Memories of El Monte

[3] At some point in the next few years, Ray Collins visited Frank Zappa at his house at 314 W. G Street in Ontario, California.

Ray had been to the dances at El Monte Legion Stadium and had played there with tenor saxophonist Chuck Higgins.

Ray sat down at Frank's piano, played the "Earth Angel" chord changes and immediately came up with the first lyrics for "Memories of El Monte."

[13] Frank Zappa used a $1,500 advance against the royalties of "Grunion Run" (recorded by The Hollywood Persuaders) and "Memories of El Monte" to bail his girlfriend out of jail,[10] and to get an attorney.

[14] "Memories of El Monte" was released five times as a single:[16] "Memories of El Monte" appears on a 1984 live LP from Ace Records called Big Jay McNeely Meets the Penguins, as part of a medley with "Earth Angel".

The original version also appears on the following compilations: A chapter in the book, Generations of youth: youth cultures and history in twentieth-century America by Joe Austin and Michael Willard, is entitled “Memories of El Monte" Intercultural Dance Halls in Post-World War II Los Angeles.

[20] When the Mothers of Invention played at The Trip, a club in Los Angeles, they got a lot of requests for "Help, I'm a Rock" and "Memories of El Monte."