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I Like Frank Zappa

[b]RIP Frank Zappa![/b]

Let us all celebrate today (12/4/2018) the death anniversary of Mr [u]Frank Zappa[/u], who died 25 years ago today. Mr Zappa was one of the greatest American musicians. Frank you're gone - but not forgotten! 🌷

My favorite Zappa [u]song[/u] is "[i]Camarillo Brillo[/i]", my favorite [u]album[/u] is "[i]Shut Up and Play Your Guitar[/i]", featuring Mr. Zappa as a guitar player (no singing here), with carefully constructed guitar solos, from a variety of live concerts. The listener will be exposed to the art of improvisation-as-spontaneous composition that is so typical for jazz musicians, but in a rock context.

(... and for a very special reason, I love the song "The Torture Never Stops"...)

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gdon39 · 41-45, M

My favorite Frank Zappa song

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4hzVpYAP-U&feature=share]

SW-User

I can't believe I missed this. IMO he was the single best artist of his generation. He took rock music to a new level, and it was made possible by his obsessive attention to detail and pursuit of quality. His use of wit and satire is far too rare in a world of self-serious bands. He died too young, not for the usual rock star reasons, but just bad luck.

My favourite albums are Lumpy Gravy and Hot Rats, but I had Apostrophe in my car for years. My fave song is Gumbo Variations, which I've posted on here before.

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SW-User

@helenS Spotify is my friend 😌

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User It's jazz rock fusion music. Not as brilliant as Miles' output at the same time, but still very good.

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User Oh I already mentioned "Wazzoo" previously. Sorry for my self-plagiarism.

geekturk · 41-45, M

One of my favs. I think Zappa is really an artist for the society. Trying to enlight and amuse all the ppl around. Nowadays so called artists are just mainly social media figures:(

[youtube=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nRnNDkHb0MU]

Zakattack86 · 36-40, M

@geekturk good one!!!

helenS · 36-40, F

Frank Zappa published his album "The Grand Wazoo" in 1972, proving he was able to write [u]and play[/u] excellent jazz rock fusion music.

luctoretemergo · 61-69, M

I know this is old and it’s been said many times over but yes Frank was a genius. It’s not for the faint of heart, it takes careful listening...not just his humorous work but jazz and classical music were extremely involved!

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luctoretemergo · 61-69, M

@helenS I spent this lost summer once listening to nothing but Zappa. I had to stop...it sounds silly but I had to stop...i couldn’t listen to anything else!

helenS · 36-40, F

@luctoretemergo Something similar happened to me many years ago when I met someone who was a big Zappa fan… 😁

luctoretemergo · 61-69, M

@helenS I will leave you with “I like your profile very much”....

acpguy · C

When I was in college I listened to him all the time. My friends and I hated the frat boys so on the big white party house we rented we put up in great big letters "PHI ZAPPA CRAPPA HOUSE" as a tribute.

ArtieKat · M

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKYGaEafv4g]

Willie the pimp remains my most favourite - love the whole album more than anything else he ever did!

helenS · 36-40, F

@ArtieKat Excellent guitar solo!

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melbeacher · 56-60, M

Peaches · F

YES, 🎼♥️he was waaay ahead of his time! ⭐️ A genius. My favorite was "Moving To Montana Soon." He also did one with "The Mothers Of Invention" I believe the band was called?🤔 Anyway they did this one called "Eddie Are You Kidding." It was about a commercial back in the 70's and I laughed my ass off every time I heard it! 😅

helenS · 36-40, F

@Peaches Frank Zappa didn't smoke weed. He didn't drink alcohol. He worked very hard. He was an ardent student of classical music. He was one of the most important composers of the late 20th century.

Peaches · F

@helenS That IS awesome, like Sonny and Cher. They didn't drink or do drugs either.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Peaches Good musicians don't do drugs, it's that easy. Miles Davis, when he was on drugs, stopped making music. 5 lost years.

SirAhmed · 31-35, M

Don’t eat the yellow snow ❤️

helenS · 36-40, F

@SirAhmed Yes Sir Ahmed. Don't do that. Listen to a nice extended Zappa guitar solo instead! 😁

SirAhmed · 31-35, M

@helenS I have been an addict to his music for years.
He always calms my angry soul and sometimes he makes me angrier 🙂

helenS · 36-40, F

@SirAhmed Well most of Frank's excellent musical output isn't exactly sedative...

PhoenixPhail · M

It's hard to believe he's been gone that long. He was a true genius, and not just musically. His views were just too radical for the current system and the people who run it.
I miss him.

helenS · 36-40, F

@PhoenixPhail Favorite album please.

PhoenixPhail · M

@helenS I don't know if I have a favorite. I use to listen to Joe's Garage quite a bit. I found much of it hysterical - VERY Frank Zappa.

SW-User

Camarillo Brillo is a brilliant song!

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SW-User

@helenS very true! his dirtier songs are good too haha

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User I believe he used "dirty" lyrics mainly to get his demanding and complex music through to the audience.

SW-User

@helenS that makes sense :)

Texasgurl

[youtube=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TLIppgE45wM]

helenS · 36-40, F

@Texasgurl I love this guy's intellect and imagination.

ShiftingGears · 46-50, M

Great choices by an amazing musician. I always enjoyed the song "Muffin Man".

helenS · 36-40, F

@ShiftingGears
"Some people like cupcakes better.
I for one care less for them!"
😁

ShiftingGears · 46-50, M

@helenS I am glad to see people appreciate a truly gifted musician.

helenS · 36-40, F

@ShiftingGears Most good music was made before I was even born. 😐️

Bluesky52 · 61-69, M

I looked him,he has a lot of albums,,,,,so much matriel,it's hard to keep it with anyone like that,

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Bluesky52 · 61-69, M

@helenS indie is the best definition,meaning he can go anywhere,makes his own records with no restrictions,,,,,,

helenS · 36-40, F

@Bluesky52 ... and, as I wrote in my original post, he was able to compose "on the fly", like a jazz musician.

SatyrService · M

@Bluesky52 it is worth your time,, from the funny and jokey songs like dinna Mo Hum, or camarillo brillo,
to the orchestral stuff he recorded in germany
use you tube and find a playlist
he MIGHT be on spotify or pandora
but his work is rarely on radio

melbeacher · 56-60, M

I saw Dweezel this past October. He is awesome !

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melbeacher · 56-60, M

@helenS yes He plays guitar. He is absolutely incredible. A true guitar virtuoso

helenS · 36-40, F

@melbeacher Like father like son! 😁

melbeacher · 56-60, M

@helenS Absolutely ! He closed with “muffin man “

CopperCicada · M

Love Frank Zappa. Don't encounter Zappa much these days. Not like I used to. Not in this climate.

helenS · 36-40, F

@CopperCicada Yes his music is immortal. He followed the "magic of the moment" philosophy, like many jazzmen do, [i]but in a rock context[/i]. I think he never played the same solo twice on stage.

Tonight I will listen to his album "Guitar", which features extended solos from live concerts.

SW-User

What about "Peaches en Regalia" from Hot Rats and "Sharleena" on Chunga's Revenge

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User Great music, composed and played by one of the greatest musicians.

SW-User

I love Flo and Eddie too aka Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, who used to be the "Turtles" in another life. Remember "So happy together"?

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helenS · 36-40, F

@MasterCharleyBates It's not only an album. I think he really run for president in the 1992 elections.

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helenS · 36-40, F

@MasterCharleyBates Haha I'm not sure. He was a fantastic musician, but I don't know whether he would have been a good politician.

nakedguy · 70-79, M

Watch out where the Huskys go
Dont you eat that yellow snow

helenS · 36-40, F

@nakedguy " She stripped away her ranchid poncho

An laid out naked by the door

We did it till we were un-concho (!!)

And it was useless any more

😁

melbeacher · 56-60, M

She had a snake for a pet and an amulet...

helenS · 36-40, F

@melbeacher
She stripped away
Her ranchid poncho
An laid out naked by the door
We did it till we were un-concho (haha!)
An it was useless any more

melbeacher · 56-60, M

She was breeding a dwarf but she wasn’t done yet @helenS

melbeacher · 56-60, M

She had grey green skin, a doll with a pin

Katiatavrovich · 31-35, F

Wowwww! Zappa the best!!! 🤘😎

helenS · 36-40, F

@Katiatavrovich I love this helluva musician so very much, and, as John Olinger would say, I'd "do" him anytime if he was willing and alive. 😁

SW-User

All his Joes Garage project

nahright09 · 41-45, M

Peaches En Regalia!

Serkan · 61-69, M

[b]I like also
[/b]

helenS · 36-40, F

@Serkan Favorite album and tune please.

Newfound · 41-45, M

Overnight Sensation

jackson55 · M

Hellen, ever listen to Zappa's Yellow shark album? Interesting.

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helenS · 36-40, F

@jackson55 I'm getting jealous now! It's somehow unfortunate that most good music was made before I was even born. 😕

jackson55 · M

The 50's, 60's and 70's were a good time for music. I think a lot of it is noise now. But that's just my opinion and $2.15 will get you coffee at Starbucks.

helenS · 36-40, F

@jackson55 The 50's, 60's and 70's were a good time for [b]popular[/b] music. Classical music - not so sure. It was the heyday of serialism (cf. Frank's album). A lot of extremely inventive material has been made later.

SatyrService · M

his work in symphonic composure is is also stunning,

he might survive the billions of pop stars, to be remembered in a farther future

helenS · 36-40, F

@SatyrService Many young people don't even know his name. It's sad. One of the most excellent American musicians, a "musician's musician", (and a [u]very[/u] attractive man [oh yes!!]), and they don't even know his name.

SatyrService · M

@helenS currently, most are listening to music chosen FOR them, by algorithms with no drive but commerce. in certain places/times of my life, I get to e se the "soundtrack" for the work or play, and i use this to promote music, unheard.

Like Uncle Frank, who broke many boundaries with provocative lyrics. tho his more creative work was all bout attitude and instruments.

I have even made "converts" to him, to early Jazz, to medieval, classics, even Old Egypt.

music is a huge world, currently oppresed by Manufactured Popularity

helenS · 36-40, F

Frank Zappa, on his album "Roxy & Elsewhere": "Jazz is not dead ladies'n gentlemen, it just smells funny."
And then he played the "Bebop Tango" ("That's a hard one to play!").

jackson55 · M

Ever listen to any of his classical music?

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helenS · 36-40, F

@jackson55 Thank you, I will check it out soon. 🌷

jackson55 · M

@helenS Of his classical stuff his group is very tight. They had it together for that album.
I played for 25 years and takes a lot of practice to get it together like that.

SatyrService · M

@jackson55 yes, to me it is his most influentiual work, played often by german orchestras.
you wont find much frank on spotify or whatevr that other one is..

Zakattack86 · 36-40, M

@helenS that's how life is sometimes tragicomically.
"The torture never stops". Like a bitter sweet symphony.

SW-User

I enjoy the music of Frank Zappa too. I sometimes wonder how he would feel if he was alive in America today.

helenS · 36-40, F

@SW-User He'd certainly enjoy most of the changes. America has become a much better place, since the 1970s, I think.

helenS · 36-40, F

Zappa infobox: Frank Zappa provided his songs with naughty lyrics to find a larger audience for his often demanding music.

Bluesky52 · 61-69, M

I just remember baby snakes,,,,1979,

helenS · 36-40, F

@Bluesky52 ... that's from "Shake your Booty!" 😁

Bluesky52 · 61-69, M

@helenS sheik your booty?yes I have a napstar account,i should pull it up sometime,

Echambers101 · 26-30, M

never heard of him

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helenS · 36-40, F

@Echambers101 How sad! You missed a very special musician, a wonderful artist, and a great American.

Echambers101 · 26-30, M

@helenS if you say so

Newfound · 41-45, M

@helenS I agree

nahright09 · 41-45, M

Sheikh Yerbouti!

helenS · 36-40, F

@nahright09 I kind of expected that you like Frank Zappa's music.

helenS · 36-40, F

@nahright09 The title of the album is a very nice pun by the way.

Serkan · 61-69, M

i also

DuchessOfMapleSyrup · M

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isa0GlhRZYY]

Bushmanoz · 56-60, M

I loved Joes garage, was an incredible album, a complete story

helenS · 36-40, F

@Bushmanoz Most unfortunate that he died before I started listening to good music.

Bushmanoz · 56-60, M

Wel dont I feel old, we listened to him in school

Zonuss · 41-45, M

He is a legend. Post more. I beg thee.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Zonuss Thou canst count on me, because I like thy tastes and thine enthusiasm, but dost thou not know he is almost forgotten?

uncalled4 · 56-60, M

Listening to "You Are What You Is" as we speak.

caesar7 · 61-69, M

Love Zappa...Overnite Sensation is my favorite :)

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caesar7 · 61-69, M

@helenS Yes.....He certainly has very weird lyrics...Montana is one of my faves....just going to Montana soon...gonna raise me a crop of dental floss...lol gota love it..lol

helenS · 36-40, F

@caesar7 Actually I found the Camarillo Brillo lyrics quite exciting! 😁

caesar7 · 61-69, M

It iss...so is Dinah-Mo-Hum ;)

caesar7 · 61-69, M

My favourite album is Overnite Sensation....love the double live album also. A TRUE LEGEND

helenS · 36-40, F

@caesar7 Camarillo Brillo!

"Is that a Mexican poncho or is it a Sears poncho? — No fooling!"

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