Professional ratings
Review scores
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.

Overview[edit]

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 bandleader/guitarist Frank Zappa's early career, "Brown Shoes Don't Make It", a track described by François Couture of AllMusic as a "condensed two-hour musical".^[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]

Versions[edit]

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]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Frank Zappa

Side one: "Absolutely Free" (#1 in a Series of Underground Oratorios)
No.	Title	Length
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

Side two: "The M.O.I. American Pageant" (#2 in a Series of Underground Oratorios)
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

2017 Reissue Bonus Record
No.	Title	Length
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

CD Reissue
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

Personnel[edit]

The Mothers of Invention

Frank Zappa – guitar, conductor, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black – drums, vocals
Ray Collins – vocals, tambourine, harmonica
Roy Estrada – bass, vocals
Billy Mundi – drums, percussion
Don Preston – keyboards
Jim Fielder (Uncredited) – guitar, piano
Bunk Gardner – woodwinds

Additional musicians

Suzy Creamcheese (Lisa Cohen) – vocals on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
John Balkin – bass on "Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" and "America Drinks"
Jim Getzoff – violin on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
Marshall Sosson – violin on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
Alvin Dinkin – viola on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
Armand Kaproff – cello on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
Don Ellis – trumpet on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
John Rotella – contrabass clarinet on "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
Herb Cohen – cash register machine sounds on "America Drinks & Goes Home"
Terry Gilliam, girlfriend and others – voices in "America Drinks & Goes Home"

Note

(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

Frank Zappa – producer, arranger, layout design, cover art, collage, liner notes
Tom Wilson – producer
Val Valentin – director of engineering
Ami Hadani – engineer
David Greene – remixing
Doug Sax – mastering
Ferenc Dobronyi – cover design
Cal Schenkel – cover design
Alice Ochs – cover photo, artwork
Jerry Deiter – photography

Charts[edit]

Year	Chart	Position
1967	Billboard 200	41

References[edit]

^ "FZ Chronology 1965-69". Donlope. 2001. Retrieved July 11, 2023.

^ Ulrich, Charles (May 13, 2018). The Big Note: A Guide to the Recordings of Frank Zappa. New Star Books. ISBN 1-554201-46-2.

^ Reed, Ryan (4 July 2020). "Top 25 American Classic Rock Bands of the '60s". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

^ Grimstad, Paul (September 2007). "What is Avant-Pop?". Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 1 October 2016.

^ Huey, Steve. "Absolutely Free – The Mothers of Invention". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.

^ Larkin, Colin (2002). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.

^ Strong, Martin C. (1998). The Great Rock Discography (1st ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN 978-0-86241-827-4.

^ Henderson, Paul (28 January 1989). "Slippery Customers". Kerrang!. No. 223. p. 18. ISSN 0262-6624.

^ Gary Graff, ed. (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (1st ed.). London: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1.

^ Marchini, Massimo. "Frank Zappa". OndaRock (in Italian). Retrieved 7 March 2021.

^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Frank Zappa". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved October 24, 2020.

^ jimmy, praise (26 May 2013). "Review: The Mothers of Invention - Absolutely Free". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

^ Cavanagh, David. "Frank Zappa/The Mothers of Invention reissues". uncut.co.uk. Uncut. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2016.

^ Christgau, Robert (20 December 1976). "Christgau's Consumer Guide to 1967". The Village Voice. New York. p. 69. Retrieved 22 June 2013.

^ Couture, François. "Brown Shoes Don't Make It - The Mothers of Invention,Frank Zappa | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 December 2013.

^ James, Billy (2002). Necessity Is: The Early Years of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. p. 51. ISBN 9780946719518.

^ Keeley, Matt (3 December 2018). "Frank Zappa and the Mothers' 'Absolutely Free' Finds a Way Around the Sophomore Slump". Kittysneezes. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020.

External links[edit]

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album discography

Official releases
(1966–1993)

1960s	Freak Out! Absolutely Free We're Only in It for the Money Lumpy Gravy Cruising with Ruben & the Jets Mothermania Uncle Meat Hot Rats
1970s	Burnt Weeny Sandwich Weasels Ripped My Flesh Chunga's Revenge Fillmore East – June 1971 200 Motels Just Another Band from L.A. Waka/Jawaka The Grand Wazoo Over-Nite Sensation Apostrophe (') Roxy & Elsewhere One Size Fits All Bongo Fury Zoot Allures Zappa in New York Studio Tan Sleep Dirt Sheik Yerbouti Orchestral Favorites Joe's Garage Act I Joe's Garage Acts II & III
1980s	Tinsel Town Rebellion Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar You Are What You Is Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch The Man from Utopia Baby Snakes London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger Them or Us Thing-Fish Francesco Zappa The Old Masters, Box I Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention Does Humor Belong in Music? The Old Masters, Box II Jazz from Hell London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II The Old Masters, Box III Guitar You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 Broadway the Hard Way You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
1990s	The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life Make a Jazz Noise Here You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 Playground Psychotics Ahead of Their Time The Yellow Shark

Posthumous
official releases

1990s	Civilization Phaze III The Lost Episodes Läther Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute Have I Offended Someone? Mystery Disc Everything Is Healing Nicely
2000s	FZ:OZ Halloween Joe's Corsage QuAUDIOPHILIAc Joe's Domage Joe's XMASage Imaginary Diseases Trance-Fusion The MOFO Project/Object (Fazedooh) The MOFO Project/Object Buffalo The Dub Room Special! Wazoo One Shot Deal Joe's Menage The Lumpy Money Project/Object Philly '76
2010s	Greasy Love Songs "Congress Shall Make No Law..." Hammersmith Odeon Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison Carnegie Hall Understanding America Road Tapes, Venue #1 Finer Moments AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack Road Tapes, Venue #2 A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack Joe's Camouflage Roxy by Proxy Dance Me This 200 Motels: The Suites Roxy the Soundtrack Road Tapes, Venue #3 The Crux of the Biscuit Frank Zappa for President ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary Chicago '78 Little Dots Halloween 77 The Roxy Performances Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary Halloween 73 The Hot Rats Sessions
2020s	The Mothers 1970 Halloween 81 Halloween 81 Highlights Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition The Mothers 1971 Zappa/Erie Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana Waka/Wazoo Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich Funky Nothingness Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Miscellaneous

Compilations

Birthday Bundle series

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