Play Frank Zappa Radio
Frank Zappa
14,731,733 plays (417,144 listeners)
Listening now: quickpurple
(1940 – 1993)
Frank Vincent Zappa (21st December 1940 - 4th December 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer and bandleader. He was one of the most prolific musicians and composers of his time, releasing over 75 albums of original material over a 35-year career. His work spanned virtually every musical genre: his earliest influences were doo-wop, rhythm and blues and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse; he also incorporated rock, contemporary pop, jazz and electronic music. His compositions range from deliberately banal pop songs to precisely notated ensemble pieces, two-chord vamps over which he would weave virtuosic guitar solos, and spontaneous compositions in which he would direct his musicians with hand signals. Lyrically he was known for his caustic satire and scatological humour, inspired by the absurdities of American society and politics, the sex drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle, and the on-tour antics of his band and crew. He also made a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar band called The Soul Giants, took over as leader of the group and renamed it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!.
His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar band called The Soul Giants, took over as leader of the group and renamed it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!.
Top Albums
-
Strictly Commercial
Frank Zappa
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.99
- eBay Search
-
Sheik Yerbouti
Frank Zappa Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Apostrophe (')
Frank Zappa Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
-
shawnevans wrote:
A 1986 interview on Crossfire. Zappa defending freedom of speech in music. Zappa owns!! =] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ISil7IHzxc
-
SofiaSweetGrl wrote:
I just downloaded all Frank Zappa ringtones at http://tiny.cc/JeCoq Peaches En Regalia is my favorite, love it!
-
gnrseb wrote:
'The Grand Wazoo' is a fuckin' masterpiece. Jazz. Fusion. Yes!
-
Kawww wrote:
She had that camarillo brillo...
-
thekidwiththefa wrote:
it was a while ago
-
Jarhead92 wrote:
The Gumbo Variations deserve to be in the top tracks.
-
dkjbox wrote:
Absolute genius!!! Waka/Jawaka, Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo and AHEID THEIR TIME - the greatest albums!!!
-
barrospablito wrote:
P.I.N.K.!
-
Crustclock wrote:
Actually, that last bit's not true - 'Over-nite Sensation' and 'Apostrophe' are unlistenable shite to my ears and I never understood why they were so popu... oh right, the 'funny' lyrics.
-
Crustclock wrote:
It's not fair to compare 'Sheik Yerbouti' and 'Joe's Garage'. The former is a piece of shit which pandered to the fans who called for him to play 'Dinah-moe Humm' every show. The latter has some puerile lyrics, but also great, memorable rock tunes to go with them ('Catholic Girls' and 'Keep It Greasy' spring to mind). Some of his loveliest, most symphonic instrumental tracks EVAR are on that album, too. Miss it at your peril. 'Sheik Yerbouti' (and 'You Are What You Is'; even worse) is just a witless parade of patronising smut and, musically, is just as pedestrian. Apart from that, I agree with HOMESTAR2525 - between 'Absolutely Free' to 'One Size Fits All' you can't really go wrong
-
bjoernlo wrote:
Vote down that pic. EIBKFwkbEFKBJ
-
homestar2525 wrote:
"You should start with Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage" HORRIBLE IDEA! Both late 70's over produced, Zappa coming off his mid 70's peak... good albums in their own right but not good albums to start with. Listen through Lather if you can find it and go from there, it's a good survey of his best stuff. Otherwise start with "Roxy & Elsewhere", "Hot Rats", "Absolutely Free" and "Grand Wazoo"... you'll find your way from there.
-
SagawaKemper wrote:
i started with cheap thrills and strictly commercial...it gives you alittle of everything. but really go for absolutely free.
-
SagawaKemper wrote:
Great stuff...
-
shawnevans wrote:
Definitely start with Hot Rats at least.
-
FortuneAbstract wrote:
You should start with Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage.
-
Avarance- wrote:
The Grand Wazoo & Hot Rats
-
TommyVT wrote:
Never really listened to him; what albums should I start with?
-
pewpewlasers wrote:
Frank could use a new picture :P
-
WoofWoofit wrote:
Woofit descended through the thick poisonous cocktail of global dimming airborne contaminants that envelop planet Tarmac. Neon lights illuminating the entire land mass of the planet, an endless homogeneous grid of roads and buildings. Tributaries of the 500 lane mega-highways. A testament to progressive Tarmacian expansionism. Woofit sits back and contemplates the grand march of Tarmacia. Oh Woofit you are a silly dog.
Videos
See more
Events
-
Jan
8
Sheik Yerbouti
Die Scheuer, Idstein, Germany
Add shout
| 5 attendees
-
Feb
12
Sheik Yerbouti
Hajo's, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
Add shout
| 1 attendee
-
Mar
5
Sheik Yerbouti
Malzhaus, Plauen/Vogtland, Germany
Add shout
| 1 attendee
Listeners
-
Still-Life
Listening now
to Peaches 3 -
quickpurple
Listening now
to Cheepnis -
purplerain6
Listening now
to Motherly Love -
Umbra3
Top Listener
-
scottiscool
Top Listener
-
godsdice
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
jal4470, simonsays1776, wdprue and 5 other people added Frank Zappa to their libraries. 2 hours ago
-
mcitizen tagged Frank Zappa with ‘jazz rock’. 5 hours ago
-
Check_My_Brain, Laughjoy, Tomppeli123 and 6 other people added Frank Zappa to their libraries. 5 hours ago
-
Parisblues tagged Frank Zappa with seb-zappa, f-zappa, frank zappa and 9 other tags. yesterday evening
-
Adormus, primarch_stuka, Yay1501 and 3 other people added Frank Zappa to their libraries. yesterday evening
-
dshatebreeder tagged Frank Zappa with ‘experimental’. yesterday afternoon
-
semalgazarra, Mizrav, luisabarbosa__ and 8 other people added Frank Zappa to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
-
Agravenlife tagged Frank Zappa with experimental and progressive rock. yesterday afternoon
-
SalvatoreSal, coward_snif and peejay_63 added Frank Zappa to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
-
bradleybee wrote about Frank Zappa in bradleybee at 30,000 tracks scrobbled. yesterday morning
Related Journals
-
bradleybee at 30,000 tracks scrobbled
by bradleybee |
28 Dec 2009 | Add comment
-
My Modest Collection [So Far]
by luchozepp |
26 Dec 2009 | Add comment
-
My 2009 Top Albums
by diana2amazing |
24 Dec 2009 | Add comment
Groups (615)
-
The Mothers of Invention
80 members
-
Teenagers With A Good Taste In Music
46 members
-
100+ Gigabytes of Music
41 members
-
People Who Know The Muffin Man
72 members
-
All Hail The Mighty Wah Pedal
99 members
