Frank Zappa | Ten Best Albums

You do the best album analysis that I have ever seen. Fantastic presentation and a great deal of thought.

Hot Rats is simply sublime. In my view, not only Zappa's best album but one of the best ever recorded. Now THAT's saying something!!!😆

And I love that he puts One size fits All at #1. That's hard to argue, definitely a underrated LP. He has the balls to put it out there. Well done!

"The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution" from the "Sleep Dirt" album is my favourite Zappa track. Terry Bozzio, Patrick O Hearn and Zappa. Just 3 musicians on this one. Mind blowing bass and drums and my favourite blistering and soaring Zappa guitar solo.

My first Zappa record was Freak Out. I still have it today! I'm a lifelong fan.

Great List, I just wanna say Chunga's Revenge will always be my favorite FZ album.

I'd have put 'The Grand Wazoo' in there and for me it's pretty close to a number 1, in particular the track 'Eat That Question' is simply an awesome piece of well written music. However having over 120 Zappa albums released pre and post the passing of the great composer it get's harder and harder for me to define rankings so full on respect to you sir for boiling down Zappa's amazing catalogue to this list and obviously a fellow Zappa fan to boot, so well done.

Strongly agree with your choice of number 1. "One Size Fits All" stands out from the rest of the catalogue.

I bought Joe’s Garage when I was in college around 1990, it’s still may favorite to this day. Overnight Sensation and Apostrophe fill out my top 3 Zappa studio albums . I really dig his live albums as well, Live From New York being a particular favorite of mine. His book was also very entertaining. A very interesting and intelligent musician. He left us far too soon.

This is probably the most sophisticated album reviews of Zappa I've yet seen. Insightful and spot on.

Sheik Yerbouti is such a great album.

I really enjoyed your review. Zappa was a musical genius, I've been buying up every album I come across. I've recently done several Zappa stories on my channel. Thanks for the excellent review!!!

Love the list!One size fits all is my favorite too!The guitar solo on Inca Roads is the absolute best!!

This is the best start to a day that I have had in some time. Thank you for your articulate critiques of the wise and wonderful albums of FZ. So very grateful for the sheer hilarity, scathing satire and musical brilliance of Zappa!

Everyone has their own favorites. My top ten would include Uncle Meat and Grand Wazoo near the top. My only quibble is with the distinction between "live" and "studio" albums, which does not really apply to FZ. FZ did not simply release live versions of fan favorites. Almost all the live albums released in his lifetime (until the YCDTOSA series) were made primarily of previously unreleased compositions, and often were interspersed with studio material and overdubbed in the studio (first half of "Roxy & Elsewhere") . Zappa often spliced live material into "studio" songs (guitar solo on the "studio" version of "Inca Roads") or used live tracks as the basis for "studio" songs (most of "Sheikh Yerbouti" & much of "Joe's Garage). Zappa pointedly did not limit himself to these kinds of categories. But I guess you have to do something to narrow down his huge catalog of albums. Good review as always.

Thank you for your wonderful review and homage to one of most unique, iconiclastic, eccentric and enigmatic figures in pop music. I've been a fan of Frank's since 1970. I have collected 23 of his albums.

My 10 favourite albums (I'm starting from the bottom getting to the top) by Zappa are: 10. Lumpy Gravy (1968) 9. One Size Fits All (1975) 8. The Grand Wazoo (1972) 7. Hot Rats (1968) 6. Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970) 5. Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970) 4. Freak Out! (1966) 3. Absolutely Free (1967) 2. We're Only in It for the Money (1968) 1. Uncle Meat (1969)

I wrapped a news paper around my head so I looked like I was deep... Excellent list, it included my top 3 Z albums, Apostrophe, Overnite, & One Size! Pondering the significance of short-person behavior In pedal-depressed panchromatic resonance And other highly ambient domains...

I’ve not been a Zappa fan until recent years. He’s a fascinating composer and musician, much too complex and rich with social commentary back in the day for me. Now with more time and patience, and releases from his vault, I am diving into his work. Thanks for your knowledge and take on his music.

Your presentation is a wonderful job, what I'm missing is "just another band from LA" and the gorgeous "Fillmore East" both of which were my first exposure to Frank Zappa's music because they are so much rock music - as it is for me too Overnite Sensations. I'm from Europe, which probably influences my perspective.