Also i took my username from almighty Beefhearts immortal classic, "Brickbats"
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Any Frank Zappa fans here?
- Thread starter Andy Coconut
- Start date
Apostrophe is one of my favorite albums of all time. How I would love to go knock over some jockey statues with Frank.
I liked him more than his music. I've always been a bit of a bubble gummer, though.
I loved tom's playing (and sound) too. He sounds just fabulous on Po Jama People.
Mike
Totally agree. For anyone who loves Roxy and Elsewhere this album is a treat.
Big fan. That lineup with Nappy, George, Chester Thompson, Ruth and the Fowlers was just the bomb. I'm in awe every time I hear those guys doing anything.
That thing on the Roxy movie where Chester and Ralph play Cheepnis just drums only all the way through then again with the full band is just really really something IMO. Boggles my mind.
Mike
That thing on the Roxy movie where Chester and Ralph play Cheepnis just drums only all the way through then again with the full band is just really really something IMO. Boggles my mind.
Mike
My intro to the music of FZ was a what-the-hell experience with Freak Out during a party in late 1966. The next spring when Absolutely Free was released, I just had to have it. Since then it's been love/hate but always with admiration for FZ's vision and talent. Like John Mayall, he had a knack for bringing in musicians who fit well with his compositions and arrangements (and hunor) as well as playing together very well.
So, yeah, there are Frank Zappa fans here.
So, yeah, there are Frank Zappa fans here.
His genius was not limited to rrock and jazz. He wrote a great body of orchestral works and symphonies. As Poland shrugged off communism Lech Wallenza asked Him to take a post in the newly forming government. A wide ranging intellect that had a understanding of the intracacies of international relations and thought "Billy was a mountain and Ethel was a tree sticking out of his shoulder."
The story of Steve Vai's audition demonstrates his sense of humor.
The story of Steve Vai's audition demonstrates his sense of humor.
I hate dropping names 
but both Tom Fowler and Ralph Humphrey were my odd meter teachers in music school. Both in tandem as a team. They were both the nicest guys in the world. Dead zero irritating, overinflated ego. 
And equally good at explaining/teaching how to both count and feel weird rhythms.
Also going to give Chester Thompson props as a thoroughly amazing Zappa drummer. It was both him and Ralph Humphrey playing together on Live At The Roxy and Elsewhere.
but both Tom Fowler and Ralph Humphrey were my odd meter teachers in music school. Both in tandem as a team. They were both the nicest guys in the world. Dead zero irritating, overinflated ego. And equally good at explaining/teaching how to both count and feel weird rhythms.Also going to give Chester Thompson props as a thoroughly amazing Zappa drummer. It was both him and Ralph Humphrey playing together on Live At The Roxy and Elsewhere.
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Used to play a cover version of "Magic Fingers" in the early 70's. It was always a band and crowd favorite. Sounded great with our sax player doing the main riffs on baritone.
Also...
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Chunga's Revenge
200 Motels!!
So great!
Nice to see the Captain getting some love...
Safe As Milk is so great....and equally of it's time/timeless
Clear Spot and Spotlight Kid had spots
I loved Doc at the Radar Stn...Ashtray Heart, Run Paint Run were cool tunes...and Making Love to a Vampire With a Monkey on my Knee was as unusual and appealing a.song title since the afore mentioned Frownland (and the rest of the neon meat dream-esque ditty names from Trout Mask Replica)
.
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Chunga's Revenge
200 Motels!!
So great!
Nice to see the Captain getting some love...
Safe As Milk is so great....and equally of it's time/timeless
Clear Spot and Spotlight Kid had spots
I loved Doc at the Radar Stn...Ashtray Heart, Run Paint Run were cool tunes...and Making Love to a Vampire With a Monkey on my Knee was as unusual and appealing a.song title since the afore mentioned Frownland (and the rest of the neon meat dream-esque ditty names from Trout Mask Replica)
.
Killer song...was the first song I HAD to sit down and practice until I could play it when I first started....the sheer joy of sloppily, hacking my way through for the first time successfully with friends in the basement has rarely been equalled since.... Music is the best....
Love Zappa. Even his more accessible stuff like Suzy Creamcheese (a favorite of mine) contains a mix of meters.
Didn't read past page one, but HELL YEA I DIG FZ! Well, I can appreciate a good portion of his music, but i absolutely adore him as an artist who did things his own way by strategically going against the powers that try to control our daily lives, and the music biz guys in suits that tried to control his. His intelligence, wit, musical talent, & the charming way he has of of 'punching upward' is priceless ... like when the PMRC and other misguided holier-than-thou busy bodies, and the legislators that kissed their asses in exchange for votes, tried to intrude on our nations freedoms of artistic expression ... Frank was on the front lines doing all he could to shut that **** down!
The early 70's era Apostrophe' & Overnite Sensation are easily by far my 2 fave albums, followed by the 1969 instrumental album Hot Rats (save for Captain Beefheart's single verse on Willie the Pimp), Fillmore East 1971 (featuring Flo & Eddy from the Turtles in all their foul mouthed glory), the mid 70's Bongo Fury (another Beefheart collaboration), One Size Fits All, & portions of 1981's (?) Joe's Garage triple album are all just so musically versatile and completely unique.
I did get to see him around 1989 when two friends and i rented a big ol honkin mid 80's Cadillac for a road trip from PA to NYC just to see him perform one evening. It sure was a show unlike any I've seen before or since. Rest In Peace, Frank. (Sidenote: when he died in December 1993, i wept a bit, & his photo adorned the top of our Christmas Tree that year.)
The early 70's era Apostrophe' & Overnite Sensation are easily by far my 2 fave albums, followed by the 1969 instrumental album Hot Rats (save for Captain Beefheart's single verse on Willie the Pimp), Fillmore East 1971 (featuring Flo & Eddy from the Turtles in all their foul mouthed glory), the mid 70's Bongo Fury (another Beefheart collaboration), One Size Fits All, & portions of 1981's (?) Joe's Garage triple album are all just so musically versatile and completely unique.
I did get to see him around 1989 when two friends and i rented a big ol honkin mid 80's Cadillac for a road trip from PA to NYC just to see him perform one evening. It sure was a show unlike any I've seen before or since. Rest In Peace, Frank. (Sidenote: when he died in December 1993, i wept a bit, & his photo adorned the top of our Christmas Tree that year.)
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Last week...picked up the 7-cd box of The Roxy Performances.
So far...great.
Tom Fowler playing the crazy vocal part in "Montana" is pretty cool.
So far...great.
Tom Fowler playing the crazy vocal part in "Montana" is pretty cool.
D
Deleted member 165050
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Zappa is a major influence for me... I am lucky enough to have seen him live in the early 80s. He was such a prolific writer there is still new material for me hear, although I am happy with my vinyl copies of Hot Rats, Overnight Sensation and Zoot Allures...
A friend introduced me to Zappa back in high school. Great stuff, incredible melodic runs on many different instruments, ripping guitar leads. I had a 90 min cassette recorded from my buddies vinyl LPs of Overnight Sensation & Apostrophe. Kinda funny when CD’s came about they released those two on a doubled up package together; so of course I had to buy it!
First fell in love with him when I saw him on SNL back in the 70's. Season 2 I believe. He also performed in a sketch where he was murdered by a killer Christmas tree. He also hosted an episode in season 4. Sadly I never saw him live, but his music changed my forever and in my opinion he is the greatest composer this country has produced.
