Zappa.com

As a fan of the "surf rock" genre, I was surprised to see (and hear) that Frank Zappa got his start producing surf records in the "Cucamonga Years".

I figured that he would've found surf rock boring and gimmicky (He refers to it as "a bit of nostalgia for the old folks" on Lumpy Gravy).


Anyone know what he thought of the genre itself? Was he merely producing it because it was popular and he needed work?

I suspect you are largely right. He was a young musician with a studio who wanted to make inroads in the music industry and sell some "product". Who knows, he may have actually liked it. He seemed to have an affinity for most forms of popular music in one way or another (if only mockingly in many cases). I also happen to really like surf music and really enjoy that early Studio Z and Pal stuff.

I agree,he seems to be having fun,fun,fun,on the both sides of the Ned and Nelda record with Ray Collins.It's music,Frank liked it or could mimic it really good if and when he wanted.What a guy!

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

I think he liked it, just as he liked doo-wop.

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Everytime we picked a booger we'd flip it on this one winduh. Every night we'd contribute, 2, 3, 4 boogers. We had to use a putty knife, man, to get them damn things off the winduh. There was some goober ones that weren't even hard...

wedding dress song/cabin boy & i'm so happy i could cry from joe's corsage

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Have you heard this CD of Zappa surf instrumentals?

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Zappa%20Surf.htm

Just what the world needs .... more Zappa cover bands

; snicker

I remember seeing an interview with a popular surfer from the 60's and 70's, I can't recall who, it was many years ago. He said that that the surfers he hung with were more into Rock, Blues, and counter culture musicians like Frank Zappa...

It's the drugs, with the crazy kids and the bongs and so on....

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

Not so long ago, someone over at Zappateers (the non-polluted, moderated Zappa forum) said that Zappa got along with Scott Thunes because they were both punks, from different decades. If there's a grain of truth in that, it must be that they share the caustic, irreverent attitude of punks through all time, and that would include lots of people from the surf scene. One of the guys of The Tornadoes said that they were like punks of their time.

By extension, even Varèse could be called a punk, disregarding conventions of both classical music and highbrow modernism. Another punk of sorts is Peter "why play delicately when you can blow hard" Brötzmann, as well as Albert Ayler. Mats Gustafsson is a punk, period. These guys share a cut the crap, straight to the chase attitude with punk and surf rock.

On the other hand, the totally unpunkish David Logeman has been heavily into "surf for seniors", playing with Jan and Dean and Mike Love. Lemme Take You To The Beach!

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If I'm not alone... How long have I been asleep?

Any audial similarity between the sound of Zappa's early music recorded during his years at Studio Z and the "surf music" genre (not to mention "rhythm & blues!") is thoroughly intentional and contains 4 secret clues.