An Evening With
Wild Man Fischer (1968)  

Track Listing - Liner Notes - Fan Reviews - Lyrics



Released in 1968, An Evening With... was Wild
Man Fischer's vinyl debut. The embryonic gears of the album were set into
motion as a previously obscure street singer named Larry Fischer began
to gain notoriety in the mid-60s freak scene of Los Angeles. An unemployed
former mental patient, Fischer would stand on sidewalks (usually he could
be found on the Sunset Strip) and ask incredulous passersby if they would
like to hear one of his "songs for sale" at the cost of a dime. Eventually
he hooked up with Frank Zappa, hanging out with him and playing shows with
the Mothers. Somewhere along the way, the decision was made to record an
album, and An Evening With Wild Man Fischer
was born.

Recorded "live on the street" and in the studio,
the LP is catchy, frightening, hilarious, bizarre, and at times even moving.
Melodies, bits of dialogue, street sounds, and monologues float through
the listener's ears - as the album progresses, we learn about Larry, his
life, his philosophy, and most importantly, his music.

Side one, "The Basic Fischer," introduces Larry
to the listener through some studio recordings ("Merry-Go-Round" and the
brief monologue "I'm Not Shy Anymore!") and "live" tracks of Wild Man in
his element, hustling customers on the Sunset Strip. There is also an appearance
by legendary LA scenesters Kim Fowley and Rodney Bingenheimer making "prophesies
about the future of Wild Man Fischer" in the cut "The Madness & Ecstasy."
Sides two and three contain Wild Man Fischer's songs, both accompanied
and unaccompanied, as well as some "historical notes" and more street recordings.
The final side, "In Conclusion," is mostly a monologue by Larry about his
life and beliefs, along with the single "The Circle" and the final, harrowing
cut "Larry Under Pressure."





Side One: The Basic Fischer

Merry-Go-Round (This is Wild Man's theme song, sort of)

New Kind of Songs For Sale (live on the strip)

"I'm Not Shy Anymore!" (Larry relives the past in the studio)

"Are You From Clovis?"

The Madness And The Ecstacy (Kim Fowley & Rodney Bingenheimer provide
an introduction to, and make prophesies about, the future of Wild Man Fischer)

Side Two: Larry's Songs, Unaccompanied

Which Way Did the Freaks Go?

I'm Working For the Federal Bureau of Narcotics

The Leaves Are Falling

85 Times

Cops & Robbers

Monkeys Versus Donkeys

Start Life Over Again

The Mope

Life Brand New

Who Did It Johnny?

Think of Me When Your Clothes Are Off

Taggy Lee

Rhonda

I Looked Around You

Jennifer Jones

Side Three: Some Historical Notes

The Taster (fancy version)

The Story of The Taster

The Rocket Rock

The Rocket Rock Explanation & Dialog

Dream Girl

Dream Girl Explanation

Serrano (Sorrento?) Beach

Success Will Not Make Me Happy

Wild Man On The Strip Again

Side Four: In Conclusion

Why I Am Normal

The Wild Man Fischer Story

Balling Isn't Everything

Ugly Beautiful Girl

Larry & His Guitar

Circle (Larry's first psychedelic hit)

Larry Under Pressure

all music and lyrics written by Wild Man Fischer

Bizarre LP RS-6332





Liner Notes

Back Cover

Wild Man Fischer is a real person who lives in Hollywood, California.
He used to be very shy. He didn't have any friends. One day he decided
to be more aggresive. He would write his own songs and sing to people and
tell them he wasn't shy anymore. When he did this, everyone thought he
was crazy. His mother had hm committed to a mental institution twice.

Gatefold

The material for this album was recorded live in the street (with Larry's
knowledge and consent) in front of the Whiskey a Go Go and The
Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Strip, by Dick Kunc, on a UHER
portable stereo tape recorder. The percussion effects were added later
in Studio 2 at Sunset Sound by Art Tripp, engineered by Jerry
Hansen. Larry's unaccompanied songs were recorded at Sunset and in
the basement of the Log Cabin. The monologues were recorded at Sunset.
The
Taster and Circle are accompanied by multiple over-dub tracks
which I manufactured. Merry-Go-Round and Serrano Beach are
accompanied by The Bizarre Percussion Ensemble. The Madness &
Ecstasy of the second half of Side One was a spontaneous recitation
(he was making it all up in the studio, believe it or not) by
Mr. Kim
Fowley and Mr. Rodney Bingenheimer, assisted in spots by the
GTO'S
(Girls Together Outrageously). The girl's voice at the end of side
one belongs to Miss Johna, who was, at one time, Larry's girl friend.
The percussion was added later on another session.

Please listen to this album several times before you decide whether
or not you like it or what Wld Man Fischer is all about. He has something
to say to you, even though you might not want to hear it.

Frank Zappa




produced by Frank Zappa

engineered by Jerry Hansen at Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood

street field recording by Dick Kunc

art direction: Cal Schenkel

cover photograph by Henry Diltz

b&w photos by Ed Caraeff

words and music on all songs by Larry Fischer

business production: Herb Cohen