FZ: The guy who came to see us, who was the staff producer at Verve, Tom Wilson, had other priorities. And he was dragged from The Trip, where he was having a good time with some girls and watching a famous group. He was dragged from there to the Whisky à Go-Go and forced by Herb Cohen to witness one of our songs, which happened to be a blues kind of a number and he said, "Oh, white blues band. Okay, we'll sign them." And for this— For 25 hundred dollars signing fee, he signed the group and then went right back to the— to The Trip.

Nigel Leigh: How was Freak Out! received?

FZ: Flop. I think it sold 30,000 units, something like that.

Nigel Leigh: What did the critics think of the album?

FZ: Hated it.

Nigel Leigh: Is there any sense in which Freak Out! was a success for you?

FZ: Well, we got it done. Some people enjoyed it.