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I actually have a habit of doing the same exact thing when I am getting into a particular artist or band.
I usually go over and over certain songs I like on my favorite albums, until I memorize all the lyrics and I'm able to anticipate all the different chord structure/changes and riffs (by heart).
The music of Frank Zappa is what eventually led me to listen to Captain Beefheart, so for that I'm very grateful! However, I think the Captain has definitely got to be my choice here.
Zappa has some astonishingly good music, but wow, there is so much of it. It seemed like literally every idea he ever had went into a record somewhere. I found the vast stack of material quite intimidating, and difficult to perform any kind of quality control on! All I know is that the best songs I heard from him are on the Hot Rats album, and my favourite on there is probably Willie the Pimp, which is made great by Captain Beefheart.
A couple of my favourite Zappa songs
Willie the Pimp
Camarillo Brillo
Tryin' to Grow a Chin
Strictly Genteel
A couple of my favourite Beefheart songs
Big Eyed Beans From Venus
Odd Jobs
Safe as Milk
Moonlight on Vermont
Tropical Hotdog Night
A lot of music started to seem quite bland in comparison after listening to either of these 2 legendary musicians though. They've both contributed a lot to my adoration of the music I listen to.
I don't feel the same way as I never felt the target of his ridicule or boasts. Rather, it was always something I enjoyed from him. I can certainly imagine why someone might be bothered by it though. It's obvious that the guy had high thoughts about himself!
I feel like Beefheart may be the more interesting avant-gardist of the two, but that Zappa is the more interesting person, rock musician, jazz musician, comedian, producer and more. Overall, I have more love for Zappa.
^ In the end, I guess Zappa just wouldn`t be Zappa without the sense of humour. Here, for instance, he uses it to wonderful effect, even though he is outnumbered and under attack in a debate about freedom of speech. It`s a joy to watch how well he argues his case:-
Is he, against his own advice, wearing brown shoes ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dolokhov
Zappa has some astonishingly good music, but wow, there is so much of it. It seemed like literally every idea he ever had went into a record somewhere. I found the vast stack of material quite intimidating, and difficult to perform any kind of quality control on! . All I know is that the best songs I heard from him are on the Hot Rats album, and my favourite on there is probably Willie the Pimp, which is made great by Captain Beefheart.
For me, this question boils down to "Hot Rats and We're Only In It for the Money vs. Trout Mask Replica", as I know little else about the artists (except that Zappa's children have awesome names) and the rest of their catalogs.
Gotta go with Zappa here too .. The man was a genius. On popular albums like Over-nite Sensation, every song is a wealth of musical ideas and Zappa was that rare kind of person who was not only amazingly creative, funny and charming, but he could write all those ideas down on paper and find people supremely skilled enough to play his compositions. His music is engaging (much more so than Beefheart's for me) and the guy was hilarious.
Here's a funny fact. Tina Turner and the Ikettes did backing vocals for Over-Nite Sensation .. For an interesting example, listen to their contribution on Montana just after about 3:20 minutes in.
edit :
The lyrics for their part might be hard to catch up on. Here they are :
I'm pluckin' the ol' Dennil Floss
That's growin' on the prairie
Pluckin' the floss!
I plucked all day an' all nite an' all Afternoon...
I'm ridin' a small tiny hoss
(His name is MIGHTY LITTLE)
He's a good hoss
Even though He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
Anyway
I'm pluckin' the ol' Dennil Floss
Even if you think it is a little silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks
Haha, the 1st time I heard this I was about 17 and I actually thought the voices were instead some strange
musical instrument.
Oh, Frank Zappa for sure. Although Trout Mask Replica has probably affected me more than any individual Zappa album, taken as a whole, Zappa is my man. He has such variety and although the albums aren't always great they are almost always interesting. Even if it's just to see what direction he takes an idea in, I find it completely worth it. He was also the first guitarist I found interesting based on how they played the instrument, which just doesn't happen very much for me.
I need more exposure to Beefheart but I can't imagine him beating out my love of Zappa.
I like Zappa more as a person, but I love Beefheart's music MUCH more, especially Trout Mask Replica. TMR, like it or not, completely flipped the musical universe upon its head.
I feel sorry that people interpret Don as such an egotistical individual -- he was truly gifted creatively but seriously could not give a damn what others saw in him.
If Trout Mask Replica was recorded with HALF the technical expertise that's exercised in common practice today it would have had an even more momentous impact (as far as general exposure goes).
I love them both to their deaths...I am extremely happy I got exposed to Zappa as a child and happier still that I got to experience Beefheart before he died.
But I will never, EVER question why Beefheart made the choice he did in 1982 (setting aside the world of music permanently) -- he was clearly plagued by terrible inner demons that nobody here could ever fully appreciate. That he had the wherewithal enough to choose life is for me something I wholeheartedly endorse.
Linear Mode
