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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2021 17:56:26 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 18:18:51 GMT
Ah yes, I was just reading about this, thanks Martin.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2021 19:19:52 GMT
I'm prepared to give Zappa another go so that I can sample it in hi-res.
Which album will let me in most gently?
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:25:27 GMT
I think there are only 7 albums available just now with the other coming online in the next few weeks. Not sure which are the first 7 though.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2021 19:31:32 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:32:13 GMT
Ah, here we are - actually, it's 9:
Absolutely Free Burnt Weeny Sandwich Bongo Fury Chicago ’78 Zappa In New York (40th Anniversary Deluxe) Orchestral Favorites (40th Anniversary) Halloween 81 Halloween 81 Highlights The Mothers 1970 Box Set
There's no easy way in with any of those really, but maybe you should try Orchestral Favorites. Opening piece, 'Strictly Genteel' is great.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:34:05 GMT
Oh, OK that's a different list to the one I found. Go to one single track first. 'Watermelon in Easter Hay' on 'Joes Garage'
Play nothing else!
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:38:13 GMT
...and wait for the voice to finish at the beginning and TURN IT RIGHT UP!
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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2021 19:48:00 GMT
Can't find any of them in hi-res yet, despite it being 2 April.
Oh well, I played it anyway. Not bad at all, I didn't need a lie down.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2021 19:49:22 GMT
LOL - I played it at my usual volume and it's spacious and expansive and sounds very good in standard 16/44. Lovely, I could happily play that again.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:52:42 GMT
My favourite Zappa track.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 2, 2021 19:57:53 GMT
Trouble is, there is no one album that is either representative or typical. 'Apostrophe' and 'Hot Rats' are the two that are most often quoted as being the best way in, but I hesitate to suggest either. 'Overnite Sensation' would probably be the one I'd suggest, if it had to be just one album.
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Post by petea on Apr 2, 2021 20:51:04 GMT
I need to give this another try, Chris. I got half way through 'reviewing' the album you submitted as a choice a while back: loved the instrumentals, hated the vocals. I will explore further.
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Post by John on Apr 3, 2021 4:44:13 GMT
For me with Frank Zappa I usually hear moments of greatness then the next track does little for me as it might go to left field for me. I quite like Live at the Roxy it has some real funny moments on it with some really cool guitar playing from Frank, but has the odd track that that I will not play.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 3, 2021 8:29:40 GMT
My introduction to him was 'Apostrophe'. Two things got me hooked within the first ten minutes: the first was the humour and wordplay, which very much appealed to my teenage self. A little less so nowadays. Secondly, the guitar playing was just extraordinary. Those two things gave me a way in and I never looked back. I fully appreciate the difficulty that a lot of his work presents the listener, but for me, as I was discovering the massive and complex variety of sounds, there was enough in it to love at first listen in order to keep going.
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Post by Stratmangler on Apr 3, 2021 9:43:50 GMT
I noticed the Zappa releases on Qobuz, and have Bongo Fury playing in 24/192 as I'm typing this. The first thing I notice is that it's louder than the 2012 remaster CD, so more detail will be apparent.
My thoughts are that it's a cynical attempt by Ahmet and Diva (coz Dweezil and Moon don't get a say) to wring the last from drop of revenue from the Frank Zappa estate.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 3, 2021 10:11:25 GMT
Agreed. Partially. I think there are many more drops of revenue and they will find more ways to monetise them, though!
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 3, 2021 11:26:36 GMT
Even I liked the Watermelon track, apart from the adolescent idiocy of the opening commentary presumably by Zappa thinking he's being cool. Great composition and guitar playing, though. I doubt if I could listen to a whole album, he's just too into himself.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 3, 2021 11:36:54 GMT
Ah, the hi-res albums have all now appeared. I'll give Bongo a try although I'm not hopeful as I didn't like Overnite Sensation much.
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Post by ChrisB on Apr 3, 2021 12:03:51 GMT
Adolescent idiocy yes, but it was a sort of concept album Jerry. I don't think Zappa would have done a single thing in his life to make himself look cool though!
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