Best products from r/Zappa

Apostrophe / Over-Nite Sensation. Those are two albums (often sold as one) that were recorded in the same sessions. Over-nite hit #32 on Billboard Pop Charts in 1973, and Apostrophe hit #10 in 1974. They're his best-selling albums, and for good reason: accessible rock beats, strong guitar solos, and... I dunno. They're definitely awesome, I say this as a >20-year fan.

• http://www.amazon.com/Apostrophe-Overnite-Sensation-Frank-Zappa/dp/B00110K3BY
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-Nite_Sensation
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe_%28%27%29
  
  And it's a safe bet that if you don't hear a single thing on there that you like, the chances are you good you can turn around and move on to something else! :) So at the very least, it'll be an efficient way to figure out if you don't like his music.
  
  Perhaps that's an interesting question to discuss: if someone hated Apostrophe/Over-nite, what album(s) would you recommend they try instead?

A deluge of Zappa releases have been added to Amazon:

On November 4th:

Chicago '78 (2CD) $17.50

> This Vaulternative Records concert release finds Zappa & band at the Uptown Theater, Chicago, Ill - September 29, 1978. Of the two shows played that evening, the late show is captured here in its entirety. As you would expect, the concert delivers with a good blend of fan favorites, blistering guitar solos, audience participation, on-the-spot improvisations and stellar playing from a talented band line-up.

Little Dots (CD) $9.91

> Little Dots is the sequel to 2005's Imaginary Diseases. It features additional hand-picked selections from the Maestro himself of the 10-piece 'Petit Wazoo' tour of late 1972. Although FZ worked on this material during different time periods throughout the 70s and 80s, nothing was ever officially released. Now we get the chance to hear more from this horn-driven ensemble, featuring mammoth improvisations and unreleased compositions.

Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object (3CD) $25.64

>Uncle Meat gets the deluxe treatment in this three CD Project/Object Audio Documentary. Included is the original 1969 vinyl mix (restored, remastered and available digitally for the first time), an original sequence that includes unique source material and bonus vault tracks mostly compiled from the recording sessions at Apostolic Studios in NYC between 1967 and 1968.

On November 11th:

Lumpy Gravy (LP) $24.98

We're Only In It For The Money (LP) $24.98

Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (LP) $24.98

Weasels Ripped My Flesh (LP) $24.98

Joe's Garage (3LP) $38.98

I very rarely want to hear anyone play Zappa except Zappa himself, but I really enjoy the shit out of this. It's a group playing Zappa pieces on baroque instruments and it's just plain fucking beautiful.

Dale Brumfield emailed me today that "I will dig up that issue cover and email it to you when I restore my laptop." So I'm hoping to post it once received.

He also talked about the issue in his book, "Richmond Independent Press:: A History of the Underground Zine Scene".

His website is http://www.dalebrumfield.net/

His stated area of expertise is "Literary & Digital Archaeology". I so want to be a digital archaeologist. Truly that sounds like a perfect job. :)

I’d recommend one of the recent big box sets! They’re great and if he doesn’t already have them, make pretty awesome gifts!

Roxy Performance

Zappa in New York 40th

Growing Up Zappa filled in all the blanks for me. After that, Frank didn't seem as mysterious anymore, which is a good thing, imo, because I spent about 20 years trying to figure out how he got to be so awesome.

The Real Frank Zappa book is a favorite I will read again and probably again in the future. That's a great place to start. Growing Up Zappa would be a good second book.

I think the rest of the books are more speculative and sometimes probably fiction depending on the author, but these two are worth owning for sure.

I thought is was interesting that "Pop Culture Historian" Michael Walker, who wrote the book on Laurel Canyon, pulls out Absolutely Free, with its collage cover artwork by FZ, and claims to not know of any collage artwork by FZ.

Mother Mary and Joseph, he is holding it in his hand!

He very well could have said that and they edited it out, but why would they do that? Anyway, nice to see GZ on TV.

The interesting thing about the Dub Room Special is that it's compiled from performances from both 1974 and 1981. The 1974 performances were originally filmed and edited for a TV special that got aired once or twice in Europe, and the 1981 stuff was broadcast live from the Palladium on MTV. Both programs are available in their non-combined iterations. I much prefer them that way, but there's unique stuff in each version, so they're all worth watching. The original edit of the 1974 stuff wasn't officially available until recently.

1974

1981

It looks bleak on that front. Check some reviews at Amazon - the 2 enthusiastic comments are written by a troll and a nutcase. Clayson's own blurb doesn't exactly inspire confidence:

>Perhaps the most original and adventurous of twentieth century composers, Varese remains both a figurehead and grey eminence of modern music. Me? I have to be in a specific mood for Varese's music, but when I am, I find it a real cool way-out sound. That's my perspective. However, if, after purchase of a Varese album, you think he's a load of old rubbish, don't come crying to me.

My favorite Sneaky Pete

https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Ruben-Jets-Frank-Zappa/dp/B01M06KYJR/ref=sr_1_21?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1474516500&sr=1-21&keywords=frank+zappa+vinyl&refinements=p_n_binding_browse-bin%3A387647011

This.