The Persuasions - Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (2000)

Frank Zappa dug R&B vocal groups so much that he lovingly parodied them from time to time and even committed a straightforward version of the Channels' "The Closer You Are." Putting his money where his heart was, he made the Brooklyn-bred a cappella outfit the Persuasions one of the first signings to his Bizarre label in the late '60s. They playfully and seriously return the favor with Frankly A Cappella; after all, when you've transformed "On Top of Spaghetti" into a soul classic, how hard can it be to smooth out "Lumpy Gravy"? The bom-bom-boms of "Electric Aunt Jemima" are a natural for these street-corner symphonists, but they cover a lot of Zappa's broad musical map. A flicker of rage underlies the hilariously irreligious "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing," the post-civil-rights comment of "You Are What You Is," and the teen-woe tale "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama." But Zappa might have been most proud of what the Persuasions do with "Love of My Life"; here, they come within striking distance of providing him with his very own "The Closer You Are." --Rickey Wright