The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa: "Absolutely Free", Original '67 Pressing

$

26

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From Verve Records (V6-5013X) this is ABSOLUTELY FREE by THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION, an original (first) US stereo pressing recorded November 15-17, 1967 at Sunset Highland Studios; released May 26, 1967. Gatefold shows moderate shelf wear with some minor repair work by a previous owner (see photos), o/w clean and very sturdy showing no split seams and nicely blocked reinforced spine; inside gatefold is very clean with a few light check marks beside the previous owner's favorite tunes and one-inch crack center spine.  Easily rates VG+ even with the minor flaws. Note: Tiny staple holes upper left corner front surface indicate this piece was a rare promo. 

Labels are NEAR MINT and playing surfaces visibly grade about EX+ to NEAR MINT; play grades about VG+ due to a few intermittent pops and soft clicks side two.  These extraneous noises do not intrude into the music nor interfere with enjoyment of Zappa's biting social commentaries. Remarkable piece.  Old-timey thin edge vinyl.  

Zappa borrows from Stravinsky's The Firebird, Petrouchka, A Soldier's Tale and The Rite Of Spring; he also works in snippets from Holst's The Planets as well as pulling off nice satires of Bob Dylan and the Beatles among other acts popular at the time.Though he tips his hat to these composers, Absolutely Free is in no way derivative -- it is all Zappa and there ain't nothing like that!

Low opening bid.  NO RESERVE.

The Cuts:

Side One

1. Plastic People
2. The Duke Of Prunes
3. Amnesia Vivace
4. The Duke Regains His Chops
5. Invocation And Ritual Of The Young Pumpkin
6. Soft-Sell Conclusion

1. America Drinks
2. Status Back Baby
3. Uncle Bernie's Farm
4. Son Of Suzy Creamcheese
5. Brown Shoes Don't Make It
6. America Drinks & Goes Home

Personnel & Instrumentation:

• Frank Zappa – guitar, conductor, vocals
• Jimmy Carl Black – drums, vocals
• Ray Collins – vocals, tambourine
• Don Ellis – trumpet on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
• Roy Estrada – bass, vocals
• Bunk Gardner – woodwinds
• Billy Mundi – drums, percussion
• Don Preston – keyboards
• John Rotella – percussion
• Jim Fielder – guitar, piano
• Pamela Zarubica – vocals

Production:

• Producers: Frank Zappa, Tom Wilson
• Director of engineering: Val Valentin
• Engineer: Ami Hadani
• Remixing: David Greene
• Arranger: Frank Zappa
• Cover design: Ferenc Dobronyi, Cal Schenkel
• Layout design: Frank Zappa
• Cover photo: Alice Ochs
• Cover art: Frank Zappa
• Photography: Jerry Deiter
• Artwork: Alice Ochs
• Collage: Frank Zappa
• Liner Notes: Frank Zappa