Absolutely Free

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All tracks are written by Frank Zappa.

Absolutely Free
FrankZappa-AbsolutelyFree.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 26, 1967 (1967-05-26)
RecordedNovember 15–18, 1966
March 6, 1967 [1] [2]
Studio TTG Studios, Los Angeles
Genre
Length39:51
Label Verve
Producer Tom Wilson
Frank Zappa chronology
Freak Out!
(1966)
Absolutely Free
(1967)
Lumpy Gravy
(1967)
The Mothers of Invention chronology
Freak Out!
(1966)
Absolutely Free
(1967)
We're Only in It for the Money
(1968)
Side one: "Absolutely Free" (#1 in a Series of Underground Oratorios)
No.TitleLength
1."Plastic People"3:40
2."The Duke of Prunes"2:12
3."Amnesia Vivace"1:01
4."The Duke Regains His Chops"1:45
5."Call Any Vegetable"2:19
6."Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" (instrumental)6:57
7."Soft-Sell Conclusion"1:40
Total length:20:28
Side two: "The M.O.I. American Pageant" (#2 in a Series of Underground Oratorios)
No.TitleLength
1."America Drinks"1:52
2."Status Back Baby"2:52
3."Uncle Bernie's Farm"2:09
4."Son of Suzy Creamcheese"1:33
5."Brown Shoes Don't Make It"7:26
6."America Drinks & Goes Home"2:43
Total length:19:23
2017 Reissue Bonus Record
No.TitleLength
1."Absolutely Free Radio Ad #1"1:01
2."Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?"2:39
3."Big Leg Emma"2:32
4."Absolutely Free Radio Ad #2"1:01
5."Glutton for Punishment..."0:24
6."America Drinks (1969 Re-Mix)"1:55
7."Brown Shoes Don't Make It (1969 Re-Mix)"7:27
8."America Drinks & Go Home (1969 Re-Mix)"2:42
Total length:18:41
CD Reissue
No.TitleLength
1."Plastic People"3:42
2."The Duke of Prunes"2:13
3."Amnesia Vivace"1:01
4."The Duke Regains His Chops"1:52
5."Call Any Vegetable"2:15
6."Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin"7:00
7."Soft-Sell Conclusion"1:40
8."Big Leg Emma"2:31
9."Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?"2:37
10."America Drinks"1:53
11."Status Back Baby"2:54
12."Uncle Bernie's Farm"2:10
13."Son of Suzy Creamcheese"1:34
14."Brown Shoes Don't Make It"7:30
15."America Drinks & Goes Home"2:45

Personnel

The Mothers of Invention

Additional musicians


Charts

Chart (1967)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [27] 41

References

  1. "FZ Chronology 1965-69". Donlope. 2001. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  2. Ulrich, Charles (May 13, 2018). The Big Note: A Guide to the Recordings of Frank Zappa. New Star Books. ISBN   978-1-554201-46-4.
  3. Reed, Ryan (July 4, 2020). "Top 25 American Classic Rock Bands of the '60s". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  4. Grimstad, Paul (September 2007). "What is Avant-Pop?". Brooklyn Rail . Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Absolutely Free libretto
  6. "The Mothers Tapes (Spool Three)- Don Preston" . Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  7. Fricke, David (April 1979). "Bad Taste is Timeless: Cruising Down Memory Lane With Frank Zappa". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zappa, Frank (August 31 – September 13, 1967). "Mothers of Inventions: The Lyrics are Absolutely Free". International Times . Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  9. 1 2 James, Billy (2001). Necessity is...: the early years of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention. London: SAF Publishing. p. 40. ISBN   9780946719518. Ray Collins recalls that, 'Frank had this beautiful tune called "And Very True," and when we went in to record it, being a little crazy at the time, I just ad-libbed on the spot. The original lyrics I think were something like "Moonbeam through the night," something very loving, although Frank didn't like love songs. And I changed it to, "Moonbeam through the prune, in June, I can see your tits." I just made it up on the spot. So later, after we recorded it - you can hear Frank cracking up on record - it was fun.'
  10. Slavan, Neal (2003). Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story of Frank Zappa. London: Omnibus Press. p. 32. ISBN   9780857120434.
  11. Miles, Barry (2004). Frank Zappa. London: Atlantic Books. ISBN   9781843540922.
  12. 1 2 3 Kofsky, Frank (October 1967). "Frank Zappa: The Mothers of Invention". Jazz & Pop . Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  13. Atkins, Jamie (May 26, 2024). "Absolutely Free: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's Early Classic". Udiscover Music. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "Absolutely Free – The Mothers of Invention". AllMusic . Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  15. Larkin, Colin (2002). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  16. Strong, Martin C. (2024). The Great Rock Bible (1st ed.). Red Planet Books. ISBN   978-1-9127-3328-6.
  17. Henderson, Paul (January 28, 1989). "Slippery Customers". Kerrang! . No. 223. p. 18. ISSN   0262-6624.
  18. Gary Graff, ed. (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (1st ed.). London: Visible Ink Press. ISBN   978-0-7876-1037-1.
  19. Marchini, Massimo. "Frank Zappa". OndaRock (in Italian). Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  20. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Frank Zappa". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8 . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  21. jimmy, praise (May 26, 2013). "Review: The Mothers of Invention - Absolutely Free". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  22. Cavanagh, David. "Frank Zappa/The Mothers of Invention reissues". uncut.co.uk. Uncut. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (December 20, 1976). "Christgau's Consumer Guide to 1967". The Village Voice . New York. p. 69. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  24. "Billboard Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 1, 1967. p. 68. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  25. James, Billy (2002). Necessity Is: The Early Years of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. p. 51. ISBN   9780946719518.
  26. Keeley, Matt (December 3, 2018). "Frank Zappa and the Mothers' 'Absolutely Free' Finds a Way Around the Sophomore Slump". Kittysneezes. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020.
  27. "Frank Zappa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2025.