The albums of Frank Zappa

[@ericarmstrong6540]

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.

[@splankhoon]

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.

[@paulmcquillan1827]

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.

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

Great point about Zappa as an introduction to a wider world of music. That list of influences on Freak Out was a source of investigation for me. Nobody else openly acknowledged their influences (maybe the Beatles with Indian music, but how many folks followed up on Karlheinz Stockhausen's photo on Sgt. Pepper? Zappa named names and opened up a world of music for me personally, especially in jazz and classical music).

[@robertlear2735]

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

[@thekeywitness]

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.

[@toncuz8291]

Out of dozens of guitar "heroes"...there are about maybe five that understand how to produce a storyline...intro, body, variation on the theme, return to theme and outro. Vai is not one of them. Jumping from fret position to fret position, or register to register, is a mere tactic to sound interesting when you can't really put together a cohesive or congruent "story". Zappa, Holdsworth, Santana...had that. Technical is fun sometimes, but musicality COUNTS.

[@Draxtor]

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

[@davewaterford281]

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!

[@Darrylizer1]

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!

[@richardigglesden8193]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Happy to help

[@danu6718]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@danu6718]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer "Music is the best" Thanks for the great reviews and content. I enjoy this channel very much. 😊👍

[@Captain_Rhodes]

great video. You really know your zappa. very comprehensive

[@billkeon880]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks

[@zorglubmagnus455]

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

[@vvblues]

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.

[@marcviscovi4689]

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.

[@juanquintana6070]

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.

[@AndyGrazianoNYC]

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

[@timhutton6802]

This is an amazing video Andy. I'm a longtime massive Zappa fan but with nowhere near as comprehensive a knowledge of ALL his albums as you obviously have - you've got the same love for my particular favourites but have given me a renewed enthusiasm to examine some of the gaps in my knowledge of some of his output. Thanks for such a thorough and lovingly critiqued guide!

[@jamesstoltzfus887]

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.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

🤘

[@somedude3443]

Just found your channel a few days ago, and I gotta say, listening to your rants about music gives me life. And I also gotta say, I want my hair back, you bastard!! 😝 Love from Canada, eh?

[@stevemaddison8567]

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.

[@mikec6733]

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

[@ganazby]

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

[@PhilBaird1]

'Fun and colour' is a good reminder of a point that Andy made. Without the humour and satire Frank's music might not have been so accessible and enjoyable. He nearly always entertained the audience, and when he didn't the magic was sometimes lost.

[@brkly99]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks....so many albums it was a hard task to undertake...

[@robertlear2712]

Burnt Weeny Sandwich is my favorite Zappa album

[@eugenesteenhuisen4065]

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.

[@Palmpilotusmc29]

Yet another great video!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joewilley8818]

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

[@SwampEye1]

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 --

[@MrWaterpumpkin]

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!

[@patrickhogue8790]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have a top ten albums and a video that looks deeper into One Size Fits All....

[@stuartraybould6433]

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. 👌👍

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

what did you think to my top ten Zappa albums?

[@stuartraybould6433]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I think I made a comment, I'll check and probably watch that again too. 👍

[@stankatic8182]

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 ! ) .

[@Warp75]

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.

[@davenatale850]

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

[@wk4max]

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

[@johnmccorry7536]

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.

[@cgmahony]

Call it Sleep blew my mind too. I love your take in your videos Andy. Love Zappa too.

[@gforce4063]

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

[@demonsbutterfly]

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

[@IanCross-xj2gj]

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

[@deanjonasson6776]

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 KZbin 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!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I will be returning to Zappa quite soon

[@DougEvans]

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. ; )

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Doug...I appreciate this

[@DougEvans]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer You're welcome Andy! I just found your channel and have I'm looking forward to going through so many more videos. Just finished "The Ten Greatest Jazz Fusion Albums," So great! I feel like I'm in a music appreciation class back at college. I'm actually scribbling notes, pausing the video, exploring the albums I'm not familiar with, then those that are similar. It's been really enjoyable and I've only been here for 1 day. ; ) With that, thanks again!

[@dennismason3740]

I owned a Gerrard record player 1973-1976 and I amassed 99 record albums. I made about 200 bucks a month selling weed, which paid the rent and food stamps filled the bill. I owned 3 Zappa albums (3 out of 99 is quite a compliment) from your list Weasels, Hot Rats and I forget the other.

[@johnunderwood3132]

I have 32 vinyls of Zappa. I just love it! And thanks for your videos I really enjoy listening

[@PatKennedydon]

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

[@billdubilier]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Jimmy Carl famously said Beefheart was the real deal...I would have loved to find out what he meant by that

[@reidwhitton6248]

He meant Beefheart was the genuine avant garde artist. Painter, sculptor, intuitive musical artist. Zappa was influenced by the avant garde (Varese, Stockhausen, Boulez, etc.) and used his knowledge and skill to synthesize many different styles into his own thing. At least that's the impression I got when Jimmy talked about this. But Zappa did it so well that it never feels half baked. The music sounds perfectly natural no matter what styles are being fused together.

[@olaf1191]

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

[@chasmj3268]

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.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

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

[@miketasker5661]

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.

[@flamingroove]

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.

[@sweavenger]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Of course...there is no drop off the stage at the RAH!

[@PhilBaird1]

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.

[@Gregorypeckory]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

That was a great chat

[@MrStrawberry86]

Loved watching this, loved hearing how you got into him and how mind blowing it was. I was so obsessed with Zappa for most of my 20s and theres no doubt to me hes the ultimate musical mastermind of the 20th century. Sadly I was born too late to see Frank live but ive seen dweezil and the zappa plays zappa band live several times. One time I actually went to hollywood to see them perform in the roxy, ray white was performing with them at the time. I saw them three nights in a row and its was a different set list each night and they played billy the mountain in its entirety each night. I got to speak to dweezil and the band and even met Gail Zappa there, I have a picture of me with dweezil and gale. Its one of my most special memories. Anyway great video, always love to hear talk about frank

[@douglasanderson8636]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

best comment of the day.....

[@michaelthompson6857]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregoryg3256]

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

[@carlosdavidrolon7653]

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!!

[@vladrad4008]

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.

[@robertlear2712]

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

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

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.

[@billphelps5611]

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!

[@paulreuben7343]

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

[@simonsimon325]

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.

[@ferleiva7080]

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.

[@kevinogracia1615]

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.

[@davidedwards2477]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for that David

[@peterfitton4529]

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.

[@Bassdriver]

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.

[@stefanredin854]

Wonderful! 👏👏👏👏❤️

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thank you! 😊

[@davecollins1048]

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.

[@erikheddergott5514]

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.

[@inlikeflynt56]

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

[@wagstaff6135]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thank...that was my hope.

[@glennmccudden8574]

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.

[@dennismason3740]

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.

[@bert0522]

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

[@larsjohansson7954]

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.

[@christianevans4449]

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.

[@jeffreybarton1297]

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 😄

[@jdrodi]

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.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I did so I did a whole video on that one

[@jdrodi]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Nice. I'll go check that one out!

[@guillaumechabason3165]

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

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...the computer pieces are interesting on there. I like the orchestral stuff more than the LSO too. I would have got more into albums like that but the video would have been 3 hours long!

[@guillaumechabason3165]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer you did an amazing didactic presentation of Zappa discography I was moved by your signed postcard I also saw him only once in 1988 in Paris The best concert I ever saw two weeks after a jaw dropping Vinnie clinic ! The 200 motels concert in Paris at the Philharmonie in 2018 was even more fantastic

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

@@guillaumechabason3165 You saw him a few weeks after me then...yes what an amzing show that was. Thanks for your kind comments

[@a.b.6233]

Thanks for watching? Are you crazy? Thank you for this video, just subscribed.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for the sub!

[@benwatson8244]

This is a really GREAT intro to the albums, all the better for being personal (i.e. not boring). Your drummer's ear cuts across the genre boundaries and allows such insightful remarks - your comparisons to Schwitters, Ellington, Orff; Bozzio and Vai "upping the compositional density"; harmony is a vibration, so rhythmical; a maverick in opposition to the whole thing; Shut Up being on a par with A Love Supreme! Also, crucially, that Zappa wasn't the cynic seen by the contemporary UK rock press, but down to earth, an enemy of pretension. Got other things to say, but don't want to weigh down the comments. Just sorry it took me two years to find this. PS And you knew Ian Stonehouse of the Goldsmiths EMS in Wolverhampton! Wish I'd been there to witness two great independent minds in collision ...

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Rhank you Ben

[@Rog5446]

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.

[@larseirikmrk6380]

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

[@furuaas]

I didn’t hear you mention that Orchestral favorites have instrumental versions of tunes from 200 Motels. It’s very interesting to compare the two. Magnificent talk through his albums. I started with 200 Motel’s when that first came out and have followed him since. Very interesting to dig into a big artist like him. It’s been over 50 years! We have some of the same favorites 😊.

[@RobertVeasquez]

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.

[@duster71]

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.

[@TimothyJBerry]

Very informative video.Thank you.

[@kieranstewart2292]

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

[@kennethdias9988]

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

[@finylvinyl66]

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.

[@berryhamstra7782]

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

[@sdgakatbk]

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

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

Terrific video, Andy. I loved Uncle Meat, Burnt Weenie Sandwich and Weasels. I saw Zappa live several times with Flo and Eddie, George Duke and the uneven band with Jim Gordon and Chester Thompson. Ian Underwood started with Only In It for the Money. Zappa's line ups were always extraordinary-Billy Mundi and especially Art Tripp and Roy Estrada and Don Preston (who played acoustic bass for Nat King Cole!) and Bunk Gardner were excellent musicians (Zappa's main problem with Gardner was that Gardner wouldn't play funky sax; Zappa singled out Dick Heckstall-Smith as a sax player he loved). But, apart from Roxy and Elsewhere, up until Bongo Fury, the music was good but not as aggressive as Zappa's earlier work. I didn't enjoy Apostrophe and One Size Fits All when they came out, but they have grown on me. I loved Zappa's rough edges. One note on the Flo and Eddie and Bongo Fury bands. They were not captured well on record. The Flo and Eddie band did a jaw dropping version of Cruising for Burgers, and Zappa's guitar work on the Bongo Fury tour, for me, surpassed Fripp at the time. As you said, Zappa was a master improviser. I was astonished by his invention on guitar. I didn't know Beefheart was on the tour, but this was Beefheart's attempt at a comeback after the ill advised Mercury albums. Beefheart allegedly had to audition three times to make the Mothers for that tour; so really Zappa was helping out Beefheart, and Tom Fowler left Zappa for Beefheart for Beefheart's next band (which didn't have a dedicated bass player). Zappa was restless. That's one of his positives, I think.

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

To clarify, I knew Beefheart was in the Bongo Fury Band when I saw the band live; I didn't know he was in the band when I bought my ticket! I had sort of isolated myself from music when I got my first job and saw Zappa was playing and just wanted to see Zappa. I actually saw the Blue jeans and Moonbeams tour when I was in England (my mother was a from Liverpool) in 1974-very disappointing. (Henry Cow opened and that made the concert definitely worthwhile!)

[@vincentwojdacki7346]

What can I say? I never saw Frank lieder live. I was born 72 ... My first record was Joe's Garage 1 & 2. Had loaned me a friend. Then I went out and bought my first Zappa disc: The Grand Wazoo! What a shock! Completely different music! I thought it was great and that's how the journey began.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thats the same story over and over, get one Zappa album, and it's a amazing, then buy another, completely different but still amazing. What other artists can you say that about...and they are all Zappa