Wildman Fischer and Ed Sanders

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Two goals for the thread:

One, there's no thread about Wildman Fischer, so far as I could find. He was still making music on Rhino (go figure) at least within the last decade. But from what I've heard, An Evening With... is never coming out because Fischer thinks Zappa was making fun of him (and he probably was).

I didn't turn up any threads on Ed Sanders solo either, which is odd. And since the Bonzo Dog Band thread jogged my memory on these bands, I thought I'd toss 'em together (the three axes of novelty music? Pop, profane, insane?)

The second purpose is to hope that someone who doesn't read the YSI threads would be willing to hook me up with An Evening With Wildman Fischer and Ed Sanders' Truckstop. Gemm turns up no hits for An Evening..., and their only Truckstop they want over $150 for a one-star quality record. My dad used to have both of these albums, one was swiped at a party and the other has been lost to the sands of time, and I'd like to replace 'em for Christmas. Any idea how to do that on a student's budget? I don't mind giving him mp3s (since he travels with his laptop, he's ripping everything these days anyway), and while it would be one of those serendipities if someone were willing to send 'em to me, I'd be happy to pay for 'em if I could find 'em cheap enough (approx. $20 each). Any ideas?

― js (honestengine), Thursday, 15 December 2005 02:10 (twenty years ago)

I tried, js, but got no takers:

TS: Wesley Willis vs. Wild Man Fisher

...and sorry, my AEWWF is stuck as vinyl.

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 15 December 2005 04:01 (twenty years ago)

Heh. WHERE IS THE LOVE ON ILM FOR...

(And you don't want to rip it to your computer?)

― js (honestengine), Thursday, 15 December 2005 05:13 (twenty years ago)

No idea why neither of the Ed Sanders LP's are on CD, as Rhino Handmade made a swell 3CD FUgs boxed set that took care of all of that era of Fugs. I doubt Larry has any sat so as regards to whether of not "An Evening With..." ever comes out on CD. I suspect it would sell in very small quantities, hence never a proper re-issue thus far. Good stuff, good luck finding any!

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Thursday, 15 December 2005 05:32 (twenty years ago)

everybody thinks everything's normal at our house
but they don't see you in your priestress robes
as you whack whack whack the backs of your poor followers
and you hid in the bushes wearing wading boots wrapped in greasy barbed wire
and you stalk the postman

― nick ring (nick ring), Thursday, 15 December 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

NOT EVEN YOUR CAT CAN SEE ME

― sleeve (sleeve), Thursday, 15 December 2005 06:35 (twenty years ago)

I think that I've got a line on Truckstop through a SLSK.

― js (honestengine), Thursday, 15 December 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

I doubt Larry has any sat so as regards to whether of not "An Evening With..." ever comes out on CD. I suspect it would sell in very small quantities, hence never a proper re-issue thus far.

I think you're VERY wrong if you think "An Evening With..." won't sell a lot more than most of the rubbish that gets reissued! I don't know why it isn't being reissued but the Zappa estate seems to have a record for doing this sort of thing (see "Bat Chain Puller")

― We Buy a Hammer For Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 15 December 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

I bet Wild Man Fisher would "OK" anything of his for re-issue if it earned him any money. Zappa also never re-issued Jeff Simmons album, which is lots better than the WMF album. "Bat Chain Puller" is a different kettle of fish; more than one record company is involved, more than one set of publishers/managers are involved...(Warner Brothers & Virgin UK). I am not debating the worth of any of this material, it's all interesting/good. But I bet if contracts exist between any artists and "Bizarre/Straight/Herb Cohen/Zappa Family Trust", the contracts are in favor of the record company, not the artist. It was the 60's, anyway. BTW, new Zappa Xmas (60's recordings) CD available for pre-order at zappa.com!

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Thursday, 15 December 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

Basically, WMF got thrown out of the zappa household for throwing things and scaring the kids, back in the day. And Gail has a long memory and doesn't want to give him any more anything.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

Jeff Simmons album? What's it like?
(And any hope on finding any of these for a reasonable price ever? Or should I track a shitty copy down, then rip it and "reissue" it on a made-up label from some country with weak copyright laws?)

― js (honestengine), Thursday, 15 December 2005 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Basically, WMF got thrown out of the zappa household for throwing things and scaring the kids, back in the day. And Gail has a long memory and doesn't want to give him any more anything.

Jesus, over-protective mothers dontcha just hate them? I think I'd have been tempted to throw things at Ahmet and Dweezil (and still am) - not Moon tho

― We Buy a Hammer For Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 15 December 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1UV8JHBUNKJP304465LT49S00U

all of side 2 (the solo songs) plus "The Taster"

― idontliketheysithread, Thursday, 15 December 2005 20:58 (twenty years ago)

I think it is very sad that Frank Zappa exploited WMF like a circus freak and Gail Zappa continues to deny him the opportunity to have some income from his early music. So the mentally ill man scared the children and was rude to the adults--what else was he supposed to do? A little compassion would go a long way.

― Kim Cooper, Friday, 16 December 2005 07:46 (twenty years ago)

To be honest, I think Frank was less guilty of this than some.

The songs on the first album were his best. Some of the other stuff on the other albums were more of the 'exploit the nutter for the funnies' type thing, so it seemed. At least Franks musical backing were more sympathetic.

True, though, about they should sort out a reissue after all this time. Maybe Gail is more embarrassed about Frank having done it, than any residual antipathy re Larry, thesedays.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 16 December 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

Beefheart was annoyed at the way Zappa (and Herb Cohen) promoted Wildman Fischer

― We Buy a Hammer For Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 16 December 2005 10:57 (twenty years ago)

... but, like "Trout Mask Replica", would anyone else have recorded him?

― We Buy a Hammer For Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 16 December 2005 10:58 (twenty years ago)

Thanks "Wildman"... Happen to have the a side? (I appreciate even side b though thanks again).

― js (honestengine), Friday, 16 December 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

I've been listening to that WMF stuff for the past couple of days. It's GREAT. But, for some reason, it bugs my girlfriend incredibly. She can't stand it...

― js (honestengine), Saturday, 17 December 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

Someone heard my prayer. An ILMer?

― js (honestengine), Thursday, 22 December 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Revive! Someone sent me Truckstop, and I thank them mightily! I'm loving it now, and curious about Beercans on the Moon. Worth tracking down? Hmm...

― js (honestengine), Saturday, 28 January 2006 23:08 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

Not really "scary music" but Wild Man Fischer's compilation album easily contains some of the most disturbing things I can recall hearing. His pathetic pleas to others that he's not insane and the declaration that he's overcome his shyness being particularly painful things to hear. It's hearing articulated, traumatic childhood thoughts that sadly remained caged in a grown man's mind all the way into adulthood. Very sick.

― Cunga, Saturday, 8 November 2008 08:01 (seventeen years ago)

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