This Paperback Book item from Omnibus Press was reviewed on 13-Oct-2008.
Search ISBN:0711994366 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa Reference Book. Classifications : Rock Composers & Musicians Arts & Literature Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General Composers & Musicians Arts & Literature Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General Biographies & Memoirs Sub . Click the following link to view the cover of Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa. Related topics: Rock. Arts & Literature. Subjects. Books. General. Arts & Literature. Subjects. Books. General. Subjects. requestid: c6ddae89-cfe1-4933-abb3-1e6f2704ddb4
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1) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. This is a somewhat dreary story. First of all it´s written by a Brit. The British are well known for believing the sky is constantly falling, and that it´s the fault of Americans. The author did a good job of chronicling Zappa´s career and I learning some interesting things. But he takes as gospel all of Zappa´s snide criticisms of American culture. Zappa´s wit and eloquent way of speaking don´t automatically give him credibility or insight into America´s character. Zappa lived in world where his outlook seemed to be shaped by rock music audiences and CNN.
This author seemed to eat up every quote Zappa made without questioning. Let´s face it, Zappa was not all that likeable. The author shows that but tries to balance it with the idea that since Zappa was a genius everything he said hit the nail on the head. Most of what Zappa said in public was obnoxious. As a fan of his music I know I spent too much energy trying to reconcile that. It´s just not worth it.
I didn´t really like the writing style either. There are too many times when you have to figure out who he is quoting. I found myself reading faster to hurry and finish. And when I finished I didn´t feel better about myself or the subject matter.
I´ll continue to appreciate Zappa´s music as I always have. But I´ll also continue to wish that Zappa would have just shut up and made music.
¤ 2) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. This was a great overview of Frank´s life and music. It gives decent insight into some of his compositional techniques as well as nearly every one of his 60-strong catalog. Every major event in Frank´s life is covered. However, I kind of wish I would have read his autobiography, "The Real Frank Zappa Book," first so I could hear things straight from the horse´s mouth before moving on to this book. Great one nonetheless!¤ 3) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. The Book is very nicely written and well researched, however in my opinion it does not shed much light on the person that Frank Zappa was. Much rather it is organized straightforwardly in a chronological way and at times reads like a list of gigs and tours.
If someone is interested in the person Frank Zappa my advice would be to read interviews (with F.Z., colleagues and bandmembers), his own biography (with Peter Occhiogrosso) and brwose through the contents of F.Z. devoted websites.
A deeper analysis of F.Z.´s musical works, if at all possible, would be noting short of a heroic task. This work does not attempt to do so, and the smaller passages where some musical aspects are discussed, the content is - for my taste - barely touching the surface.
On the positive side, the author tries to remain balanced and writes from a clearly neutral perspective, which seems appropriate. Most of the political, sociological and/or anthropological (if you will) viewpoints - for which Frank Zappa was also famous - are kept at a minimum in this book.
All in all I can recommend the book as a chronological guideline through F.Z.´s life, but would warn readers (or fans) not to expect answers or a portrait of F.Z. as a person.¤ 4) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. This is a compelling account of the work and life of Frank Zappa, in that order.
Throughout this book it is the music of Frank Zappa and it´s creation which is always to the fore. To be fair this makes it a little unbalanced in reading it because of the cast of characters with whom he worked about whom we would like to know a little more. Given that it´s main concern is his work then this is one defect I am prepared to overlook.
This is a story of an individual for whom compromise is a dirty word. The emphasis is on the individual here because what Frank Zappa produced is an idiosyncratic view of the world which he was not afraid to bring to public attention regardless of the pressures not to do so.
Frank Zappa, as portrayed here is someone who knows what he wants to do in his mind then does whatever he has to do to convert that vision into reality. This clarity of vision is borne out in this depiction as a workaholic and a perfectionist in the persuit of an ideal. His clarity of vision too extended into the social realm where he understood the reality of living in Amerika and how the system established by the founding fathers had been subverted by the politicians and corporations who had benefitted so much for it.
In this fascinating account people move like shadows throughout the pages like extras in a movie that was Frank Zappa´s work. His search, nay quest for perfection led him to the extensive rehearsals for his bands and his demands for the highest standards for them. Similarly his intolerance for audiences who cheered him while not understanding his music became bemusement with his growing popularity as the music became more complex.
In a latter section where he was proppelled into the political arena to fight against censorship, he broke the mould of rock stars as imbecililes with eloquent and humorus defences against the forces of darkness massed against him and became a spokesman for a generation. This can be compared with his popularity as almost a samizdat artist in communist countries prior to that system´s collapse where he was seen as a staunch defender of liberal (in the European sense) ideals.
His death robbed the twentieth century of one of it´s greatest figures in music and in the fight for freedom for individuals. I think that this book is a marvellous tales of single minded persuit of excellence and fighting against adversity. Five stars.¤ 5) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. If one thing defines Frank Zappa it´s that he strove for perfection with such single-minded purpose. And, if there´s one thing that the life of Frank Zappa highlights it´s that perfection is unobtainable. This conclusion in no way negates his achievements, which were phenomenal, but humans make mistakes and these are celebrated in the performance of his music just as much as any other human characteristic. These comments are the first that came into my head when I sat down to write a review of Neil Slavens´ admirable effort. There has been some criticism about various inaccuracies in his book and I spotted a few, but for me, this in no way marred the experience and is a very human portrayal of a very remarkable human being.
The best feature of this book, regardless of how you personally may find the style, is that Slaven maintains it consistently throughout. It is comprehensive and well connected and not just hacked together. Since I´ve finished reading it I´ve used it many times as a reference and it is particularly useful for locating the timing of certain significant events, such as album releases. Biographers in general make subjective comments about their subjects and here you will find no exception, but Slaven has kept these to a respectable minimum and the book is much more a life story than a critique and leaves readers room to make their own judgements.
Until I read this book, my knowledge of Frank Zappa´s life was somewhat fragmented, but after reading it I felt I finally had closure. Electric Don Quixote by Neil Slaven is an unputdownable read and continues to be a useful member of your library after you´ve finished. Whatever your level of interest in Frank Zappa you should get this book.¤ 6) Paperback Book Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa by Omnibus Press. Music historian Neil Slaven has brilliantly chronicled the complex strands of Zappa´s life and work in a book that will please not just Zappa fans but anyone interested in the history of rock music.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 10-Nov-2008, 0711994366752187490609, 250-660-541-7GB-1SB-0OB-8 
Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa, Book, Image © Omnibus Press
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