Mystery Tunes

Here's a chance for you to play "Name That Tune" and win the "Mysterioso Pizzicato" award. The "Mysterioso Pizzicato" award--or Mysty--is an imaginary statue of Mike Gula, who identified the haunted house music quoted in "Zomby Woof". Can you identify any of the following pieces? If so, please let me know.

8. This was played immediately before "Octandre" on 5/23/69 Appleton. Is it a quotation from another classical piece?

6. Is this song called "I'm Gonna Bust His Head"? Is it a cover or a Zappa/Collins original? Sung by Ray Collins in a medley with "My Boyfriend's Back" and "96 Tears". This performance comes from 5/70 NYC, but the same medley was performed as early as 1967.


The following pieces have already been identified.

1. Classical excerpt performed by the Mothers of Invention in 1968. This performance is from 10/6/68 Bremen. The same piece was played on 5/3/68 Denver (Electric Aunt Jemima), 10/10/68 Paris, 5/23/69 Appleton, and 5/8/74 Edinboro.

And the Mysty goes to...

2. R&B instrumental performed by the Mothers of Invention in 1969. This performance is from 2/22/69 (early) Toronto. The same piece was played in the 3/69 Miami show (aka 3/68). In both shows, it immediately followed Chuck Higgins' "Pachuko Hop".

And the Mysty goes to...

3. Familiar theme quoted in "The Torture Never Stops", 12/11/80 (late) Santa Monica (after "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy" and before "Uncle Meat" and "Perry Mason"). You might hear this in a cartoon if a tough guy got hit on the head and started dancing around effeminately while birds flitted about his head.

And the Mysty goes to...

4. Early rock chant superimposed on "Mudd Club"/"Mo's Vacation" in 1/28/80 rehearsals. In addition to the ooh-oohs, FZ sings something like "Itty bitty pretty one".

And the Mysty goes to...

5. Is this song called "My Linda Lou"? Sung by Ray Collins during "Orange County Lumber Truck", 5/70 NYC.

And the Mysty goes to...

7. Is this phase three of "Igor's Boogie"? In 1970, "King Kong" usually included "Igor's Boogie", followed by this theme. Is it a quotation from some classical piece, an unreleased section of "Igor's Boogie", or an unreleased section of "King Kong"? This performance comes from 6/18/70 Uddel, but the theme was also played by the Hot Rats line-up (2/8/70 San Diego) and by the MOI reunion line-up (5/70 New York).

And the Mysty goes to...

9. The mystery singer. Who is singing? Is it Lowell George? Or is it a Canadian guest vocalist? This performance comes from a tape that was probably recorded on 5/24/69 at the Rockpile in Toronto. The same singer can also be heard on a tape that was probably recorded at the late show on 2/23/69 at the Rockpile.

And two Mystys go to...

10. Here's a nine-note melody that FZ quoted numerous times over the years. This tune was previously identified as "Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore", but that is incorrect. These examples come from 4/20/68 (late) New York and 12/5/80 (late) Berkeley. (In the latter case, the usual nine notes are preceded by what is probably not part of the same song. Does anyone recognize that?)

And the Mysty goes to...


The Planet Of My Dreams