Difference between revisions of "Absolutely Free"

Latest revision as of 03:52, 4 December 2022

Album History
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Absolutely Free
Released June 1967
See also: IINK, Patio, KUR The Old Masters, Box I Threesome No. 1

For the song, see Absolutely Free (The Track).

For the revue see Garrick Theatre

Players

FZ (guitar, vocals)
Ray Collins (vocals, tambourine, "prune")
Jim Fielder (guitar, piano)
Don Preston (keyboards)
Bunk Gardner (woodwinds)
Roy Estrada (bass, vocals)
Jimmy Carl Black (drums, vocals)
Billy Mundi (drums, percussion)

Tracks

LP

Side One
"Absolutely Free"
(1^st in a series of underground oratorios)

Plastic People (3:40)
The Duke Of Prunes (2:12)
Amnesia Vivace (1:01)
The Duke Regains His Chops (1:45)
Call Any Vegetable (2:19)
Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin (6:57)
Soft-Sell Conclusion (1:40)

Side Two
"The M.O.I. American Pageant"
(2^nd in a series of underground oratorios)

CD

"Absolutely Free"
(1^st in a series of underground oratorios)

Plastic People (3:42)
The Duke Of Prunes (2:13)
Amnesia Vivace (1:01)
The Duke Regains His Chops (1:48)
Call Any Vegetable (2:20)
Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin (7:00)
Soft-Sell Conclusion (1:40)
Big Leg Emma (2:31) - bonus track, single version
Why Don'tcha Do Me Right? (2:37) - bonus track, single version

"The M.O.I. American Pageant"
(2^nd in a series of underground oratorios)

2017 LP

Side One
"Absolutely Free"
(1^st in a series of underground oratorios)

Plastic People (3:40)
The Duke Of Prunes (2:12)
Amnesia Vivace (1:01)
The Duke Regains His Chops (1:45)
Call Any Vegetable (2:19)
Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin (6:57)
Soft-Sell Conclusion (1:40)

Side Two
"The M.O.I. American Pageant"
(2^nd in a series of underground oratorios)

Side Three
Bonus material

Absolutely Free Radio Ad 1
Why Don'tcha Do Me Right (2:37) - single version
Big Leg Emma (2:31) - single version
Absolutely Free Radio Ad 2
"Glutton For Punishment..."
America Drinks - 1969 remix
Brown Shoes Don't Make It - 1969 remix
America Drinks & Goes Home #2 – 1969 remix

Side Four
Blank side with laser etching

Release Notes

Recorded Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG, November 15-18, 1966.
Produced by: Tom Wilson.
Director of engineering: Val Valentin.
Recording Engineer: Ami Hadani.
Remix Engineer: David Greene.
Cover art, layout, notes, design, etc.: Zappa
Front cover photo: Alice Ochs.

Liner Notes

Background Information

... Absolutely Free: The Complete Libretto

Zappa recorded a radio spot to promote this album and Freak Out!^[1]

Zappa about the album:

"When it came time for us to do our second album, Absolutely Free, MGM proclaimed that we couldn't spend more than eleven thousand dollars on it. The recording schedules were ridiculous, making it impossible to perfect anything on the album. It was typical of the kind of bullshit we had to put up with until I got my own studio.
Gail and I moved to New York in 1967 to play in the Garrick Theater on Bleecker Street. The first place we stayed, before we could find an apartment, was the Hotel Van Rensselaer on Eleventh Street. We were living on a small room on one of the upper floors. I was working on the album cover illustration for Absolutely Free at a desk by the window. I remember the place being so dirty I couldn't keep the soot off the artwork."

— The Real Frank Zappa Book.

Conceptual Continuity

Versions

ZFT #	Version #	# discs	Format	Catalog #	Release (YYYY-MM-DD)	Barcode (EAN-13)	Comment
2	1.1 Original Stereo 13 Tracks	1	LP	MGM Verve V6-5013	1967-06-26	None	US edition. Matrix # Side1: V6-5013 SIDE-1 MGS-672 Side2: V6-5013 SIDE-2 MGS-673
		1	LP	MGM Verve SVLP 9174	1967-10^[2]	None	UK edition.
		1	LP	MGM Verve MV 1120		None	Japanese edition.
		1	LP	MGM Verve 710006	1967	None	German edition.
	1.2 Original Mono 13 Tracks	1	LP	MGM Verve V-5013	1967-06-26?	None	US edition.
	1.2 Original Mono 13 Tracks	1	LP	MGM Verve VLP 9174	1967-10^[2]	None	UK edition.
	1.1 Original Stereo 13 Tracks	1	LP	MGM Verve/Polydor 2317 035	1972-06^[2]	None	UK edition.
	1.3 Remaster Stereo 13 Tracks	1 in 7	LP	Barking Pumpkin BPR 7777-2	1985-04-19		Included in The Old Masters, Box I set.
	Unknown	1	CS	Zappa TZAPPA 12	?	5016583601249?	UK edition.
	1.4 Remaster Stereo & 2 Bonus Tracks	1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10093	1989-01	0014431009327	US edition, AAD.
		1	CD	Zappa CDZAP 12	1989-01^[2]	5016583601225	UK edition, AAD. Matrix # ZAP 12 MPO 01 @@
		1	CD	Rykodisc D40733	1989		Australian edition = Rykodisc RCD 10093 stickered with the Ozzie catalog #.
	Unknown	1	CS	Barking Pumpkin D4 74214	1990-10-17	0013347421445	US edition.
	1.4 Remaster Stereo & 2 Bonus Tracks	1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5022	1994-10-26	4988112405257	Japanese edition.
		1	CS	Rykodisc RAC 10502	1995-05-02	0014431050244	US edition.
		1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10502	1995-05-02	0014431050220	US edition.
		1	CD	Gravadora Eldorado/Rykodisc 968026	1995	7897181221873	Brazilian edition.
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5111	1995-09-25	4988112407749	Japanese edition.
		1	CD	Festival/Rykodisc D31395	1995	9399603139523	Australian edition = Rykodisc RCD 10502
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5246	1996-05-30	4988112408463	Japanese edition = Rykodisc RCD 10502 repackaged with an obi strip and extra liner notes in Japanese
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 1204	2001-09-21	4988112412606	Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve.
		1 in 3	CD	Rykodisc RCD 40582/2	2002-03-21	None	US edition, included in the Threesome No. 1 box set. Matrix # IFPI L503 IFPI 8708 DISCTRONICS RCD 10502 01
		1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10592	2005-07-19	0014431059223	= VideoArts VACK 1204, the barcode is a sticker, the Ryko reference is not printed.
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 1328	2008-06-18	4988112417717	Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve.
	1.5 Original Stereo Remaster with 2 Bonus Tracks (mono)	1	CD	Zappa/UMe ZR 3835	2012-07-31	0824302383520	US edition, manufactured and distributed by UMe^[3]. Source: Original 1967 Analog Master. Mastered by Doug Sax with Robert Hadley & Sangwook "Sunny" Nam at The Mastering Lab, Inc., 2012. Matrix # IFPI L328 DIDX-816045 1 ZAPPA.COM A02 IFPI 50A2
		1	CD	Zappa/UMG Intl 0238352	2012-07-31	0824302383520	EU edition = Zappa/UMe ZR 3835, manufactured in Germany.
		1	CD	Zappa/Universal Music Japan UICY-75351	2012-11-28	4988005737502	Japanese edition, audiophile SHM-CD, mini-album papersleeve with an obi strip and liner notes in Japanese.
	1.6 Original Stereo Remaster with 8 Bonus Tracks & Laser-etched Side	2	LP (180 g)	Zappa/UMe ZR 3835-1	2017-10-12^[4]	0824302383513	US edition with 18-page booklet 'libretto', manufactured and distributed by UMe. Mastered and cut directly from the original analog master tape by Bernie Grundman.

Notes

↑ Frank Zappa Freak Out And Absolutely Free Lp Promos
↑ ^{Jump up to: 2.0} ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Martin C. Strong, 2004, The Great Rock Discography, p. 1720.
↑ Email announcement by the ZFT on July 31^st, 2012.
↑ On June 2^nd 2017, the ZFT initially announced by email the reissue of a '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2LP vinyl - coming September 29!' revised later to 'October 6.' The latest revised released dates at Amazon.com were October 13^th for the US release and November 17^th for the EU release. According to Zappa Forum users, the first copies were available in american stores on October 12^th.

[1] Frank Zappa Freak Out And Absolutely Free Lp Promos

[MStrong-2] {Jump up to: 2.0} ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Martin C. Strong, 2004, The Great Rock Discography, p. 1720.

[ZFTEmail-3] Email announcement by the ZFT on July 31^st, 2012.

[etchedLP-4] On June 2^nd 2017, the ZFT initially announced by email the reissue of a '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2LP vinyl - coming September 29!' revised later to 'October 6.' The latest revised released dates at Amazon.com were October 13^th for the US release and November 17^th for the EU release. According to Zappa Forum users, the first copies were available in american stores on October 12^th.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 '''Side Three'''<br>
 '''''Bonus material'''''<br>
-#[[Absolutely Free Radio Ad #1]]
+#[[Absolutely Free Radio Ad 1]]
 #[[Why Don't You Do Me Right?|Why Don'tcha Do Me Right]] (2:37) - single version
 #[[Big Leg Emma]] (2:31) - single version
-#[[Absolutely Free Radio Ad #2]]
+#[[Absolutely Free Radio Ad 2]]
 #[["Glutton For Punishment..."]]
 #[[America Drinks]] - 1969 [[wikipedia:Remix|remix]]
@@ Line 137: / Line 137: @@
 <blockquote>"When it came time for us to do our second album, [[Absolutely Free]], MGM proclaimed that we couldn't spend more than eleven thousand dollars on it. The recording schedules were ridiculous, making it impossible to perfect anything on the album. It was typical of the kind of bullshit we had to put up with until I got my own studio.<br>
-[[Gail Zappa|Gail]] and I moved to New York in 1967 to play in the [[Garrick Theater]] on Bleecker Street. The first place we stayed, before we could find an apartment, was the [[Hotel Van Rensselaer]] on Eleventh Street. We were living on a small room on one of the upper floors. I was working on the album cover illustration for [[Absolutely Free]] at a desk by the window. I remember the place being so dirty I couldn't keep the soot off the artwork."</blockquote><div align="right">— [[The Real Frank Zappa Book]].</div>
+[[Gail Zappa|Gail]] and I moved to New York in 1967 to play in the [[Garrick Theatre|Garrick Theater]] on Bleecker Street. The first place we stayed, before we could find an apartment, was the [[Hotel Van Rensselaer]] on Eleventh Street. We were living on a small room on one of the upper floors. I was working on the album cover illustration for [[Absolutely Free]] at a desk by the window. I remember the place being so dirty I couldn't keep the soot off the artwork."</blockquote><div align="right">— [[The Real Frank Zappa Book]].</div>
 ==Conceptual Continuity==
@@ Line 148: / Line 148: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | [[wikipedia:Long playing record|LP]]
-| [[MGM Records|MGM]] [[Verve_Records|Verve]]<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absfree_anotherUSstereo.jpg|V6-5013}}
+| [[MGM Records|MGM]] [[Verve_Records|Verve]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink||V6-5013}}
 | 1967-06-26
 | None
@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | LP
-| MGM Verve<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absolutelyfree_uk_1st_stereo.jpg|SVLP&nbsp;9174}}
+| MGM Verve<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|2670320|SVLP&nbsp;9174}}
 | 1967-10<ref name="MStrong">Martin C. Strong, 2004, ''The Great Rock Discography'', p. 1720.</ref>
 | None
@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | LP
-| MGM Verve<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absfree_japan_mv1120_blacklabel.jpg|MV&nbsp;1120}}
+| MGM Verve<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|12149738|MV&nbsp;1120}}
 | &nbsp;
 | None
@@ Line 172: / Line 172: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | LP
-| MGM Verve<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absfree_german_loews.jpg|710006}}
+| MGM Verve<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|7772041|710006}}
 | 1967
 | None
@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | LP
-| MGM Verve<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absolutelyfreeUSA_mono.jpg|V-5013}}
+| MGM Verve<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|1615099|V-5013}}
 | 1967-06-26?
 | None
@@ Line 198: / Line 198: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | LP
-| MGM Verve/[[Wikipedia:Polydor Records|Polydor]]<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absfree_ukreissue73.jpg|2317&nbsp;035}}
+| MGM Verve/[[Wikipedia:Polydor Records|Polydor]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|812568|2317&nbsp;035}}
 | 1972-06<ref name="MStrong"/>
 | None
@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 |-
 | align="center" | 1.3<br>Remaster<br>[[wikipedia:Stereophonic sound|Stereo]]<br>13&nbsp;Tracks
-| align="center" | 1
+| align="center" | 1<br>in 7
 | align="center" | LP
-| [[Barking Pumpkin Records]]<br>{{SUTCLink|pictures/absfree_omb_bpr_7777-2.jpg|BPR&nbsp;7777-2}}
+| [[Barking Pumpkin Records|Barking Pumpkin]]<br>BPR&nbsp;7777-2
 | 1985-04-19
 | &nbsp;
@@ Line 216: / Line 216: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | [[wikipedia:Compact audio cassette|CS]]
-| [[Zappa Records|Zappa]]<br>TZAPPA&nbsp;12
+| [[Zappa Records|Zappa]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|6970328|TZAPPA&nbsp;12}}
 | ?
 | 5016583601249?
@@ Line 259: / Line 259: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CD
-| [[VideoArts]]<br>VACK&nbsp;5022
+| [[VideoArts]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|14031200|VACK&nbsp;5022}}
 | 1994-10-26
 | 4988112405257
@@ Line 267: / Line 267: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CS
-| Rykodisc<br>RAC&nbsp;10502
+| Rykodisc<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|10512103|RAC&nbsp;10502}}
 | 1995-05-02
 | 0014431050244
@@ Line 275: / Line 275: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CD
-| Rykodisc<br>RCD&nbsp;10502
+| Rykodisc<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|5398311|RCD&nbsp;10502}}
 | 1995-05-02
 | 0014431050220
@@ Line 307: / Line 307: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CD
-| VideoArts<br>VACK&nbsp;5246
+| VideoArts<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|22707236|VACK&nbsp;5246}}
 | 1996-05-30
 | 4988112408463
@@ Line 321: / Line 321: @@
 | Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve.
 |-
-| align="center" | 1
+| align="center" | 1<br>in 3
 | align="center" | CD
-| Rykodisc<br>RCD&nbsp;40582/2
+| Rykodisc<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|16795344|RCD&nbsp;40582/2}}
 | 2002-03-21
 | None
@@ Line 348: / Line 348: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CD
-| Zappa/[[wikipedia:Universal Music Enterprises|UMe]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|3971790|ZR&nbsp;3835}}
+| Zappa/[[Universal Music Group|UMe]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|3971790|ZR&nbsp;3835}}
 | 2012-07-31
 | 0824302383520
@@ Line 356: / Line 356: @@
 | align="center" | 1
 | align="center" | CD
-| Zappa/[[wikipedia:Universal Music Group|UMG&nbsp;Intl]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|4747290|0238352}}
+| Zappa/[[Universal Music Group|UMG&nbsp;Intl]]<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|4747290|0238352}}
 | 2012-07-31
 | 0824302383520
@@ Line 373: / Line 373: @@
 | align="center" | 2
 | align="center" | LP<br>(180 g)
-| Zappa/UMe<br>ZR&nbsp;3835-1
+| Zappa/UMe<br>{{DiscogsPicLink|10955583|ZR&nbsp;3835-1}}
 | 2017-10-12<ref name="etchedLP">On June 2<sup>nd</sup> 2017, the ZFT initially announced by email the reissue of a '50th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2LP vinyl - coming September 29!' revised later to 'October 6.' The latest revised released dates at Amazon.com were October 13<sup>th</sup> for the US release and November 17<sup>th</sup> for the EU release. According to Zappa Forum users, the first copies were available in american stores on October 12<sup>th</sup>.</ref>
 | 0824302383513

Difference between revisions of "Absolutely Free"

Latest revision as of 03:52, 4 December 2022

Players

Tracks

Release Notes

Liner Notes

Background Information

Zappa about the album:

Conceptual Continuity

Versions

Notes

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