Absolutely Free | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 26, 1967 | |||
Recorded | November 15–18, 1966 March 6, 1967 [1] [2] | |||
Studio | TTG Studios, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:29 | |||
Label | Verve | |||
Producer | Tom Wilson | |||
Frank Zappa chronology | ||||
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The Mothers of Invention chronology | ||||
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Singles from Absolutely Free | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [6] |
The Great Rock Discography | 8/10 [7] |
Kerrang! | [8] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [9] |
OndaRock | 9/10 [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
Sputnikmusic | 5/5 [12] |
Uncut | 8/10 [13] |
The Village Voice | B− [14] |
Absolutely Free is the second album by American rock band the Mothers of Invention, released on May 26, 1967, by Verve Records. Much like their 1966 debut Freak Out!, the album is a display of complex musical composition with political and social satire. The band had been augmented since Freak Out! by the addition of woodwinds player Bunk Gardner, keyboardist Don Preston, rhythm guitarist Jim Fielder, and drummer Billy Mundi; Fielder quit the group before the album was released, and his name was removed from the album credits.
The album's emphasis is on interconnected movements, as each side of the original vinyl LP comprises a mini-suite. It also features one of the most famous songs of frontman Frank Zappa's early career, " Brown Shoes Don't Make It", a track which has been described as a "condensed two-hour musical".[ attribution needed] [15]
In the book Necessity Is..., former Mothers of Invention band member Ray Collins said that Absolutely Free is probably his favorite of the classic Mothers albums. [16]
The UK-67 release (Verve VLP/SVLP 9174) came in a laminated flip-back cover, with a Mike Raven poem at the reverse that was not on any other issue.
The CD reissue adds, between sides one and two, two songs that were featured on a rare Verve single of the time. The songs from the single, "Why Dontcha Do Me Right?" (titled "Why Don't You Do Me Right" on the 45) and "Big Leg Emma", were both described as "an attempt to make dumb music to appeal to dumb teenagers". [17]
All tracks are written by Frank Zappa
No. | Title | Length |
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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 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
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 |
No. | Title | Length |
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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 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
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 |
The Mothers of Invention
Additional musicians
( Jim Sherwood was credited as a member of The Mothers on the album's original release, but he actually joined the band during the recording of We're Only in It for the Money, and he isn't featured on this album.) |
Production
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Year | Chart | Position |
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1967 | Billboard 200 | 41 |