Thank You For Your Support: Thanks to everybody who very generously contributed to help keep Cover Freak operating. I’ve already invested some of that cash in the blog, purchasing three of the five songs I’m posting this week. For the folks who have not yet contributed, there’s still time. That orange button at the top of the right column isn’t going anywhere.

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Zappa Tribute Update: I’ve had two people ask me this week when the Zappa tribute album will be released. The current plan is to release it on December 19, which is the Sunday closest to FZ’s birthday on the 21st. Mark your calendars and tell your friends.

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The title of this post comes from one of my favorite Camper Van Beethoven songs. I’ve been learning to play it on my mandolin and it’s gotten me thinking about fruit. The Food Pyramid tells us that we should eat between two and four servings of fruit a day. Since Cover Freak is all about exceeding expectations I’m dishing up five servings today. No need to thank me.

Trio “Tutti Fruitty” (Little Richard)
These wacky Germans are best known for their song “Da Da Da,” but I always thought this was their best work. The bopping beat and chirping synthesizer still make me smile. When I was a college DJ we had a 12″ vinyl single of this song and there was one guy who didn’t realize that it was supposed to be played at 45 rpm. He played it several times at 33 before somebody told him. I’m still not sure if it sounded better slowed down but I’ve got to admit it didn’t really sound terribly wrong either.

The Zig Zag People “1, 2, 3, Red Light” (1910 Fruitgum Company)
This is from one of my favorite albums, “The Zig Zag People Take Bubblegum Music Underground.” Just like the title says, these guys took bubblegum pop songs and rearranged them as hardcore acid rock jams. Those disposable, blatantly commercial songs sound ever so much better that way.

Louis Prima With Sam Butera & The Witnesses “Little Green Apples” (Roger Miller)
“Little Green Apples” is one of those songs that is covered often but rarely creatively. One of these days I’ve gotta work up a post on songs like that. Anyway, there are a couple of predictable reggae covers and a couple of soul versions that are sort of interesting. But most of the time it’s delivered as a solemn ballad.

Louis Prima thankfully rides to the rescue with a version that makes me want to do the frug. As a bonus, near the end Mr. Prima breaks out his rhyming dictionary.

The Space Lady “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)” (Electric Prunes)
I looked on Wikipedia to see what specific species of plum is used in dried prunes and found the following quote, which I found amusing. I had never noticed the change in packaging, but then I don’t follow prune marketing as closely as I probably should.

Due to popular perception of prunes being used for constipation in older people, and being the subject of related distasteful joking, many of today’s distributors have stopped using the word on the package label. Their preference is to state “dried plums”.

I really dig the Space Lady and her cheesy Casio keyboard. This song really does sound quite dreamy.

Strawberry Alarm Clock “Good Morning Starshine” (From the musical Hair)
These guys are well known as one hit wonders for their song “Incense and Peppermints” and as one of the originators of the bubblegum pop that the Zig Zag People pissed all over. But buried on the same album as their big hit was this cover from the hippie-co-opting Broadway musical Hair.