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The Sea Cat
The Sea Cat
3608 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 24, 2010, 17:30
Fascinating info! Also, would these Wizars Of Twiddly be the ones that backed Kevin Ayers a few years back ?
Deepinder Cheema
Deepinder Cheema
1972 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 24, 2010, 18:01
hedlite wrote:
Deepinder Cheema wrote:
You can also get his DVD of a 1974 TV show at KCET which is probably at his best called 'Token of my Extreme'


Where?



I have a copy somewhere, but I will try and locate one at a retailer for you.
sanshee
sanshee
1080 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 24, 2010, 18:05
I can't be bothered much with the smutty stuff either - much of which I believe existed only to upset Tipper Gore, and it worked - but it does get boring.

Anyways scroll down a tad here

http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2008/07/

About 2nd from the bottom to see what he did best. All those wonderful harmonics.

And if ye can be jiggered this is a good little show re Frank defending himself re 'smut'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9856_xv8gc&feature=PlayList&p=2CF9DF3F887632ED&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4

x
Deepinder Cheema
Deepinder Cheema
1972 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 24, 2010, 18:36
hedlite wrote:
Deepinder Cheema wrote:
You can also get his DVD of a 1974 TV show at KCET which is probably at his best called 'Token of my Extreme'


Where?



I forgot to declare that the commercial release is called the Dub Room special. The TV show from 1974 is called Token of my extreme. Some info below:

http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Frank-Zappa-The-Dub-Room-Special/3718210/product.html?cid=133635

You can get it from HMV online as well quite cheaply
hedlite
hedlite
375 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 24, 2010, 23:27
ah...ok. many thanks :) already have it.
Five
Five
960 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 25, 2010, 01:45
Kid Calamity wrote:
I don't own any Frank Zappa records. I never have, even in my younger, student previous life. 'Hot Rats', I assume is where I should be looking to hop on?


Yeah, for the lengthy semi-improvised groove-oriented pieces and the lovely short instrumentals ... depending on what you like best about that one would determine where you go from there
IanB
IanB
6761 posts

Edited Feb 25, 2010, 09:02
Re: Zappa
Feb 25, 2010, 09:01
sanshee wrote:
I can't be bothered much with the smutty stuff either - much of which I believe existed only to upset Tipper Gore, and it worked - but it does get boring.


Do you think that is why he did it? I assumed that loading up on "jokes" was how he kept getting the major label money that allowed him to do the more difficult stuff with a large and expensive band. You're not going to sell many tickets at Wembley Arena for difficult music influenced by 20th Century classical idioms but throw in some naughty words and a few guitar solos and you're away. For every "Disco Boy" Brown" a "Girl In The Mangnesium Dress". I'm not an axpert on Zappa by any means but I got the impression that he toned down the comedy once he was off Warner and out on his own.
Mr Sals
162 posts

Re: Zappa
Feb 25, 2010, 11:32
The Sea Cat wrote:
Fascinating info! Also, would these Wizards Of Twiddly be the ones that backed Kevin Ayers a few years back ?


They are indeed one and the same.
sanshee
sanshee
1080 posts

Edited Feb 25, 2010, 14:51
Re: Zappa
Feb 25, 2010, 14:38
Yeah, I'm well aware that the smut stuff was the 'least' of the dude.
Hey I'm a big enough fan, of like I say, 'the harmonics'.
Sucker for that sort of thing wherever it comes from.
And no, don't take me too literally, I don't think it was 'just' about the PMRC, although he did enjoy the scrap I'm sure.
He did do enough stuff without all the innuendo though, tunes like Montana ain't particulalry jolting, and very, very palitable, and also 'smut free' (unless Dental Floss is something I'm too naive to get).
EDIT: That tune of course is from Over Nite Sensation, which includes the awfully ribald 'Dina Moe Humm'.
:-)

x
IanB
IanB
6761 posts

Edited Feb 25, 2010, 17:25
Re: Zappa
Feb 25, 2010, 17:22
Have you seen the Zappa Plays Zappa band? I like them because they are a smut free version of FZ at his best. Not that I am a reactionary when it comes to talking about sex in public but be came off as someone who didn't especially like the thought of other people doing it. Especially stupid people. Or ugly people. Or Republicans.

Then again I thought he was a wit when I was 16 and something like "Torture Never Stops" seemed incredibly daring in the pre porn-on-tap era. I certainly appreciate him more as a composer now but the "comedy" smells to me as more like a deliberate calculated sell-out than the act of a cultural critic. Bill Hicks he ain't but as a writer and arranger of music for big bands of rock instruments he is right up there. Not an all-time American great like Mingus or Elington but a good second tier guy like Glass or Riley.
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