Zappa’s early influences: R&B – Doo-wop Vol.25

Frank Zappa often complained by the Eighties that he found it difficult to find musicians who were familiar with the Doo-Wop and R&B records of the Fifties.

So his love of that music could not be featured in his later concerts as much as he would like.

Frank would occasionally mention that he had a sizable collection of 45s from the Fifties.

I now encounter young people who never even heard of this music, not even from their parents.

When I lived in New York City between 1993 and 2008, I would listen to WFUV, broadcasting from Fordham University in the Bronx, almost every Saturday night between midnight and 2am, and record Dan Romanello’s “GROUP HARMONY REVIEW”.

Romanello was one of the most knowledgeable DJs of the music from the Fifties and early Sixties in the world.

https://wfuv.org/content/thank-you-dan

https://wfuv.org/users/dan-romanello

We have now made 45 of his shows available – that’s approximately 90 hours of this incredible music!!!

His commentary throughout the shows is exemplary for its scholarship, including interviews with many of the musicians, who performed in those years on the street corners, since so many of them were still living in the New York City area.

This collection may not interest all Zappa enthusiasts but we are making it available to those who already enjoy this music as well as those who have never experienced it before. Frank showed me this collection occasionally and we would often listen to a few records.

Bob Dobbs

0:00:00 – The Penguins – Hey Senorita
0:02:31 – The Del-Vikings – Hey Senorita
0:04:15 – The Del-Vikings – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
0:09:33 – The Del-Vikings – Can’t Wait
0:11:59 – The Del-Vikings – Is It Any Wonder
0:17:27 – The Arcades – My Love
0:19:41 – The Mystics – Don’t Take the Stars
0:22:15 – The Velours – Blue Velvet
0:28:08 – The Valentines – Natures Creation
0:30:40 – The Wanderers – For Your Love
0:36:10 – The Larks – Darlin’
0:39:05 – The Showcases – (This Love) Was Real
0:41:29 – The Atones – Jenette
0:47:56 – The Charmers – I Cried
0:50:25 – The Jarmels – Gee Oh Gosh
0:52:58 – The Mystics – So Tenderly
0:55:25 – The Jarmels – Red Sails in the Sunset
1:00:38 – Sequins – Why Can’t You Treat Me Right
1:04:25 – The Elegants – Please Believe Me
1:07:16 – The Rogues – I’ve Been Dreaming
1:10:11 – The Elegants – Goodnight a/k/a Goodnite
1:12:24 – The Chaperones – The Man from the Moon
1:17:35 – The Elegants – True Love Affair
1:19:58 – The Vocaleers – Hurry Home
1:22:56 – The Sparrows – Ain’t Got The Money
1:26:19 – The five bells – Please Remember My Heart
1:31:40 – The Turks – Emily
1:34:36 – The Byrds – Let’s Live Together as One
1:36:43 – Bob Relf – Our Love
1:39:30 – The Byrds – The Truth Hurts
1:44:04 – The Bells – What Can I Tell Her Now
1:46:37 – The Velvets – At Last
1:50:00 – The Du Droppers – Chain Me Baby (Blues of Desire)
1:53:04 – Charles & Carl – Lucky Star
1:58:18 – Deep River Boys – Sleepy Little Cowboy