When I was growing up in New York, the albums that I really cut my teeth on were things like , by and the first few records. I listened to these albums all the time and absorbed everything I possibly could. But the release that really fired me up was by The Mothers Of Invention.
After all, the first album I ever bought was by The Partridge Family – and then I came across . It was, needless to say, quite a contrast! As soon as I heard it blew me away. It was a two-record set, but it was melodic and very left-of-centre, abstract and experimental.
For me it seemed as if was making a statement of intent. I just couldn’t believe it. It was like a joy filled my eyes – and ears.
And thereafter I just got hold of as many Mothers albums as I could: , which originally came out the year after , in 1967, and then and a bunch of others. I also couldn’t resist checking out and buying Zappa’s solo albums, stuff like . What was also unique about was that whereas created a genre of rock music that is still imitated and played today, – and indeed more or less every album Zappa ever released – remains totally individual.
Nobody has, or ever will, come close to achieving the anarchic sound that Frank created. On I just couldn’t resist tracks with crazy titles like and . But Frank was a true artist, like and , among others.
He was one of these people who just had to express himself creatively. He didn’t have any choice. And that is the mark of a true artist: you have to do whate.
