FZ has a gazillion albums, so it's very overwhelming to "find" him. Plus if you hear the "wrong" album first, you can get totally turned off to the FZ experience. This is a handy guide to finding Zappa. Get albums in this order:

Hot Rats, 1969
I walked into Tower Records (dating myself) and heard the most amazing music blasting overhead. Peaches en Regalia is the most known song, but the highlight of the album is 13-minute The Gumbo Variations. Epic, and you'll be hooked.

Over-Nite Sensation, 1973
While Hot Rats is the best jazz-styled album, Over-Nite Sensation is his best rock album.

Apostrophe, 1974
Over-Nite Sensation's brother; it was recorded during the same sessions.

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2, The Helsinki Concert 1974
Time to go LIVE. Taken from a few concerts in 1974, which is probably his most dynamic touring era. You will be amazed at the band's precision.

Chunga's Revenge, 1970
Very under-rated rock album in my opinion. Features former Turtles members Flo and Eddie (So Happy Together fame). Seems like an odd mix, but the album has kick-ass instrumentals and the gorgeous ballad Sharleena.

Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, 1972
Itching for more jazz-influenced music ala Hot Rats, get both these albums at the same time. Nothing will compare to Hot Rats, but it's as close as we can get.

Zoot Allures, 1976
Zappa's attempt at making a straight-forward rock album. Minimal stunts, but still solid music.

Roxy & Elsewhere, 1974
Another live album.

Sheik Yerbouti, 1979
You want Yo Mama and a few other cooky jams. Not necessary album, but definitely enjoyable.

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From this point, you should feel confident branching out on your own. I'm still digging through his posthumous albums.

Notable individual tunes that you should possess:

Zomby Woof, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 - best live version

My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 & Weasels Ripped Off my Flesh. Get both versions.

Muffin Man, Baby Snakes video




Stevie's Spanking, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
Steve Vai on "stunt guitar".

Ship Ahoy, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
Mesmerizing sounds. I wish it kicked into high gear at the end though.

Florentine Pogen, The Dub Room Special
Posthumous album from Zappa; good tunes throughout. F.Pogen is the gem.

Billy the Mountain - The Carnegie Solos, Carnegie Hall (album)
You needed to be there in person to enjoy the wacky story wrapped around the jam. Do yourself a favor and go straight to the "solos" section.

And then go here: http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=50
Learn Torrent, find SBD or Aud A, and download away. You'll find Zappa really made an effort to officially release his best stuff, but you can find some amazing gems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa_discography

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notable omissions:

One Size Fits All, 1975
Better versions of Inca Roads amd Florentine Pogen can be found, so you'd only be getting this for Po-Jama People, San Ber'dino, and Andy.

Joe's Garage, 1975
Just not a fan. If you find it too soon, it will turn you off to Zappa.

Any "Guitar" album
Just snippets of live songs. Do yourself a favor and find the entire live tracks.

Great list - Hot Rats is definitely the place I tell people to start. One of my favorite albums of all time.

@AllForYourDelight said:

@JOBOOZOSO said:

One Size Fits All, 1975
Better versions of Inca Roads amd Florentine Pogen can be found, so you'd only be getting this for Po-Jama People, San Ber'dino, and Andy.

Can you direct me to the "better versions" of Inca Roads.

The first notes of the solo on one size fits all changed the course of music for my entire life, phish wouldn't have happened with out Inca Roads for me.

YCDTOSA volume 2, Helsinki concerts

Also go to http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=50
I found these Inca Roads: 9/25/74, 10/29/74, 3/11/73, 10/26/73, 10/1/74 E
9/25/74 is awesome, although the vocals is a bit askew (don't listen through headphones). Early Inca roads actually started SLOW with an intro from George Duke. Not as good as the fast version, but neat to hear its origins.

Sadly you can't hear the 6/25/73 version cause it's missing a huge portion of the SBD. Damn it!!! Still get that entire show cause it's stupid good.

Forgot this hidden gem: Bognor Regis

http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3379

It was recorded during Hot Rats sessions. Zappa could have farted in the microphone during those sessions and it would have sounded like gold.

I guess it would be Sugar Cane Harris?

Thanks OP for giving the love to Chunga's Revenge. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Phlo and Eddie years.

@careful_w_that_axe_Miller said:

@JOBOOZOSO, clip is awesome. Have never really listened to Zappa

thumbs up

Consensus says strap in and listen to Hot Rats.

It will change your musical tastes forever.

@Hugger said:

Thanks for the link, listening now. Do you know if this is SCH or JLP?

Guy from forum writes: The drummer is probably Jon Guerin, the violinist is sure Don Harris, and there are also probably Max Bennett on the bass and Ian Underwood. Oh, of course there's FZ!

http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=46681#46681

@YorkvilleBeerLover said:

I think Just another band from LA can be added to this list...i mean rutabaga...rutabagaaaaaaaaaa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbwcBR1y4iQ

Oh wow man. Ha ha ha truly enjoyed that on so many levels.

Couldn't find over night sensation, found this and it's really fascinating.
Mr. Zappa is obviously very gifted, extremely intelligent.




The sounds he is creating in this are crazy. Really cool stuff

I'm gonna try to find apostrophe

Down in De Dew from Lather is a good single track to check out. One of Frank's funkier solos.

Here's a article that talks about Frank's jazz stuff
http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-the-jazzy-side-of-frank-zappa

Yes

Here's another recommendation for those interested in Frank's instrumental/guitar playing side:

http://www.zappa.com/fz/discography/1996fzplaysthemusicoffz.html

I highly recommend this as it explores 3 of Frank's personal favorite guitar pieces:

Black Napkins
Zoot Allures
Watermelon In Easter Hay

Get the CD! It has some great cover art!

Wow. Totally blown away by this fine artist.

Just heard several songs on Zappa radio and in each song I hear bands I love, from Floyd to Maiden and of course the gentleman from VT. Plays a "big" guitar, is that because his sound is turned up higher than the rest of the effects?

Please post more music.

@careful_w_that_axe_Miller said:

Wow. Totally blown away by this fine artist.

Just heard several songs on Zappa radio and in each song I hear bands I love, from Floyd to Maiden and of course the gentleman from VT. Plays a "big" guitar, is that because his sound is turned up higher than the rest of the effects?

Please post more music.

If you haven't listened to Joe's Garage Acts I, II, and III yet, you need to. What an incredible concept album. Zappa has many really high quality studio albums, but you should check out some live stuff too. You can't go wrong with these official releases Philly '76 (full show from 10.29.76), and Buffalo (full show from 10.25.80, one of the hottest shows from one of his hottest tours). Below are some links to some stellar shows in varying quality over at zappateers.com (you'll need to make an account before the links will work properly).

5.8.74 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=25631 (SBD, decent quality, ridiculous show)
5.23.75 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=22449 (SBD, good quality)
2.15.78 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=23764 (SBD, good)
3.19.79 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=21261 (SBD, good/great)
5.24.80 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=18518 (SBD, great)
11.17.81 http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=22351 (FM, good)

I know that's alot, but its all so f***in' good.

There are lots of good AUD's out there too, just figured I'd give ya all SBD's to get your toes wet.

@JOBOOZOSO, dude thank you I don't got a computer,

the Zappa radio over there is pretty awesome but I have no idea what I'm hearing. I love hearing good music man, nothing quite like it. Zappa is/was truly gifted.

@AugustWest2001 said:

Op, give joes garage another chance, it may grow on you. ...and I hate to bust your balls, but act 1 was released in '79.

I know - typo on my end - can't edit post after 5 minutes

There's two more errors if you really want to bust my balls

One is Zappa error, the other is non-Zappa error.

@AugustWest2001 said:

@JOBOOZOSO said:

@AugustWest2001 said:

Op, give joes garage another chance, it may grow on you. ...and I hate to bust your balls, but act 1 was released in '79.

I know - typo on my end - can't edit post after 5 minutes

There's two more errors if you really want to bust my balls

One is Zappa error, the other is non-Zappa error.

what are your favorite shows, bro? Without over-thinking it Appleton '69, Passiac '73, Pistoria '82 & Des Moines '84 are my favorites.

I'm still digging through the live stuff. I've downloaded a bunch of SBD and Aud A at zappateers, but I still need to listen. I've heard all of the "x"'s. I'm very fond of the 6/25/73.

my FZ shows

btw, I live 25 minutes from Willy P., Passaic.

Great thread. While we're here, another favorite cd of mine is "Piquantique", containing material from a concert in Sweden in '73, and officially released as part of the Beat the Boots series. During the last track, "Farther O'blivion", Jean Luc-Ponty's violin solo contains a melody that sounds *almost* like the main melody to "Slave To The Traffic Light". Pretty cool.

Zappa Family Trust just sold music rights for a bunch of stuff to Spotify (prob other sites as well)! So it's becoming more widely available now I'd say.

Just go listen to anything he did. You can't listen to it all anyway.
They say if one accomplishes this in a life time the person will be permanently mentally unstable.