranger that admired his work.

I'm really enjoying this thread!

[mr_hat]

69. Brown shoes don't make it.

[auburngrad82]

71. A Cappella group The Persuasions were discovered by Zappa

The even did an album of all Zappa tunes called Frankly A Cappella.

I find it ironic that a band famous for gospel style songs cover Zappa's Harder Than Your Husband and My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama.

Some of the songs are absolutely beautiful. Any Way the Wind Blows and Tears Begin to Fall come to mind.

Interesting listening...

[Rabrrrrrr]

77. As was Alice Cooper (though maybe not so much "discovered",

but Zappa definitely "found" him and got him his real first start).

[evlbstrd]

80. I think he also kick-started Grand Funk Railroad.

[Strawman]

83. That's actually in the jukebox of a bar I like to go to

Very interesting album. I like their cover of The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing.

[evlbstrd]

76. Cruisin' with Reuben and the Jets

His homage to doowop. "Stuff up the Cracks" is a brilliant song.

[DelawareValleyDem]

79. Good pick

[Initech]

82. That's one Zappa album I never got into.

I guess it's becaue I'm just not much of a Doo-wop fan. I'm more a fan of the live albums!

[Initech]

81. Here's a list of all the Zappa albums I own and are ranked!

The best are in bold (and ranked out of 10):

- 200 Motels - 10
- Absolutely Free - 7
- Ahead Of Their Time** - 6
- Apostrophe (') - 10
- Bongo Fury - 10
- Burnt Weeny Sandwich - 7
- Chunga's Revenge - 5
- Cruising With Rueben And The Jets - 5
- Fillmore East, June 1971** - 9
- Freak Out! - 10
- FZ: OZ - 4
- Guitar - 10
- Have I Offended Someone?* - 4
- Hot Rats - 10
- Joe's Garage - 8
- Just Another Band From L.A.** - 7
- Lather* - 10
- Lumpy Gravy - 5
- Make A Jazz Noise Here** - 10
- Meets The Mothers Of Prevention - 6
- One Size Fits All - 10
- Over-nite Sensation - 10
- Roxy & Elsewhere** - 10
- Shiek Yerbouti - 8.5
- Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar** - 10
- Sleep Dirt* - 5.5
- Studio Tan* - 5.5
- The Best Band That You Never Heard In Your Life** - 10
- The Grand Wazoo - 7
- The Lost Episodes - 5
- The Man From Utopia - 7
- The Yellow Shark: Ensemble Modern - 8.5
- Them Or Us - 7
- Thing-Fish - 8
- Tinsel Town Rebellion** - 6
- Uncle Meat - 9
- Waka/Jawaka - 7
- Weasels Ripped My Flesh - 7
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1** - 8.5
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2** - 10
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3** - 8.5
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4** - 10
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5** - 8.5
- You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6** - 8.5
- Zappa In New York** - 10
- Zoot Allures - 10

Note: Zappa's worst albums are still better than the majority of the crap that passes for rock music these days!

* - compilation album
** - live album

[Bassic]

95. My guitar wants to kill your mamma?

That's why I play bass, it's better, groovier, and not angry :D

[crankybubba]

96. zappa was

a true genius. the man his music. all great. I started listening to him in high school over 20 years ago. He has influenced my thinking on many things. I truley miss him now. this country really needs him.

[bbernardini]

97. Here's a good Zappa story, told to me by a guy that was there...

Chuck Ash, former chief of police in Phoenixville, PA, used to work security for Frank, and has been a friend of the family for years. He told me that one time, probably around 1980, he and Frank went to an Italian place for dinner after a show. The waitress brought over an extra menu, and told Frank that the chef was a huge fan of his, and it would mean so much to him if Frank would sign a menu for him. Frank said something like "Why don't I go back there and say 'hello'?" So he did. He came out a little while later, and Chuck said "that was a really nice thing to do, Frank. You probably made that guy's year." Frank replied, "hey, anytime you get a chance to check out the kitchen where you're going to eat..."

[central scrutinizer]

98. I don't want to get shot in the foxhole

Another appropriate song for today - as you can tell from my screen name, I am also a Zappa fan.

Tommy Mars keyboards, vocals
Arthur Barrow bass
Vinnie Colaiuta drums
Terry Bozzio vocals
Dale Bozzio vocals
Ray White vocals
Ike Willis vocals]

Hello! Anybody home?
Special Delivery.
(Oh no . . . )
Registered Mail. You're gonna have to sign for this buddy.
(Oh no . . . )
Come on, I know you're in there.
(Oh no . . . )

I don't wanna get drafted. I don't want to go
I don't wanna get drafted.

I don't wanna get drafted. I don't want to go
I don't wanna get drafted
No-no-no.

Roller skates and disco is a lot of fun
I'm too young and stupid to operate a gun.

I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted.

My-ay-ay sister don't wanna get drafted
She don't wanna go
My sister don't wanna get drafted.

My-ay-ay sister don't wanna get drafted
She don't wanna go
My sister don't wanna get drafted
Woh-oh-woh-oh-woh.

Wars are really ugly, they're dirty and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot her in the foxhole . . . foxhole.

I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted
I don't wanna get drafted.

Wars are really ugly, they're dirty and they're cold
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole . . . foxhole.

Aiieeeeeeeee . . . Shot in the foxhole.
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .

Aiieeeeeeeee . . . Shot in the foxhole.
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .

Aiieeeeeeeee . . . Shot in the foxhole.
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .

Aiieeeeeeeee . . . Shot in the foxhole.
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .
Shot in the foxhole . . . shot in the foxhole . . .

Aiieeeeeeeee . . . Shot in the foxhole . . .