The late Frank Zappa would have turned 72 today. Even if you don’t know much about Zappa, you may be aware of his penchant for creative naming. He famously named his four children the following:
- Moon Unit - Dweezil - Ahmet Emuukha Rodan - Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen
Zappa also had a habit of giving his musical creations memorable titles. So let’s celebrate his 72nd birthday with a list of his 72 best song titles.
1. "A Nun Suit Painted on Some Old Boxes"
2. "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet"
3. "Half a Dozen Provocative Squats"
4. "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Momma"
5. "The Girl Wants to Fix Him Some Broth"
6. "Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Corduroy Ponce"
7. "Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin"
8. "Son of Suzy Creamcheese"
9. "Harry, You're a Beast"
10. "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?"
11. "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body? (Reprise)"
12. "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny"
13. "The Voice of Cheese"
14. "Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague"
15. "Sleeping in a Jar"
16. "Electric Aunt Jemima"
17. "Duke of Prunes"
18. "Hungry Freaks, Daddy"
19. "Willie the Pimp"
20. "It Must Be a Camel"
21. "Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich"
22. "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask"
23. "Toads of the Short Forest"
24. "Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula"
25. "This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich"
26. "Weasels Ripped My Flesh"
27. "Rudy Wants to Buy Yez a Drink"
28. "Latex Solar Beef"
29. "Lonesome Electric Turkey"
30. "Give Me Some Floor Covering Under This Fat, Floating Sofa"
31. "For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)"
32. "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus"
33. "I’m the Slime"
34. "Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow"
35. "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast"
36. "Father O'Blivion"
37. "Stink-Foot"
38. "Penguin in Bondage"
39. "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?"
40. "Evelyn, a Modified Dog"
41. "Sam with the Showing Scalp Flat Top"
42. "Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead"
43. "Man with the Woman Head"
44. "The Illinois Enema Bandit"
45. "Big Leg Emma"
46. "Help, I’m A Rock"
47. "Spider of Destiny"
48. "The Ocean Is the Ultimate Solution"
49. "Tryin' to Grow a Chin"
50. "Yo' Mama"
51. "Pedro's Dowry"
52. "Naval Aviation in Art?"
53. "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
54. "Soup 'n Old Clothes"
55. "Gee, I Like Your Pants"
56. "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar"
57. "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More"
58. "Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar"
59. "Pinocchio's Furniture"
60. "Theme from the 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear"
61. "Charlie's Enormous Mouth"
62. "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing"
63. "Tink Walks Amok"
64. "The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou"
65. "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats"
66. "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress"
67. "Hot-Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel"
68. "In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky"
69. "That's Not Really Reggae"
70. "Orrin Hatch on Skis"
71. "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk"
72. "The Living Garbage Truck"
My favorites: 3, 12, 16, 22, 30, 55, 62, and 70. What are yours?