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Frank Zappa|Absolutely Free

Absolutely Free

Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention

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In the "libretto" accompanying the second effort from the Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa offers an unusual introduction to his endeavor: "The music of the MOTHERS speaks of the feelings of what might be described as THE VAST MINORITY. The feelings of the people on the fringe of everything," he writes. It's a gonzo mission statement that doubles as a canny counter-culture marketing ploy, and it goes on to describe that minority as people who "don't care if they're IN or OUT … don't care if they're HIP, HEP, SWINGIN' or ZORCH."

Presumably the Zorch contingent resonated with the frantic, random-seeming musical juxtapositions and word-salad art that Zappa was slinging here. Absolutely Free touches on subjects that became integral to subsequent Zappa rants—the rise of clueless consumer culture, the worship of status—but often in diffuse, narrative-free fashion. Where later Zappa commentaries register as multi-level satire, tunes like "Plastic People" hardly make cultural arguments at all—they're closer to the delighted ravings of those hearing their voices on tape for the first time.

The chaos within the wordplay amounts to adolescent lampoonery when compared with the rigorous delirium that prevails within the music. Zappa and his exceedingly talented collaborators understood and could evoke the allure of Motown hits (see "The Duke of Prunes") and the mesmeric qualities of the blues ("Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?"). But they were also at home quoting Holst and Stravinsky, or executing whiplash-inducing transitions between free-form jamming and intricate ensemble writing. Their cohesion is riveting, particularly on the standout "Brown Shoes Don't Make It." Though not as fully realized as the music that followed, Absolutely Free is not simply a scattered jumble of seeds but more like a series of roadmaps and ideas that sometimes lead to exalted states, and sometimes detour down sketchy dead-end streets, where there are no vegetables. © Tom Moon/Qobuz

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Absolutely Free

Frank Zappa

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1
Plastic People
00:03:41

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

2
The Duke Of Prunes
00:02:12

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

3
Amnesia Vivace
00:01:01

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

4
The Duke Regains His Chops
00:01:52

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

5
Call Any Vegetable
00:02:14

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

6
Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin
00:06:59

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

7
Soft-Sell Conclusion
00:01:41

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

8
Big Leg Emma
00:02:31

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

9
Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?
00:02:39

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

10
America Drinks
00:01:52

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

11
Status Back Baby
00:02:53

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

12
Uncle Bernie's Farm
00:02:10

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

13
Son Of Suzy Creamcheese
00:01:33

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

14
Brown Shoes Don't Make It
00:07:29

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

15
America Drinks & Goes Home
00:02:45

Frank Zappa, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Wilson, Producer - The Mothers Of Invention, MainArtist

℗ 1967 Zappa Family Trust

Albumbeschreibung

In the "libretto" accompanying the second effort from the Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa offers an unusual introduction to his endeavor: "The music of the MOTHERS speaks of the feelings of what might be described as THE VAST MINORITY. The feelings of the people on the fringe of everything," he writes. It's a gonzo mission statement that doubles as a canny counter-culture marketing ploy, and it goes on to describe that minority as people who "don't care if they're IN or OUT … don't care if they're HIP, HEP, SWINGIN' or ZORCH."

Presumably the Zorch contingent resonated with the frantic, random-seeming musical juxtapositions and word-salad art that Zappa was slinging here. Absolutely Free touches on subjects that became integral to subsequent Zappa rants—the rise of clueless consumer culture, the worship of status—but often in diffuse, narrative-free fashion. Where later Zappa commentaries register as multi-level satire, tunes like "Plastic People" hardly make cultural arguments at all—they're closer to the delighted ravings of those hearing their voices on tape for the first time.

The chaos within the wordplay amounts to adolescent lampoonery when compared with the rigorous delirium that prevails within the music. Zappa and his exceedingly talented collaborators understood and could evoke the allure of Motown hits (see "The Duke of Prunes") and the mesmeric qualities of the blues ("Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?"). But they were also at home quoting Holst and Stravinsky, or executing whiplash-inducing transitions between free-form jamming and intricate ensemble writing. Their cohesion is riveting, particularly on the standout "Brown Shoes Don't Make It." Though not as fully realized as the music that followed, Absolutely Free is not simply a scattered jumble of seeds but more like a series of roadmaps and ideas that sometimes lead to exalted states, and sometimes detour down sketchy dead-end streets, where there are no vegetables. © Tom Moon/Qobuz

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