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Frank Zappa Albums Trivia Quiz

Frank's music career was varied and extensive. He released dozens and dozens of albums in his lifetime (and a whole bunch more after his death!). How well do you know his discography?

A multiple-choice quiz by Pessoni. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Pessoni

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
354,863

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
291

Last 3 plays: Guest 54 (6/10), Guest 111 (7/10), Guest 98 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The album "Lather" mostly features songs that ended up on four other Zappa albums. Which of the following is NOT one of those albums? Hint

"Bongo Fury"

"Zappa in New York"

"Orchestral Favorites"

"Sleep Dirt"

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Question 2 of 10

2. Frank had several collaborations with childhood friend Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart. The good Captain contributed both lyrics and/or harmonica to several Zappa albums. Which of these is NOT album where Captain Beefheart appeared? Hint

"Hot Rats"

"Bongo Fury"

"Chunga's Revenge"

"Zoot Allures"

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Question 3 of 10

3. Frank did his share of work with classical music ensembles. On which album did he work with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra? Hint

"200 Motels"

"Sleep Dirt"

"Orchestral Favorites"

"Uncle Meat"

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which Mothers of Invention album featured a different "suite" on each side of the album? Hint

"We're Only In It For The Money"

"Uncle Meat"

"Absolutely Free"

"Freak Out!"

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Question 5 of 10

5. The albums "Uncle Meat", "Hot Rats", and "Chunga's Revenge" all feature which of the following Zappa/Mothers musicians? Hint

Art Tripp on drums

Don Preston on keyboards

Roy Estrada on bass

Ian Underwood on woodwinds/saxes

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which FZ live album contained a show where John Lennon and Yoko Ono famously appeared on stage and joined the show (although their segments did not appear on the album)? Hint

"Fillmore East, June 1971"

"Zappa in New York"

"Roxy and Elsewhere"

"Just Another Band From L.A."

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which album does NOT feature Frank Zappa on vocals? Hint

"Zoot Allures"

"The Man From Utopia"

"We're Only In It For The Money"

"200 Motels"

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In the 1980s, Frank went back and re-recorded parts of various older albums for their release on CD. Which of the following albums did NOT see changes to its original vocals/instruments? Hint

"Crusin With Ruben and the Jets"

"Sleep Dirt"

"We're Only In It For The Money"

"Over-Nite Sensation"

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these tracks from the first three albums features no vocals, sung or spoken? Hint

Who Are the Brain Police?

Local Butcher

Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin

Almost Chinese

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Question 10 of 10

10. Frank sometimes used his kids in his music. Which of the following Zappa offspring never performed on a Frank Zappa album? Hint

Ahmet

Moon Unit

Dweezil

Diva

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 12 2024 : Guest 54: 6/10
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 111: 7/10
Nov 04 2024 : Guest 98: 4/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The album "Lather" mostly features songs that ended up on four other Zappa albums. Which of the following is NOT one of those albums?

Answer: "Bongo Fury"

Frank's original vision for the multi-LP "Lather" project was scrapped (and re-assembled and released three years after his death), but most of the tracks were released on four albums in the late '70s: "Zappa in New York", "Studio Tan", "Sleep Dirt", and "Orchestral Favorites".

Answer: "Chunga's Revenge"

Frank and his buddy Don grew up in Lancaster, California, together and had heavy influence on each other's musical development.

3. Frank did his share of work with classical music ensembles. On which album did he work with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra?

Answer: "200 Motels"

Frank's famous quip about dealing with the prestigious RPO: "It's very difficult to get a lively, happening feel with a bunch of, uh, people like the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. That was the most ill-behaved bunch of poot-heads I've ever worked with."

4. Which Mothers of Invention album featured a different "suite" on each side of the album?

Answer: "Absolutely Free"

The suites on the Mothers' second album were called "Absolutely Free" and "The M.O.I American Pageant".

5. The albums "Uncle Meat", "Hot Rats", and "Chunga's Revenge" all feature which of the following Zappa/Mothers musicians?

Answer: Ian Underwood on woodwinds/saxes

Underwood was one of Frank's most versatile, talented, and favorite backing musicians. He married percussionist Ruth Underwood (n�e Komanoff) in 1970; she was a Zappa band regular through much of the early-mid 1970s.

6. Which FZ live album contained a show where John Lennon and Yoko Ono famously appeared on stage and joined the show (although their segments did not appear on the album)?

Answer: "Fillmore East, June 1971"

John & Yoko's performance was included later on the 1992 release "Playground Psychotics".

7. Which album does NOT feature Frank Zappa on vocals?

Answer: "200 Motels"

Frank also didn't utter a single line of dialogue in the accompanying film "200 Motels".

8. In the 1980s, Frank went back and re-recorded parts of various older albums for their release on CD. Which of the following albums did NOT see changes to its original vocals/instruments?

Answer: "Over-Nite Sensation"

Many long-time Zappa fans were horrified to find out that several classic albums had been "tinkered with" by Frank himself for their release on CD.

9. Which of these tracks from the first three albums features no vocals, sung or spoken?

Answer: Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin

The only track to feature no vocals or dialog of any kind was "Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" from the "Absolutely Free" album. Every other track on the first three albums features at least one line of vocals/dialogue.

10. Frank sometimes used his kids in his music. Which of the following Zappa offspring never performed on a Frank Zappa album?

Answer: Diva

Even though she co-wrote "Chana in De Bushwop" (it's featured on the live album "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3") with her dad, she is not credited with singing/performing on any Frank Zappa releases.

Source: Author Pessoni

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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