Bob continues his talk with artist Cal Schenkel about his experiences with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart. They discuss Cal’s artistic collaboration, the contributions of Schenkel and Beefheart, their influence on Zappa’s work, and the challenges of recognition in the context of their artistic endeavors.
Calvin Schenkel began working for Frank Zappa in 1967, immediately becoming his entire art department. He produced iconic album cover images, including in addition to Zappa, covers for Tom Waits, Tim Buckley and Three Dog Night. His design for Captain Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica is listed as one of the 50 greatest album cover designs of the 20th Century.
Among the many album covers he produced for Zappa since his first design work on We’re Only in It for the Money, Schenkel also provided artwork and graphics for Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, Uncle Meat, Hot Rats, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Chunga’s Revenge, Fillmore East – June 1971, Just Another Band from L.A., The Grand Wazoo, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury, Tinseltown Rebellion, Does Humor Belong in Music?, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Playground Psychotics, Ahead of Their Time, and Cheap Thrills.
Bob Dobbs is a McLuhan Scholar and Zappa researcher.
00:00:00 – Beefheart and Relationships
Discussion on Captain Beefheart, Gail Zappa, and personal dynamics.
00:03:28 – Pamela Des Barres and Influence
Miss Pamela’s impact and personal dynamics in the Zappa family.
00:04:22 – Transition and Living Arrangements
Timeline of moves and friendships in New York and London.
00:06:02 – Log Cabin Era
Laurel Canyon, car imagery, and cultural references.
00:09:01 – Cars in Zappa’s Work
Zappa’s use of cars as a symbol of American culture.
00:13:15 – Uncle Meat Album Art
Album art and family influence in Zappa’s work.
00:16:01 – Zappa’s Ideas and Working Style
Zappa’s experimental ideas and working style.
00:21:05 – Gail Zappa’s Contributions
Gail Zappa’s intellectual contributions and potential book.
00:27:18 – Lancaster and Mrs. Bleed
Visiting Lancaster and Mrs. Bleed’s disappearance.
00:28:19 – Captain Beefheart’s Early Years
Don Van Vleet’s childhood home, his art, and philosophy.
00:38:05 – Denny’s with Beefheart
Casual discussions at Denny’s and other places.
00:43:00 – Album Art and References
Analysis of “One Size Fits All” album art and references.
00:46:50 – Cynicism vs. Optimism
Exploring cynicism, skepticism, and optimism in art.
00:50:07 – Voice Recognition
Analyzing voices in Zappa’s albums.
00:51:38 – Personal Contributions
Personal contributions to Zappa’s art.
00:53:25 – Cal’s Contributions
Acknowledging Calvin Schenkel’s contributions.
00:55:22 – Creative Process and Wordplay
Puns and wordplay in creative projects.
01:00:03 – Chunga’s Revenge Vacuum Cleaner
Discussing the gypsy mutant industrial vacuum cleaner.
01:02:00 – Mixing Personal and Cosmic
Personal and cosmic elements in artwork.
01:03:01 – Illustrative Elements
Exploring illustrative elements in album covers.
01:06:51 – Complexity of Interpretation
Complexity in interpreting Zappa’s work.
01:13:06 – Artistic Contribution
Individual contributions to album artwork.
01:15:47 – Zappa’s Vision
Zappa’s purpose in documenting creative elements.
01:19:02 – Personal Reflections
Reflecting on Frank Zappa’s personality.
01:21:16 – Artistic Collaboration
Intellect showcased in artistic collaboration.
01:23:00 – Balancing Control
Control versus freedom in artistry. Power dynamics.
01:25:14 – Ownership and Legacy
Ownership and conflicts in Frank’s legacy.
Recorded in July 1996
Leave a Reply