CUCAMONGA YEARS: SINGLES

Zappa soon realised that he would never make a living out of modern compositions and at the age of twenty he started composing rock music and jazz. He continued playing guitar in several bands and started to record pop and jazz music in a studio called Pal Records in the small desert town Cucamonga, owned by Paul Buff. After Zappa purchased the Studio in 1964 it was renamed as Studio Z. One of the early Cucamonga tapes to survive is "Take your clothes off while you dance" from 1961. This song would first appear on "We're only in it for the money" and "Lumpy gravy". The original recording is included in "The lost episodes", where it is described as a jazz composition. Other than in the "Run home slow theme", the jazz effect lies here more in the accompaniment than in the melody itself. Furthermore the choice of instruments and soloing in it are typically jazz. On the "We're only in it for the money" version with lyrics however, these jazz ingredients are gone and the piece has become a popsong. This version is another example of Zappa's returning use of parallels, here fourths and thirds.

Take your clothes off while you dance (midi file)

Take your clothes off while you dance (transcription)


Paul Buff: "He just came in one day in 1960, when he was around 20, as a person who wanted to record some jazz. He had some musicians, and wanted to rent a studio. Problably the first year I was associated with him he was doing a combination of recording jazz, producing some jazz records, and was also writing some symphonic material for a local orchestra that was supposed to record some of it. He was very jazz-oriented...He played clubs, and played all the jazz standards... He did a lot of original compositions, and he'd play things like 'Satin doll' for a few dollars and a few beers" (Lost episodes booklet).

Zappa applied several times in vain for a guest appearance with his band on the Steve Allen show. When he suggested an absurdity for playing "Bicycle for two" he did get in. The tape has been kept completely in the Channel 5 archives (still to the left, 1962).

Also on "The lost episodes" is a 1963 recording of "Any way the wind blows", that would later appear on "Freak out" and "Cruising with Rubin and the jets". It's a regular two theme popsong with chord progressions. The opening theme is build upon a I and VI alternation in G. The second theme is accompanied by sung "doo-wop" harmonies. The recording shows Zappa as a multi-instrumentalist, playing bass, drums and guitar. Paul Buff was a pioneer in using a multi-track recorder, making things like this possible by overdubbing. I'll get back to overdubbing in the Hot Rats section.

Any way the wind blows (midi file)

Any way the wind blows (transcription)

SINGLES 1962-1964, OVERVIEW

During his stay in Cucamonga Zappa cooperated with Paul Buff and others to release various singles for the local market. They contain traditional rhythm and blues and doo-wop music with fantasy group names as "Baby Ray and the Ferns". Presented below are "Memories of El Monte" for a doo-wop example and "Grunion run" for a track with the bass following the blues scheme. These singles are some of the few recordings that the Zappa family trust doesn't have the copyrights of. During recent years these tracks have appeared on small labels with titles as "Cucamongo Years" or "Rare Meat". Listed below are the ones for those Zappa contributed in songwriting. The artist on the B-side is the same as on the A-side, unless indicated. Three of them have had some success. "Memories of El Monte" got a few times re-released or included in doo-wop collections. On the "Cucamonga years" CD it's attributed to 1962, other sources state that it stems from 1963. Paul Buff's "Tijuana surf" became a hit in Mexico with Zappa's "Grunion run" on the flip side (to the right an issue as EP, anonimous ebay posting). "Love of my life" is the one that Zappa would re-record three times later on. The single was brought out by David Aerni, who put his name in brackets on the single next to Zappa's, but Zappa denied that Aerni had any part in it. Included below are two midi examples, the first a doo-wop song by Zappa and Ray Collins, the second a blues instrumental.

- 1962

A Sixteen (M. Travis) by The Masters
B Breaktime (R. Williams, P. Buff, Zappa)

A Memories of El Monte (Zappa, R. Collins) by The Pinguins
B (depending on release)

Memories of El Monte, opening (midi file)

Memories of El Monte, opening (transcription)

- 1963

A Tell me (K. Williams) by Ron Roman
B Love of my life (Zappa, D. Aerni)

A How's your bird (Zappa) by Baby Ray & the Ferns
B The world's greatest sinner (Zappa)

A Dear Jeepers (Zappa) by Bob Guy
B Letter from Jeepers (Zappa)

A The big surfer (Zappa) by Brian Lord & the Midnighters
B Not another one! (D. Aerni, P. Buff)

A Hey Nelda (Zappa, R. Collins) by Ned & Nelda
B Surf along (Zappa, R. Collins)

A Tijuana surf (P. Buff) by The Hollywoord Persuaders
B Grunion run (Zappa)

Grunion run, opening (midi file)

Grunion run, opening (transcription)

- 1964

A Everytime I see you (Zappa, R. Collins) by The Heartbreakers
B Cradle rock (W. Galleges)

A Mr. Clean (Zappa) by Mr. Clean
B Jessee Lee (Zappa)

  Cucamonga years CD cover. This CD contains
  most of the singles from above.
  Source: MSI (Japan).
  Copyright of the songs: Del-Fi Records and Original Sound,
  licensed to MSI (Japan).