Original version(s)

• Originally released by Tony Allen & The Champs (Specialty 560, 1955)

 

FZ album(s) in which song has appeared

• quoted in Memories Of El Monte by The Penguins, recorded at Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, 1963
• Whisky A Go Go, 1968 (2024), as Memories Of El Monte, performed in Los Angeles, CA, July 23, 1968
  • same version on Zappa—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2020), as Memories Of El Monte
    • same version on The Zappa Movie Official Soundtrack Album!—Exclusive Backer Reward Edition (2020)
• Joe's Garage Act I (1979), quoted in Joe's Garage, recorded at Village Recorders, LA, April 1979
  • same version, different edit, released as a single (Zappa Z-31, September 1979)
    • same version (single edit) on Strictly Commercial (1995)
• Zappa '80—Mudd Club/Munich (2023), as Nite Owl, performed in Munich, Germany, July 3, 1980

 

Tour(s) on which song is known to have been performed (main source: FZShows, v. 7.1)

• June-August 1974 (MOI)—known quotations: 1
• October-December 1974 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• March-May 1980 (North America)—known performances: 11
• May-July 1980 (Europe)—known performances: 6
• October-December 1980 (North America)—known performances: 2
• September-October 1984 (Europe)—known performances: 2
• October-December 1984 (North America)—known performances: 3

 

Comments

Foggy G, "The Songs That Were Played," We're Only In It For The Touring

1974: Performed twice on this tour, both times with special guest Lance Loud (of the TV show "The American Family") doing the vocals. Unlike the 80's versions of this tune, this performance is a lot bluesier, with more of a hard-core, slow blues sound. It is NOT upbeat like the version that Frank would occasionally play on his early 80's tours. [Sean Gaffney was unfortunate to remember "The American Family" show. It was a "rather cruel show that purported to broadcast the everyday lives of an average American family for 13 weeks. By the end of the series, the son had come out, the daughter was pregnant, and the parents were divorced". A true American classic.]

1980 Mar-Jul: This upbeat 50's cover has popped up at Frank shows repeatedly over the years. Nothing all that special, the tune is enjoyable nonetheless for the vocal display the band puts on (the best part about this band). This song serves as a precursor to the tiny little flood of 50's tunes that Frank would begin performing in the following tours.

1984: Harmless little fifty's tune, performed several times throughout the tour.