FRANK ZAPPA ALBUMS RANKED FROM WORST TO BEST (PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY) 

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IMO The best frank Zappa album was never released (chalk pie) Sure, the tracks made their way to other albums but those original mixes and tracklisting made for a masterpiece album that never officially was.

Overnite Sensation is my favourite. Also liked Freak Out Only in it for the money Apostrophe Joe's Garage Weasels Ripped my Flesh Sheik Yerbouti Hot Rats

It shouldn't be "worst to best" but rather "great to awesome".

I put Sheik Yer Bouti at no. 1. Brilliant album. Agree with Joe's Garage and Hot Rats being up there as well. I also think Zoot Allures deserves a much higher ranking. Some brilliant work on that LP.

I was surprised: I thought Hot Rats was your favourite. Good choice for number one. My favourites are the Joe’s Garage albums, Sheik Yerbouti, Freak Out, Absolutely Free and Apostrophe. I also love the Shut Up n Play Yer Guitar albums. We talked in the comments a few years back about Thing-Fish but I will say it again. If someone wants a regular song/music album then they probably won’t like it but if they listen to it like a play and follow the story then they may get more about it. I don't listen to it often, it has actually been a few years, but when I do I just lie back, close my eyes and listen to the narrative. I think it's quite thought provoking. Anyway, it was good that Frank always did different things...... something for everyone.... for better or for worse.

love Zappa and most of his work dearly, although I’d say you should save the thing fish relisten for another, very distant time. lol

Thing Fish? Sory, but I Thing Not. Love Zappa as much as anyone (I own over 50 of his CD's), but he did put out some lemons. That was one of them. My opinion. :)

"Maybe I should listen to Thing Fish on Spotify and do do a Does It Suck." Larry listening to it on Spofify:"Boy, does it suck! It sucks even more than I remember!"

I think I'll save this video and watch it on Mother's Day.

The most fascinating thing about Zappa was his oxymoronic style that defied all rock conventions. His style was simultaneously progressive and conservative, sloppy and intricate, filthy and pristine, hi-fi and lo-fi, et cetera ad infinitum. He inspired many other artists, but few have come close to top his greatest stuff. Really makes you wonder what he would have thought of modern music and politics. Anyway, these are a few of my favs. I generally prefer his instrumental stuff. Hot Rats Sleep Dirt Orchestral Favorites Yellow Shark Burnt Weenie Sandwhich The Grand Wazoo

Is that the "Ruben" where Zappa added new bass and drums to it. That's really bad. The original is a lot better.

It was great seeing you rate Zappa's albums, Larry. He is a favorite of mine as well. One Size Fits All and Apostrophe were the albums that got me into him. I always tell people if they want to give Frank a try, listen to One Size Fits All. Every song is great!

Good choice for number one, although it probably wouldn't be mine. JG is definitely the best sounding of all the FZ albums, how could he get the production so right here.but then so wrong a few years later on Them Or Us? Also on Joe's Garage Vinnie's drumming is a big step up from what FZ had before.

You're right, thing fish is horrible, I bought it when it outed and gave it a lot of chances, it's a mystery, also Yellow Shark & meet the mothers (the late one) in a way in a way ; But the thing is, he used to cut my grass, he was a really nice boy ; And that's *really* true : This man was a PLANET 🌚

Hi Larry interesting video. I've been listening to Zappa on repeat for the past week. I havent listened to everything yet obviously but my absolute favourites so far are uncle meat which I think is a masterpiece I had to buy it after one listen on RU-vid. I'm surprised it's so low on your ranking. My second favourite is burnt weeny sandwich again I think it's a masterpiece and it's so close to uncle meat in my opinion not much in it again I've had to buy it I'm surprised it's not on your list. Third is hot rats. Fourth is Weasels ripped my flesh is growing on me after each listen. Waka jawaka and grand wazoo are also really good. My least favourite so far is one size fits all but it's still good and will probably grow on me. No stinkers so far.

Nice list! What about Zappa in New York? You must own that one!

All geniuses have their faults and failures, and Thingfish was definitely his.

Apostrophe and Drowning Witch are great albums.

Hot Rats and Freak Out... Both Unbeatable

I have quite a few of Zappa's albums and like most of them but there is none better than Chunga's revenge I like some of Joes garage not my favorite. The black face picture reminds me of Justin Trudeau. Zappa was a lot smarter than Justin.

Fun vid listing your top FZ Albums. My list is close to yours, Sheik is #1 all time, followed closely by One Size, Over-Nite... but oh man, I gotta have Make a Jazz Noise Here (Disc 2, esp. - it is all about that '88 band), Broadway the Hard Way (that Bacon Fat > Stolen Moments > Murder By Numbers with Sting is inspirational, and also that Dickie's Such an Asshole - just great), and of course Läther, Baby Snakes, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt...

In my opinion lumpy gravy is underrated, I love the section at the beginning of part one

If.you like Zappa "s"one size.fits all" with George Duke on.it and Ruth underwood..on vibes .check out the George.Duke.and.Johnny Guitar 🎸.Watson. .album "I love.the blues.she.heard me cry" some great instrumental tracks with members of Zappa s band on them recorded around the same ti me 😎

10. Grand Wazoo 9. 200 Motels 8. Weasels Ripped My Flesh 7. Burnt Weeny Sandwich 6. Hot Rats 5. Absolutely Free 4. Freak Out! 3. Lumpy Gravy 2. We’re Only In It For The Money 1. Uncle Meat

"Frank Zappa was a musical genius, and he would..." I thought you were going to say, "agree with that."

The Radio is Broken is my favorite Zappa tune. Used to be a RanXerox fan too so I love the cover. Thingfish no can do. Enjoyed your video.

coming back from Europe at that time I I think Frank Zappa's Zoot Allures was the rage was prompted my father's advice about going back to school because you don't want to wind up working in a gas station in the end I didn't go back to school but I got into the music business win-win all around so you can guess my favorites Zappa route album

Playground Psychotics is the only Zappa CD I ever got rid of. Two CDs of tape recordings of them in airports and hotel rooms. I'm not a fan of the Flo and Edddie era either

I’m surprised that you have Hot Rats and Grand Wazoo as your 1-2 when you don’t like Waka/Jawaka and King Kong from Uncle Meat

Ranking Frank Zappa albums is almost impossible for me considering I love so many of his albums. He's one of my favorite artists of all time and a true genius. But anyway here are 20 of my favorite FZ albums in no particular order 1. Over-Nite Sensation 2. Hot Rats 3. One Size Fits All 4. You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 5. The Grand Wazoo 6. Joe's Garage 7. Zoot Allures 8. Burnt Weeny Sandwich 9. Roxy & Elsewhere 10. Make a Jazz Noise Here 11. Apostrophe 12. Waka/Jawaka 13. Sheik Yerbouti 14. You Are What You Is 15. Zappa In New York 16. Bongo Fury 17. Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar 18. Studio Tan 19. Chunga's Revenge 20. Uncle Meat Also, I love so many of the FZ releases that his estate has put out over the years since Frank passed away, and my 5 favorites among those albums are: Halloween 77, Lather, Zappa/Erie, Hammersmith Odeon (Live), and Wazoo (Live)

You should do a ranking video of the tracks off of Joe’s Garage. That would be super fun

I also didn't like Thing Fish, oh it's got its moments, bot overall it's not my thing... Waka Jawaka is a favorite of mine (for me a Hot Rats 2). Also like many of the other ones (including the Fillmore East). Not so fond of Uncle Meat and the real early ones. Great ranking (a mega effort)

Could you give me the guitar tab for the Bob Dylan song?

Zoot allures, one size fits all apostrophe, overnight sensation, sheikh yerbooty,Roxy, Tinseltown rebellion, utopia,joes garage, should be in any Zappa fan's collection,I have a soft spot for drowning witch too because "No Not Now" on it . String Beans to Utah, WTF

Normally every Zappa fan will disagree with "Best Of" choices, but overall I agree pretty much with what you have there. It isn't possible to choose, say a Top 5 so a top 20 is just about enough. What a contrast between what fundamentally could have been similar albums Joes Garage and Thingfish. Both Triple concept albums, but poles apart. And yes Thingfish is without a shadow of doubt his worst and it doesn't get better over time. And you chose these as least and most favourite! There will now follow someone saying it's their favourite, but they are lying unless it's the only Zappa album they own.

I now want to hear a full album of Dylan covering Zappa. 🤣

Good ranking, Larry. Did you ever pick up Imaginary Diseases? The title track amazing. It's live from 1972. My top 5 Zappa albums: One Size Fits All Hot Rats The Grand Wazoo Overnight Sensation We're Only In It For The Money

I HIGHLY recommend revisiting “king Kong” from Uncle Meat Larry. It gets better with each listen. I love how it has a main melody/theme then give the members spots to solo before coming back to the main theme again for the climax. Very jazz inspired. The live versions from the first Mothers and the second Mothers with Flo And Eddie are always great versions too

I LOVE Zappa, especially his 60s stuff

When I discovered Frank Zappa , by my father who was George Gilbert movie actor and did the original Julius Caesar with Charleston Heston not the color , but the black and white version. My father took me to see Frank Zappa in concert July 3 at Ravina park in highland park and it was 1970 . After the concert I went to Paul record store and found one Zappa record it was the only copy that was there, It was Mother mania the best of the mothers.When I heard this , I sample all three albums and bought them later This is good to do when you are beginner when listening to Frank Zappa and discovered his other music later

Love it when you discuss Zappa! How i would rank your selection: 22. Cruising with Ruben and the Jets 21. Zoot Allures 20. Freak Out 19. Overnite Sensation 18. The Man from Utopia 17. Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowing Witch 16. Fillmore East 71 15. Just Another Band from L.A. 14. Bongo Fury 13. Sheik Yerbouti 12. Apostrophe 11. You Are What You Is 10. Joe's Garage 9. Absolutely Free 8. Hot Rats 7. Waka Jawaka 6. We're Only in it for the Money 5. Lumpy Gravy 4. One Size Fits All 3. The Grand Wazoo 2. Uncle Meat 1. Roxy & Elsewhere Some personal favourites are missing of course, particularly Weasels Ripped My Flesh and Studio Tan.

A bit confused why it would bother you that he added live solos to his studio albums. Much Better than adding studio solos to a live album!😂🍻👍

Thumbs up...Grand Wazoo.

My Frank Zappa Top 10: (10) One Size Fits All (9) Zappa In New York (Expanded 2 CD edition) (8) Hot Rats (7) Sheik Yerbouti (6) Overnite Sensation (5) Joe's Garage (Acts I, II and III) (4) Freak Out (3) Apostrophe (2) We're Only In It For The Money (1) The Roxy Performances (The expanded "Roxy & Elsewhere", but just the Roxy shows)

Wtg!! I love Frank Zappa's music. Yes even I've grown to like n love some of the songs more over time.(at times I was annoyed with some- but gave those songs a chance to love) It is pure entertainment! Frank Zappa was a one of a kind! My favorite is the man from utopia and by far! The king Kong variations along with the instrumentals. Thanks for this video! I am maybe one of those who are into Flo and Eddie. Frank Zappa is a ⭐ Apostrophe is #1 for me!! As well as the road tapes too ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chungas Revenge was good too! Yet to me those are all # 1 likewise 👍

I started to listen to Frank Zappa like a month ago, but everyday I'd listen to at least two or three album by Zappa. I learned that I can't really live without his music. A lot of good music: I found Cruising with Rubens very listenable, an unusual album for Zappa's standards, but still a fair work. I absolutely love his jazz-rock phase (Hot Rats, Waka-Jawaka, Weasels Ripped My Flesh and so on); however, I find Drowning Witch a bit commercial for my liking (mainly because of Valley Girl), but still a strong album. Even The Man from Utopia wasn't as solid as much as other Zappa works, at least in my opinion. I think at Apostrophe, You Are What You Is and Sheik Yerbouti like more friendly-radio albums, but very enjoyable, and very very interesting. We're Only in It contains the best opening track in music history (the final part with Jimmy Carl Black always gets me). Moreover, The Mothers were a great band, very talented; sad to hear what the bass player, Roy Estrada, did years ago (just like Jim Gordon from Derek and the Dominos), but aside that, a solid group. And Zappa was basically the most prolific music artist that ever lived.

My first listen to Zappa was 1971 and it was Absolutely Free, still one I listen to a lot and rate higher than you did. Where is Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, 200 Motels, Zappa In New York, Studio Tan and Sleep Dirt? I love the 3 Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar albums, as well as Baby Snakes, Does Humor Belong In Music, Jazz From Hell and the two The Old Masters Box 1 & 2 set -still looking for Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention. I'm quite happy you like Frank so much and enjoyed your list. Waka/Jawaka - Your Mouth " Your Mouth is your religion, you put your faith in a hole like that"that lyric still kills me every time and the cool jazzy pedal steel guitar solo by Sneaky Pete Kleinow is sublime. I am much more familiar with his stuff from 60's and 70's and I still pick up his stuff that I can find on CD - I do have all the vinyl records from Freak Out to Zappa In New York, which I just found this past summer. I own a lot of the 60's on CD as the remasters Frank did were superb, especially We're Only In It For The Money. I am also huge into Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, I've got Mirror Man, album and CD, Trout Mask Replica produced by Frank is genius, and I love Safe As Milk, Spotlight Kid, Bat Chain Puller, Doc At The Radar Station and Ice Cream For Crow. Maybe you can do a Captain Beefheart top 15 albums video. Cheers from another Canuckle-head!

A few good ones you left off are Broadway the Hard Way, The Yellow Shark, and Civilized Evil Phase III.

Joe's Garage #1 for me too. The expanded Zappa in New York is amazing and worth a listen. I bought the vinyl box set of Thing Fish when it came out. I like it but it's not for all. You should check out his last show from '88 (official realease). He does a three song Beatles' medley, albeit with different lyrics.

Love Zappa and my number one would be Joe’s Garage followed by Sheik Yerbouti. Sheik Yerbouti along with Strictly Commercial was my introduction so I always enjoy that record. As far as Thing-Fish goes I listened to it not long ago and wasn’t a great experience but I would like to see you do a video revisiting it. Sounds like a lot of fun… for us anyway!

My aunt who introduced me to the Beatles' music also played me Freak Out and it's still my favorite Zappa album. I have a few other albums, but I can't say I listen to them much. I put a few of your recommendations in my streaming library, so maybe I'll get into Zappa a little more.

Frank Zappa picked on bob Dylan on flakes

Lumpy Gravy is an acquired taste!🤪 It truly had to grow on me.

Good video Larry. Very difficult with Zappa having so many records. Having been listening to him for over 50 years I re-evaluated his work from my perspective and decided what ones I would not be listening to again. Mostly they are the albums from the 80's. Zappa being brilliant however, even on the albums I regard as pretty bad, he always manages at least one killer tune!!

I do love JOE'S GARAGE. I wouldn't ever put it at #1 though...it drags toward the end , top-heavy w/ narration. As you said though, it's virtually impossible to make the rankings that will hold for long...all so good.

3:00 As in ‘the torture’ never stops? 😏

Only gotten into zappa properly.recently, my favourite I've sat through several times is bongo fury! I like a few tracks.from Joe's garage but the whole format of that album I find really irritating

I’m so glad your doing another album ranking!! Thank you Larry for the great videos as always :)

I don't think I've heard any Frank Zappa albums.

I totally disagree with your rankings, but I absolutely LOVE every single album that you mention. Not a single one should be left out. They all deserve to be mentioned. Thanks!

lumpy gravy is a personal favourite but it certainly isn't an easy listen. freak out is another favourite of mine.

Very honest selection and i couldn't agree more..

You should have named your cat Garfield ha ha ha 😆

I am a Zappa fan since 1968 and never tire of his music

the video i have always been waiting for

Danke.

I don’t pretend to be a Zappa expert, but I do enjoy his music immensely. Funny that he wrote about it hurting when he pees, given his cause of death. Anyhoo, I don’t own many of his albums, but I love The Grand Wazoo, Sheik Ya Bouti, Apostrophe, Hot Rats, Overnite Sensation, Broadway The Hard Way, Zoot Allures, Bongo Fury, Tinseltown Rebellion, Ship Arriving Too Late, Joes Garage, and my all time favourite, Roxy And Elsewhere - I agree with you, the musicianship is incredible. The ‘Best Band You Never Heard’ series are excellent too. Everyone with an interest in music should experience some Zappa in my opinion!

Sea of tranquility!

Excellent video. It was commendable to do a partial catalogue ranking for the mighty Frank Zappa. I still have the hardest time with doing a proper ranking of his albums. You Are What You Is ranks at the top for me (nice to see it crack your Top 10), and The Grand Wazoo might be my second favorite.

Lol I found out about Zappa Recently, I would always see you made video of him but I thought he was just 2 weird by the looks but once I heard his guitar and jazzy music I changed my mind thanks to you I know him and now I wanna get him on a record

Hey Larry. Been thinking about Zappa a lot recently so this video was perfect timing. I, like you, got One Size Fits All first. But that's the only album of his I own currently. What would you recommend as the next album I get?

I stopped buying after Uncle Meat.

This is pretty cool..I love Frank..Hard to rank..My top few would be 1/ Hot Rats 2/ Apostrophe 3/ Burnt Weeny Sandwich 4/ Bongo Fury 5/ Grand Wazoo ..so many amazing albums❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Great job Larry..love this one..👍👍glen

“Hot Rats” and his “fusion” phase is my favorite Zappa era. Also love the “Guitar” series.

Love the cat in the background!