He's known for his meticulous compositions and professional arranging skills - and also his odd sense of humour, which more often than not gravitates toward the juvenile.
The man released over 60 albums in his lifetime, but if your looking for a good place to start with Zappa this album seems to be one of the best choices. I first picked it up back in my university days (way back in 1996) and was impressed by the innovative and complex nature of the music - especially considering it was made in 1969. It was one of the first rock albums to be recorded with 16-track technology, and the best example of what could be done with this technology is found on the opening track "Peaches en Regalia" - a fusion of jazz rock that features layers of guitar, flute, saxophone, clarinet and octave-bass that has gone on to be one of Zappa's best known compositions.
The entire album is instrumental with the exception of one track, "Willie The Pimp", which features guest vocals from friend/rival/fellow musical partner-in-crime Captain Beefheart. The combination of his voice and Zappa's guitar soloing on this track is my own personal album highlight. The bluesy intro riff is also played on a violin, which only Zappa could get away with.
There are no cliches on this album - listen to it with an open mind and a few beers within reach.
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