Remembering That Time When Frank Zappa Recorded a Jingle for Remington Electric Shavers

December 19, 2017 Alan Cross 1 Comment

As we approach Christmas, we’re once again seeing plenty of commercials for electric shavers. This is a good time to remember the time when Frank Zappa produced a spec piece for “Remington Electric Razor Machines.”

Zappa was living in New York at the time and got a request from one of the weirder people at an advertising agency. That person knew about the commercial Zappa had done for Luden’s Cough Drops…

…and thought he’d be the perfect guy to give a fresh spin to electric razors. “Why not?” he thought.

Zappa contacted a young singer named Linda Ronstadt (yes, her), with whom he shared a manager. Everyone was paid a thousand dollars for the demo–but ultimately rejected it. A shame, really.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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