The Big Note: A Guide To The Recordings of Frank Zappa

I'm sure this has been mentioned on the forum before, but there is a podcast that traces the Zappa discography chronologically, with the goal of looking at each release in terms of "The Big Note." Episode 1 is linked here: Discography: Frank Zappa: Episode 1 – Freak Out! to Fillmore East but you can search for it using your favorite podcast player.

I am more than halfway through, and it is interesting to listen to, and I will probably sample some of FZ's albums, but my interest is not piqued enough at this point to do a deep dive. That may change of course.

 

I love learning new things about music that I thought I already knew everything about...

 

I'm sure book is interesting, but I never read one before deciding to get into an artist. I just bought some records and started listening. And today you don't even need to do that. You can stream anything.

 

Sorry, I dont buy it. Lyrics like Wino Man or The Torture Never Stops or Fembot in a wet T shirt or Catholic Girls or Broken Hearts are For As*holes... arent 60s or 70s cultural references. They're basically insulting to many people, or at the worst, lowest common denominator idiocy. Thats probably what he was going for, but, that doesnt mean you have to have lived in the 70s to get it.

I'm not saying I dont find him often amusing. Especially with Napoleon Murphy Brock singing his crazy stuff. BUT I could see how anybody trying to get into Zappa might get a big curve thrown their way by his lyrics.

 

What's wrong with Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt? Basically, it's saying that people that spend their time in these places are wasting their time and money, and I agree. I don't have a problem with Catholic girls either.

 

Millions don't seem to have a problem with Led Zeppelin lyrics. " Squeeze me baby till the juice runs down my leg." And what about all the rap garbage kids listen to?

 

Why the title ?
Any photos in the book?

 

The title comes from some of the dialogue from Lumpy Gravy. From wiki:

"The concept of the reedited album derived from Zappa's "big note" theory, which states that the universe consists of a single element, and that atoms are vibrations of that element, a 'big note'"

No pictures.

 

(@ 0:20)

 

If you want pictures, I suggest you track down a copy of this. If anyone is interested I can post some of the more interesting ones.

 

Textural book, with index ?

 

Try this one!

 

Fair enough pics cost money, even the cover.

 

I want this book but I keep bitching to myself it's a $35 paperback

 

It IS 800 pages though...

 

If I want photos of the artist I’ll buy the book.

 

Tune In vol 2

 

35 $ not a lot of money these days. Was 1999.

 

This is a magazine from 1992. As far as I know these pictures were never published anywhere else. I'm not sure you could find a copy of this even if you wanted one. Ebay maybe...

 

My intention wasn't to go OT but $35 is a lot of money for a paperback. I'd rather buy 3 of his cd's or a 2-3lp set of his for $35. As far as a lot of money these days I guess that depends on who you are and where you live doesn't it ?

 

Don’t mind me Jeff (don’t want to come offa grinch ) have a really good photo Zappa book. It just the past 15 years most music related books don’t come with photos at all,some with no index at the back.

 

Understand, economics/practically.. that’s what I’d do ( sometimes).

 

Gotcha. This is one of those magazines I treasure and am regularly going back to scour. It has cool pictures of the UMRK and Joe's Garage as well as other parts of the house that I've never seen elsewhere.

 

Just got for Christmas

 

I’ll look out for it.