Joe's Corsage
Encyclopedia
Joe's Corsage is a CD of material recorded by Frank Zappa
with The Mothers of Invention
in the mid-1960s, before the recording of their debut album Freak Out!
(1966). The album was compiled by archivist Joe Travers, and its title is a play on Zappa's 1979 work Joe's Garage
.
A number of the recordings featured on Joe's Corsage are demo versions of songs that would later appear on Freak Out!. The first set of demos, probably recorded in 1965, feature the guitar of Henry Vestine
, who would later be a member of Canned Heat
. Also included are covers of the Righteous Brothers
' "My Babe", and Marvin Gaye
's "Hitch Hike".
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
with The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
in the mid-1960s, before the recording of their debut album Freak Out!
Freak Out!
Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
(1966). The album was compiled by archivist Joe Travers, and its title is a play on Zappa's 1979 work Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage is a 1979 rock opera by Frank Zappa. Zappa stated that along with Lumpy Gravy, this album was one of his finest achievements. It was originally released as two separate albums, the first comprising Act I, and the second part as a double-album which made up Acts II & III. All three...
.
A number of the recordings featured on Joe's Corsage are demo versions of songs that would later appear on Freak Out!. The first set of demos, probably recorded in 1965, feature the guitar of Henry Vestine
Henry Vestine
Henry Charles Vestine a.k.a. "The Sunflower", was an American guitar player known mainly as a member of the band Canned Heat. He was with the group from its start in 1966 to July 1969...
, who would later be a member of Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
. Also included are covers of the Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003...
' "My Babe", and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
's "Hitch Hike".
Track listing
All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.- "Pretty Pat" – 0:33
- "Motherly Love" – 2:21
- "Plastic People" (Richard BerryRichard BerryRichard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
, Zappa) – 3:05 - "Anyway the Wind Blows" – 2:55
- "I Ain't Got No Heart" – 3:50
- "The Phone Call"/"My Babe" (Bobby HatfieldBobby HatfieldRobert Lee "Bobby" Hatfield was an American singer, best known as one half of the Righteous Brothers.-Early life:...
, Bill MedleyBill MedleyWilliam Thomas Medley is an American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers....
) – 4:06 - "Wedding Dress Song/Handsome Cabin Boy" (Trad.) – 1:02
- "Hitch Hike" (William "Mickey" Stevenson, Clarence PaulClarence PaulClarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records....
, Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
) – 2:54 - "I'm So Happy I Could Cry" – 2:43
- "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder" (Zappa, Ray Collins) – 3:29
- "How Could I Be Such a Fool?" – 3:00
- "We Made Our Reputation Doing It That Way..." – 5:34
Personnel
- Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
– guitar, vocals - Ray CollinsRay Collins (rock musician)Ray Collins was born on November 19, 1936 and grew up in Pomona, California singing in his school choir, the son of a local police officer. He quit high school to get married. He started his musical career singing falsetto backup vocals for various 'doo-wop' groups in the Los Angeles area in the...
– vocals, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
(tracks 6–8) - Henry Vestine (tracks 2–5) – guitar
- Roy EstradaRoy EstradaRoy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Jimmy Carl BlackJimmy Carl BlackJimmy Carl Black , born James Inkanish, Jr., was a drummer and vocalist for The Mothers of Invention.-Career: 1960s-1990s:Born in El Paso, Texas, Black was of Cheyenne heritage...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....