Zappa’s early influences: R&B – Doo-wop Vol. 39

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 Danleers – One Summer Night

0:02:11 – Otis Williams and the Charms – I’d Like To Thank You Mr DJ

0:04:59 – Marvels – Did She Leave You

0:07:21 – Arthur Lee May – Moonlight

0:16:18 – Tangiers – Remember Me

0:19:17 – Jonesy’s Combo – Arline

0:22:24 – The Students – My Vow to You

0:25:12 – The Valentines – Summer Love

0:32:11 – Marvins and the Chirps – Sixteen Tons

0:35:00 – The Pretenders – Part Time Sweetheart

0:37:29 – The Earls – Without You

0:39:33 – The Orioles – I Don’t Want to Take a Chance

0:44:52 – The Five Majors – Echo In My Heart

0:47:49 – Joe Van Loan & his Quartet – Until I Fell For You

0:52:45 – The Sweethearts – In Between Kisses

0:55:47 – The Rays – Magic Moon

0:58:39 – Valets – Sherry I Love You So

1:01:14 – Cosy Eggleston – Big Heavy (Blue Lights Boogie)

1:04:00 – Four Blues – As Long as I Live

1:08:34 – Uniques – Somewhere

1:11:38 – The Hollywood Flames – If I Thought You Needed Me

1:13:55 – The Hollywood Flames – Every Day, Every Way

1:16:37 – The Uniques – I Cross My Fingers

1:22:19 – Spartans – Lost

1:24:47 – Anthony & The Sophomores – One Summer Night

1:27:29 – The Casanovas – That’s All

1:30:39 – The Del-Vikings – How Could You

1:35:55 – Troys – Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling

1:38:04 – Ink Spots – My Greatest Mistake

1:41:43 – The Platters – The Mystery of You

1:47:26 – Rust College Quintet – I Had A Talk With God

1:52:56 – The Sparrows Quartet – He Is My Friend

1:57:11 – The Delta Rhythm Boys – Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye