Agency Man Frank zappa (guitar, vocals) Ian underwood (alto saxophone, piano) Bunk gardner (tenor saxophone, clarinet) Motorhead sherwood (baritone saxophone, tambourine) Roy estrada (bass, vocals) Don preston (electric piano) Arthur tripp (drums, percussion) Jimmy carl black (drums) Members of the bbc symphony orchestra
(were the mothers of invention ahead of their time? at least in the case of agency man (written in 1967), about ronald reagan running for president. (since bill casey was reagan campaign manager Later became head of the cia, the idea of a political sales pitch emanating from an agency man takes on a whole new dimension).
Sell us a president, agency man Smiling big brother stern father perhaps Sell us a president, agency man (a gay?) smiling up we know never craps Let's try california, Pay us first before we do it We get a smilin nazi March him right on through Wham a baby Kiss a baby Ladies in for tea
And here's a bunch of speeches Well toss 'em in for free
Sell us a president, agency man Smiling big brother stern father perhaps Sell us a president, agency man (a gay?) smiling up we know never craps
We'll sell him in the movies On the tube throughout the year We'll sell him by the bucket To the okies drinking beer We'll teach him how to walk and talk We'll putty up his chin We'll print his picture everywhere Of course the shmuck will win
From the heart of death valley To the ruling of our land A simple trick you simple pig It's just the way we planned