Jeff Simmons - Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (1970)

Jeff Simmons, born May 1949 in Seattle, Washington, is a rock musician and former member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Simmons provided bass, guitar, and backing vocals for the group between 1970 and 1971. He left The Mothers just prior to the filming of 200 Motels (where he was replaced in the film by Ringo Starr's chauffeur Martin Lickert) in mid 1971. Jeff later returned to the group for a time during 1972 and 1973. Zappa and Mothers albums he appeared on include Chunga's Revenge (1970), Waka/Jawaka (1972), Roxy & Elsewhere (1974).

Years later Zappa released a number of archival recordings made during this period that feature Jeff including You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (1988), You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (1992), and Playground Psychotics (1992). Jeff also appears in the Zappa movie The True Story Of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (1989). Numerous Zappa bootleg recordings from the same era also feature Simmons.

Simmons is one of only a handful of musicians to share a songwriting credit with Zappa. Their collaboration Wonderful Wino appears on Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up and also on Zappa's 1976 album Zoot Allures. The title song of the album Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up was also re-recorded in a completely different arrangement on Zappa's 1979 album Joe's Garage. Simmons is also listed as co-writer (with Zappa and Napoleon Murphy Brock) on Dummy Up from Zappa's 1974 album Roxy & Elsewhere. During a 1982 guest DJ spot on UK's BBC Radio 1 Zappa played some of his favorite recordings including Simmons' song I'm In The Music Business.

(Jeff Simmons, LP, Straight/Reprise RS 6391, February 9, 1970)

1. Appian Way (Simmons) 2:30
2. Zondo Zondo (Simmons) 1:49
3. Madame Du Barry (Simmons) 2:42
4. I'm In The Music Business (Simmons) 4:05
5. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (La Marr Bruister) 3:14
6. Raye (Simmons) 4:40
7. Wonderful Wino (Bruister/Simmons) 2:56
8. Tigres (Simmons) 3:14
9. Aqueous Humore (Simmons) 3:28
10. Conversations With A Recluse (Simmons) 3:51

Produced by La marr Bruister & Chris Huston

Recorded at Mystic & Whitney studios
Engineer: Chris Huston
Director of Engineering for Bizarre/Straight: Dick Kunc
Master of Bizarre & Straight Business Also: Herb Cohen

Design & Photography: John Williams

Jeff Simmons electric bass, piano, organ, accordion & vocals
Craig Tarwater guitars
Ian Underwood saxophones
Ron Woods drums, tambourines & maracas
FZ lead guitar on "Lucille" and "Raye"
John Kehlior drums on "Lucille" and "Raye"

5. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up

Lucille
Has messed my mind up
But I still love her
Oh I still love her

Lucille
Has messed my mind up
But I still need her
You know I need her

Whatcha tryna doota me
Whatcha tryna doota me
Whatcha tryna doota me
You got me goin' outa my mind

Lucille
Has tore my heart up
But I still love her
I really love her

Lucille
Has tore my heart up
But I still want her
I really want her

She treats me like my heart
Is made of stone
She runs around
And leaves me home alone

She doesn't answer
When I call her on the phone
She messed up my mind
I'm cryin' alla the time

Lucille
Has messed my mind up
But I still love her
I still love her

Lucille
Has tore my heart up
But I still want her
Hey, I still love her

Lucille
Has tore my heart up
But I still need her
I really need her, baby

Oh, Lucille
Has tore my heart up
But you know I still love her . . .


7. Wonderful Wino
(Bruister/Simmons)

L.A. in the summer of '69
I went downtown and bought some wine
Wasted my head on three quarts of juice
And now the grapes won't turn me loose
I'm a wino man
Don't you know I am?

36, 24, hips about 30
I seen a fine lady and I start talkin' dirty
She looked at me and raised her thumb
And said: "Jam down the road, you funky-ass bum"
I'm a wino man
Don't you know I am?

I, I went to the country
And while I was gone
A roller-headed lady
Caught me weedling on her lawn
I'm so ashamed, but I'm a wino man
I can't help myself
HELP ME SOMEBODY!

My saxophone playing
And my wino career are in a slump
'Cause I find myself now living
In a cardboard refrigerator box down by the Houston dump
And I'm so ashamed

I've been drinkin' all night and my eyes are all in red
Crashed in the gutter and bugs in my head
Bugs in my clothes, been scratchin' like a dog
I can't stand water, and I stink like a hog
Give me fi-i-ive bucks and a hot meal
Give me FIVE bucks and a hot meal
Oh, maybe an overcoat or two