Song of the Day 6/18: The Persuasions, “Electric Aunt Jemima”

Unless you’re a right-winger, you probably haven’t thought about Aunt Jemima in years, given that she’s not a real person and all. But when Quaker Oats announced they were retiring the minstrel-show-based mascot after more than 130 years, conservatives suddenly had a black person they cared about. Kill black guys for falling asleep in the drive-through lane? They’re OK with that. But sacking an imaginary black woman? Outrage! Then again, they might be all worked up because they’re afraid she’ll get unemployment and turn into a welfare queen.

Frank Zappa recorded this tune for his “Uncle Meat” LP, back when his output consisted of a mix of avant-rock and doo-wop parodies. This is one of the latter, done a cappella by the Persuasions, a vocal group Zappa signed to his record label in 1969. It appeared on their 2000 LP “Frankly a Cappella,” a tribute album to the guy who gave them their big break.

Bonus track from the same album: “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing”