Frank Zappa as KPFA-FM Disc Jockey

Posted on May 31, 2009 by urbangraffito

Part 1:

In 1968, Tom Donahue interviews Frank Zappa about his life and work, while Zappa spins some of his favorite music ranging from surf music, doo-wop, jazz, the blues, to the works of Pierre Boulez.

The song selection is very informative for any fan of Zappa’s music, as one can easily trace the influence of all these styles on his own creative output, be it the cheesy harmonies of 1950s pop songs or the intricate percussive patterns of Boulez’s avant-garde classical compositions. The role that such songs had on Zappa’s own musical evolution is made all the more clear at the end of this hilarious program when a selection of satirical songs from the Mothers of Invention are also heard.

Zappa’s musical selection:

Agency Man – The Mothers of Invention
Handsome Cabin Boy [traditional] – A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl
Grunion Run – The Hollywood Persuaders
Le Marteau Sans Maître – Pierre Boulez
When We Get Married – The Dream Lovers
Memories of El Monte – The Penguins
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat – Charlie Mingus
Lucy Mae Blues – Frankie Lee Sims
The Letter – Vernon Green & the Medallions
Daddy Daddy – Richard Berry and the Dreamers
Twilight – The Paragons
Florence – The Paragons
Florence Don’t Leave Me – The Paragons
Later That Night – The Mothers of Invention
I’ll Be Forever Loving You – The El Dorados
Cheap Thrills – The Mothers of Invention
Stuff Up The Cracks – The Mothers of Invention

Click here to listen to remaining three parts.

About urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.
This entry was posted in Bizarre, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Interview, Miscellany, Music, Pop Cult and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Frank Zappa as KPFA-FM Disc Jockey

  1. punknaynowned says:
    June 1, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    clapclapclapclap
    One of my all-time favorites.
    Lucky enough to get this when there was very little of this anywhere so it made a huge impact. This and the KPPC broadcast a couple weeks later are really special time capsules. Smithsonian Institution or some other central repository of timeless items for perpetuity needs to get these along with Studs Terkel interviews and pieces like … well, everything left in New Orleans… and so on
    thanx fer putting yer little foot out there folks!
    Priceless content, right here!

  2. Mike says:
    June 1, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    what a treasure. nice to hear frank when he was still young, and not copping an attitude with the media. love the early cucamonga stuff. GREAT…

Comments are closed.