Freaks and Mo*******#@%! (the many phases of Zappa) (1 Viewer)

[Amused to Death]

So I've commented a few times here that the FFA is lacking some Frank Zappa. I've assembled here the brilliance (IMHO) of Frank Zappa spanning his many phases. He's usually known for his humor and political commentary, but the music was always exceptional and he was very demanding of the band members. Some notables musicians over the years include Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan (Flo & Eddie, The Turtles), Jean-Luc Ponty, George Duke, Vinnie Colaiuta, Chester Thompson, Steve Vai and Adrian Belew.

WARNING - Its Zappa, a lot of this material is very NOT SAFE FOR WORK due to language.

1963 appearance on the Steve Allen Show A very young (and clean cut) Frank Zappa on "The Steve Allen Show"

Europe 1968 Not for everyone. Yes, its bizarre/strange/experimental but some of the music is very good.

Want to be as popular as the Turtles? Hire them. OK, some stuff from the Flo and Eddie Era just CAN NOT be posted here. Some of the tamer material included below.

"What Kind of Girl" The Flo and Eddie Era (still NSFW)

"Peaches En Regalia" December 4, 1971 Montreux, Switzeland ('Smoke on the Water' show)

"Any Way the Wind Blows" December 4, 1971 Montreux, Switzeland ('Smoke on the Water' show)

"Wino Man" December 4, 1971 Montreux, Switzeland ('Smoke on the Water' show)

Frank adds some jazz elements to the band, Jean-Luc Ponty & George Duke

"Montana" 1973 Stockholm HQ video

"Dupree's Paradise" 1973 Stockholm HQ video, fantastic performance

"Big Swifty" Helsinki, August 1973

"Pygmy Twylyte" 1974

"Inca Roads" 1974 Helsinki, from "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2

"The Illinois Enema Bandit" 1976, with intro by Don Pardo. The tragic true story of Michael Kenyon

"Punky's Whips" 1977 NYC from the movie "Baby Snakes"

"Broken Hearts are for A##h####" 1977 NYC from the movie "Baby Snakes" (really NSFW)

"(tata's) and Beer" NYC 1978

Steve Vai joins the Mothers

"Flakes" 1981

"Stevie's Spanking" July 1982 dueling guitar solos

The next 3 were played as a medley - I couldn't find a good version of the 4th song, "Jumbo Go Away" that goes with it.

"Dumb All Over"

"Heavenly Bank Account"

"Suicide Chump"

"I Don't Even Care" Just a great song from the 1985 album 'Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention'. The title is in reference to the PMRC, who was attempting to censor rock music. Frank used to some of his congressional testimony in the track "Porn Wars" on the same album. The sticker on the album cover reads:

Porn Wars - WARNING/GUARANTEE:
This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress.
In some socially ######ed areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American.
As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant), Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary.
The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS.
This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, it's fires wait for them, not us. REGISTER TO VOTE !!!

"A Pound For A Brown" 1988

"Texas Motel Medley" 1988 Remember Jimmy Swaggart?

"Jesus Thinks Yer A Jerk"

"Any Kind Of Pain" One of my all-time favorite Zappa solos. Love the sound on the guitar.

"Watermelon In Easter Hay"

The Today Show, 1993

 

[Neal Cassady]

Thank you for this

 

[Amused to Death]

Zappa's last release was 1993's "The Yellow Shark". It was a live orchestral performance by the Ensemble Modern of Frank's compositions.

From the Yellow Shark wiki page:
In 1991, Zappa was chosen to be one of four featured composers at the Frankfurt Festival in 1992 (the others were John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Alexander Knaifel).[3] Zappa was approached by the German chamber ensemble, Ensemble Modern, which was interested in playing his music for the event. Although ill, Zappa invited them to Los Angeles for rehearsals of new compositions and new arrangements of older material.[4] In addition to being satisfied with the ensemble's performances of his music, Zappa also got along with the musicians, and the concerts in Germany and Austria were set up for the fall.[4] The choreographer Édouard Lock and his company La La La Human Steps were part of the show.[5][6] In September 1992, the concerts went ahead as scheduled, but Zappa could only appear at two in Frankfurt due to illness. At the first concert, he conducted the opening "Overture", and the final "G-Spot Tornado" as well as the theatrical "Food Gathering in Post-Industrial America, 1992" and "Welcome to the United States" (the remainder of the program was conducted by the ensemble's regular conductor Peter Rundel). Zappa received a 20-minute ovation.[7] It would become his last professional public appearance, as the cancer was spreading to such an extent that he was in too much pain to enjoy an event that he otherwise found "exhilarating".[7] Recordings from the concerts appeared on The Yellow Shark, Zappa's last release during his lifetime.

Ensemble Modern performing "Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat"

 

[John Bender]

Big Fan

"Watermelon In Easter Hay" is a top 5 song for me. I dig how there a no lyrics, none are needed as the guitar does all the singing itself.

 

[John Bender]

Broadway The Hardway was also very underrated.

 

[Amused to Death]

Broadway The Hardway was also very underrated.

Pretty sure that was the first Zappa cd I ever bought. I missed out ever seeing him live, although I was old enough to go to his '88 tour. I just didn't become a fan until after his death.

For me, his must own albums are Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo, Waka Jawaka, One Size Fits All, and Läther.

Pojama People (from OSFA).

 

[Amused to Death]

Below the ad for the release of the "Roxy and Elsewhere" movie, there's a nice article that chronicles the career of Frank Zappa.

Why Frank Zappa Still Matters

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The Dangerous Kitchen

...In the kitchen of danger
You can feel like a stranger

...
And the salad is frightful
Your return in the evening
Can be less than delightful...
Who the f0ck wants to clean it?
...

I'm a Beautiful Guy

I'm a beautiful guy
And you have just walked by
And I have gave you the eye
But you pretend to be shy
But I'm a beautiful guy
(you know what I mean? you know what I mean? )
So I want you to know why, why, why
You make me cry, cry, cry
'cause you wanna try, try, try
Some stupid game on me
They're drinking lighter
They're full of water
I hear them say:
"let's jog..."
They're playing tennis
They're butts are tighter
What could be whiter?
Hey?
Your athletic approach has a lot of appeal
The girl is responding to your little deal
She's modern 'n empty 'n totally vain
But beauty, of course, can feel no pain

 

[Amused to Death]

The Dangerous Kitchen

I'm a Beautiful Guy

I'm a beautiful guyAnd you have just walked by

And I have gave you the eye

But you pretend to be shy

But I'm a beautiful guy

(you know what I mean? you know what I mean? )

So I want you to know why, why, why

You make me cry, cry, cry

'cause you wanna try, try, try

Some stupid game on me

They're drinking lighter

They're full of water

I hear them say:

"let's jog..."

They're playing tennis

They're butts are tighter

What could be whiter?

Hey?

Your athletic approach has a lot of appeal

The girl is responding to your little deal

She's modern 'n empty 'n totally vain

But beauty, of course, can feel no pain

Harder Than Your Husband

Charlie's Enormous Mouth

Beauty Knows No Pain

Truck Driver Divorce

Nice little run of music from the '81 shows

 

[Amused to Death]

King Kong from the "Hammersmith Odeon" release, recorded Feb. 28, 1978. Some amazing drumming by Terry Bozio.

 

[Amused to Death]

Dweezil Zappa Plans To Celebrate Frank Zappa's 50th With Ensemble Tour

"It's going to be a 50 Years of Frank kind of thing... I'm not exactly sure what we're gonna do. I would love to be able to take out a bigger ensemble. We've done a few shows in Europe with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble, so I'd like to be able to play some shows in America and all over the world with that bigger sound so we can do the orchestral works and really bring them to live in a very big way. It's really insane to think about his first record coming out 50 years ago, so I want it to be something special."

Here's 18 minutes of some extraordinary music from Zappa Plays Zappa. It features former MOIs Napoleon Murphy Brock and Steve Vai.
Peaches En Regalia/Montana/Village of the Sun/Echidna's Arf

I like Dweezil's be smile and head bob when they're finished as to say "yeah we just pulled off that bad mo-fo".