7” Singles
The birth of Frank Zappa vinyl in Australia was probably in 1966 due to the withdrawn pressing of How could I be such a fool? /Help I’m a rock (Verve V5122) on the yellow and orange label (jazz series).
During this time Verve/MGM was being pressed and distributed through Astor. The following year 1967 saw distribution change to Phonogram where all were the black and silver design.
Dispatched from Melbourne’s Astor pressing plant appears, one box of 50-60 discs was sent to Adelaide for distribution. A well known Distributor employed in Adelaide during the sixties verified the discovery of this 7” single in 1982. Others probably were pressed, as 30-35 have definitely been documented predominantly from Southern & Eastern States in Australia. Whatever the pressing run it received, there seems no doubt it was very small.
The single is either in a brown or white generic factory sleeve. Promotional releases of Verve vinyl at this time have a publicity sheet housed with a stock single. Verve test pressings usually have typed or handwritten information on a plain white label. To this date neither have been documented for 7” V5122.
Deseri/Jelly Roll
Gum Drops (Verve VS11)
U.S.A
Release date 2nd December 1968
The black/silver label Verve 7”single ‘Deseri/Jelly Roll Gum Drops (Verve VS11) was released in early 1969! This is the last 7”single to be pressed in Australia by Verve as they stopped their 7” single production at this point. It has the unique ‘s’ on Drops, which should not be there. The single was released in a light red striped Phonogram factory sleeve. If any promotional copies were released, they would simply have a ‘Sample’ stamp on the generic sleeve.
The mix on ‘Jelly Roll Gum Drops’ is different than the LP track, but the same as the U.S.A single. The vocal track is on the right compared to the LP being on the left. The mix on the 1995 CD reissue uses both sides. There are also no timpani drums and with an extra ‘Jelly Roll Gum Drop’ line towards the end.
The following are all FZ 7”Singles with known Promotional variations.
| How Could I Be
Such A Fool?/Help I’m
A Rock
|
1966 | Verve V5122 | Orange label-yellow print/white or brown factory sleeve |
| Deseri/Jelly Roll Gum
Drops
|
1969 | Verve VS 11 | Black label-silver print/a light red striped Phonogram factory sleeve |
| Dancin' Fool/Baby
Snakes
|
1979 | CBS BA 222576 | Sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| Dancin' Fool/Baby
Snakes
|
1979 | CBS BA 222576 | Promotional Not For Sale’ printed on stock sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| Joe’s Garage/Catholic Girls
|
1980 | CBS BA 222634 | Sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| Joe’s Garage/Catholic Girls
|
1980 | CBS BA 222634 | ‘Promotional Not For Sale’ printedon stock sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| I Don't Wanna Get
Drafted/Ancient
Armaments
|
1980 | CBS BA 222704 | Non LP ‘B’ Side/Sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| I Don't Wanna Get
Drafted/Ancient
Armaments
|
1980 | CBS BA 222704 | Non LP ‘B’ Side/‘Manufactured For Promotion Only And Is Not For Sale’ printed on white label/CBS factory sleeve |
| I Don't Wanna Get
Drafted/Ancient
Armaments |
1980 | CBS BA 222704 | Non LP ‘B’ Side/’Not For Sale Sample Record’rubber stamp on stock label/CBS factory sleeve |
| You Are What You Is/Harder Than Your
Husband
|
1981 | CBS BA 222897 | Sunburst label/CBS factory sleeve |
| You Are What You Is/Harder Than Your
Husband
|
1981 | CBS BA 222897 | ‘Manufactured For Promotion Only And Is Not For Sale’ printed on white label/CBS factory sleeve |
| Valley Girl/Teenage Prostitute
|
1982 | CBS BA 22297 | Sunburst label/Picture Sleeve |
| Valley Girl/Teenage Prostitute
|
1982 | CBS BA 222971 | ‘Manufactured For Promotion Not For Sale’ printed on stock label/Picture Sleeve |
