The albums of Frank Zappa 

You are absolutely right about Ian Underwood's importance as an addition to the Mothers. When he "blew up" the original mothers in 1969 it is interesting that he keeps Ian Underwood as a part of the "Flo and Eddie" version of the band and even beyond when the mothers return after his accident.

Zappa is a genre onto himself. I first experienced him as a teen through Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation, followed by the early Mothers, Hot Rats and Uncle Meat. Later, I got into his fusion stuff and modern classical works. What a wildly talented person.

Wonderful video, Andy. The discovery of Zappa'a music meant a great deal to me in my teenage years. He introduced me to Conlon Nancarrow, Edgar Varese and Anton Webern on the classical side and Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy on the jazz size and opened up new worlds to me which might otherwise have remained undiscovered. He forced me to challenge myself and listen to "difficult" music and so many doors have opened for me as a result of Frank's influence. He remains one of my very favourite guitarists and his duels with his drummers remind me of Coltrane's extended workouts with Elvin Jones. Thank you for this thoughtful and informed and, above all, deeply personal video which communicates fully the passion and depth of Frank's music.

I like a lot of Zappa, and a lot of Zappa doesn't do anything for me. But The man was truly a genius and "prolific" is too weak a word to describe him. A remarkable artist.

Many thanks for this introduction to Frank Zappa - I had a few of his albums, thanks to you my bank balance is now considerably worse off!

I discovered Zappa from the bbc documentary in 1994 I was obsessed with that show watched it many times the highlights from that for me was oh no and black napkins and from there about 80 albums later I feel so lucky to have discovered him a hidden treasure and I’m just blessed he entered my life

Your Zappa story reminds me a lot of my own. My best friend put 'Them or Us' on the turntable on the song 'Sharleena'. I was upstairs. I rushed down going 'what the hell is this?' Then Dweezil's solo began and I stood speechless. A whole new world opened up from that moment on. We started collecting Zappa albums like crazy. Later expanding it to a lot of his musicians: Vai's stuff, Mike Kenneally, Warren Cuccurullo,... Saw him on the Broadway the Hard Way tour here in Belgium. Wrote to him, got some stuff back. Had a chance to talk to Dweezil when he toured with 'Z' some time later. Wonderful memories. Sometimes I wish I could rediscover Frank's music and hear it for the first time all over again. I have never been so surprised, overwhelmed and entertained by any other musician or band and yes I also think a lot about what he would've done musically/sociologically in these times. I have his entire output up to Civilisation Phase III. After his passing interesting stuff came out but I wasn't on board with everything. Thanks for the video.

Oh how I love the whole Touch Me There album. All fantastic compositions but Windy Morning just makes my heart and mind melt together, I usually come to tears.

Apostrophe was my gateway drug. I still have it on vinyl. I later saw him with Vai when I was stationed in Frankfurt 79/80.

Burnt Weenie Sandwich is my favorite Zappa album. I was lucky enough to see him in concert in the mid 70's.

First Zappa/Mothers albums I got was Freak Out & Hot Rats probably because they were rated as the most important & I loved them. I struggled a bit back then with others, but nowadays I love a lot of it especially the early mid 70’s stuff.

I learned a lot. I knew a lot about Frank but I learned things. That’s why I watch long RU-vid’s by knowledgeable people. Thanks

Hot Rats was my first approach to Zappa ... I was 11 then, (John Lennon just had been shot) ... and among 500 Bach, Beethoven. Mozart and Mahler Records, my parents had Hot Rats and Sgt. Peppers in their collection ... and those were my first Pop records I heard ... years later I asked my mom how those 2 records made their way into their record collection and she said that at the end of the 60s my parents had a party at home and to be a little up to date my mom went to a record store and asked for the best records or let s say most popular records of the time and that s what she got .... but it took me another 10 years until I started appreciating his music --

Looking forward to watching this later. Frank brought so much fun and colour into the world. Rock on, Andy!

great video. You really know your zappa. very comprehensive

🌠DUUuude ..Really Really REALLY GOOD..! Good Video...Music is the Best...Mary (FZ)

My first Zappa album was Overnight Sensation. Little did my little teenage mind realize that that album was just the tip of a huge iceberg. Great video Andy!

One Size Fits All is my favorite. Anything with George Duke is gonna be good. Lot of great music to sift through.

that's amazing you had cards signed by him, I miss the days when that kind of thing was commonplace. Bravo!

Andy, no need to apologize for the length of this chat. Like you say, in an hour one can only scratch the surface of Zappa and his oeuvre. I appreciate your whole approach, and you've motivated me to fill in some of the small gaps I've got in my collection of Zappa albums. I've been a huge fan since I first heard Apostrophe' in 1981 when I was 18, but only saw him once in concert. Fortunately, that was in Paris in 1988. That band exceeded my expectations by many factors of ten! But the one thing that stands out in my mind was Zappa's improvisations on the guitar. His tone was clean, fat and LOUD, and his vocabulary and compositional intent had me absolutely spellbound. Air sculpture, indeed! By the way, if I'd written to Frank and he'd sent me a signed photograph, I'd probably get tears in my eyes every time I held it in my hands. I was devastated when he died and, like so many of us Zappa fans, I miss the man every day. So, thank you so much for the comfort you've given by uploading this video.

Incredible: I also got Vai’s “Flexable” and my first Zappa was “Them or Us”

Fantastic video! Thank you so much for this great, lovely review. It's very nice to listen to someone so passionate about Frank Zappa. Instantly hit the subscription button! Cheers from Mexico City!!

I really enjoy your genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter, and life in general, apparently 😊

Zappa is the GOAT!! Totally agree with you about his guitar soloing!

There's no one like Zappa. He's not for everybody, but that's fine. An unvarnished, unalloyed musical genius. Agree that "One Size Fits All" might be his best effort. Certainly his most accessible.

Zappa was and still is a beast in the music world. A rare genius, and that is the best review I saw from Zappa life and records. I played "Zoot allures" on the radio in a local FM station in Southern Spain and people liked it, later on, doing the Army I was fascinated listening "Joe's Garage", a masterwork which I shared with my mates when we had a moment of freedom, and that is what Frank was, an icon of freedom. I wished more radio airplay and works like yours, could make his music there again for the new generations, lost in the auto tune. By the way, your enthusiasm was toxic, all his albums were favourites for you. Big thank you!! Gracias amigo.

The first proper gig I ever went to was The Mothers of Invention at the Colston Hall in Bristol in early 1969. They played the instrumental tracks from Uncle Meat, which hadn't even come out in the UK at the time. Ray Collins was there mostly playing imaginary violin with a rubber chicken under his chin, since there were almost no lyrics for him to sing. I only got tickets because I had borrowed the Mothermania LP from a school friend a few weeks before. Unsurprisingly Uncle Meat is still my favourite Zappa album. The gig when Frank was injured was at The Rainbow in Finsbury Park. I had tickets for the following night!

Of course I like this, thank you! Especially your conclusive words - a synthesis of what should be said about Frank. When I am asked why I like Zappa, I just open my mouth silently, but there is so much to say, so much that I cannot formulate it (maybe listening is most important whout the need to explain, or even formulate your thoughts). You formulate it so easily without even looking into a sheet. Same with your video on Frank as a guitarist. Thank you again!

Absolutely EXCELLENT video Andy. The best I've seen about ranking Zappa's albums.

WOW!!😀 Zappa wrote back for.your Birthday!!! what a bloody Legend man!!! 😎 xxx

First Zappa album I heard was We're Only in it for the Money in 1973. We were tripping on acid and a friend had thought this was an opportune time to play this album. Smart choice. Then I heard Overnight Sensations and was blown away by his guitar work and use of background vocals of Tina Turner and the Ikettes on several of the songs. From then on I fell into the Zappa rabbit hole. Uncle Meat is probably the most Edgar Varesse influenced of all his albums I would say. Although never appreciated it until at a much later stage into my Zappa journey.

Having only recently discovered your channel, I was interested in this extended appreciation of Frank Zappa. I also have a degree of fascination with Frank's music, though I only own about a dozen of his albums (financial rather than aesthetic considerations!). As you say, you have only scratched the surface of Frank's career - how could it be otherwise unless the video was about a week long. Nevertheless, this was a heroic effort and much appreciated. I am not a musician - many excuses, but lack of talent is probably the real reason - but music has been a key part of my existence (even if only as a fan) since I heard "Heartbreak Hotel" in the late 50's (by the way, the last decent track ever recorded by Elvis Presley - to me eternally a third rate lounge singer and, eventually, a ludicrous parody of himself). By which you can tell that I am no spring chicken. I grew up with the Beatles and the myriad other bands that made the 60's so memorable, and have continued buying records ( a bit of pop, mostly rock - in its many forms- , indie, Jazz, fusion, blues, classical and opera) so almost as eclectic, if not catholic, as your taste appears to be. I greatly enjoy hearing a musician's view of the music I have loved and continue to love. More power to your elbow! Keep making the videos.

What a great video! I loved hearing you talk about Frank. Some interesting parallels with my journey in Zappa land...I am your age and I also saw him for the only time on March 5th 1988 in Cleveland. I also at the time wrote him a letter explaining how much I admired him and I got a You Are What You Is postcard signed To William...one of the coolest things I own. Its been hanging on my wall ever since...also the Flo and Eddie era is also my least favorite but I do dig Chunga's Revenge/Just Another Band from LA a lot. The Ponty and Shankar records are also great, love 'em. The record that started it for me was Over-nite Sensation and the first record I bought was Mothers of Prevention in 1985 when I was 17. By the time he passed away I had almost everything he had released up to that point. Anyway, I just had to tell you a little bit about it!

I also only saw the 88 Band , just like you, I was 27. I had some big Zappa Fans around me, whereas I was not a Fan, but I always acknowledged his Importance. I was glad I saw that 88 Concert in the Hallenstadion Stadion Zürich and it was brilliant.

Thank you very much Andy. I now know where to start. Happy days.

Really enjoyed this overview of Zappa. I used to really be into him by then missed a lot of what you covered here so I am getting back into Zappa again.

Great job Andy, I just watched this video and the one about his guitar playing. For me the gateway album is/was Apostrophe (the second one I listened to after "Bobby Brown" and Sheik Yerbouti). The very concept of the apostrophe explained to me the weird music in the record... Frank was making footnotes here and there as he was singing/playing, hence the abrupt changes and add-ons, but I had to pay attention to the direction of the whole thing. And it made perfect sense, even as I didn't understand the lyrics at the time (English is my second language). The humor was obvious, actually it was the element that drew me into Zappa (I was DJing at the time with a highschool friend who owned these two records, and we used to play the short funny bits for laughs). Then I realized these records were kind of proggy, and they ended up being my way of going out of my "prog rock /jazz rock phase" and separate the good from the bad. From then on, I'm a lifelong FZ fan. Best wishes from Argentina.

Burnt Weeny Sandwich is my favorite Zappa album

Thanks for this video, Andy. I was put off Frank's music back in the 80's, having only heard a track or two, one scatological, and one chaotic orchestral thing. I was a Beefheart fan for years, and avoided Frank. Thanks to your video, I'm going to have another listen. Starting with Mothermania, then Uncle Meat, then Lumpy Gravy. I'm hoping my musical mind has broadened enough to put up with a few scatological jokes and some music Concrete 😄

That was a great chat

Fantastic overview of his albums! It really ties his work together

Always cool. What a blast from the past. When Zappa was pushed off the stage, he also crushed his larynx... Thus, creating his deeper timbre that can be witnessed in his later recordings. P.S. This is weird... I remember Zappa producing a "Grand Funk Railroad" album in the mid-seventies. His solo on the last song is Zany. PSS. Kids... Read "The Zappa Book" and "No Commercial Potential" by David Wally. To paraphrase Frank - "Those will really get you off." Peace on earth.

I watched video on top 10 Jazz albums. When you spoke about fusion Zappa was the first artist that came to mind. A late 70s band you would enjoy is Little Feat. I saw him in 1981 in Santa Barbara. He did Cocaine Decisions at the Show . In 1983 Man from Utopia album had a studio version of cocaine decisions

Than for this review! I have never really got into Zappa's music but got some hints what to listen to here.

What a sweet story about the card. Very moving review.

The first Zappa i heard as a kid was Joe’s Garage. It felt like i was listening to some r-rated banned art. Good place to start, in my opinion.

He never sounded likeeanyone else and nobody has ever ssounded like him. Total genius.

Amazing overview of Zappa's albums. I consider myself a big fan of Zappa (own or familiar with about 25 albums) but still scratching the surface. Looking forward to more Zappa videos from you.

Dear Andrew, Thanks a lot for your video. Although I am not a musician couldn't help nor to admit great influence of Frank's music on my development as a person (it simply force the listener to think). Regardles we know that Frank is generally not with use for more than 30 years, having great memories of listening to his music being teenager (my biggest impressions were of "One Size Fits All" and "Tinseltown Rebellion"- "Sofa", "PoJama people", "Easy Meat"'s keyboard part all plays in my head for already 50 years and not only those), having all RykoDisk CD collection, the completely new world of music he seems to start being looking for growing up as a musicians of Vai, Keneally (have intentionally collected almost all of his recordings), his drummers (have the solo works of Colaiuta, Wackerman - even see him 2008 playing with Holdsworth) as about Bozio - enjoy his work with UK, Beck and Lonely Bears, having that mentioned collection of Frank's CDs, started to collect the vilyl collection of him, seeing the signed by Frank cards in your hand I cuoldn't get rid of feeling that he is still with us, as each new day gives you a chance to discover more of musical univerce, especially accompanied with new issues of records with his music. Just recently have got the "Funky Nothingness" LP - brilliant piece of my collection. Thank you very much one more time.

Hi Andy, really enjoyed your appreciation of Frank's albums. My gateway was Live at the Fillmore East, which I really like. I bought it as a 15year old and this led me to Hot Rats, and Mother mania - three totally different albums, which showed to me what a genius he was. I have recently listened to the Live at the Fillmore box set, and was amazed at the quality/ musicianship of tracks that were left off the original album and wondered what the reasoning was behind the track selection. I was curious to know whether you have heard them, and your thoughts about why the original tracks were chosen for the album. Thanks for taking the time to record your videos. I have really learnt a lot.

I caught the Philadelphia stop on the FZ/Mahavishnu tour. Zappa opened and when McLaughlin's band started (I'd seen them earlier) I was wondering what Frank would think of them. Your account of that was spot on and of course it was a splendid evening.

You are correct to point out what a great melodicist Frank was. As Matt Groening also pointed out, Frank's outstanding melodic abilities were often overlooked. His "serious" instrumental music in particular is full of Zappa's very strong, if sometimes slightly unnerving, even slightly sinister, melodic language.

SEEN ZAPPA AT THE HORDEN PAVILION. 1974 . SYDNEY. I WAS 11. WITH MY DAD AND HIS MUSO FRIEND BACK THEN. I WAS INTO JEFF BECK DEEP PURPLE. HENDRIX. BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS. YES . FOCUS. AND ZAPPA. HOT RATS AND OVER NITE SENSATION. APOSTROPHE. NEVER KNEW HE HAD EARLY ALBUMS. UNTIL LATER. IF FRANK MUSIC WAS THE MUSIC EVER. YOU WILL NEVER GET BORED. SUCH A ABUNDANCE OF MUSIC. AS FRANK SAID MUSIC IS THE BEST.

Wonderful! 👏👏👏👏❤️

Rather than ramble on here agreeing with you and repeating everything you've already stated, I'm just going to write, Thank You! I enjoyed every second of this and appreciate the time you put in here! I love Zappa (even more after you shared your birthday story, very cool!), a once in a generation musical genius and perfectly unique individual. I was lucky to have seen him twice, early and mid '80s in Hartford, CT. Brilliant! He is sorely missed. You share a great deal of yourself in your videos, that's sincerely appreciated too! The breadth and detail of the information you share throughout your videos has been a blast! You've got me exploring more music than is possible to listen to. ; )

Rueben and the Jets was a favor/collaboration with Ray Collins, the lead singer from the original Soul Giants who allowed Zappa to take over and convert into the Mothers. Ray had a great voice, but tired of being relegated into a side man. Both shared tremendous love of doo wop, and Rueben was a nice parting shot.

A unique survey of the work and influence of Frank Zappa. Your love and knowledge of the man shine through. I was especially intrigued by the relationship between Zappa and jazz fusion. You make a very compelling case that opens up another way of seeing his overall work. I was always a 'cautious' fan (with a handful of classic disks and a compilation or two). During the lockdown, I dug a little deeper, checked out some RU-vid reviewers, read Barry Miles' balanced ZAPPA biography, and happened upon some collections at a used music store. As with other Zappa fans, my collection then grew exponentially. I would be hard-pressed to come up with a Top 10 (as you did on another program) but delight in returning to these albums (plus the more recent released from the Zappa Family Trust). Zappa's music is fun, challenging, bawdy and intellectual. The world is a more interesting place for his contributions and, as you said, a little darker after his passing. Great job, Andy!

Great video Andy. How I sum up Frank Zappa: Genius.

Wonderful video Andy! You did forget to mention the album 'Them or Us' from 1984, my personal favorite 80s Zappa album (so far). I still have yet to listen to a bunch of his albums. I've only listened to 20-30 of them, but after watching this, I want to make it a priority to listen to the other albums I haven't heard yet.

Yet another great video!

Really a great video. Tanks for sharing you knowledge and excitement about one of my favorite musicians. And though 1:11:43 might look like a long time - it didn't fee so. Keep up the good work 👍 PS: Vinnie Colaiuta could very well be my favorite drummer - he's definitly up there in the top 5.

Thanks Andy, and with you tube there are so many concerts to listen to

Great video. Thank you so much. Look forward to your next update on Frank's work. 😊

Great video. It's May 2023, but I would have liked to hear him chime in on the book bannings in the US.

Andrew , Truly enjoyed your video on Frank Zappa . What an incredible life lived to give us his great music. I saw him only once in Chicago at The Auditorium Theater on November 29th 1975 which was the One Size Fits All Tour . His records occupy the largest space in my collection and I always look forward to his reissues ( thank you Zappa family ! ) .

Just posted on your 10 best Zappa, just to find out that your maiden Zappa is Them or Us!, and on to the right of my screen I see a 10 best albums by Holdsworth, you have really good taste and bring new views into the music that I like, and surely find new bands/albums though your channel. Just suscribed, thanks for putting the effort.

A truly great video about a truly great musician/composer. Thank you for that. We need to hear more about that absolutely one of a kind man. And, to be honest, we actually need him, personally, perhaps more than ever. The world lost him way too soon. My personal favourite? Probably Joe's Garage - apart from phenomenal music, there's a story that's more universal than many might think. But I haven't heard everything yet ;-) As a sidenote - man, your hair looked GREAT. Mine's good at 45 (I hope it's still as decent in 11 years, if I can still be arsed with coping with the world by that time) but your's on a different level. A bit of a shame you cut it but hey, you do you.

wow - thanks Andy for your hard work in putting this together I've only ever dipped in and out of Zappa, but this video has made me seek out some of the albums on Apple Music, and if I can get into them I'll try to get the vinyl / CD thanks again

I am binging on your videos Zappa has fascinated me since i heard George Duke worked with him.

That was an utter joy, Andy. You've revealed stages of the maestro's art that were, til now, unknown to me. I thought I was you! 😅😂😊 I've cued up YCDTOSA vol 2 and going to that show right now! 🎉 Thanx.

Thanks for this video. Two of my mates were at that Birmingham gig and afterwards while wandering around Birmingham centre, they bumped into Captain Peacock and Molly Sugden from are you being served? This event was made extra surreal by the fact that my mates were peaking on LSD at the time.

I've watched this over and over again, brilliant video, the best one you've done so far. I'm biased though as I love all things Zappa. When I was 15 Genesis were my favourite band. Pink Floyd took over for a couple of years. When I was 20 through 30 King Crimson. Since those days Frank Zappa. He was always in my top 10 as King Crimson still are, second in fact but as I've got older, now in my 60s. He as gradually got higher until he's now my ultimate favourite of all time. Absolute genius. 👌👍

Some years ago at the Ojai Music Festival the Ensemble Moderne played Zappa's music. At the Ojai Talks opening discussion I said to Steve Vai that I was tempted to ask about "Stevie's Spanking" but decided not. He said thanks!

I found out about Frank Zappa in 1969 in college when I was 21. I like the albums from 1969 and 1970.

I loved Zappa and got to see him over a dozen times in the 70’s and 80’s. I followed the band on tour in 82-83. I had Jimmy Carl Black over when he was touring with Eugene Chadbourne and he had incredible stories.

A well made and cohesive video. Just a note, Zappa wasn't thrown down the stage in Royal Albert Hall, it was the Rainbow Theatre. The crazy thing is that the fire incident described in Smoke on the Water happened just a week earlier from attack at the Rainbow.

In 1962 some very clever d.j.s in L.A. played Fingertips straight into (if they had 2 turntables) the Land of a Thousand Dances (A & B sides of the 45) - a little magic that brought a sublime jam into a.m. radio, transistor radios our tech, irresistible. Possibly the first radiojam. I suspect that a few d.j.s pulled the Jam stunt a few times when swing ruled the airwaves (WWII). Little Stevie Wonder, jammin like a Hammond at age 12. - L.A. had the best d.j.s on Earth ( a single tear rolls). KRLA, KHJ, KFWB channel 98 color radio...some boomers keep on rocking.

Thanks Andy for that great run through the Zappa albums. I look forward to further videos on Frank's music. I thought you made a good point about the humour being an essential element, as I hadn't really thought too deeply about that before. The first album I ever heard and owned was Just Another Band From L.A. from 1971. Because I didn't own too many records then, it was played often and I really loved it. It was partly the wonderful humour, but also the soaring melodies, quickfire musical changes and rollercoaster energy. Years later I owned most of the Zappa catalogue and I've still got loads of it on vinyl. You made some very interesting points that I entirely agree with. Cheers.

Man, enjoyed this. Great to hear another fans interpretation of these albums. Bravo.

I sorely miss FZ. I have forty albums of his and numerous videos. What a loss the the world was his passing. And yes Andy, he would have had a field day if he was alive for the Trump era. Oh, I can just hear the sardonic wit he would have speared Trump with, "The Torture Never Stops" etc. I miss him terribly. Stay safe and go well.

Thanks for the great retrospective; really nice to get a bit more educated about Frank!

I enjoyed your rundown. I got my first two Mothers LP's on the same day. Absolutely Free had just come out. Pretty much bought everything as it came out, got to see Frank at Pepperland & Winterland in the seventies.

All in all: Pretty thorough, great work...

Good stuff. Though I've followed FZ from his beginning, and have seen him several times, I learned much from this. You should have many more likes for your videos. Bingo on the Duke Ellington reference.

Best of Zappa in my humble opinion are.... Joe's Garage Act 1, 11 ,111, Sheik Yerbouti , You are what you is, One size fits all, Appostrophe , Overnight Sensation.

Love your encyclopedic knowledge, brother. Still learning so much.

The thing that must be admired above all about Zappa, is that any money that came in from his last album, was ploughed straight back into his next project. My first exposure to Zappa's music, was when on Juke Box Jury on TV in the early 60s played a Mothers track and it got panned by the jury, who said this band would never catch on. Of course, all the tracks by other performers they played on that show that were declared hits by the jury, have long been forgotten.

This was a great video, Andy! In the end I had tears in my eyes. Frank Zappa has meant much to me, even though I am a classical clarinetist and music teacher and not a rock musician at all. I have the majority of these albums, but he is an exception in my record collection, along with Genesis, ELP, Gentle Giant and a few other bands. My music is otherwise classical, romantic and modern "art music", but I appreciate Zappa as much as Varèse, Stravinskij, Ligeti, Xenakis or other modernists. He's not as great as those composers, if we judge him as an "classical composer", but he was unique in bringing those elements into rock, and combining that with pop, jazz, blues and fusion. And with his humour and personality in all that he did as the best thing.

I heard Flakes off Sheik Yerbouti and was hooked.

Thanks for this video Andy I very much enjoyed it and I have to say I agreed with pretty much everything you said. I am also a massive Frank Zappa fan and possess a lot of his music but probably not as much as I would like and not as much as you have. I was lucky enough to see him live once at The Hammersmith Odeon, London 1984 on the "Them Or Us" tour and of course it was fantastic. I think I am of a similar age as you and I first got into Zappa about 1982 and my love of his music has never really waned but of course there are some of his albums that I love more than others, just like yourself. When I talk to people about music I always say that the most important thing for my ears is the playing of the instruments and the ability of the players. Yes the lyrics and the singing of them are also important and the production and arrangement and everything else that goes into making an album is important too, and Frank Zappa and the musicians he has had in his many bands over the years were incredible musicians and as you've said they have gone on to influence many others, I don't think that could ever be overstated. I do agree with you that some of his greatest albums are in that early to mid 70's period right from "Hot Rats(even though that was released late 1969), "Burnt Weeny Sandwich", "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" and then on to "Waka Jawaka", "The Grand Wazoo", "Overnite Sensation", "Apostrophe", "Roxy and Elsewhere" and on to the incredible "One Size Fits All", all of those are my favourites but I also have to mention "Shut Up n Play Yer Guitar" because it is also an incredible album and I think in my opinion Frank Zappa is one of the greatest guitar players of all time. I could go on and on but just one other thing you made me a little jealous of the signed picture you received from Frank, you lucky man. Well thanks again Andy, keep the videos coming.

There are live channels in YT that play multi-layered dreamy computer-composed music with random settings and they are beautiful. The Machines are Alright.

The first thing that popped up in my mind when you showed the SheikYerbouti record was how superbly the recording quality is. Love Frank….My all time favorite is Freak Out.

ANDY AS USUAL YOU RE SPOT ON THANK YOU OH ANDY ANDY ANDY (1NE SIZE FITS ALL)

It really was wonderful growing up with Frank I first heard “Overnite Sensation” in 1981 as an 18y/o. I missed most of the 80’s music because Frank’s career was so dense

Aaaarrrggggghhhhhhh Not the royal Albert hall it was the Rainbow theatre on Seven Sisters road London a fella who thought frank was giving his girl the eye so proceeded to find his way on to the stage where he pushes frank into the obviously empty orchestra pit ouch And how dare you not like the Flo and Eddie line up 🤯 (joke) I love it all and appreciate it all the territory some more than others his synclavier work is the most difficult to listen for me And 100% agree that one size fits all is a great nitro and Andy is a great tune Ich bien chrome dinet

Rats was my first Zappa purchase too. My mate gave me a tape with you are what you is on one side, and sheik yerbouti on the other. Thought it was hilarious and brilliant and played it round and round for months. CDs hadn't been out long, and one of the first I bought was hot rats . Loved it, but for some reason never went any farther with Frank til I got to college and heard this weird track playing through the wall. I recognised Beefheart's voice on the end and went and knocked on the guy's door and asked him what it was. It was let's make the water turn black. Went out and Got we're only in it, and that's when my true love affair with FZ's music began. Bought every album after that.

Followed Zappa from the first album when it came out...lost interest during his cockrock humor era (flo/eddie) but got back in shortly after. Love them all. Saw the Mothers during the Uncle Meat period, my one and only live show (other than Zappa plays Zappa). Needless to say Zappa holds a certain place in the soundtrack of my life. Hard to pick a favorite album for sure, but I love his jazz contributions. Love the Zappa Wazoo album.

Excellent guide -- I'm going to have to return to this to keep a lot of it straight! So not really sure what else to say besides thanks, just now. I'm pretty familiar with maybe half of the records you discuss (or just over half). Happy to hear your thoughts on those and how the others I know much less fit in.

I have everyone of them and more. It started when I was 12 with Freak Out. Jim

Fantastic video you did ! The Perfect Stranger album conducted by Pierre Boulez With a few beautiful computer pieces Superb too !