OTD in 1966: Producer Tom Wilson delegated to Frank Zappa the recording of some tracks by the Animals. That night, Eric Burdon went to Zappa’s house, where he played R&B records and watched experimental films, an encounter that inspired the singer's shift toward psychedelia.

Just before BATMAN debuted on TV (Jan. 1966), a theatrical release of the 1940s serials that helped inspire it was billed as "the In-­tertainment scoop of the year . . . Come to Jeer—­Stay to Cheer . . . and Vice Versa!," one poster read, pre-defining the reception of the campy TV show to come.

OTD in 1966, a promotional Batman pop concert was held in Shea Stadium, featuring Adam West from the TV show (who sang) and 26 go-go dancers (“Batusi Girls”). Groups like the Young Rascals and the Temptations were billed, but many didn't show. An estimated 3,000 fans were there.

OTD in 1967, The Blues Project performed "Flute Thing" at the Monterey Pop Festival. The song was from the album Projections, produced by Tom Wilson. Andy Kulberg played his flute with a pickup through a Binson Echorec machine for a jazzy psychedelic effect. youtu.be/1oIE95Ro9Ms?...

When released (June 1966), Freak Out! by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention came with an address you could write to for paratext, a map of "FREAK OUT Hot Spots!" in LA. It depicted Hollywood as if it were the Hundred Acre Wood or Middle-earth, but for the Freak scene.

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This month in 1966, trumpeter Hugh Masekela's "The Americanization of Ooga Booga" was released, produced by Tom Wilson. Its title and cover art satirized stereotypes of African identity (Wilson called it "black humor," pun intended). Its sound mixed South African township music and American jazz.

This month in 1966: “Animalisms" was released in the UK (May 13), produced by Tom Wilson, who would go on in 1966-1967 to produce multiple American albums by Eric Burdon and the variously-constituted Animals.

This month, 1966: the Velvet Underground re-recorded 3 songs (including "Heroin") with producer Tom Wilson. With earlier tracks + "Sunday Morning" (also produced by Wilson) this became the influential "banana album" (1967). John Cale said the VU "never again had as good a producer as Tom Wilson."

The just-released album, Zappa '66 Vol. 1, made me think of the earlier Freak Out! sessions in March of the same year, 1966. In both cases Freaks off the streets of L.A. served as a kind of hairy dada choir (and dance troupe) for Frank Zappa to conduct. #everythingiseverything