Entertainment For Lively Minds
Best Zappa instrumentals
Posted by Mousey on 21 July 2009 - 9:08am.
FZ is well known for writing in every genre known to man, but I've always really liked his instrumental tunes, by which I mean vocal-less melodies that are not (although may include) guitar solos.
My faves include
TOADS OF THE SHORT FOREST
TWENTY SMALL CIGARS
BLESSED RELIEF
OVERTURE TO A HOLIDAY IN BERLIN
FLAM BAY (not much of a tune but beautiful track, horrible vocal added on CD version)
From the later repertoire I'd probably add G-SPOT TORNADO and also OH NO/ORANGE COUNTY LUMBER TRUCK probably needs a category of its own.
Interested in other suggestions
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Now you're just being silly
"Peaches En Regalia" is the only correct answer.
Ah yes
of course, um, no excuses except that I suppose I'm looking for the Hidden Gems, should have mentioned that in original post.
Hmm
Much as I like Peaches, I always rather liked We Are Not Alone - really nice sax.
Sofa No. 1 from One Size
Sofa No. 1 from One Size Fits All is one of my favourites.
Don't forget Zoot Allures too...
Sleep Dirt
from Sleep Dirt - one of my favourite tracks of all time - Zappa plays an acoustic guitar solo along to a straight Spanish sounding accompaniment that just makes me want to give up the instrument. Such a shame he didn't record more acoustic material.
Thanks...
I'm going to check that out, (excellent thread, this).
(Trying to Play a Guitar Solo with this Band is Like Trying to
Grow a) Watermelon in Easter Hay, to give it its complete title
Recent convert
I've just recently started to listen to FZ, especially the early MOI era stuff, and there are a couple of instrumentals I have been enjoying:
On Lumpy Gravy, side one opens with a surf type instrumental (sometimes referred to as 'Duodenum'?), which is quite nice, and the end of side 2 is an instrumental version of 'Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance' which was almost the first FZ track I heard, as Gruppo Sportivo covered it on their first album.
Gary
Another vote
for Sofa #1 (try the Zappa In New York version for added horniness)
I'd also suggest you consider Alien Orifice, Black Napkins, Waka Jawaka (the track), Heavy Duty Judy and Big Swifty.
Instrumental stuff
probably better and more interesting than the rather dodgy "comedy" vocal tracks....
A fondness for "Wakajawaka" in general, and "big Swifty" in particular in these parts...
Peaches en Regalia...
also Son of Mr Green Genes, Zoot Allures, Twenty Small Cigars, King Kong and another vote for the title track from Waka Jawaka.
Watermelons in Easter Hay.
I'm with James above: this is the absolute pinnacle of Frank's oeuvre.
thankee
and I have many and various but that's the one where I really think he nailed it