metalluk's Full Review: Absolutely Free by The Mothers Of Invention
Frank Zappa's second album, Absolutely Free was released in 1967. Once again his band was called The Mothers of Invention. The band was now expanded to seven members from the five used in the predecessor album, Freak Out!. Ray Collins was back again as lead vocalist, Jimmy Carl Black on drums, Roy Estrada doing bass and vocals, and Zappa himself, of course, playing lead guitar and contributing vocals. Departed from the group was Elliot Ingber (guitar) but added were Bunk Gardner on saxophone, Don Preston (keyboards and vocals), and Billy Mundy (drums, percussion, and vocals).
Track Listing:
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 & Ending 1:40
8. Big Leg Emma 2:31
9. Why Don'tcha Do Me Right? 2:37
8. America Drinks 1:53
9. Status Back Baby 2:54
10. Uncle Bernie's Farm 2:10
11. Son of Suzy Creamcheese 1:34
12. Brown Shoes Don't Make It 7:30
13. America Drinks & Goes Home 2:45
Zappa of the potty-mouth is a bit in evidence in this second release, but we mainly find him staking out as a portion of his territory a general disgust for the vacuous nature of modern society, detailed whimsically mainly through lyrics focusing on fruits and vegetables. The first song, "Plastic People," leaves little of Zappa's mocking and disdainful view to the imagination, but the following song, "Duke of Prunes," is a priceless number taking a more circumspect approach. The fourth track, "Call Any Vegetable," continues in the same manner. Later tracks, "Status Back Baby," and "Brown Shoes Don't Make," deliver a spirited anti-establishment message. The songs are brilliantly organized into two continuous suites.
My vote for the top song on this album is the last track, "America Drinks & Goes Home," which uses polytonality, sound effects, lyrics, and dialogue to create a musical image highly reminiscent of a Saturday Night Live skit later performed by comedian Bill Murray. The vocalist is a nightclub crooner performing his final number for the evening and then winding things down in the joint with some closing remarks, acknowledging some of the customers, inviting them to return the next night, promising to sing their favorites when they return, and so forth. Meanwhile, mixed into the background of the track, we hear the noises of a rather rowdy and drunken crowd as it prepares to leave, thoroughly wasted from the night of drinking. This, I think, was Zappa's answer to the adult critics of the sixties drug culture, reflecting on the alcohol problems of many establishment adults. This is truly a great song that stands up well played even today.
Zappa's music is already growing in complexity, relative to his first outing. His musical quotations are amazingly broad, including in this album references as diverse as the pop song "Louie Louis" and "The Planets" by Holst. Rock-jazz and rhythm-and-blues are the primary influences, but Zappa tosses in bits of mock opera as well.
The instrumental performances have advanced a step from Zappa's premiere album but are still a bit shy of the brilliant inventiveness of later bands. I rate this album at five stars.
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