Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa (CD - 1995)

Personnel includes: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar); Flo & Eddie, Jean-Luc Ponty, Captain Beefheart, Steve Vai, The Mothers Of Invention, Lowell George, George Duke, Terry Bozzio, Aynsley Dunbar, Ike Willis, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Chester Thompson, Adrian Belew, Chad Wackerman, Moon Zappa.

Producers: Frank Zappa, Tom Wilson.

Compilation producer: Jill Christiansen.

Recorded between 1966 and 1988. Includes liner notes by Terry Gilliam and Dan Oullette.

Composer: Frank Zappa.

Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar).

Audio Mixer: Joe Chiccarelli.

Liner Note Authors: Dan Ouellette; Terry Gilliam.

Photographers: Michael Hochanadel; Joseph Sia; Baron Wolman; Jean-Pierre Leloir; Ebet Roberts; Norman Seeff; Ann Rhoney; Cal Schenkel.

This collection of Frank Zappa tracks from Rykodisc is a hodgepodge of previously released material. Among the 15 tracks are the obvious choices of "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow," "Dancin' Fool," "Dirty Love," and his daughter Moon Unit's novelty hit "Valley Girl." Keep in mind that this is an expurgated version of the 19-track Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa, released in 1995, also on Rykodisc. As the Zappa catalog is easily available, and remastered, there really isn't a need for this compilation. ~ Al Campbell

For all of his many attributes, one thing Frank Zappa most certainly was not is commercial. Presumably, the title of this collection is ironic. Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa is a compilation not of the composer's hits -- he only broke the Top 40 on one occasion, with "Valley Girl" -- but rather, a collection of his best-known material, from "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" to "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace." Zappa's albums often function as individual works, but this disc offers an intelligent selection of songs, serving as an introduction to the maverick musician. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Even though Zappa purists tend to loathe this splendid 19-track compilation, there is no better introduction to the wild and wonderful world of Frank Zappa than STRICTLY COMMERCIAL. Throughout his long, celebrated career, Zappa essentially maintained two separate personas. At one end of the spectrum, he was a wicked satirist who performed such bizarre rock ditties as "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" and "Dancin' Fool." On the other end, he was a masterful composer and guitarist who created fascinating fusion instrumentals like "Peaches En Regalia" and even full-scale symphonic works.

While you don't get any examples of Zappa's more elaborate musical pieces on STRICTLY COMMERCIAL, what you do get is track after track of clever, immaculately performed rock. Songs range from "Trouble Every Day," a 1966 blues-rock recording with The Mothers of Invention, to "Valley Girl," the 1982 hit single that Zappa recorded with his daughter Moon Unit on vocals. While the sheer volume of Zappa's work makes it impossible to include every career highpoint on a single disc collection, it's hard to imagine how you could create a better Zappa compilation than STRICTLY COMMERCIAL. minimize