1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #69. The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

Label – Verve
Producer – Tom Wilson
Art Direction – Jack Anesh
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 60:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Hungry Freaks Daddy
2. I Ain't Got No Heart
3. Who Are The Brain Police
4. Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
5. Motherly Love
6. How Could I Be Such A Fool
7. Wowie Zowie
8. You Didn't Try To Call Me
9. Any Way The Wind Blows
10. I'm Not Satisfied
11. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
12. Trouble Everyday
13. Help I'm A Rock
14. It Can't Happen Here
15. Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet

One of the longest debuts in rock history, ‘Freak Out!’ lasts over an hour. Unfortunately I will never get that hour back to do something better with! It took four LP sides (but just 1 CD) to deconstruct rock conventions right and left with music inspired by avant-garde classical composers.
I admit – you either LIKE Frank Zappa or you don’t. Or as some might say - you either GET Franz Zappa or you don’t. I can say that Frank is a damn fine guitarist. Hands down. But his musical meanderings leave me feeling empty and wondering whatthe hell did I just listen too each time I play something by him.
Opening with the call to arms "Hungry Freaks, Daddy," ‘Freak Out!’ quickly posits the Mothers of Invention as the antithesis of teen-idol bands, often with sneering mockeries of the teen-romance songs. There are some hilarious lyrics sprinkled throughout that you can’t help but laugh at, but the shifting time signatures, and studio effects seem to just cover the lack of good songs!!
The pieces just meander nowhere and are truly embracing the acceptance of differences and free individual expression in music that Zappa would spend much of his career developing and exploring.
In 1999, it was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and in 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2006, The MOFO Project/Object, an audio documentary on the making of the album, was released in honor of its 40th anniversary.
This is definitely not an album for every one. I like the IDEA of Frank Zappa. His amazing compositional talent and love for experimentation are unparalleled in music. It’s just not any good and is therefore not recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.