New Found Respect for Frank Zappa

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I just finished what is perhaps the greatest book I have ever been assigned to read: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Dr. Robert Cialdini. It’s so good in fact that I actually read the epilogue hoping more information would come my way. I’m so glad I did. This is where Zappa comes in. I’ll just type what the author wrote and you’ll see what I mean.

"Back in the 1960’s a man named Joe Pine hosted a rather remarkable TV talk show that was syndicated from California. The program was made distinctive by Pine’s caustic and confrontational style with his guests- for the most part, a collection of exposure-hungry entertainers, would-be celebrities, and representatives of fringe political or social organizations. The host’s abrasive approach was designed to provoke his guests into arguments, to fluster them into embarrassing admissions, and generally to make them look foolish. It was not uncommon for Pine to introduce a visitor and launch immediately into an attack on the individual’s beliefs, talent or appearance. Some people claimed that Pine’s acid style was partially caused by a leg amputation that had embittered him to life; others said no, that he was just vituperous by nature.

One evening rock musician Frank Zappa was a guest on the show. This was at a time in the sixties when very long hair on men was still very unusual. As soon as Zappa had been introduced and seated, the following exchange occurred:

Joe Pine: I guess your long hair makes you a girl.

Zappa: I guess your wooden leg makes you a table."

bows to Frank Zappa

I’ve never heard his music, so I sure as hell hope I like it. Any suggestions on a good introductory album? Well De’trop? I’m generally a punk music fan, so you may want to keep that in mind.

Also, I strongly recommend that everyone read this book. The information it provides (in an entertaining and straight forward manner, might I add) will change the way you view daily interactions. I’m ot kidding, this book is phenomenal. By reading Influence, you come to realize that you’re had on a daily basis, for the most part never even realizing it. What’s beautful about the book is that it also offers methods on how not to be manipulated so easily.

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Ok you’ve convinced me I’m finshing brothers K tommorow and running to the bookstore to read this book sounds really interesting I’m intrigued.

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Apostrophe or Sheik Yerbouti are pretty good Zappa albums.

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Matthew,

I don’t know where to start. I am delighted to hear that you are interested.

Here is what must happen, or how it happened to me, rather.

Believe it or not there was once a time(eleven years ago) when I thought Zappa’s music was silly…too satirical…corny. At such time I was listening to “mainstream rock,” and I did not play any instruments. Ironically, it was that Zappa’s music was too much…I didn’t have ears for it yet. I couldn’t handle it. It was unlike anything I have ever heard on the radio, or anywhere else for the matter. I was used to the rock and roll genre, the 4/4 time signatures, the three chord melodies, the mundane lyrics, the predictable changes…everything that is decadent and mediocre in music. The intellectual element was another that I couldn’t yet comprehend. Zappa was a very, very(yes, I said it twice) smart man. He used his music as a medium to convey ideas and philosophical thoughts, something I wasn’t aquainted to eleven years ago. He was very politically oriented(actually attempted to start a campaign for presidency), and spent no time writing love songs, bar songs, “angry at my parents” songs, yada yada(and if he did, it was to mock it). To understand why the song is silly, and that it is that way on purpose, is to get a step closer to Frank. To understand why he didn’t write love songs was to get a step closer. To understand, or even be able to identify, the various styles of music that he played was to get closer.

At eighteen, I hadn’t yet had an opinion about the world, I wasn’t angry at anything, I wasn’t excited about anything, I had no convictions or principles. I would hear Zappa’s music and think to myself “that isn’t funny,” or “what’s with the stupid deep voice,” or “why on earth would a rock band want to use xylophones and trumpets?” The joke was on me, see. At that time, Zappa had already done all that shit I was listening too…that was thirty albums ago. He was a composer. He utilized every aspect of music. Not for the weak hearted, or…er, the weak eared.

When I began playing drums and guitar at nineteen, I was apprehended once again by Zappa’s music through a friend and mentor. This time it was a serious and extremely complex jazz style, without the silly lyrics. This time I heard something different. I heard, no doubt, a group of musicians unmatched in skill, far beyond what I had formally considered “fluent” or “professional” in regards to any musicians talent. I think it was because I was learning to play these instruments that the music appealed to me so much. I got to hear what the average consumer wasn’t listening for. The actual substance, and not, as Frank would put it, the “wrinkled carrot beside the hamburger, which makes the dish look better.”

So, you will purchase a few albums, and you will have to be patient. It must grow on you, Matthew. And when it does, you will see why it took Zappa 68 albums to get his point across and plant the seeds.

This ain’t no ZZ Top, son. And that ain’t yer daddy’s shotgun either. Now play it like ya gotta pair.

“Shut up and play yer guitar”- Frank

I strongly recommend “The Real Frank Zappa Book” as well.

Enigma mentioned two excellent albums. The material on those albums was produced from 74 to 79. “Apostrophe” was his biggest seller. Consider it a “greatest hits” but not a compilation. Personally, I find many more albums to be equally great, so this is just a public statistic.

It will really depend on your tastes. You might prefer the instrumental music over the lyrical, the symphony music over the “rock.”

I posted a link in this forum for a catalogue of his music. You can sample each album momentarily, but because his song themes change so rapidly, the sample doesn’t really sum up the whole album as far as the basic style of it.

Get this. Did you know that a planet was named after him? Yeah, check out “Zappa.com” and explore a bit. There are interviews, photos, and many more activities.

See you at St. Alfonzo’s pancake breakfast…where I stole the margarine.

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some people will dismiss me as not Zappacore Enough, but i gotta say

HOT RATS HOT RATS HOT RATS HOT RATS HOT RATS HOT RATS HOT RATS and that one with Jimmy Carl “I’m the Indian Of the Group” Black as The Rejected Mexican pope

A couple of years back I read An odd book, I would even say bizarre, Called the Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play. I was a comparison of Zappa and the Frankfurt school. Weird shit.

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i am a hardcore zappa freak… no time to get into it now, as i am headed to (the greatest place in the world) …the boston museum of science.

and i’ll be listening to “the best band you never heard in your life” the whole way there. :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: