jff Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I'd have to say that my least favorite are the Chad Wackerman years. I never liked his robotic playing style, and it contributes heavily to a very safe and unfiery sounding band. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I'd have to say that my least favorite are the Chad Wackerman years. I never liked his robotic playing style, and it contributes heavily to a very safe and unfiery sounding band.Same here - I've never liked his drumming, and always thought him a robot too. Vinnie Colaiuta is my favorite Zappa drummer. Here's my Zappa all-star band: Stunt Guitar: Steve VaiRhythm guitar, vocals: Ray WhiteDrums: Vinnie ColaiutaKeyboards: George DukePercussion: Ruth UnderwoodBass: Arthur Barrowsax, vocals, flute: Napoleon Murphy Brock Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I guess it kind of makes sense for Zappa to have a robotic drummer during that time period since he was doing so much work on the synclavier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 That's actually true for me, too. My sweet spot for FZ runs from '69-'78, especially the '73-'74 period...though Zappa himself was on fire up through about 1982. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I almost never listen to anything after Zoot Allures, which is weird since Joe's Garage was my entry point. I love the Don Preston era and the run from Hot Rats through Apostrophe (minus the records that are heavy on Flo & Eddie). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I tried watching 200 Motels a long time ago, and quickly lost interest. I also tried listening to Thing Fish, and didn't get far at all. Yesterday I was looking at the contents of the Old Masters Box Sets. I never purchased any of these - their price point was way too high for me as a teenager. Box 3 is definitely right in my wheel house. I'm much less interested in 1 and 2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Yeah, Thing Fish is awful. It makes me sympathize with people who hate Zappa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hixter Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Yeah, Thing Fish is awful. It makes me sympathize with people who hate Zappa.I think I remember some sort of tie in with a pictorial in Hustler magazine? I'm not imagining it, am I? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I think I remember some sort of tie in with a pictorial in Hustler magazine? I'm not imagining it, am I?Yes, there was a planned stage production, which never saw the light of day, and the Hustler piece was part of Zappa's promo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Come to think of it, Thing Fish is probably my least liked album by an artist I like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Come to think of it, Thing Fish is probably my least liked album by an artist I like.Another thread! But, we may have already done that? Albums you hate by artists you love? I can't even weigh in on Thing Fish, because it was so awful I couldn't get all the way through it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I think I got through it twice. I'm sure I'd still find it unlistenable, but I might try again someday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Why punish yourself? I listened to most of Over-Nite Sensation on the way to work today. Anyone who doesn't love the first few tracks of that album (or OSFA, for that matter), I don't know what to tell you. We are in different universes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Why punish yourself? I listened to most of Over-Nite Sensation on the way to work today. Anyone who doesn't love the first few tracks of that album (or OSFA, for that matter), I don't know what to tell you. We are in different universes.So you and Christgau aren't pals, apparently: http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=4155 Christgau hated everything Zappa until he revisited We're Only In It... in 1995, giving it an A. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I listened to the first few minutes of Thing Fish yesterday. It's still terrible, but it's kind of funny that it exists, and imagining Ike Willis recording the narration, which Zappa had to write a script for, is pretty hysterical. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 So you and Christgau aren't pals, apparently: http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=4155 Christgau hated everything Zappa until he revisited We're Only In It... in 1995, giving it an A.He also rated Sleep Dirt above OSFA. I mean, is that guy kidding or what? W.T.F. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Nice short interview with Steve Vai about his audition with Zappa. Definitely parallel's the Barrow account posted earlier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx1RguHA4XE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Gonna dig into the "post-wheelchair" era in the next few days: taking the Wazoo live 2-disc set and Imaginary Diseases with me in the car stereo. God bless my tolerant wife. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Excited for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=118&v=wQG3JLxfLdc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Gonna dig into the "post-wheelchair" era in the next few days: taking the Wazoo live 2-disc set and Imaginary Diseases with me in the car stereo. God bless my tolerant wife. My wife is generous enough with the all the Dead I play. Zappa on a road trip would lead to some serious marital issues :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Ha! I actually did not play those discs while she was with me, but I have introduced her to Sheik Yerbouti and OSFA. Frank sings "Hoy hoy hoy" a lot in Po-Jama People; turns out that's the Thai word for pussy ("hoi"), so she thought it was pretty funny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 ok, 55 years into my life im going to take a deep dive into Zappa and see how it works out for me, Ive always been intrigued, but never felt ready, now I'm ready. I've got Overnight Sensation, Shut up and play your guitar box set and You cant do that on stage volumne two. Where shoudl I go from there and why? the 60's stuff? 70's? the original mothers? Any advice would be appreciated. So, what are your thoughts so far? I picked up a couple albums from itunes last night: A Token of His Extreme - which was a short show he recorded in 1974 for a TV special that never aired - some of which is featured on his Dub Room Special video. I've only listened to this once so far, but it's really really good. This is my favorite Zappa line-up. Great stuff. Zappa - Wazoo. I haven't listened to this one yet - it's a live recording of a big band he put together to play the stuff off of the Grand Wazoo. I've heard good things. Anyone else have this one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 I got detoured a little bit. But I did buy a couple and so far I prefer his stuff with interesting/fun lyrics, like Apostrophe, and good guitar work. Can't do that on stage #2 was harder to digest because it veered further into the unconventional than I was ready to go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 So, what are your thoughts so far? I picked up a couple albums from itunes last night: A Token of His Extreme - which was a short show he recorded in 1974 for a TV special that never aired - some of which is featured on his Dub Room Special video. I've only listened to this once so far, but it's really really good. This is my favorite Zappa line-up. Great stuff. Zappa - Wazoo. I haven't listened to this one yet - it's a live recording of a big band he put together to play the stuff off of the Grand Wazoo. I've heard good things. Anyone else have this one?Wazoo is just okay, but Imaginary Diseases (from that same general timeframe) is excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Ruth gives a lesson in Zappa chord structure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=142&v=e7Sq0chFjps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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