Essra Mohawk Talks of Frank Zappa - Part 1 of 3

[SecretTimeWarp]

She reminds me a lot of modern day Laraine Newman.

[JoggynSmyler]

for some reason I'll never forget the day I heard THUNDER IN THE MORNING broadcast over WMMR back in the  70's..amazing...I just loved it and never forgot it.. Enjoy my PACK IT UP song..song about going home...everyone is determined to go home..so I gave also gave the song a determined sound...you'll see what I mean.. ENJOY!

Frank z JOGGYN SMYLER music

[DreamedOfHugeSpiders]

see the way the slimy host tried to get her to say that drugs enhance musical performance so he could then show a clip of one of Frank's 'not so musically hot' moments to make her and him look stupid. don't think that saying Frank never took drugs and that they don't help performance was part of the plan, and how he couldn't hide his irritation that it failed. wanker!

[shadyltdplayaljc]

Way to go "Uncle Meat!"

[DangerousBastard]

Interview = DOA? I dont know, I think Essra kept it alive single handed.

[fecinny]

We would not expect any less from Essra...

[7855waldo]

@DangerousBastard

You're quite right! Excellent point.

[Perki88]

I used to see her open for the Mothers at the Garrick Theater (she never played with them) back in the day. I loved her voice and songs so much, I still have her "Sandy's Album is Here at Last" 33 1/3 tucked away!

[fecinny]

Thank you for visiting and yes, there is performance footage locked away somewhere. Can somebody out there post?

[Farkelu]

I've been in touch with her on and off over the years since, but I seriously doubt she will remember me as anything more than the horny wannabe from the South Jersey Singer/Songwriters group who wouldn't stop hitting on her ;-) Love you, Essra - Richard Bruce

[Farkelu]

I was lucky enough to meet Essra in the early 90s and hang out with her a bit. She invited me into her home to listen to her play and share her philosophy on music and life. Not only was she sweet and sexy, but a subtle sensuality about her that defies description. One only has to meet her and bath in her aura to be forever changed. She still inspires me. Seeing her as she was then makes me yearn for those days. She's ageless!

[fecinny]

That's beautiful and sounds so accurate. I've passed it on to Essra already... Frank

[davethecaveman]

While i believe Frank when he said he did not do drugs, it would be nice to have a confession that some of the people around him were tripping,particularly the early phase oif his carreer.Frank's music is the best,no matter what the influence.

[52appaZ]

There has been. JCB himself said he didn't understand 'Freak Out' until he went home and listened to it on LSD.

Music is the best -FZ

[beefnik]

Essra does look VERY young here! Such a cutie patootie. The interviewer is a bit on the strange side, no? Can't put my finger on it......

[DangerousBastard]

beefnik: I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing about that interviewer!

And Essra, for that matter! lol

[ThreeLeggedMongoose]

its the pedophile glasses

[7855waldo]

@beefnik

Frank is a great writer who's a one-dimensional threat (a lousy interviewer).

And it didn't help that he didn't read up about this lady's past until they started conversing.

Ergo, interview = DOA.

[fecinny]

You are right.  Thnx.

[7855waldo]

@fecinny

You're welcome. Imagine a Chevy Chase talk show interview with her!

(1990s Chase show was CXD six weeks after the git go!)

[DangerousBastard]

If Chevy Chase wanted to interview Essra... I'd start a petition begging her not to do it! The Chevy Chase show was so awful! lol

Then again, she's got skills. She could probably have saved the Chevy Chase show! lol

[7855waldo]

@beefnik

BTW, this was one of a couple of dozen of idiot hires by CNBC, which started each and every day with a bad idea about who should host one of their new shows.

Sad, no?

It's amazing they didn't try to resusitate Joan Rivers' horrid career.

[Jornev]

@beefnik He seems kind of pervy and demented somehow.

[dumbthings1970]

love the interview.....I would love to see Bonnie Tyler record some of her music.

[fecinny]

Thanks. So would I, would be cool.

[gdooyear]

"this strange little person in her mod clothes who is called Uncle Meat." Thnks for the video...she really is an amazing songwriter, with a very fascinating career.

[fecinny]

Yes, we think she's very special as well with still quite a bit to offer. Essra's talents are not limited to music as she is a great speaker and thinker too. A modern day philosopher or sage!

[plasticjesus108]

I have a copy of SANDY'S ALBUM IS FINALLY HERE, FZ image on a TV, Ian Underwood playing reeds and winds. And it's a good listen, too.

[fecinny]

I am jealous...haha

Thnx for your support.

[JJRocker9]

Very cool video, Frank! I do wish the EP she independently released containing "Making Time Stop" had greater exposure. That was a good one. I recall that "Rolling with the Punches" was on there too. Regards... Chuck C.

[thimoneus]

I had no idea she was one of the Mothers of Invention! She has done a ton in her music career. For me, the most impressive thing she ever did was sing the School House Rock song "Interjections". She also sang part of the School House Rock song "Mother Necessity", which is interesting because the point of it is the old saying, "Necessity is the mother of invention."

[thimoneus]

I remember an American Lung Association commercial from the 70's that showed somebody diving off a diving board while playing a lady singing, "... don't smoke." When I think about it, I hear Essra Mohawk's voice. Did she sing that?

[fecinny]

Don't forget "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" on SHR - I had friends amazed that those vocals came out of little Sandy Hurvitz from Philly!

[neildonoghue]

Nice video..She sounds like a great girl and she is right hippy gear was in fashion in the early 90's, I remember being a little fellow myself and buying it :)))

[chunkybutt420]

woow great post... good stuff!!

[mystimayhem]

omg she is so wonderful. I will never forget meeting her. She was like, what I wanted to be. I met her just a few years ago and she looks no different. She is untouched by time. Her stage presence made me realize a lot about my own and she and Bo are a BIG part of my daily inspirado. Thanks for posting this - it's fascinating

[LudzNL]

Thanks for the interview. I thought it was very interesting.

To be honoust I never heard of the lady before, Yes I know, I should have, her being uncle meat ;-)

[UnboundAngel]

Thanks for the great interview, Frank! It was such fun watching and listening to Essra "interact" with Deford; it was a nice counter to his banal questioning.

My first discovery of her dates to July 24, 1969 when I found a promo copy of SAIHAL for .50... FIFTY CENTS!!! :-O

I loved that cover (Cal Schenkel did the gorgeous back)! Man, I had a crush so bad I could barely go out of the house, content only to look at her, listen to it, and transcribe as best I could her great lyrics.

Fun times xD

[fecinny]

SAIHAL = "Sandy's Album Is Here At Last," Essra's 1st release on Verve Records in 1969, fyi...

[baldyholly79]

Very informative vid, i had no idea she had done so much!

[fecinny]

You don't know the 1/2 of it.

I still learn new things all the time about her...

Thanx

[YellowTexasRose90]

That Rockin Voice is from her ??? that's mindblowing but cool so many ways ... doesn't look I though she would - I though she be more Rockstar 60's Grunge with tattoos all over ... that's my mindblow working.

[JP5466]

Wow.. Thanks Fecinny. She's too cool and she looks great here!

CNBC... as in the financial network? -lol

[RosaB61]

very cool! thanks...

[fecinny]

Yes, very cool & effortless as she practices what she preaches.

[youngstown1977]

thank's for video my freind

[Prettyflowerchild]

Thank, you, this is nice, real nice~

[Izzielotzafunnies]

The whole crazy scene...

Thank you, Fecinny, for this 'new, improved' end of millenium video.

This is really swell (:

'What was Zappa like?' ' He didn't do any drugs'...'it's important, though'... smiles~

[fecinny]

What I like is how she sez Frank Zappa "may have been the 1st yuppie!"

Thanks.

[Izzielotzafunnies]

aw... yes, and if Zappa would have lived, the first rock and roll 'yuppie' president

[PadreMDB]

Great vid! She says, "she's new". That's a cool answer. God's mercies are new every morning! I think she will break through with her newness!

Thanks Frank.

[fecinny]

I feel it too.

[debwong]

Looks like something I would have watched back in '68...including the host.

[fecinny]

For sure, for sure.... Remarkably though, Essra still looks pretty damn good.

[debwong]

A lot of us in our 50s & 60s do, with the help of some talented surgeons. :))