spring session m

Missing Persons were a splinter group from Frank Zappa's band that worked their way through the L.A. club scene to find success with the new wave exhibitionism of their slick and adventurous debut.  Band founders Dale Bozzio, Terry Bozzio, and Warren Cuccurullo had been involved with Frank Zappa to varying degrees.  Cuccurullo says: "Frank’s bands have a way of changing personnel a lot, and it got so that I wanted a more permanent band situation, as well as one where we would play to a wider audience. That’s when Terry Bozzio and his wife (Dale) and I decided to form Missing Persons. We wanted to do something cutting edge, like Blondie, the Motels, or the Cards, but with more of the kind of musical twists that Frank had taught us. Frank was behind us 100 percent. He even let us use his studio which had just been completed. We were the first band to ever record in the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen. That’s where we did 'Spring Session M'.”

Producer Ken Scott remembers:  "Frank had just had his home studio built, and he knew my reputation for finding faults in studios, and so he said, 'You can go in, record your demos in my studio free of charge, but remember no one’s been in there before, so there are going to be things wrong with it.' He knew I would find every single bad fault there was in that place, so he could go in straight off the road and play. It was great for all of us. We knew what the deal was, so we had the patience when things held us up a bit. That was fine because we were getting the place for free and Frank finished up with a fault-free studio. So we recorded five songs, and I tried to shop them, and no one was interested. We went through the American labels about three times, we went through English labels, Australian labels. No one was interested. So we put it out ourselves, funded by Warren’s parents. One of the tracks finished up being the most requested record of the year on the L.A. radio station KROQ, which was very important at that point. And we sold out the Santa Monica Civic, which was 2,000-plus seats."

The success of the single 'Mental Hopscotch' on KROQ led to their self-produced EP selling over seven thousand copies and a deal with Capitol Records.  'Spring Session M' was produced by Ken Scott with Dale Bozzio on vocals; Warren Cuccurullo on guitar and vocals; Chuck Wild on synthesizer and keyboards; Patrick O'Hearn on electric & synthesized bass, keyboards, and synthesizers; and Terry Bozzio on vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, drums, and percussion.  The sessions took place at Utility Muffin Research Kitchen  and Le Chateau Studios in North Hollywood.    'Spring Session M' is an anagram of the band's name.  

Terry Bozzio reflects:   "I never considered us a local band.  It was very frightening at first to play the clubs because I was so unsure what the reaction would be. We realized how easy we had it being with established bands...We want to be successful, but I stand behind every note we play. We are just as convicted as any 'Art-rock' band...It's not that we are trying to be commercial, but we do try to write songs that people can relate to. I don't care to be downbeat, doom and destruction makes good copy but it's not the type of music we do ... Making this album was a challenge.  We tried to keep things as interesting as possible without alienating the man on the street. There are some weird chords, dissonant chords...odd times you can't really count but can feel. Everything on this album has an underlying pulse. We want to make music that makes people feel good. Not like, okay, everybody clap your hands. Not that bullshit. But each of our songs is specifically designed to be something everyone can relate to and can sing along to; songs that can somehow reinforce a person's lifestyle at any given moment."

Dale Bozzio reflects:   "Nothing's ever seemed so farfetched or out of reach to me. I've set my mind to quite a few things in life and just tried to achieve goals ... I'm interested in everything that makes Missing Persons work.  The bottom line is the music: the guitar licks, the drum licks, the melodies, the lyrics, what the music is about. Literally, the lyrics are realistic; they're in black and white, and the music is texturally in color. Living color."

Terry considers:   "Dale had never been brainwashed about the 'right way' to sing.  She came totally out of left field with things and it was so refreshing. Some people think that just because you don't have great technical knowledge or a musical background, you can't come up with any wonderful musical ideas. That's wrong. A lot of Dale's best singing is right off the cuff and fits well with the music Warren and I write -- which is sometimes real involved. We make the music credible. Dale makes it incredible. Rock and roll breeds rule breakers, and we're just continuing the trend."

The provocative style of former 'Playboy' bunny Dale was perfect for music videos and their outrageous visuals made the band a major staple on the fledgeling MTV channel. Dale says:   "I'm very visually conscious. Even if I'm going to 7-11, I try and dress right. I make most of the costumes I wear onstage, and they aren't out of the ordinary…for me.  Some people look at me with their mouths open, like I've just landed from some place else and like they're almost afraid of me. But I strive to break down that barrier onstage. I smile a lot, shake people's hands, try and touch people."

 'Spring Session M' made its way up to number seventeen on the US album chart despite the fact that none of the singles broke the top forty.  It has been certified gold.  





www.terrybozzio.com/


www.cuccurullo.tv/mp/

www.facebook.com/DaleBozzio/






"Destination Unknown" went to number forty-two on the pop chart and number twenty-four on the mainstream rock tracks chart. 



Life is so strange when you don't know
How can you tell where you're going to
you can't be sure of any situation
something could change and then you won't know
Ask yourself
where do we go from here
it seems so all to near
just as far beyond as I can see
I still don't know what this all means to me
Tell yourself
I have nowhere to go
I don't know what to do
And I don't even know the time of day
I guess it doesn't matter any way
Life is so strange
Destination unknown
When you don't know
Your destination
Something could change
It's unknown
And then you won't know
Destination unknown
You ask yourself
When will my time come
Has it all been said and done
I know I'll leave when it's my time to go
'Til then I'll carry on with what I know
Life is so strange
Destination unknown
When you don't know
Your destination
Something could change
It's unknown
And then you won't know
Destination unknown
Life is so strange






"Words" made it to number sixty on the mainstream rock tracks chart, number forty-two on the US pop chart, and gave the band their highest chart success in Australia where it made it to number nine.  



Do you hear me 
Do you care 
Do you hear me 
Do you care 
My lips are moving and the sound's coming out 
The words are audible but I have my doubts 
That you realize what has been said 
You look at me as if you're in a daze 
It's like the feeling at the end of the page 
When you realize you don't know what you just read 
What are words for when no one listens anymore 
What are words for when no one listens 
What are words for when no one listens it's no use talkin at all 
I might as well go up and talk to a wall 
'cause all the words are having no effect at all 
It's a funny thing am I all alone 
Something has to happen to change the direction 
What little filters through is giving you the wrong impression 
It's a sorry state I say to myself 
What are words for when no one listens anymore 
What are words for when no one listens 
What are words for when no one listens it's no use talkin at all 
Do you hear me 
Do you care 
Do you hear me 
Do you care 
Let me get by 
Over your dead body 
Hope to see you soon 
When will I know 
Doors three feet wide with no locks open 
Walking always backwards in the faces of strangers 
Time could be my friend 
But it's less than nowhere now 
Less than nowhere now 
Less than nowhere now 
Now 
Ow ow ow 
Pursue it further and another thing you'll find 
Not only are they deaf and dumb they could be going blind and no one notices 
I think I'll dye my hair blue 
Media overload bombarding you with action 
It's getting near impossible to cause distraction 
Someone answer me before I pull out the plug 
What are words for when no one listens anymore 
What are words for when no one listens 
What are words for when no one listens it's no use talkin at all 
What are words for when no one listens anymore 
What are words for when no one listens 
What are words for when no one listens it's no use talkin at all 
Do you hear me 
Do you care 
Do you hear me 
Do you care 
Tell me what are words for 
Do you hear me 
Tell me what are words for 
Do you care 
Tell me what are words for 
Do you hear me 
So tell me what are words for 
Do you care 
So tell me what are words for 
Do you hear me 
Tell me what are words for 
So tell me what are words for 
Do you care 
So tell me what are words for 
Do you hear me 
Tell me what are words for 
So tell me what are words for 
Do you care 
So tell me what are words for

"Walking in L.A." sauntered up to number seventy on the pop chart and number twelve on the mainstream rock tracks chart.



Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it
I won't be fooled by a cheap cinematic trick
It must have been just a cardboard cut out of a man
Top-forty cast off from a record stand
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
I don't know could've been a lame jogger maybe
Or someone just about to do the freeway strangler baby
Shopping cart pusher or maybe someone groovie
One thing's for sure, he isn't starring in the movies.
'Cause he's walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
You won't see a cop walkin' on the beat
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
You only see 'em drivin' cars out on the street
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
You won't see a kid walkin' home from school
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Their mothers pick 'em up in a car pool
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
or is it a rollerskater in some kind of headphone disguise
Maybe somebody who just ran out of gas,
Making his way back to the pumps the best way he can.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' 
Nobody walks in L.A








'Spring Session M' 
full album:




1. "Noticeable One"  (Terry Bozzio, Dale Bozzio, Warren Cuccurullo)   3:22
2. "Windows"   (T. Bozzio, D. Bozzio) 4:59
3. "It Ain't None of Your Business"  (T. Bozzio, Cuccurullo)  2:55
4. "Destination Unknown"   (T. Bozzio, D. Bozzio, Cuccurullo) 3:34
5. "Walking In L.A."  (T. Bozzio) 3:59
6. "U.S. Drag"    (T. Bozzio, Cuccurullo) 3:36
7. "Tears"   (T. Bozzio, D. Bozzio)  4:22
8. "Here and Now"  (T. Bozzio, D. Bozzio, Cuccurullo) 3:26
9. "Words"  (T. Bozzio, Cuccurullo) 3:25
10. "Bad Streets"   (T. Bozzio) 3:41
11. "Rock and Roll Suspension" (T. Bozzio, D. Bozzio, Cuccurullo)  2:34
12. "No Way Out"    (T. Bozzio, Cuccurullo)  2:45