Books on Zappa - which one?....

[Bálint]

Hi, everyone,

I have a question. A publisher just found us here in hungary: they want to publish (and of course translate) Barry Miles' new book, but at the same time asked our opinion about it. I did not read that, but I've heard quite ciontroverial opinions - to say the least.

So: I'd like to give them some suggestions. What do you think? The Real Frank Zappa book is already translated, so this would be the second one. I think it would be important that it should be a GOOD book - correct, fun to read... and so on.

What do you think? Which one would you suggest?

Thank you for your help!

B

[skoljic]

Barry Miles' Zappa book is not good, unfortunately.
So many unnecessary paparazzi details (half-true stories). Nothing new. Nothing for beginners. Nothing to learn more about Zappa's music. I paid 30 Euro for the book last year in Zagreb, Croatia.

[Chris]

The only really good volume (at least that I've read) about Frank's music besides his own book is Dangerous Kitchen by Kevin Courrier.

[Bálint]

Thank you!

Useful idea! I've found good criticism on this book, but some negative opinions, too...

Though sounds better than Barry Miles' book.

Thank you again - and I'm curious about more ideas! Anyone?

[SOFA]

I've read many books on FZ (although NOT the latest Miles book) and my favorite - hands down - is "Electric Don Quixote" by Neal Slaven. His narrative makes the "much traveled" info fresh again, so the read is fun for novice and hard-core alike.
A not too close second would be Greg Russo's ongoing work. I don't know any other (published) author who has worked as closely with the Zappa community to get the facts straight as Russo.
Biographies can feel dry if the facts are presented without a good narrative, which is why I rate Slaven's work so highly - informative, but a good story too.

[Bálint]

Thank you all!!! - now I have some ideas already! I'd like to make a kind of "summary" nowadays - but I'm still curious about Barry's opinion, because he has a beard.

So, Barry, what do you say? :-) Or - of course - anyone else, some more?

[Barry]

Well first up Balint I wish to express my appreciation of your appreciation of my beard. People tend to fear beards and I see it as my mission to spread the word about the fact that one need not fear the beard. Be the beard entirely too much reddish or not.

Anyhoo!

I tend to agree with SOFA. Neil Slaven's "Electric Don Quixote", as compared to Miles' "A Biography", is a much more gripping tale. The facts are there in both books, but with Slaven's EDQ you get the added bonus of a greater oversight on FZ's life and times.

That is not to put down Miles' book -- it has its merits. Overly detailed, mostly focusing on early MOI FZ, it will surely appeal to hardcore fans. Overall though, as a general glance into the complex topic that is FZ, Neil Slaven's EDQ wins. The book is as completist as it is engaging from a story-telling point of view.

My two ignorantly red-bearded cents.

[Bálint]

Thank you all!

I'm about to make a summary, er... or make a decision now - but first, a question:

What do you think of Greg Russo's Cosmik Debris? I've read nice things about it, especially about the third edition, with corrections suggested by FZ-freaks in the net. Hm? What do you say?

[SOFA]

Both books are informative and well written. What Russo lacks in story, EDQ makes up for. What EDQ lacks in data (minutia, really), CD makes up for...
If you want to present data, go with Russo.
If you want a story, go with Slaven.
If you want to cover all angles, have the publisher translate both...

[robertp]

Books.. "The Complete Guide to the Music of Frank Zappa" by Ben Watson
"The Real Frank Zappa Book" By FZ and Peter Occhiogrosso
"The Frank Zappa Companion" By Richard Kostelanetz

[Bálint]

Thank you all for your answers!

Thank you, Robert - though I must admit that I could use a more detailed description... You know, we got to make a decision in a few days, and have to SUGGEST a book to the publisher - and after the title his first question will be: "why this?"

And MY next question: what do you think of this one:

Mother! the Frank Zappa Story by Michael Gray



People praise it at amazon.com, but on arf.ru there are some who think this is shit... What do you think?

[robertp]

"The Complete Guide to the Music of Frank Zappa" by Ben Watson, this is a good little book 4”x5”, 191 pages of quite deep analysis of Zappa’s albums. A bit easier than the author’s deeper analysis “the negative dialectics of poodle play”. This is an excellent handy pocket sized reference of Zappa’s musical/lyrical output. It’s analysis of each album covers the cultural influences and references for the lyrics, details of when and where each album was recorded and a few pic and album cover artwork.

"The Real Frank Zappa Book" By FZ and Peter Occhiogrosso. This is Zappa’s official autobiography, although not really an autobiography ‘cos Zappa had help from Peter Occhiogrosso to write it. I have not finished reading this book yet, I am about ¾ way through. 352 pages of  Frank’s own words reassembled to make a book! Excellent reading if you want to understand the man and his views on many things.  Funny in parts and quite revealing about his methods of writing music and an excellent explanation of the complexities of music theory/production. in terms anyone can understand. Also inside information of the way the music industry works and the bureaucracy and politics of  rockbands and orchestras.

My advice would be to read them all over the next few years. Some however are quite high-brow heavy weight works ( The Negative Dialectics of Poodle play by Ben Watson) and will have you reaching for the dictionary and as many reference books you have.

“The Complete Guide to the Music of Frank Zappa” by Ben Watson is a good start if you want to understand some of the obscure references buried within the lyrics of Franks work and other details  in a album by album analysis.

[Bálint]

Thank you - I've just checked Ben Watson's.

My advice would be to read them all over the next few years

You're absolutely right, but I must make a decision TODAY!... ;-)
That is the reason I needed your help.

Thank you again - and some more comments are really appreciated!

[Barry]

Summary:

- The Real Frank Zappa Book (FZ & Occhiogrosso):
It's Frank talkin'. Very entertaining, shows you how the man thinks - lacks in detail, minutiae, and I think there's even the odd "twist" of "the truth"...
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Frank Zappa - Ben Watson:
It's about the music and nothing but the music. It's a booklet that doesn't go beyond investigating the albums. So, as an FZ book of reference, it would fail
-The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play - Ben Watson:
For the freaks. Personal opinion on acid. An intrigueging read but hardly a biography. Here, Watson tries to shoehorn FZ's work into his own views, dragging in Adorno and Nietszche to make his point.
- Cosmik Debris - Greg Russo:
Every detail you ever wanted to know. Downside: as a read it is fairly boring.
- FZ A Biography - Barry Miles:
Overly detailed, critical, sources not always reliably quoted. Focuses on early MOI era mostly. Dry reading, misses the bigger picture.
- Mother! - Michael Gray:
None of us here have even read it, as far as I can tell. That must count as an indicator of some sort...
- Electric Don Quixote - Neil Slaven:
Engaging story-telling, spans FZ's entire carreer - probably not as complete as far as details are concerned; makes up for it with an engaging narrative.

The choice is yours, Balint...

[Bálint]

Thank you all!!!

I've sent the letter to the publisher following your suggestions - adding some amazom.com and other opinions to it.

I also suggested them to re-translate the Real Frank Zappa Book, because the hungarian edition is only two-third (!!!) of the original!!! With some mistakes, too.

So: we'll see, what happens.

Thank you all, again!!!