What Frank Zappa albums do you recommend?

Ignore anyone saying "all his albums" or listing more than 2, they haven't given this much thought.

Zappa is kind of a "love it or hate it" proposition. There is very little music of his that I have a "I could take it or leave it" reaction to.

My advice is that for a newbie you should start with a anthology called "Strictly Commercial". This compiles some of Zappa's easiest to listen to stuff. If you like that, then I'd go on to his debut album FREAK OUT!

Freak Out

Absolutely Free

We're Only In It For The Money

Apostrophe(')

Over Nite Sensation

Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Joe's Garage

Sheik Yerbouti

Hot Rats

Uncle Meat

Zappa in New York

Zoot Allures

Lumpy Gravy

Strictly Commercial - The Best of Frank Zappa

The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life disc 1 & 2. A live concert and the best recording of any live show i've ever heard. Has some of Frank Zappa's classic songs e.g. Zoot Allures, Zomby Woof, Andy, Florentine Pogen, Inca Roads, Torture Never Stops and an awesome version of Stairway to Heaven. And also all the albums mentioned by sos_brigadier. Happy listening!

I am not sure what kind of music you normally listen too.

Zappa (with or without The Mothers of Invention) is at times, extremely complex or easy to follow, depending what you like.

2 great albums to start with IMO, are --

The Mothers, "Overnite Sensation" & Zappa's "Apostrophe"

Many Zappa "purists" are not fans of these two, because they increased his popularity.

To me -- His greatest effort is undoubtedly, "Hot Rats"

As others here have probably already mentioned -- Zappa is a genius and surrounds himself with the best Musicians and Singers, available.

His Catalogue is huge and he mixes styles, from Rock, Jazz, Prog, Classical, Parody, and mind-blowing "explorations" (see "We're Only In It For the Money")

It is difficult for me to suggest anything, given Zappa's extraordinary diversity

also -- One of the Greatest Guitarists, ever!

Hope that helps :)

We're Only In It for the Money

Freak Out

Apostrophe

Hot Rats

Absolutely Free

Lather

Uncle Meat

Over-nite Sensation

200 Motels

Crusing With Ruben & the Jets

Freak Out!

We're Only In It For The Money.

Hot Rats is a classic. Songs like Peaches enRegalia sound as good today as they did way back then.

Brown Shoes Don't Make It.....actually all his albums...a true genius guitarist!

'ship arriving too late (to save a drowning witch)' was my first. now i get as many as i can.