Village Of The Sun

Album: Rubber Slices (1979)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about Frank Zappa's teenage years in Lancaster, California. The area was filled with turkey farms and is still prone to vicious sandstorms. In the tiny town of Sun Village (which was almost entirely Black and Latino and was mostly burned to the ground during race riots in the late 1960s and early 1970s), Zappa and some friends formed a group called "The Black-Outs," which played at a place called "The Village Inn & Barbecue" on Palmdale Boulevard. There was always a crowd of drunken individuals who would dance in a stumbling manner, all of which are mentioned in the song.
  • The song was not sung by Zappa - his saxophonist and flute player Napoleon Murphy Brock sang sang it. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Darrell - Eugene, Oregon, for above 2

Comments: 2

  • Jimmydevice from Pnw Se WashingtonI now understand the blue lights and BBQ reference.
  • Ray from Maurice River Township, NjThis song, "Village of the Sun" was first recorded by Frank Zappa, and best known from, the popular 1974 album "Roxy & Elsewhere".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?