Album

Absolutely Free

The Mothers Of Invention

1967 · Rock

25 collectors on Gatefold own this

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Absolutely Free by The Mothers Of Invention

Absolutely Free is a Rock album by The Mothers Of Invention, originally released in 1967. On Gatefold: 100 pressings tracked, owned by 25 collectors.

About

After the groundbreaking double-album, <i>Freak Out</i>, the follow-up <i>Absolutely Free</i> was bound to settle in its shadow. However, it remains one of Frank Zappa's finest, most realized works. The album sides were written to play out as coherent musical statements, despite their adventurous stylistic shifts. While "Call Any Vegetable" is a multi-part exploration and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" forms a seven-and-a-half minute mini rock-opera that expresses Zappa's classical interests in Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky, tunes such as "Plastic People" (with its nod to "Louie, Louie" snuck into the whirlwind mix), "The Duke of Prunes" and "Status Back Baby" represent the best of Zappa's freaky pop sensibilities. He can never quite wipe the smirk off his face or effectively hide his contempt for the masses, but it's what made him a cult hero and it's what makes him one of the most honest musicians of any era. Tape edits and studio manipulation further push the sonic envelope, at a time when doing such things was a committed chore and not the simple press of a button exercise it is in the 21st century.

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Tracklist

Side A

  1. A1Plastic People3:40
  2. A2aThe Duke Of Prunes2:12
  3. A2bAmnesia Vivace1:01
  4. A2cThe Duke Regains His Chops1:45
  5. A3aCall Any Vegetable2:19
  6. A3bInvocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin6:57
  7. A3cSoft-Sell Conclusion & Ending Of Side #11:40

Side B

  1. B1America Drinks1:52
  2. B2Status Back Baby2:52
  3. B3Uncle Bernie's Farm2:09
  4. B4Son Of Suzy Creamcheese1:33
  5. B5Brown Shoes Don't Make It7:26
  6. B6America Drinks & Goes Home2:43

Sound DNA

  • Rock
  • Psych Rock
  • fuzzy
  • playful
  • psychedelic

Album notes

Discogs page for these notes (opens in a new tab)

Official Release #2
The gatefold sleeves of "Absolutely Free" vinyl, with the spine to the left, have the front image/title rotated right. When oriented to view correctly - and you turn over - the back is also viewed correctly. On the back, the original art signature of Zappa ("FVZ 12/66") has been removed from the bottom-right corner. Censorship was applied to some issues; On the back cover, above the "Buy America" American flag illustration, the words "War Means Work For All" was either 'ghosted' or removed from Zappa's art (opens in a new tab). Nor does it appear in later CD images, or on the 2012 reissue.
'Absolutely Free' was recorded at T.T.G. in L.A., during the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 1966. Zappa's comments, within the Libretto, indicate the release of this work was delayed until May 1967 due to the label wishing to apply censorship to the words. Originally intended for inclusion, the Libretto was independently-funded and produced by Zappa as a US mail-order item - including its reproduction in UK's September '67 issue of International Times. Some vinyl is also 'un-banded' [no visible track separation].
On the inner spread Gail Zappa is credited as "My Pumpkin", also relating to the track "Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin".

Credits

The people behind it.

Performers

25 collectors on Gatefold own this · 100 pressings tracked on Gatefold

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