Celebrity Appreciation for BW/BB lesser known material

[Andrew G. Doe]

In David Leaf's book, there's a pic of part of Bruce's schedule for this visit. I think it was all arranged by Kim Fowley, but yes, Keith brought John & Paul over (although Keith Altham claims they heard it a few days before when someone else played them an acetate).

[Myk Luhv]

Zappa, being the highly opinionated fellow he was, surely must have had some opinion of Brian Wilson and/or The Beach Boys. I'm curious if anyone knows what it may have been, considering he was not so fond of The Beatles it seemed...

And Ry Cooder actually plays on Kokomo.

Do you have a source for this? My "research" (Wikipedia ) does not mention him as having played on it -- although, of course, this is not evidence that he did not -- although it does mention that Ry's long-time drummer, Jim Keltner, played on "Kokomo".

[Jon Stebbins]

Zappa, being the highly opinionated fellow he was, surely must have had some opinion of Brian Wilson and/or The Beach Boys. I'm curious if anyone knows what it may have been, considering he was not so fond of The Beatles it seemed...

There are some very direct connections between Zappa and the Beach Boys including using common backing musicians and even equipment, but maybe the most direct is the fact that James Guercio who managed/performed with/produced and generally advocated for the Beach Boys and especially Dennis Wilson was an early performing member of the Mothers of Invention, he left just as they were negotiating their Verve record contract. Frank insisted he be exclusive to the MOI and Jim wanted to freelance. There's a quote from Frank that says, "Jim Guercio was in the band until he decided to become successful instead."

[Andrew G. Doe]

Frank came up with my all-time favorite rock quote:

"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." 

[Rocker]

I once read a quote by Zappa where he was praising a part of "Little deuce coupe". But I don't remember what exactly he did say

[Jason]

Frank said that he liked the 1-2-4-5 chord progression in Little Deuce Coupe. Anyone with a basic knowledge of music knows that, ideally (lol), the seven notes in the major scale, applied to chording, is basically 1, 4, 5, and 7 are major chords, and 2, 3, and 6 are minor chords.

Little Deuce Coupe is in Ab. The first line of the song is the chorus, which is played in Ab. Then, during the verse, the song goes from Ab to Db, and when Brian repeats the chorus lyric, it's almost expected that he will end the verse with the chorus line in Eb. He does it, but to a point. He goes from Eb to Bbm7, then repeats it before going back to Ab and to the verse progression. During the bridge, Brian goes from Db to Ab to Db to Ab7 to Eb7 before returning to the progression. To people like us, used to this kind of musical invention from Brian, it may not seem like much, but these kinds of progressions for 1963 pop songs are somewhat innovative.

[the captain]

Frank's quote, which appears in a part of his autobiography that deals with his dislike of classical-period music and harmony/theory study, is this:

"To me, II-V-I is the essence of bad 'white-person music.'

(One of the most exciting things that ever happened in the world of 'white-person music' was when the Beach Boys used the progression V-II on "Little Deuce Coupe." An important step forward by going backward.)"

From p. 187 of "The Real Frank Zappa Book," by Frank Zappa. By the way, Jon S. mentioned that there were some people and equipment in common. One specific that people here will recognize is Stephen Desper, who worked for Frank on the road shortly (immediately?) after working for the Beach Boys. I believe Mark Linett worked for Frank, too. The various links notwithstanding, the only direct quote I recall ever seeing is the one above.

[Bicyclerider]

Zappa, being the highly opinionated fellow he was, surely must have had some opinion of Brian Wilson and/or The Beach Boys. I'm curious if anyone knows what it may have been, considering he was not so fond of The Beatles it seemed...

There are some very direct connections between Zappa and the Beach Boys including using common backing musicians and even equipment, but maybe the most direct is the fact that James Guercio who managed/performed with/produced and generally advocated for the Beach Boys and especially Dennis Wilson was an early performing member of the Mothers of Invention, he left just as they were negotiating their Verve record contract. Frank insisted he be exclusive to the MOI and Jim wanted to freelance. There's a quote from Frank that says, "Jim Guercio was in the band until he decided to become successful instead."

And don't forget David Anderle, who was the Verve point man for the Mothers and is thanked on the sleeve of Absolutely Free,before he left to work for Brian and the new Brother Records.

[punkinhead]

Oh merda...Jack Black! There was a *reason* why so many of his movies has a (usually) obscure Brian Wilson reference, or the fact that Orange County had "Love & Mercy" and "Let it Shine" on its soundtrack in addition to "Lay Down Burden".

I never saw much of a reference in School of Rock...unless the striped shirt counts.

This might be a really far stretch, but in High Fidelity (I dont know if you consider this a Jack Black movie) but in the background at the record store, the LPs Endless Summer and Wild Honey can be seen, might just be coincidence.

[Rocker]

Oh merda...Jack Black! There was a *reason* why so many of his movies has a (usually) obscure Brian Wilson reference, or the fact that Orange County had "Love & Mercy" and "Let it Shine" on its soundtrack in addition to "Lay Down Burden".

I never saw much of a reference in School of Rock...unless the striped shirt counts.

This might be a really far stretch, but in High Fidelity (I dont know if you consider this a Jack Black movie) but in the background at the record store, the LPs Endless Summer and Wild Honey can be seen, might just be coincidence.

IIRC "Dead man's curve" was named, which Brian of course co-wrote