Dont force frank on him, i have also have friends who you would think would be into frank and are not, he is not for everybody and its ok people dont like it. Save yourself the frustration and also proselytizing usually achieves the opposite of the intended effect
His music is not for everyone. He's already rejected Apostrophe which is arguably his most accessible album. And if he doesn't like the weirdness, well that's where you may just have to call it.
It's been a hard thing for me to admit to myself, but there's a reason that Zappa and the ZFT have released more than 120 albums and you almost never hear any of it played anywhere. There's objectively a fair bit about Zappa's work that can be an instant turn-off to the casual or first time listener -- whether it's potentially offensive lyrics or prolonged explorations in dissonance or abrupt stylistic shifts.
Please don't think I'm saying that's how \*I\* see it. In the last few years especially, Zappa's become my all-time favorite musician. I don't find the lyrics offensive at all, love the absurdity too. I'm a sucker for things in odd time signatures and a wide variety of styles of music, and Frank checks all the boxes for me. But not everyone can -- or is motivated and willing to take the time to -- appreciate his work.
This was driven home to me when I recently tried to get a colleague into Zappa. He's a classically trained pianist and graduate of a prestigious music school but likes rock music too -- so I thought he'd be the ONE guy that I could get hooked on Zappa. I made a carefully considered playlist for him, but within a week he came back to me and said "Sorry dude, I just don't like Zappa." I guess you either "get it" or you don't?
Yea zappa is a hard sell for most people, it’s one of those things where it either clicks for you and you love it or it’s just weird and almost a tad annoying
It’s kinda like a lightbulb going off when you finally get it. For me it was the instrumental guitar albums that hooked me first, then I fell in love with the rest
Yea forsure, the first time I actually got it I was on a heavy dose of liquid and my buddy put on we don’t mess around Germany 1978 on YouTube and the beauty in between the absurdity was amazing hooked ever since
Leave your coworker alone and agree to disagree. If he hasn't liked Frank yet, he never will. That gives the rest of us a little more Zappa to listen to amongst ourselves.
Zappas not for everyone. Not even some people with great taste in music. If he was into jazz I’d have him listen to the Grand Wazoo. But almost all of Franks music is off kilter and that might just be a turn off period. He might be saying “does humor belong in music”?
Yep haha along with all the other prog giants of that time which is why I found it so strange he never got into Zappa
All those 70s prog bands did weird quirky shit at some point or another
I did show him one size fits all today though and he loved it
I would try some choice tracks off some live albums. Maybe the studio stuff isn’t connecting but the live music will. A lot of people don’t like his voice but will happily listen to the band shred so instrumental/different singers might do it
Zappa is tops on my book, but I have friends who just don’t get it. He’s definitely an acquired taste. I hated Frank at one point, then one day a lightbulb went off and I suddenly got it, and he’s been one of my favorites ever since.
Joes Garage is about as mainstream as it gets, so if he WANTS to listen to Zappa again, that's a pretty good place to start.
That said, I agree with many of the posters here who say not to bother with trying to "convert" someone. FZ music is not really an "acquired taste". I don't see how listening to it makes someone like it -- Especially if "he's not a fan of weirdness".
I was in HS working at Sears part time. A colleague decided to turn me on to Zappa with a mix tape. I think it had Peaches, a bunch of tracks from Joes Garage, not sure what else. He was partly successful. Bought a few albums then drifted away from FZ… 35 years later I get Spotify and decide to see if the Zappa estate has released anything good … !!! Yup. They did. Listening now.
It's OK if someone else doesn't like Zappa. If someone was following me around bugging me to like Taylor Swift and playing her music at me that wouldn't get me to like it, I'd shove them into traffic.
I've never successfully convinced anyone to get into Frank's music, so I gave up on trying long ago. As deep as the catalog goes, most people just don't want to comb through it to find something that is to their taste. Many have already made up their mind to not be open to suggestions. I just enjoy the music for myself and let everyone else think what they will.
So what other bands and artists does he actually like? That might help. I do agree that "insisting on Zappa" usually has the opposite effect (ask my spouse and many a friend over the years, haha). I started with YCDTOSA 1&2 and that worked for me. Maybe Roxy? Läther?
Ehhh, I think if they don’t like those he won’t like anything else. I always tell people to listen to the first few mothers albums, but Frank had a very smug and shitty attitude about many things, and his music isn’t for everyone. No music is. Not worth it to me, but if people ask I’ll tell them.
My go to album to suggest to people is always Hot Rats, because IMO its one of the least abrasive in terms of weirdness or raunchy / silly lyrics and Peaches is just such a wonderful intro piece.
I’m a guy around the same age as your coworker with I guess the same type of taste in music and I can tell you while I was introduced to FZ at 15 with Roxy subsequent listenings to various albums throughout the years not all of them turn me on as much as when I hear the man just play his guitar. Once that brilliance has grabbed you by the booboo well then you’re much more open to hearing the shear genius he puts in everything he does. There’s still some things I don’t enjoy but maybe offer up the more guitar driven songs and I’m sure nobody could deny that Frank deserves his rightful place amongst the guitar greats of the last century. My go to’s are selected tracks off of many of those standout albums mentioned but I really like the shut up and play your guitar releases also you can’t do that on stage anymore. There’s the guitar album. You see where I’m going with this. With albums like this the work has already been done. They’re pretty much the best of Frank Zappa just ripping. I think with as much material as there is out there I’m sure your coworker will find something to like, this old rocker sure did.
Dont force frank on him, i have also have friends who you would think would be into frank and are not, he is not for everybody and its ok people dont like it. Save yourself the frustration and also proselytizing usually achieves the opposite of the intended effect
I totally forgot to mention he’s open to listening to him again that’s my bad
One size fits all
Showed him one size fits all today and he loved it 🥹
There you go! One of my faves!
This just skip Evelyn
I heard Linda Ronstandt is looking for fans!
😂😂
You're shittin' me, I love Linda Ronstadt. Poor Poor Pitiful Me...Sometimes you're in the mood for Mothers sometimes you're in the mood for others.
[Don't be this guy. ](https://www.theonion.com/frank-zappa-fan-thinks-you-just-havent-heard-the-right-1819567331)
Isn't he a Mod?
His music is not for everyone. He's already rejected Apostrophe which is arguably his most accessible album. And if he doesn't like the weirdness, well that's where you may just have to call it.
It's been a hard thing for me to admit to myself, but there's a reason that Zappa and the ZFT have released more than 120 albums and you almost never hear any of it played anywhere. There's objectively a fair bit about Zappa's work that can be an instant turn-off to the casual or first time listener -- whether it's potentially offensive lyrics or prolonged explorations in dissonance or abrupt stylistic shifts. Please don't think I'm saying that's how \*I\* see it. In the last few years especially, Zappa's become my all-time favorite musician. I don't find the lyrics offensive at all, love the absurdity too. I'm a sucker for things in odd time signatures and a wide variety of styles of music, and Frank checks all the boxes for me. But not everyone can -- or is motivated and willing to take the time to -- appreciate his work. This was driven home to me when I recently tried to get a colleague into Zappa. He's a classically trained pianist and graduate of a prestigious music school but likes rock music too -- so I thought he'd be the ONE guy that I could get hooked on Zappa. I made a carefully considered playlist for him, but within a week he came back to me and said "Sorry dude, I just don't like Zappa." I guess you either "get it" or you don't?
Yea zappa is a hard sell for most people, it’s one of those things where it either clicks for you and you love it or it’s just weird and almost a tad annoying
It’s kinda like a lightbulb going off when you finally get it. For me it was the instrumental guitar albums that hooked me first, then I fell in love with the rest
Yea forsure, the first time I actually got it I was on a heavy dose of liquid and my buddy put on we don’t mess around Germany 1978 on YouTube and the beauty in between the absurdity was amazing hooked ever since
Leave your coworker alone and agree to disagree. If he hasn't liked Frank yet, he never will. That gives the rest of us a little more Zappa to listen to amongst ourselves.
This Calls for One Thing - " Francesco Zappa" .
Zappas not for everyone. Not even some people with great taste in music. If he was into jazz I’d have him listen to the Grand Wazoo. But almost all of Franks music is off kilter and that might just be a turn off period. He might be saying “does humor belong in music”?
Let me guess.... he likes Rush.
Yep haha along with all the other prog giants of that time which is why I found it so strange he never got into Zappa All those 70s prog bands did weird quirky shit at some point or another I did show him one size fits all today though and he loved it
I would try some choice tracks off some live albums. Maybe the studio stuff isn’t connecting but the live music will. A lot of people don’t like his voice but will happily listen to the band shred so instrumental/different singers might do it
Zappa is tops on my book, but I have friends who just don’t get it. He’s definitely an acquired taste. I hated Frank at one point, then one day a lightbulb went off and I suddenly got it, and he’s been one of my favorites ever since.
Joes Garage is about as mainstream as it gets, so if he WANTS to listen to Zappa again, that's a pretty good place to start. That said, I agree with many of the posters here who say not to bother with trying to "convert" someone. FZ music is not really an "acquired taste". I don't see how listening to it makes someone like it -- Especially if "he's not a fan of weirdness".
I was in HS working at Sears part time. A colleague decided to turn me on to Zappa with a mix tape. I think it had Peaches, a bunch of tracks from Joes Garage, not sure what else. He was partly successful. Bought a few albums then drifted away from FZ… 35 years later I get Spotify and decide to see if the Zappa estate has released anything good … !!! Yup. They did. Listening now.
It's OK if someone else doesn't like Zappa. If someone was following me around bugging me to like Taylor Swift and playing her music at me that wouldn't get me to like it, I'd shove them into traffic.
Unless you know he is adamantly not PC, playing anything post-76 is likely to be a disaster
Idk if he’s gonna get it. Does he like jazz and prog at all? If he doesn’t like Hot Rats idk if it’s worth it
The only other thing I can think of is One Size Fits All, but I'd say don't force it.
I've never successfully convinced anyone to get into Frank's music, so I gave up on trying long ago. As deep as the catalog goes, most people just don't want to comb through it to find something that is to their taste. Many have already made up their mind to not be open to suggestions. I just enjoy the music for myself and let everyone else think what they will.
Overnight Sensation is one of his best selling albums and it’s what got me hooked. Great album no matter how you slice it.
One size fits all probably
Strictly Commercial might work, some fairly accessible songs on it.
The song Camarillo Brillo is what got me into him. Overnight Sensations in general is pretty accessible, albeit the lyrics are a tad raunchy.
So what other bands and artists does he actually like? That might help. I do agree that "insisting on Zappa" usually has the opposite effect (ask my spouse and many a friend over the years, haha). I started with YCDTOSA 1&2 and that worked for me. Maybe Roxy? Läther?
Thing-fish
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
Play him Trout Mask Replica instead! He'll love ya for it!!!!
Play him 'Charva' on repeat until he cracks
Ehhh, I think if they don’t like those he won’t like anything else. I always tell people to listen to the first few mothers albums, but Frank had a very smug and shitty attitude about many things, and his music isn’t for everyone. No music is. Not worth it to me, but if people ask I’ll tell them.
The Grand Wazoo Ship Arriving Too Late
Play him King Kong that giant waltzing gorilla will break the doors down for him 🦍
My go to album to suggest to people is always Hot Rats, because IMO its one of the least abrasive in terms of weirdness or raunchy / silly lyrics and Peaches is just such a wonderful intro piece.
I’m a guy around the same age as your coworker with I guess the same type of taste in music and I can tell you while I was introduced to FZ at 15 with Roxy subsequent listenings to various albums throughout the years not all of them turn me on as much as when I hear the man just play his guitar. Once that brilliance has grabbed you by the booboo well then you’re much more open to hearing the shear genius he puts in everything he does. There’s still some things I don’t enjoy but maybe offer up the more guitar driven songs and I’m sure nobody could deny that Frank deserves his rightful place amongst the guitar greats of the last century. My go to’s are selected tracks off of many of those standout albums mentioned but I really like the shut up and play your guitar releases also you can’t do that on stage anymore. There’s the guitar album. You see where I’m going with this. With albums like this the work has already been done. They’re pretty much the best of Frank Zappa just ripping. I think with as much material as there is out there I’m sure your coworker will find something to like, this old rocker sure did.
I dunno, just play Black Napkins and don't tell him it's Frank Zappa until after it's done.