Absolutely Free - Definition and Overview

Absolutely Free (1967) is the second album by The Mothers Of Invention, led by Frank Zappa. A continuation of the first release, the double LP Freak Out!, Absolutely Free is once again a madhouse display of increasing musical technicality and severe, acerbic political-bashing wit.

Like the first album, almost every genre under the sun can be found either being used and performed expertly or being barbed at and musically diembowled by the outstanding performers of the Mothers aggregate. Speaking of which, several new members joined the group including sax-player Bunk Gardner and keyboardist Don Preston.

For this album, the emphasis is more on interconnected movements, as tracks 2-4 and 5-7 form mini-suites. It also features one of the most famous songs of his early career, "Brown Shoes Don't Make It," a track which has been described as being "an entire musical compressed down to 8 minutes."

The CD Reissue adds a single The Mothers released at the time between where side one would have ended and side two would have begun featuring the songs "Why Dontcha Do Me Right?" and "Big Leg Emma," both described as an attempt to make dumb music to appeal to dumb teenagers.

Track listing

all songs by Frank Zappa

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 and 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" - 1:52
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 and Goes Home" - 2:46

* available on CD reissue only

Personnel

• Frank Zappa - guitar, conductor, keyboards, vocals, multiple instruments
• Jimmy Carl Black - percussion, drums
• Ray Collins - guitar, vocals
• Don Ellis - horn
• Roy Estrada - bass, vocals
• Bunk Gardner - wind
• Billy Mundi - drums, vocals
• Don Preston - bass, keyboards
• John Rotella - percussion
• Jim Sherwood - guitar, vocals, wind
• Pamela Zarubica - vocals
• Herb Cohen
• Lisa Cohen
• Kurt Retar

Production

• Producers: Frank Zappa, Tom Wilson
• Director of engineering: Val Valentine
• 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

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)