FRANK ZAPPA - THE PENGUINS - MEMORIES OF EL MONTE - RARE MILLION SELLER REISSUE
$
23
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Description
Here's a very nice copy of a split single, with The Penguins doing "Memories of El Monte" b/w The Question Marks doing "Ballad of a Boy and Girl" (Million Seller 852).
This is a terrific doo-wop record, and the A-side is written by Frank Zappa and Ray Collins. The Penguins had a huge hit with "Earth Angel" (on the Dootone label in 1954) and this song is a return to that earlier form, replete with references to other doo wop bands, and with sweet reminiscing about how "if only they had those dances again" in El Monte, California. Here’s Frank himself: "The very first tunes that I wrote were 50's doo wop, 'Memories of El Monte' and stuff like that. It's always been my contention that the music that was happening during the 50's has been one of the finest things that ever happened to American music and I loved it. I could sit down and write a hundred more of the 1950's type songs right now, and enjoy every minute of it." Recorded in Pal Studios, Cucamonga, California. Lead vocals by Cleve Duncan. Released in 1963. It was also featured as the title track to an Art Laboe collection of Original Sound records (OSCD 1960).
The B side is credited to The Question Marks, but the group also recorded under the name The Graduates. They also recorded as The Playboys. The song "Ballad of a Boy and Girl" was a small hit for the The Graduates. This version, recording under the name The Question Marks, is slightly different than the version by The Graduates.
This record is in EX+ to NM condition. Just a very small scuff (does not affect play) on the B side.
Thanks for looking, and please check out my other items for more rare and beautiful 45s.
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