Zappa’s early influences: R&B – Doo-wop Vol. 37

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

0:01:17 – Bobby Mack – How Was Your Weekend
0:03:27 – Ron Holden & the Thunderbirds – Love You So
0:07:12 – Johnnie Otis – Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)
0:09:33 – Little Caesar & the Romans – Memories of Those Oldies but Goodies
0:11:22 – Little Caesar & the Romans – Adorable
0:13:46 – The Colts – Adorable
0:18:46 – Hi-Tones – Didn’t We Have A Nice Time
0:21:13 – Little Sammy – Can You Love Me
0:26:52 – Frankie Ervin – You Cheated
0:29:12 – Hollywood Saxons – Is It True
0:31:28 – The Robins – How Would You Know
0:38:12 – The Blue Jays – Tears Are Falling
0:40:20 – The Peppers – A Place in My Heart
0:43:30 – The Alladins – Then
0:46:10 – The Crescendos – Teenage Prayer
0:51:25 – Teens – Oh Me
0:53:27 – Little Clydie King – I’m Invited To Your Party
0:57:42 – The Impossibles – Shy One
1:00:22 – The Gallahads – This Letter to You
1:02:56 – Googie Rene – Wham Bam
1:06:43 – The Six Teens – Crazy
1:09:04 – Sweet Teens – Forever More
1:11:31 – The Flairs – Love Me Girl
1:15:43 – Gladiators – My Baby Doll
1:18:26 – Cell Foster and The Audios – Honest I Do
1:20:41 – Four Flames – Baby Please
1:23:16 – The Californians – Heavenly Ruby
1:26:44 – Native Boys – Strange Love
1:29:05 – Marvels – Did She Leave You
1:30:25 – The Penguins – Don’t Do It
1:38:25 – The Hollywood Flames – Tabarin
1:41:10 – The Tangiers – Tabarin
1:44:09 – The Jayos – Sincerely
1:48:38 – The Feathers – Johnny Darling
1:50:56 – The Feathers – Nona
1:53:38 – The Platters – Have Mercy
1:56:25 – The Jacks – This Empty Heart