Freak Out! - Definition and Overview

Freak Out! is the debut album of Frank Zappa and his group, the Mothers Of Invention. Released in 1966, it was one of the first double album sets, showcasing Zappa's lyrical talents for demoralising American politics while also making fun of the prevailing counterculture in the latter part of the decade. With both broad and subtle strokes of humor, it paints a picture of an American public in thrall to the opiate of the media, shifting from one prefabricated empty craze to the next with frenzied mindlessness, under the grim supervision of a vague but all-powerful authoritarian intelligence. "Who Are the Brain Police?", asks Zappa. Underlying the whole album is Zappa's trademark tweaking of sexual and scatological taboos.

Freak Out! is a stunning amalgamation of everything typically Zappa, from R&B, doo-wop and standard blues-influenced rock to orchestral arrangements to dissonant, bizarre inanities and avant-garde sound collages. The album features vocalist Ray Collins, along with initial guitar player Elliot Ingber, bass player Roy Estrada and drummer Jimmy Carl Black. All orchestrations are arranged by Zappa and featured heavily on many of the songs. Suzy Creamcheese, infamous Zappa character, makes her debut with this release, as does a lifetime career of savage parody and serious music progression.

As one of the most original releases recorded on vinyl, and subsequently CD, the album is a seminal recording and a milestone in rock music. As one of the first integrated albums, with all songs centered on a common theme, it heavily influenced The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Track listing

all songs by Frank Zappa

1. "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" - 3:27
2. "I Ain't Got No Heart" - 2:30
3. "Who Are the Brain Police?" - 3:22
4. "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder" - 3:31
5. "Motherly Love" - 2:45
6. "How Could I Be Such a Fool?" - 2:12
7. "Wowie Zowie" - 2:45
8. "You Didn't Try to Call Me" - 3:17
9. "Any Way the Wind Blows" - 2:52
10. "I'm Not Satisfied" - 2:37
11. "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" - 3:37
12. "Trouble Every Day" - 6:16
13. "Help, I'm a Rock" - 8:37
14. "It Can't Happen Here" - 3:56
15. "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" - 12:17

Personnel

• Frank Zappa - guitar, harmonica, conductor, cymbals, tambourine, vocals
• Jimmy Carl Black - percussion, drums, vocals
• Ray Collins - guitar, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, vocals, finger cymbals
• Gene Estes - percussion
• Roy Estrada - bass, vocals, guitarron, soprano Vocals
• Elliot Ingber - guitar, rhythm guitar
• Plas Johnson - saxophone
• Ruth Komanofff - percussion
• John Rotella - percussion
• David Anderle
• Ben Barrett
• Edwin Beach
• Paul Bergstrom
• Roy Caton
• Virgil Evans
• Kim Fowley
• Carl Franzoni
• Roy Gaton
• John Johnson
• Carol Kaye - bass
• Ray Kelloff
• Arthur Maebe
• George Price
• Kurt Reher
• Emmet Sargeant
• Joe Saxon
• Neil Vang
• Henry Vestine
• Dave Wells

Production

• Producer: Tom Wilson
• Engineering director: Val Valentin
• Engineers: Ami, Tom, Val Valentin
• Assistant: Eugene Dinovi, Neil Levang, Vito, Ken Watson
• Musical director: Frank Zappa
• Orchestration: Frank Zappa
• Arranger: Frank Zappa
• Cover design: Jack Anesh
• Hair stylist: Ray Collins

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)