Hit Parader

 USA

 
Started by Charlton Publication Inc. (in 1943), this [was] one of the oldest continually published music magazines in [USA] (after Song Hits, Billboard, and Down Beat). From its inception until about 1975 (when it became too expensive to license the rights), it published the lyrics to many popular songs of the time. (...) Printed on newspaper stock (with a glossy cover) until the 1980s, this mag contained many small feature articles about your favorite artists. Hit Parader's publisher, Charlton, located in tiny Derby, Connecticut, was a true music-mag empire. They put out numerous popular titles, including Country Song Round-Up, Song Hits, and Smash Hits. Hit Parader was sold in 1991, when Charlton ran into financial troubles and folded. (...) Since 1984, the magazine, like so many other music publications, caters largely to hard rock and heavy metal fans. (CBub)
Hit Parader ceased publication after the release of December 2008 issue.

1967 June

Vol. 26 No. 36 

 

Frank Zappa the Incredible Boss Mother
By Don Paulsen, pp 44-45


The most amazing, outrageous and ambitious rock & roll group anywhere in the universe is The Mothers. Their music, best appreciated in-person, combines today's pop sounds with symphonic music, satire, the primitive rock & roll songs of the 1950's and social commentary, and you can even dance to it. (read more)

 

1967 July

Vol. 26 No. 37

 

The Boss Mother Meets The Animals
By Frank Zappa, pp 40-41 


On July 4, 1966, on what you might describe as a moment’s notice, I was asked to manufacture, on behalf of Tom Wilson, for the Animals, a musical organization from England, a set of arrangements. I was told: just go in there, tell the musicians what you want and they’ll play it. (read more

Source: slime.oofytv.set 

 

1967 August

Vol. 26 No. 38

 

My Favorite Records
By Frank Zappa, p 61

Hagstrom Guitars ad
p 2


If you want to learn how to play guitar, listen to Wes Montgomery. You also should go out and see if you can get a record by Cecil Taylor if you want to learn how to play the piano. (read more)

 

1967 September

Vol. 26 No. 39

 

Hagstrom Guitars ad
p 2

Absolutely Free ad
 
p 7


 

1967 October

Vol. 26 No. 40

 

Frank Zappa On Freedom
By Frank Zappa, p 6

Hagstrom Guitars ad
p 2

Absolutely Free ad 
p 5

Platter Chatter: Absolutely Free
p 63

Moop ad
p 67


It all stems from a system that was never designed to work. Our system is based on a lot of fallacies. Our moral code, for instance, from the Puritan era is basically wrong. No animal up to and including the human being was physically designed to live under that sort of a code. When these codes are strictly adhered to you come up with stunted, twisted fragments of society. (read more)

Moop. Read more on Moop project – Cal Schenkel interview @ Seconds. The same ad was presented on Cal Schenkel's homepage www.ralf.com/oldcrap.

 

1967 December

Vol. 26 No. 42

 

Hagstrom Guitars ad
p 2

Brief notice on the Mothers coming to London
p 23

Brief notice on the new Mothers album WOIIFTM
p 47

United Mutation / Absolutely Free ad
p 67


The Mothers (Of Invention) are coming to London for one big show at the Royal Albert Hall on September 23rd. Their manager Herb Cohen was in town recently to set it all up. "We'll fly in about five days beforehand so that we can get it together properly and rehearse extra musicians to augment the sound," he told me.

***

.... The cover of the new Mothers album, "We're Only In It For The Money," is a hilarious take-off on both the Beatles "Sgt.Pepper" album cover and the famous photo of the Rolling Stones dressed as ladies with the wheel chair. The Beatles spelled their name with flowers. The Mothers used vegetables. Jimi Hendrix dropped into the photo studio and Frank Zappa put him next to a Christmas tree. Frank's pumpkin Gail is in the front row, in furs and blue gown, and the tall guy on the left is Tom Wilson, the Mothers record producer. It's a great cover .... 

Source: slime.oofytv.set 

 

1968 June

Vol. 27 No. 48

 

The Incredible History Of The Mothers
By Frank Zappa, pp 27, 38-39


Although the Mothers have been in existence for about three years, the project was carefully planned about four and a half years ago. I had been looking for the right people for a long time. (read more

 

1969 July

Vol. 28 No. 60

 

The Lead Guitar Of Henry Vestine
By Henry Vestine, pp 18-30


Page 18. Essentially, I left the Mothers for the same reason. When I first joined, we were playing stomping R&B all night long (generally, we were working five set a night club dates at that time). However, when Frank was putting together the first albmn, he started teaching the band harmony parts. etc. to compliment the lines he had been playing himself in the clubs. This was all fine and dandy (Frank's genius as a composer and arranger has certainly become evident), but for me, playing these exacting, precise; parts which lacked (my) spontaneous emotional attack, represented a giant step in the direction of my becoming a paunchy studio musician who'd play anything for a buck. So, we had an amicable parting, and in the long run, I'm sure we're both happy it happened that way.

Page 20. The pop record that really flipped me out was "Help" by the Beatles I bought in Pomona, Calif. when I was making in a beer bar. This was where I really got to talk to and know Frank Zappa (he's got some roots!) although I'd met him and Capt. Beelheart briefly at a jam session at the Sea Witch in Hollywood a couple of years before. I'd actually gone to the record shop that day to buy a copy of "Together Again" by Buck Owens, and to look for old out of print R&B 45s (Zappa had already cleaned them out though).

Source: Javier Marcote, Sea Witch Sunset Strip

 

1970 April

Vol. 29 No. 69

 

What Ever Happened To The Mothers Of Invention?
By Frank Zappa, pp 23-25

Hot Rats ad
p 47


The Mothers of Invention, the infamous & repulsive rocking teen combo, is not doing concerts any more. (read more )

PS. Added nice picture of Moondog conducting, from page 35. Moondog's producer was James William Guarcio, who briefly was a member of The Mothers of Invention.

 

1971 June

Vol. 30 No. 83

 

Zappa On The Move Again
Interview by Richard Green, pp 15-16, 60


HP: When did you first start writing with classical music in mind?
ZAPPA: The first thing I ever wrote was a drum solo ... a piece for snare drum and it was called "Mice". I wrote that when I was about 14 and performed it at school – you know they have these little instrumental compositions. (read more)