Fascinated by Zappa

Myself ^ | 6/19/08 | Me

[CharlieOK1]

I am not really into the music scene of today, as I believe that everything that is touted as 'new' or 'the next big thing' always ends up being something somebody else already did. I have lately found myself digging back into music that really was innovative and ground-breaking. A lot of which was done before I was even around (I am 30). For example, Steely Dan, King Crimson, Yes, David Bowie...

I have always been fascinated by Frank Zappa, as he is basically universally thought of as a musical genius, but just have never really dove into his musical catalog as I really don't know where to start.

[vimto]

It sounds like you have had fun -still having it from music and to have recorded and had an output is something I would have loved to do.

On ‘Strictly Personal’ it is not one of Beef's best, though not as bad as some make out. But I would urge you to listen to ‘Gimmie Dat Harp Boy’ - it is a boogie stomp with killer harmonica playing and howling in the background. Music Like Dirt.

Punk wise I enjoyed the blast and bought most of the Pistols and all sorts of weird and wonderful bands on weird and wonderful inde labels on 7” -it was never a LP genre. But it ended too quickly in the UK when the New Romantics came in and ruined everything!!!! Musical crap. I hated them and still do. I moved my attention to Roots Reggae just in time to catch some of the best acts still at their peak. Seeing Toot’s and the Maytals in the late 70’s in the Top Rank Cardiff was magical.

I recently got a new CD copy of Television's Marquee Moon. Still as good as ever.

BTW why not put your CD’s on emusic? Lots of folks (like me)
use it to listen to and download left field stuff - and get it out to a whole new audience?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Our last CD is on iTunes - The Trouble With Larry "A Fine Freak of Nature". Look for the two-headed calf on the cover!

I LOVE Toots & the Maytals! My magic reggae moment was seeing Burning Spear in a small club in the mid-80s. Winston Rodney's voice was nothing short of transcendent.Saw lots of great punk bands in their heyday - The Damned, The Clash on their first tour, the Cure on their first tour, Angry Samoans, etc., etc. Fun days!

As far as the New Romantics go, I still want to punch out Spandau Ballet! I picked up that CD of Marqueee Moon a while back. Killer stuff. Nice to have a copy of "Little Johnny Jewel" again - I had the single but a drunken friend of mine sat on it and broke it.

[Slump Tester]

I just came across this thread after searching for Zappa.

So have you found a favorite Zappa album yet?

[Uncle Meat]

He is under-rated as a guitar player,

Couldn't sing and play guitar at the same time,but damn,he could get that guitar smoking.He had the most nimble fingers on that guitar neck.

[Uncle Meat]

Questions - do you have that? Where is it from? How can I get a copy?

His DVD Baby Snakes features that and more of Bruce Bickford's animation,concert footage,and lots of wierdness you'd expect from Frank.You'll love it.

[Uncle Meat]

Gimmie Dat Harp Boy is blistering and the whole disc much better than most people give it credit for.

Check out his 4 disc set "Grow Fins".Lots of Beefheart rarities.Bongo Fury and Trout Mask replica are my faves.I don't have "Spotlight kid,but have a lot of the songs as well as a compilation with Ice cream for crow and Hothead.

[Slump Tester]

Hey - Ever hear the Mothers do Big Band and Swing?

It's on a bootleg called "Pachuko Hop. I just recently downloaded it, and I can't stop playing it!