It took me a long time just to think of something of value to put up on the public front.  Let me tell you what my story is.

When I was 5 years old (1977), I was exposed to the music of FZ for the first time. Of course me being of young age and well-- not remembering, it was stored in my subconscious until 1986. When Mark (from Eau Claire, WI) made a copy of one Zappa song for me (among other artists) called  "Valley Girl", and I was exposed once again.  "Valley Girl" actually was Zappa's biggest hit.  (Made in 1982.)  It topped out to somewhere in the Top 40.  So only knowing that tune did not gravitate me over to listening and buying more albums.  I (at that time) was more into AC/DC and Iron Maiden.  It wasn't till 1992 where a friend of mine named John (from Lombard, IL) made a copy of "Apostrophe (')" AND "Overnight Sensation" for me and I was ecstatic when I put in that tape and listened.  I still couldn't get myself to go to Best Buy or Tower Records and buy everything that was available at the time.  I didn't even know where to begin!
    I was near the Wisconsin/Illinois border (near a bridge by the exit for Beloit, WI) going southbound when I decided to switch over to the radio in order to hear the weather.  So I turned off the Zappa tape (Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation) to listen to the radio.  I was relieved to hear that it wasn't going to be anything of large proportion.  I also heard something on the radio that night, December 5th, 1993, which was a real bummer.  Frank Zappa died the day before (6 PM) from prostate cancer.  I was deeply saddened by the news.  His death was such a tremendous loss to the world.  In September of that year he finished his final work (10 years in the making) Civilization, Phase III.  It was of that period I started hoarding his albums until I had them all.  I think it was late '95 when I had a complete collection of all that were commercially available.