Francesco Zappa [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Frank Zappa

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 1995)
• Original Release Date: November 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Zappa Records
• ASIN: B0000009TC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #173,425 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Label
Francesco Zappa was a little-known Italian 18th century composer whose work is now being rediscovered after many years of neglect; how Francesco managed to get his hands on 20th century electronic equipment is anyone's guess. Or so the legend goes; actually this is FZ spinning Francesco's classical pieces on his Synclavier. A companion piece to the more contemporary-styled JAZZ FROM HELL, this is one of the early products of Zappa's productive electronic-music period. Originally released in 1984.

Product Description
Japanese reissue of 1984 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Videoarts. 2002. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good background music, March 12, 1999

By	Kurt A. Schluter (Maine, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD is a good introduction to Zappa for classical music fans. I've played it in the background for dinner parties and love it when someone asks what it is!Frank Zappa!? That's my cue to educate them and possibly play the "London Symphony Orchestra" CD or even better; "The Yellow Shark". I love all of Zappa's music but I have a special fondness for jazz("The Grand Wazoo") and classical ("Orchestral Favorites"). By the way, Francesco Zappa is a real composer way back. He was a cellist and these pieces were written for the cello.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, but if you can click with it, sublime., October 21, 2005

By	Dave McElfatrick (Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews

Yes, Zappa did indeed do some strange things. People who enjoy only the latest pop singles on the radio would be quick to dismiss this as childish nonsense, or something that "sounds like a hoover advert."

They're truly missing out.

If you can open your mind to it a little, Francesco Zappa could very easily become one of the most treasured albums in your collection. Its one of the more obscure items in the Zappa catalogue- there's no rock, no contemporary or freeform jazz, no avant guarde... only 18th century chamber music. Sounds a bit weird and frightening? Don't let that put you off at all.

As mentioned elsewhere, this was written not by Frank but by another composer who lived in the 18th century named Francesco Zappa. I have to say myself the man was a genius. As they are presented here, his compositions were rich in texture and full of melody and structure. FZ's renditions using his trusty synclavier are full of clarity and really quite soothing. Don't expect anything other than soft electrical sounds here. No percussion, no guitars, nothing other than the synclavier. I'd daresay its probably FZ's softest release. If you're a FZ novice looking for a good FZ album to begin your collection with then I wouldn't recommend this. I'd recommend one of his more contemporary classics such as Hot Rats or Joe's Garage.

If you're debating as either a FZ fan or just someone looking for something different, a listen to this album will create images in your mind and take you to a much more pleasant place. Truly, for me it is the ultimate stress-reliever. Francesco Zappa will make you forget every worry you had prior to putting it in the player, and will leave you smiling without a care in the world.

Like I said before, it IS an acquired taste, but if you're the type of person who wants some easy-listening, beautiful, absorbing stress-relief in their music collection then this will fit the bill perfectly. Truly a theraputic, uplifting and wonderful experience.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Francesco Zappa  Beautiful, uplifting and moving, October 1, 2000

By	Dreamin' "dreamin'" (Rock City, USA) - See all my reviews

I've listened to the music of FZ for years. Too many years to mention at this point. As a teenager my listening of his music was more of the rock and roll material he wrote and performed. He was the freak on MTV or the freak whose band would come to New York and played the crazy shows that my parents wouldn't let me go to because I was too young. When I turned 19 and heard Francesco Zappa, FZ stopped being the freak and has become to me a great American composer. No longer did I listen to music the same way again. Even now when listening to the more rock oriented albums (Bongo Fury, Them or Us, Tinseltown Rebellion) you could hear more of an orchestration happening in the arragements that was not there before. After Francesco Zappa, albums like London Symphony Orchestra, FZ Meets the Mothers of Prevention and Lumpy Gravy made more sense to me. Francesco Zappa is a beautiful album and should be required to be in anyone's CD collection.