Zappa in High Resolution / Need Recommendations

[The Computer Audiophile]

I see that Zappa has some albums out in high resolution and I'm trying to get into it. I know he is highly respected by many of my friends, so I want to like it. 

 

Question: What's the most accessible Zappa album(s)?

[DuckToller]

Sheik Yerbouti & Joe's Garage as a start, Poppy Grungy Zappa ...

[The Computer Audiophile]

I'm listening to Apostrophe(') right now. Really cool sound that's for sure. The lyrics are a bit strange though.

[christopher3393]

Hi Chris. The lyrics are almost always a bit strange. Lots of dark humor. Personally, I love it, but not for everyone.

 

You might consider Hot Rats. The Wiki description is pretty accurate.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Rats

 

Some will consider this less accessible, but given your acquired taste for jazz it just might hit the spot. YMMV.

 

 

 

 

 

[DuckToller]

Innit for the music? The lyrics? or the money? Listen to the guitar solo on watermelon in easter hay

[DuckToller]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We're_Only_in_It_for_the_Money?wprov=sfla1

[botrytis]

Frank is considered to be one of the greatest Avant Garde composer/musician ever.

 

He thought of lyrics and vocals as instruments also. Why there is a rhythm and flow to the vocals like they were.

 

As far as accessibility - Try Dweezil Zappa playing Frank Zappa. There is an explanation there that is very useful.

[botrytis]

I find that Danny Elfman is also in that style. Another interesting composer/musician.

[AnotherSpin]

I believe Apostrophe, Over-Nite Sensation or One Size Fits All are good to start. Joe's Garage (all three parts) is very good. Bongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart) is excellent. Zappa in New York, Sheik Yerbouti. Zappa recorded a lot of albums, especially after he decided to run his own recording label and was pushed to publish as much, as he can to maintain sales. As a whole 70s were his best years, imo.

 

[sphinxsix]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Question: What's the most accessible Zappa album(s)?

 

For accessibility I'd try 'Broadway the Hard Way' 'Man from Utopia' 'Does Humor Belong in Music' (with video optionally). 

 

My god I realized Zappa is out in hi-res and not compressed earlier today and I'm asking myself - what to do with this fact.? 

I'm a fan and he's recorded a lot..!!! (just promised myself to definitely slow down with getting new music )

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Don’t forget the HDtracks 20% off code CA20HD :~)

[ssh]

The box set "Shut Up And Play Your Guitar" is a great start.

 

 

[sphinxsix]

 

Love his mustache in HDTracks ad.. 

..on prostudiomasters the prices are lower though, even taking into account the 20% discount..

 

 

[JazzDoc2]

The batch of HiRes Zappa releases are sourced from the 2012 UME remasters. Comparisons between these remasters and the 1995 Rykodisc remasters can be found at:

 

http://www.lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/vinylvscds/2012hotpoop.html

 

There is also a thread at the Steve Hoffman Forum about the new HiRes releases:

 

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/5-zappa-titles-on-hdtracks.1072676/

 

So which ones to go for? While I agree with ssh that 'Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar' is a great album, I don't think it is a good starting point. 'Apostrophe', 'Overnite Sensation' and 'One Size Fits All' would probably be good starting points as they showcase the character behind FZ's songwriting, together with dazzling musicianship. I guess that if I had to pick one album from the early period, it would have to be 'Hot Rats'. It is mostly instrumental, with Captain Beefheart's vocals on just one track. It is one of the best examples of the genre that became known as jazz/rock. Zappa's music is incredibly diverse and if you want an album that demonstrates this diversity, then I would advise getting a copy of 'Lather' on CD. It ranges from the comedy of 'Titties n Beer' to the jazz of 'The Purple Lagoon', which features solos by Michael and Randy Brecker.

 

I have heard the new HiRes releases and while some sound better than their CD counterparts, e.g. 'Joe's Garage', the difference is not night and day as the CDs sound very good. As a newbie, I would be inclined to advise you to get more for your money and invest in more of the 2012 UME CDs.

 

Whatever you choose, I hope that your journey into the musical world of Frank Zappa will be enjoyable and rewarding!

[sphinxsix]

One more accessible (fun) album, not mentioned here.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruising_with_Ruben_%26_the_Jets

 

 

[Summit]

Other, a bit less well known, albums I can recommend.  

 

 

 

 

[JazzDoc2]

'Roxy & Elsewhere' is certainly a good one although I wouldn't recommend 'Just Another Band From L.A.' or 'Cruising With Ruben & the Jets' as an introduction to FZ. The former contains 'Billy The Mountain', which is FZ's comedy take on a narrative work such as 'Peter And The Wolf'. If you want to hear Peter Wolf, go back to 'Sheik Yerbouti' or 'Joe's Garage' 😀. If you want music with a narrative storyline, check out 'The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary' from 'Lather'.

 

I listened to the 24/192 'Chunga's Revenge' this morning. I had also thought that 'The Nancy And Mary Music' was a sonic mess, although this 24/192 version seems to make more sense of it.

[samtheman57]

20 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I see that Zappa has some albums out in high resolution and I'm trying to get into it. I know he is highly respected by many of my friends, so I want to like it. 

 

Question: What's the most accessible Zappa album(s)?

I've been listening to Frank for many years, I can safely say I'm a fanatic, but I can assure you that his music is an acquired taste. You can probably divide his music into three distinct categories : Rock Band/ Orchestral Compositions/ Instrumental Guitar Jams. FZ himself said that the people who love the Orchestral, probably wouldn't like the Rock, and the people who like the Instrumental probably won't like the Orchestral. First, don't put the pressure on yourself to "like" it, there is no enjoyment in forcing anything. Having said that I would recommend trying out "Apostrophe" and "Shut Up And Play Your Guitar". To play it very safe, go with "Strictly Commercial".

 

[samtheman57]

While I'm on here, considering Zappa recorded to the highest standards, does anyone who knows these records inside and out think there is worth in buying the 192/24 versions? I just downloaded"Roxy Performances" and they sound amazing at 44/16, I can't imagine them getting clearer and cleaner.

[AnotherSpin]

1 hour ago, samtheman57 said:

While I'm on here, considering Zappa recorded to the highest standards, does anyone who knows these records inside and out think there is worth in buying the 192/24 versions? I just downloaded"Roxy Performances" and they sound amazing at 44/16, I can't imagine them getting clearer and cleaner.

 

The answer to your question depends on personal subjective preferences and the characteristics of your audio system. For me, 16-44 is quite enough, however someone will be satisfied with 24-192 only. I would pay attention to the other thing instead of this. The original LPs in the mid-70s sounded not the same. For example, Over-Nite Sensation had better sound than Apostrophe, which was slightly muffled to my ears. Whether the clarity has been improved now would be more important. Didn't listen new Apostrophe version yet, hope it sounds better now.

[samtheman57]

18 hours ago, AnotherSpin said:

While I'm on here, considering Zappa recorded to the highest standards, does anyone who knows these records inside and out think there is worth in buying the 192/24 versions? I just downloaded"Roxy Performances" and they sound amazing at 44/16, I can't imagine them getting clearer and cleaner.

I have spent years tweaking my system, and recent upgrades include my HD Streamer using balanced outputs, NSF Clear line AC Optimizer, a decent power conditioner by Furman, and a Khozmo Acoustic Passive Pre, as well as ADAM T7V monitors. I heard Apostrophe on a high end system for the time (uh, a bit under the influence) with a Marantz receiver and amp and AR speakers. It blew my mind and changed my life. I became a true FZ fanatic. Anyway, all that to sat I stuck my foot in the water, and to my ears, and many years, the 192/24 version is definitive. Another Spin, I get the muffled effect on prior versions, I can hear all details much more clearly, especially, misheard lyrics. Down the rabbit hole I go.

 

[AnotherSpin]

38 minutes ago, samtheman57 said:

I have spent years tweaking my system, and recent upgrades include my HD Streamer using balanced outputs, NSF Clear line AC Optimizer, a decent power conditioner by Furman, and a Khozmo Acoustic Passive Pre, as well as ADAM T7V monitors. I heard Apostrophe on a high end system for the time (uh, a bit under the influence) with a Marantz receiver and amp and AR speakers. It blew my mind and changed my life. I became a true FZ fanatic. Anyway, all that to sat I stuck my foot in the water, and to my ears, and many years, the 192/24 version is definitive. Another Spin, I get the muffled effect on prior versions, I can hear all details much more clearly, especially, misheard lyrics. Down the rabbit hole I go.

 

 

Speaking about Apostrophe, most detailed I heard it was with good Noble Audio earphones... I've been going backward with my audio system simplifying and minimizing it step by step for some time. Now I have a less refined or sophisticated sound, what allows me to focus more on music. 🙂

[Kimo]

As I understand it, these new high resolution remasters were sourced from DSD transfers circa 2012 or so. 

 

Any reason to go with 24/192 vs. 24/96?  Won't I just be getting more noise?

 

BTW, I cued up Apostrophe along side the CD version, and it appears to have a tad less compression.  I wonder how flat these sources may be as compared with the CDs, as a whole.

[sphinxsix]

As for more... I'm sorry, I just can't use the word 'conventional' in relation to Zappa  

..well - simply jazz-rock, I'd join those who recommended 'Hot Rats' (issued also as a 6CD 'Sessions' box) and "Grand Wazoo' (live version - 'Wazoo' appeared on the market at some point).

Great stuff!

[JazzDoc2]

Another batch of Frank Zappa HiRes downloads has been released today as follows:

 

Absolutely Free (24-192)
Bongo Fury (24-192)
Burnt Weeny Sandwich (24-192)
Chicago '78 (24-96)
Halloween 81 (24-96)

The Mothers 1970 (24-96)

Zappa In New York (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (24-96)

 

Qobuz Live with Ahmet Zappa and Joe Travers