Confessions Of An Unashamed Frank Zappa Fan

Recently, WFMU's Beware Of The Blog had a post about Frank Zappa. The writer is trying gently to convert the Zappa Hater into appreciating his music. I think that anyone who tries to redeem Zappa in the ears of the skeptic deserves a hand. It's not an easy task. People have too many social hang ups in their lives to let go of before they can accept it. Whenever Zappa comments on the behaviors of humans in his lyrics, there's usually a bunch of people that find it to be objectionable or in bad taste. I find that a lot of these Zappa Haters are guilty of drawing very specific lines around what they like and get to a point in life where they can go no further in exploring their tastes. It's like the kid who hates vegetables and stubbornly refuses to eat them into adulthood. They become stale in their various tastes and end up on a sort of virtual desert island. I am generalizing a bit, but that's the point. Zappa is generalized by almost everybody. Something that is often missing from any music is humor. What's wrong with a laugh in a song? We all could use a laugh, can't we? So you don't think it's funny and you hate it? Would you rather have all humor be safe like Jerry Seinfeld?
Let's start with the music that Zappa Haters love to hate. I've noticed that even so called "hip" minded music fans can appreciate the dedication and skill that Zappa has used to craft his compositions, but cannot get over the "Politically Incorrectness" of his lyrics. People can tolerate musicians who write shitty love lyrics, but a song about an Enema Bandit (which is a true story), noooooo! Kirk Cameron hates Frank Zappa just like you do.
THING FISH is probably the most offensive album in the Zappa catalog. Seems like everybody in the world gets all uncunted when the album is merely mentioned. This is the album that some Zappa lovers are ashamed of. He's So Gay- Frank Zappa (FLAC) Briefcase Boogie - Frank Zappa (FLAC)             While on the subject of the most hated Zappa music, why not try these:Wet T-Shirt Nite [FLAC]
  Broken Hearts Are For Assholes- Frank Zappa (FLAC)
Fine Girl - Frank Zappa (FLAC)
 I Have Been In You- Frank Zappa (FLAC)
 Do You Like My New Car?                   
Now that we've made it through those brutal perverted moments from hell, lets go for the real meat. One of the things not really touched on in the WFMU post are the fans of the jazzier side of Mr. Frank Zappa. He had some really great jams, for people who like that sort of thing. No matter what anybody says, Frank had some of the best musicians in the world. I don't mean that they had the most talent, but they were versatile and had the kind of discipline that even the most creative songwriters lack. A few of them made big names for themselves in life after Zappa. George Duke,Adrian Belew,Lowell George,Terry Bozzio,and Steve Vai come to mind. In Frank's world, the improvisation was very bandleader oriented. That is one of his less talked about talents. He really led his band like a true old school bandleader. Some of the more interesting improvisational material was based on Frank's ability to manipulate his band through hand gestures or other forms of prompting. All this of course within a constructed rehearsed piece, making it more like Mingus than, say The Grateful Dead. Eat That Question- Frank Zappa (FLAC) Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?- Frank Zappa (13.8 MB)    
Another aspect of Frank Zappa which is largely ignored by "Rock/Pop" fans are his classical pieces. Maybe it's because they never bothered to listen to them. Whenever Frank would have his "rock and roll" band play some of those tricky tunes that you have to read sheetmusic for, "Rock/Pop" fans would say "You try too hard." I for one am glad whenever anyone tries at all. I've noticed some classical fans bitch about how much Frank borrows from the earlier 20th Century Classical Composers. So what, music is there to inspire. I'd like to hear what great "original" music they've been writing lately IF THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO WRITE ANY AT ALL. How many classical composers out there today can get THEIR compositions to be heard by the wide audience that Frank had following him? HOW MANY CLASSICAL COMPOSERS TODAY CAN GET ANY AUDIENCE AT ALL? Zappa used so many references to different styles of music which turned guys like me onto music I probably wouldn't have gotten interested in. Let's face it, Frank Zappa inspired many music fans to widen their scope of listening. Now who can complain about that? Isn't that one of the primary goals of the Music Blogging Community? Questi Cazzi Di Piccione- Frank Zappa (4.3 MB) G-Spot Tornado- Frank Zappa (7.7 MB) Nite School- Mike Keneally & The Orchestra Of Our Time (7.4 MB) Selections From "Uncle Meat" (27.5 MB WINRAR File)
Here's a tune that I have sprung on various Zappa Haters, and they usually dig it. Downtown Talent Scout- Frank Zappa (5.8 MB)
I think this next one is one of my personal favorites. It's got a fairly easy to follow story that's cute and funny. I would like to see this made into a movie.
Billy The Mountain- Frank Zappa (FLAC) This is probably one of the best songs about Elvis Presley ever written by anyone. Elvis Has Just Left The Building- Frank Zappa (FLAC)
Here's some good time Zappa tunes that I would usually put on mixtapes for my friends who hadn't heard him. Mr. Green Genes/Florentine Pogen/Andy/Inca Roads- Frank Zappa (35.7 MB WINRAR FILE) Pick Me, I'm Clean- Frank Zappa (7.2 MB) Carolina Hardcore Ecstacy- Frank Zappa (8.5 MB)
How about something to offend Zappa Purists out there. Here's a bunch of tunes from the seemingly universally accepted "We're Only In It For The Money" album. Taken from the infamous 1984 REMIX/RERECORD. The drums and bass were re-recorded over 15 years later by different musicians under Frank's orders. This really pissed off his hardest core fans. They eventually re-issued the original version, which is what is available today. I'm pretty sure this REMIX/RERECORD version is out of print. The Idiot Bastard Son/Lonely Little Girl/Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance- Frank Zappa (8.5 MB) What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise)/Mother People- Frank Zappa (5 MB)
For all you bootleg fans I have a 1969 live recording of Pink Floyd playing
"Interstellar Overdrive" with Frank Zappa sitting in on guitar. Interstellar Overdrive- Pink Floyd with Frank Zappa (18.7 MB)
How about some random tracks of interest? In France (Live)- Frank Zappa (3.6 MB) Porn Wars- Frank Zappa (12.4 MB) Little House I Used To Live In- Frank Zappa (5.8 MB) Holiday In Berlin- Frank Zappa (6.5 MB) Ride Like The Wind- Frank Zappa (9.3 MB)
And lastly, we have the ultimate treasure for those who don't want to bother to listen to Frank Zappa because they hate his music so much. Here he is back in 1968 on a Pasadena, California radio station spinning records out of his collection. There's no Frank Zappa music to be heard. Lots of great old Doo Wop and R&B. Some truly great (and rare) tunes from the 1950's that he loved. Lots of beauitul stuff with an interesting peek into a "freeform" radio station 37 years ago. KPPC FM Pasadena California 1968 Part 1 (66.5 MB WINRAR File) KPPC FM Pasadena California 1968 Part 2 (90 MB WinRar File) RENEWED!!
Why not visit . Zappateers for all your Zappa Bootleg Torrents. Also visit here for more information than you probably need to know about Frank Zappa.
I just want to add that I had the great fortune of performing in a Frank Zappa cover band and I have never learned so much in such a short period of time. If you play music and you can dig Frank's style, give it a shot. Learn some of his tunes. It gives the absurdity of Frank a new twist. When you break down the music it's even more challenging than you initially thought. You find yourself struggling so hard during rehearsals to get it right. Then you realize through this haze of serious music concentration that the lyrics are beyond fucked, and it just makes a perfect match.

Josh White

I discovered Josh White when I bought one of those Hootenany Folk compilation LP's. They had an abridged version of "John Henry" that knocked me out. When I saw a few Josh White albums at The Salvation Army in Rockland, Maine I grabbed em. When Josh White was a boy, he used to hang around the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson. His version of "Strange Fruit" is one of the very best. Strange Fruit- Josh White (5.6 MB)
You Don't Know My Mind- Josh White (6 MB) Sam Hall- Josh White (4.6 MB) Good Morning, Blues- Josh White (5.3 MB) These tracks here come from a very scratchy source, but fuck it... Motherless Children- Josh White (4.9 MB) Careless Love- Josh White (3.6 MB)

Lydia Lunch & Thurston Moore

This is pretty much what you would expect of Lydia & Thurston. The best track for my money is "Done Dun". I have included all 3 tracks from the cassette release that I have.
The Crumb- Lydia Lunch & Thurston Moore (7.7 MB) Done Dun- Lydia Lunch & Thurston Moore (6.1 MB) Dead River- Lydia Lunch & Thurston Moore (3.2 MB)

The Real Richard Simmons

Listening to this record could make you sterile. Lyrics like "'Cause every mornings the key, It's either coffee or me" offer many questions to the Listener/Victim. I remember being a very young child and seeing Richard Simmons on Good Morning America wearing his little sweatsuit. He spoke as if he were a mixture of gym teacher/hairdresser and had all the qualities of a future Hollywood Squares fixture. Why not see what Richards message of the day is?
Richard Simmons - Wake Up (12'' Single) [FLAC]
{Re-Uploaded August 17, 2012}

Polyrock

I bought this record for 25 cents. Sort of that Avant-Rock-New Wave type sound. It was produced by Philip Glass and he even plays on some of it. Dig those out guitars.
Green For Go- Polyrock (5.5 MB) Go West- Polyrock (5.1 MB) No Love Lost- Polyrock (4.4 MB) Bucket Rider- Polyrock (4.4 MB) Shut Your Face- Polyrock (3.4 MB)

Jack DeJohnette

We'll start this post off by letting you know what Jack's been doing lately. He's got a brand new CD out with Bill Frisell called "The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers". It was recorded live at The Earshot Jazz Festival in 2001. The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers- Jack DeJohnette featuring Bill Frisell (16.4 MB)
Ode To South Africa- Jack DeJohnette featuring Bill Frisell (15.3 MB) Cat And Mouse- Jack DeJohnette featuring Bill Frisell (3.5 MB) Entranced Asteroids- Jack DeJohnette featuring Bill Frisell (10.9 MB) Jack gets around. He played with Miles Davis for awhile. What a time that was. Here's some of Jack with Miles from an import CD. Directions (Live 1970 Fillmore West)- Miles Davis (13.4 MB) One of the great things about the Miles Davis Phenomenon are all the great players he had that put out their own LP's. Often times they would feature other Miles alumni. "Zawinul" is one of these and it features Jack DeJohnette thumping around with Joe Zawinul and Herbie Hancock back in 1971. His Last Journey/Double Image/Arrival In New York- Joe Zawinul (22.5 MB)

Mass Murderers Who Were Nice

The film is "The Third Man" (1949) directed by Carol Reed. Harry Lime is probably one of the most likable pricks in film history. Orson Welles was born to play the mass murdering racketeer who is killed at the end of the film. Orson resurrected Harry Lime as a character for radio in 1951. In this series, Harry Lime was a hero protecting the world from villians who do awful things. It's funny because Harry Lime was a villian who did very awful things in the original film "The Third Man". It's nice to hear Orson on the radio doing his little movies for your ears. There was also a straight version of "The Third Man" done for radio in 1951 with Joseph Cotten reprising his role of Holly Martens.
Orson Welles' The Lives Of Harry Lime "A Ticket To Tangiers" (11 MB) The Lux Radio Theatre Presents: "The Third Man" with Joseph Cotten & Evelyn Keyes (24.4 MB)
Charlie Chaplin had the honor of portraying another friendly mass murderer. The former bank clerk Henri Verdoux was portrayed as a lovable romantic killer in the film "Monsieur Verdoux" (1947). He practiced the art of bigamy and mass murder in a most whimsical way. Unfortunately I have visions in my head of some schmuck getting Jim Carrey or Chevy Chase to star in a wretched Hollywood remake. Monsieur Verdoux Opening Theme/Narration- Charlie Chaplin (2MB)
Three nice old ladies killing off the lonely people in the world. I personally think these old ladies were doing the world a service. Cary Grant always hated his performance in this classic movie that was made in 1941.
From "Arsenic & Old Lace" (1944) (1.2 MB)
Can't help but think of John Waters' "Serial Mom" (1994) so I added this...
"Is this the Cocksucker residence?" from "Serial Mom" (less than a tiny little MB)