I got into Zappa and a few years ago and bought Hot Rats and Roxy and Elsewhere and really dug them. After not listening to him for a while and getting deeper into jazz and classical I thought my tastes might have changed and I wouldn't be able to get back into his stuff. I was surprised then that Hot Rats sounds just as good now as when I first listened to it. I like more of his instrumental or serious work as opposed to his funny/novelty records like 'Bobby Brown goes down' but overall, it's good he was eclectic and most supremely prolific. What do people think of his classical side? I've read his biography and know he was really influenced by Varese, but is it apparent in his work.

Not only was he a good composer but I think he was a great guitarist. People always say he could only improvise over a couple of chord changes or he wrote parts too difficult for him to play live but he had a really unique voice in his solos and wasn't afraid to take chances and sound bad occasionally. Any musician who's played any of his songs will know how hard they are with constant time changes and fast unison runs between instruments.

So is anyone else on here fans of the Zappa? What records of his should I get next?

I am thinking of maybe the Grand Wazoo or Apostrophe or maybe one of the compilation CD's like You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore. His Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar box set looks good but I can't find it anywhere. Also' why are most of his CD's so expensive. I'd buy more, but if every CD is over £10 it seems like a rip off. Same with Brian Eno.

Apostrophe' is entertaining, and I think it's available c/w the terrific Overnite Sensation.
If you desire a challenge, try to get your head round Jazz From Hell.
As for Eno, I downloaded the Neroli album for the price of one track from Amazon.

ive never really gotten into zappa, but when i do listen to his stuff i dig it.

I didn't even know this thread was here.

Argus - check out his earlier stuff too. Uncle Meat is a double album (when it was vinyl) and contained an earlier slower version of "Son of Mr. Green Genes" that features beautiful, if quirky, vocals. It's really hard to find though.

My favorite Zappa album is One Size fits All. It's loaded with a lot of the silliness you expect from Zappa - but in all seriousness it;s one of the best progressive rock albums I've ever heard. (He would probably have hated me calling it that.) There are two versions of a piece called "Sofa" that features one of the more lyrical melodies anyone has ever written. "Sofa No.2" is the same melody with comic German vocals done in unbelievably epic harmonies. The rest of the album is chock full of impossible rhythms and amazing musical acrobatics.

I do not recommend Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar. It is guitar solos only. To me they don't work as well out of context. For the completist only.