Essential Frank Zappa albums (from his dizzying discog)

I'm familiar with some of Zappa's '70s work, but not with much after that. My father, who passed away earlier this year, left me a bunch of CDs...among them about 80 Frank Zappa albums. I fully intend to keep all the CDs, but I've been in the process of ripping my CDs to FLAC for the past year or so (I was nearly done...until now).

It looks like I have just about the whole collection here. I've noticed some overlap in song titles though, on what appears to be some compilations and live albums. I want to digitize the essential albums, can anyone help me narrow down the amount of CDs I need to rip? Thanks!

 

There are countless threads in this forum about this very same thing. Maybe someone can do a search and post a couple of those.

 

Opinions will vary, but I’d start with everything from Freak Out! through Zoot Allures. All of that is essential imho. For starters.

 

Overlap of titles doesn't mean they're the same recordings. There's no way to learn this stuff overnight. As far as "essential" goes, it depends on your taste? If you're a rock fan, the albums recorded between 1973-1981 are the ones to listen to. The 1972 albums are closer to jazz/rock fusion. 1969's Hot Rats is another fusion classic. Before that it's more experimental.

 

Freak Out!
We're Only in it for the money
Lumpy Gravy
Overnight Sensation / Apostrophe
One Size Fits All
Sheik Yerbouti
You Are What You Is
Shut Up N Play Your Guitar
Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention
Civilization Phase III

 

One useful resource: google four terms together: Steve Hoffman Zappa poll.
There are several polls that will give you a sense for how local denizens rate Zappa albums against each other.

 

I'm no zappaologist, but I'm getting there. I've been digging in more than I have since I first started dabbling over 25 years ago. I'm not a huge fan of post 81 besides the more guitar oriented stuff so far. However I can't honestly say I've critically listened to much after 81 besides "guitar". 66-81 is essential for me and all the project object releases have been great along with the live ones.

 

you would need to figure out which Frank you like. Some like his instrumental stuff, some like his sarcastic stuff, some like his live stuff, some like all of it.
But it is almost impossible to say (with someone like Zappa "these are the essential albums for you")
Personal favourites for me that I think are essential are

Absolutely free
We're only in it for the money
Hot rats
Just another band from L.A
Overnight Sensation
Apostrophe
Roxy and Elsewhere
One Size Fits all
Bongo Fury
Sleep Dirt (original mix)
Sheik Yerbouti
Joes garage acts 1,2 and 3
Ship arriving too late to save a drowning witch
Them or Us

It is also hard to go past several of the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore series, Vol 2 Helsinki perhaps being the highlight

But for every fan, there will probably be a significantly different list

 

If you aren't in a rush try following this Frank Zappa Song By Song Thread (1966-96)*

 

I have. And I recommend the 2 CD live set, Make A Jazz Noise Here. Features a fantastic 12 piece ensemble and loads of great material. The studio album I suggest is 1984's Them Or Us. It's another double album on one CD that features all of the styles FZ is known for. If you like live music, the first two volumes of You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore are also highly recommended.

If you like orchestral, London Symphony, and Yellow Shark are both great recordings.

 

It's almost as daunting as the current Grateful Dead discography. Just start at the beginning (1966) and proceed until you lose interest is my advice.

 

I'd start with;

"Hot Rats"
"Over-Nite Sensation"
"Apostrophe"
"One Size Fits All"
"Sheik Yerbouti"

And go from there.

All of his stuff from "Freak Out!" to "Tinsel Town Rebellion" is essential imo.

 

Here you go, OP:

Getting into Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa album recommendations?*

 

Sorry to hear about your father. But that's really something if he had all that Zappa in his collection that was passed on to you.

Here would be what I would call essential:

Freak Out
We're Only in it for the Money
Uncle Meat

Hot Rats
Grand Wazoo

Apostrophe
Overnight Sensation
One Size Fits All

Joe's Garage
Sheik Yerbouti

Läther

Depending on what you like, you can figure out where to go from there.

 

Not many mentions of Zoot Allures, One of his best "guitar" albums and hilarious subject matter.

 

Here are some favorites off the top of my head, though I'm only scratching the surface here:

Absolutely Free
Uncle Meat/Meat Light
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Hot Rats
Apostrophe
The Grand Wazoo
Roxy & Elsewhere (plus additional archival configurations)
One Size Fits All
Lather

I'm a big fan of Zappa's various and sundry live releases as well. . .

 

I was a big Zappa listener up through the mid-to-late '70s, so I won't speak of later years. I choose what I think are the significant albums, skipping some of ones that I consider to be "stepping stones" between those more primary statements. My choices for that period would be:

• Freak Out
• We're Only In It for the Money
• Uncle Meat
• 200 Motels (or better yet the posthumous "200 Motels - The Suites", which is far better recorded)
  
• Hot Rats
  
• The Grand Wazoo
• Overnite Sensation and/or Apostrophe
• Roxy and Elsewhere

At this point I lost interest in Zappa for quite a few years. I like some things and disliked others. To cover that period I nominate "Lather", which is full of great music.

 

I had this on my list, but changed my mind and took it off. It's one of my favorites, but I thought it was stretching it to call it essential. But maybe I'm wrong.

 

I think it's great because most the people I play it around like it. Kind of like apostrophe it's sort of a ice breaker for Zappa but still an amazing album like (')

 

My list of essential FZ albums changes.
Hot Rats is consistently number one on the list.
For many years the others would have been
Apostrophe
Zoot Allures
Freak Out
Waka/Jawaka
If you ask me today to name my top five essential FZ albums...
Hot Rats
Absolutely Free
Bongo Fury
Burnt Weenie Sandwich
Freak Out

 

The only one missing from that list, in my opinion, is Waka/Jawaka. That would make it the perfect essentials collection.

 

Absolutely Free
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats
Grand Wazoo
One Size Fits All
Roxy and Elsewhere
Joes Garage
Tinseltown Rebellion
Broadway the Hard Way

Helsinki
Make A Jazz Noise
Carnegie Hall
Odeon
Roxy Performances

It’s a tad 80’s heavy but Stage 3 is excellent. Stage 1 and 5 are also very good.

 

If like ya like 50's doo wop, try Cruising with Ruben and the Jets. Alas, no commercial potential!

 

nothing Frank did was superficial!
It's all essential!
It's all one big note!
Just work your way through everything.
If you're here inquiring, you will eventually …..
Take some time with it

It's a way of life.

 

HOT RATS
GRAND WAZOO
WAKA/JAWAKA
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
UNCLE MEAT

I’m just not a fan of his scatalogical works. I know it’s satire and he had a real point, but it’s just not my cup of tea. To me it seemed below his talent.