Freak Out!

Album History
	Next
Freak Out!
Released June or July 1966
See also: IINK, Patio, KUR The Old Masters, Box I Threesome No. 1 The MOFO The MOFO Deluxe

Players

• FZ (musical director, guitar & vocals)
• Ray Collins (lead vocalist, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers)
• Jimmy Carl Black (drums, vocals "in some foreign language")
• Roy Estrada (bass, guitarron & "boy soprano")
• Elliot Ingber (alternate lead & rhythm guitar "with clear white light")
• The "Mothers' Auxiliary"

Tracks

Double LP Side One Hungry Freaks, Daddy (3:27) I Ain't Got No Heart (2:30) Who Are The Brain Police? (3:22) Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder (3:31) Motherly Love (2:45) How Could I Be Such A Fool (2:12) Side Two Wowie Zowie (2:45) You Didn't Try To Call Me (3:17) Any Way The Wind Blows (2:52) I'm Not Satisfied (2:37) You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here (3:37) Side Three Trouble Comin' Every Day (6:16) Help, I'm A Rock (Suite In Three Movements) (8:37) "Okay To Tap Dance" "In Memoriam Edgar Varese" "It Can't Happen Here" Side Four The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (12:17) Ritual Dance Of The Child-Killers Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)

Single LP Side One Hungry Freaks, Daddy (3:28) I Ain't Got No Heart (2:30) Who Are The Brain Police? (3:22) Motherly Love (2:45) Wowie Zowie (2:45) You Didn't Try To Call Me (3:17) I'm Not Satisfied (2:37) You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here (3:37) Side Two Trouble Every Day (2:33) Help, I'm A Rock (Suite In Three Movements) (8:33) "Okay To Tap Dance" "In Memoriam Edgar Varese" "It Can't Happen Here" The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (12:15) Ritual Dance Of The Child-Killers Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)

Current CD Hungry Freaks, Daddy (3:29) I Ain't Got No Heart (2:35) Who Are The Brain Police? (3:33) Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder (3:41) Motherly Love (2:45) How Could I Be Such A Fool (2:13) Wowie Zowie (2:53) You Didn't Try To Call Me (3:19) Any Way The Wind Blows (2:56) I'm Not Satisfied (2:39) You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here (3:38) Trouble Every Day (5:50) Help, I'm A Rock (4:43) It Can't Happen Here (3:56) The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (12:17)

Release Notes

All compositions composed and arranged by Frank Zappa and controlled by The Zappa Family Trust d/b/a Frank Zappa Music (BMI).
Recorded Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG, March 9-12, 1966.
Produced by: Tom Wilson.
Director of engineering: Val Valentin.
The world's most patient engineers: Ami Hadani & Tom Hidley.
Cover design: Jack Anesh.
Cover photo: Ray Leong.

Liner Notes

• Biographical Trivia!
• Relevant Quotes
• The "Freak List"
• The Freak Out! Hot Spots...

Background Information

Freak Out! was an early example of a rock album being issued as a set of two LP discs, although it was edited and issued as a single disc in some countries. The content followed a thematic concept, rather than being a collection of disparate songs, and is considered one of the first rock music concept albums.

"Mothers and Dads, you thought the Beatles were bad. You got up in arms about the Rolling Stones. Sonny & Cher made you cringe. Well, as the man said, you ain't seen nothing yet. The Mothers of Invention are here with an album called 'Freak Out!' (someone suggested it should have been called 'Flake Out!') They come from Hollywood. Their clothes are dreadful -- and I dig mod clothes. Their hair and beards are filthy. They smell bad. You just can't believe it -- So, Mothers and Dads, next time the Beatles, the Stones, or Sonny & Cher come to town, welcome them with open arms. Next to the Mothers Of Invention the other groups come on like the Bobbsey Twins."

— Loraine Alterman, Detroit Free Press, July 15, 1966 - cited in The Real Frank Zappa Book.

Zappa recorded a radio spot to promote this album and Absolutely Free.

Versions

ZFT #	Version #	# discs	Format	Catalog #	Release (YYYY-MM-DD)	Barcode (EAN-13)	Artwork	Comment
1	1.1 Original Stereo	2	LP	MGM Verve V6-5005-2	1966-06 or 1966-07			US edition. Matrix # Side 1: V6-5005-2 SIDE-1 MGS-296-RE-1 !! Side 2: V6-5005-2 SIDE-2 MGS-297-REV. !! Side 3: V6-5005-2 SIDE-3 MGS-298-REV. ūū Side 4: V6-5005 SIDE-4 MGS-299-REV. RE-1 1!
		2	LP	MGM Verve/Polydor Set No. 2683-004	1971-12			UK edition. Polydor reissued early albums having acquired the MGM/Verve label in 1972. 2352 023 & 2352 024 on labels.
		2	LP	MGM Verve SMV-9045/46				Japanese edition.
	1.2 Original Mono	2	LP	MGM Verve V-5005-2	1967?			US edition.
	1.3 Original Stereo Shortened	1	LP	MGM Verve SVLP 9154	1967-03			UK edition.
		1	LP	MGM Verve 710003	1967			German & French editions.
		1	LP	MGM Verve SVL 52.012				Italian edition.
	1.4 Original Mono Shortened	1	LP	MGM Verve VLP 9154	1967-03			UK edition. Matrix # V 5005 A1 / V 5005 B1
	1.5 Re-EQ'd Original Stereo	2	LP	Barking Pumpkin BPR 7777-1	1985-04-19			Included in The Old Masters, Box I set.
	2 Remix	1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 40062	1987	0144314006225? 0014431006227? (not printed)		US edition, AAD.
		1	CD	Zappa CDZAP 1	1987-10	5016583600129 (not printed)		UK edition, AAD. Matrix # ZAP CD 1 MPO 05 ???
		1	CD	Intercord i.r.s. 970701	?			German edition
		1	CD	Rykodisc D40723	1987			Australian edition = Rykodisc RCD 40062 stickered with the Ozzie catalog #.
		2	LP	Zappa ZAPPA 1	1990	5016583600112		UK edition.
		1	CS	Zappa TZAPPA 1	?	5016583600143?		UK edition.
	Unknown	1	CS	Barking Pumpkin D4 74208	1990-10-17	0013347420844		US edition, XDR.
	2 Remix	1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5021	1994-10-26	4988112405240		Japanese edition = Rykodisc RCD 40062 repackaged with an obi strip and extra liner notes in Japanese.
		1	CS	Rykodisc RAC 10501	1995-05-02	0014431050145		US edition.
		1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10501	1995-05-02	0014431050121		US edition.
		1	CD	Gravadora Eldorado/Rykodisc 968029	1995	7897181221903		Brazilian edition.
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5101	1995-09-09	4988112406957		Japanese edition.
		1	CD	Festival/Rykodisc D31394	1995	9399603139424		Australian edition = Rykodisc RCD 10501
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 5236	1996-05-30	4988112408364		Japanese edition = Rykodisc RCD 10501 repackaged with an obi strip and extra liner notes in Japanese.
		1	CD	VideoArts VACK 1203	2001-09-21	4988112403116		Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve.
		1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 40582/1	2002-03-21	None		US edition, included in the Threesome No. 1 box set. The booklet still mention the old Rykodisc ref.: RCD 10501. Matrix # IFPI L502 IFPI 8708 DISCTRONICS RCD 10501 01
		1	CD	Rykodisc RCD 10591	2005-08-16	0014431059124		= VideoArts VACK 1203, the barcode is a sticker, the Ryko reference is not printed.
	1.1 Original Stereo	1	CD	Zappa ZR 20005 (CD1)	2006-12-05	n/a		US edition, included in The MOFO. Matrix # IFPI 4121 ZR200041 1W 01 V IFPI L244 ZAPPA.COM D
		1	CD	Zappa ZR 20004 (CD1)	2006-12-11	n/a		US edition, included in The MOFO Deluxe. Matrix # IFPI 4121 ZR200051 1W 01 V IFPI L244 ZAPPA.COM S
	Unknown	1	CD	VideoArts VACK 1319	2008-05-21	4988112417632		Japanese edition, mini-album papersleeve.
	2 Remix	1	CD	Zappa/UMe ZR 3834	2012-07-31	0824302383421		US edition with CD-Text, manufactured and distributed by UMe. Source: 1987 1630 Digital Master. Digital Remix by Frank Zappa, 1987.
		1	CD	Zappa/UMG Intl 0238342	2012-07-31	0824302383421		EU edition with CD-Text = Zappa/UMe ZR 3834, manufactured in Germany.
		1	CD	Zappa/Universal Music Japan UICY-75350	2012-11-28	4988005737496		Japanese edition, audiophile SHM-CD, mini-album papersleeve with an obi strip and liner notes in Japanese.
		2	LP (180 g)	Zappa/UMe ZR 3834-1	2013-06-18	0824302383414		US edition. Source: FZ 1987 Digital Transfer of Original 1966 Stereo Master. Mastered by Chris Bellman, Bernie Grundman Mastering, 2013.
		2	LP (180 g)	Zappa/UMG Intl 0238341	2013-06-18	0824302383414		GB Side2: -27807- P. USA FVZ-2013-1-B WWW.ZAPPA.COM GB Side3: -27808- P. USA FVZ-2013-1-C WWW.ZAPPA.COM GB Side4: -27808- P. USA FVZ-2013-1-D WWW.ZAPPA.COM GB

See Also

• Furnace Record Pressing presses Frank Zappa's "Freak Out!" (video)
• The Old Masters, Box I
• Threesome No. 1
• The MOFO Project/Object
• The MOFO Project/Object (Deluxe Edition)