Freak Out!

It's unbelievable that this album was released in 1966. So ahead of its time. It's a molotove cocktail between psychedelic rock, concrete music and satirical doo-wop. And all of that is just the tip of the iceberg of Frank Zappa's genius. It's not the kind of album I would listen to every day, but I can't help but give it 5 stars. Damn, this was released in 1966... Impossible!

you can hear how important this album is and it's cool to think form the perspective of the time. that being said most of this album is trolling

No. Never been a Zappa fan. He’s a smart and innovative artist but I just don’t cotton to his ways. Go freak out over there, away from me.

Time and the ability of human beings to hear have not been kind to The Mothers Of Invention. This sounds like your elderly uncle trying to be deliberately zany. Rating: 1/5 Playlist track: Anyway The Wind Blows Date listened: 08/01/23

I suppose you could generously call this satire, but it's really more "Rage against the normies," with penguin of d00m levels or randomness to prove how aloof and freaky they are. The more they criticize the folks who care about appearances, the more they reveal that they do, too. Best track: Hungry Freaks, Daddy

This is good, this is good. It's 1966 and already the suburban and societal tedium of the prior decade and the unrest of the present decade is being picked apart. I love how Freak Out just get more and more unsettled as it goes along. The final track feels a bit wack, but 60 years ago there would have been an explosive feeling to have an album start out fairly pop and end up with people muttering "cream cheese, cream cheese". Best track - "Go Cry on Someone Else's Shoulder" - a dismantling of teen heartbreak. Cheer up, you'll get over it.

I dont know what to make of this album but i liked it very much.

It's not going to be long: This is a foundational album. You can love it. You can hate it. And without denigrating anyone's opinion, it just doesn't matter.  This  Is  The most  Important  Record  Ever.

Initial take after the first song: WTF? Final take after the last song: WTF? I bet you there will be a LOT of 1s thrown at this album. "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" is comedy. "I had my car reupholstered, I had my hair reprocessed..." comedy. This whole thing is comedy. There is so much kazoo usage, out of key singing, weird little vocal expressions but it's good somehow? It feels like parody, almost like a Weird Al-esque depiction of 60s music with a little bit of non-parody actual songwriting thrown in there ("Trouble Every Day" for example). These dudes were just having fun. Trying all sorts of wacky wild ideas out. I respect that. Especially given that it's 1966. "It Can't Happen Here" is exhibit A. We didn't even go to the moon yet and here we are riding this album out to "cream cheese" chants. This album reminds me a lot of Negativland's Escape from Noise just in how wacky it is and the balls on the artists for going to absurd levels of bonkers. I feel like there is a reason why this is on here but I didn't do any research as I was interested in approaching this wild album cover completely blindly. This isn't really music that I'm like "hell yeah let's go I want to blast this once a month" but it IS music that made me smile and laugh and wonder. So, hey, on that alone I'll give this a 3/5. (Looked it up right before submitting my review and learned that this is a Zappa album. Wild.)

The *~sO rAnDoM x"D*~ of the 60s.

Well this was a fun time. Its like if pink floyd was a little bit less about acid and more about coke and acid

I don't know how to feel about liking this. But I do, so there.

True innovation in composition. 55 years later, this still has an edge.

Gave me flashbacks to a really awful trip I had in the 60s. I've never taken acid and I wasn't even alive then.

Rumor has it they were only in it for the money.

I generally like Zappa, but some of his records don't work for me. This is not one of those. It's weird and wild. It's got some great songs. Trouble Every Day is simply one of my all time favorites. It's sadly always relevant. This won't be for everyone. I'm sure some people might like some other flavor of Zappa and some won't like a note. I think this is a incredible record and it's influence on music that I enjoy can't be overstated.

One of the strangest albums of the 60s. S mix of doo-wop, psychedelia and music concrete to make an album like no other.

Yep, Freak Out! is absolutely appropriate for a title. Absolutely experimental rock, but with so many feels of so many 60's bands you'd know and love. I'm sure you could listen 100 times and take something different from this.

I respect the chaos, but it’s giving “theater kids discover LSD.” Some songs slap, others feel like they’re actively bullying me for listening. Historic, sure, but I’m not rushing back.

Contrairement à mon compagnon d'écoute l'ignoble elfoutaise, j'avais bel et bien reconnu Frank Zappa sur la pochette de l'album. J'étais donc parfaitement préparé à ce qui allait suivre. Et il m'a semblé que ça valait trois étoiles sur l'échelle de Robert.

I find Zappa frequently undercuts his ability to rock with being willfully and smugly clever. And it was apparent from this first album. I like that the band is a pretty good 60s garage band, and the garage rock (Motherly Love) or doo-wop (Go Cry On Someone Else's Shoulder) influences are fun. The satirical content is high, although the creeping misogyny sits poorly. The whole thing could use a tighter edit (even Zappa agreed that The Return of The Son of Monster Magnet is unfinished). I guess it was pretty innovative at the time to include cut-ups and musique concrete, and even satire in rock was a new idea at the time, but I still find it hard to sit through sometimes. It's hard to dance to, you know? Too much talk, not enough trousers.

I will give Frank Zappa credit - he was completely unique and original, and for 1966 this album certainly broke new ground. But just because you're unique and different doesn't mean that listening to your music is going to be an enjoyable experience. Believe me, I've tried, but Zappa just doesn't do it for me. 2 stars.

Urgh. Messy incoherent drugged up self-indulgent noise. Or so it felt. Not all of it was the worst thing I've ever heard, but overall it was poor due to it being very irritating and repetitive at times. Some parts were okay to good, but this was overshadowed by the album being cringe, an hour long and then adding insult to injury with a 12 minute final "song." People like this crap?!

This ... this is parody, right? Like, a joke album? No? Are you sure? Huh. Well, it's not very good then, is it? Half-assed crap, really. I mean, kazoos? Really?!

I was amazed at how normal it sounded. The lyrics were wonderfully satiric, and delivered sardonically, but it wasn't weird or freaky. Then I hit It Can't Happen Here. That is an acid trip come to life! Then we get the sonic palette being fully expanded on that final track. This is a brilliant album, with a special nod going to Don't Put Your Head On My Shoulder. Sorry, that should read Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder. I love where he satirises the love song genre.

I'm sure plenty of Zappa fans out there will disagree with my assessment of the man as a musician, but to me, his music always strikes me as meta-music. Like, he can't switch off. He can't just make a song for normal enjoyment and consumption. There's always a sense of him standing just outside a group of musicians and saying, "hey guys we're musicians. We make music. That's what we do. That's what we're doing. We're making music. We're musicians, and we make music." Instead of just making music. I mean, he does make music, of course, but it's always conscious of it *being* music, which is why he plays in so many styles and is always experimenting. It's all a kind of puzzle to him. I've listened to a lot of his music--a lot--and I've seen Baby Snakes and other nonsense. He's not a rock star. He's not enjoying himself. He's like a marionette master, manipulating his fans and micro-managing his band. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just why Zappa stands apart from every other artist in my collection. He is an outsider. He's too smart for his own good. I guess that's the hallmark of every good satirist.

Not Zappa’s best, but I enjoyed it. Some really good songs and some songs they made fun of that 60s pop sound very well. Naturally there were some tracks that were... out there, but that’s the fun of a Zappa album. Favorite tracks: “I Ain’t Got No Heart,” “Go Cry On Somebody Else’s Shoulder,” and “Motherly Love”

I described this album as the monster mash song, not as good, too much kazoo. Inspite of all that I did enjoy parts of this album

I initially like the sound of the first song but then the singing started and I don't like his voice at all. The lyrics are interesting and though provoking. The singing on the second song was a bit better and easier to listen to. 3rd song sounds like a demented Oompa Loompa song. This is a very weird and experimental album. Not sure if its my thing, so far I am not a fan. The random kazoos? in the songs are interesting. I enjoy the more serious songs but overall this album is not something that I would listen to again.

They were sober when they came up with the disharmonies, cacophonies, and looseness and lack of precision that likely guided many a psychedelic experience among listeners for decades afterwards!? My big concern is that there is some old hippie out there somewhere who still thinks he's a rock. He dosed at the start of "Freak Out!" and was getting into a decent groove as the fuzzed out weirdness progressed, and was just on the edge of keeping his s#!t together when "Help, I'm a Rock" came on. Halfway through, he considered the possibility that he was actually a cop, but couldn't find his uniform and thus concluded that he was some kind of conscious aggregation of minerals. Ever since, unable to find his way back to reality, he was wandered the Haight asking confounded passersby for help. Don't let your kids listen to rock music!

I listened to this totally sober. For me that means I was not nearly high enough to get it. And already too high to enjoy it.

Tout d'abord, je voudrais démarrer ce review en présentant mes plus plates excuses. Je ne sais pas ce qu'il m'a pris hier, mais dans un élan de gentillesse et de bonté, la fin de ma journée de travail pointant le bout de son nez, j'ai accordé à ce piètre rappeur la note de 3/5, action que je regrette desormais enormément. Après une nuit agitée passée à me remémorer les differentes pistes de son album, j'en conclus que la valeur de son album n'etait en fait qu'un piteux 2/5. Piteux et 2/5, ce sont aussi des adjectifs que nous allons pouvoir utiliser pour l'album du jour. L'incomprehension est totale a la suite de cette écoute. L'album se présentait comme un album de rock banal et sans intérêt, tout a fait dans les standards de Robert. Mais c'etait sans compter sur les dernieres pistes de cet album machiavélique. En effet, c'est en effet un véritable livre audio qui se présente à nous dès la fin de cet album, qui se transforme petit a petit en enregistrement audio du zoo de la Palmyre, notamment de l'espace chimpanzés et volatiles. Une honte artistique, et alors que mes oreilles souffraient le martyre, je me mis a faire quelque recherches sur ce groupe criminel, et quelle ne fut pas ma surprise. Ce groupe etait en fait l'oeuvre de l'ignoble Frank Zappa, qui entache encore un peu plus son image, et rentre dans le top 3 des personnages les plus detestes du generateur, avec Manzarek et Sepultura.

So fucking bad lol

1.4 Fucking wank. So disappointed to read this was Frank Zappa after, always presumed the guy would have been decent despite not knowing any of his stuff. Turned it off at Help I'm a Rock. I had some German band banging bits of metal together the other day, give me that any day of the week.

Wat een kut muziek is dit zeg. Ik wil hier eigenlijk geen woorden aan vuil maken; The Mothers of Invention? Je moeder zou zich moeten schamen. Als dit inventief is, laat dan alles maar zoals het is, de muziek is ontzettend saai, de teksten zijn gewoon kut. Meerdere nummers worden gewoon geëindigd met een schreeuw, er zijn sowieso meerdere punten op dit album waar een random gil of schreeuw in zit. Zit er nou een kazoo op dit album? Maar dan niet op 1 nummer, maar de kazoo is een van de belangrijkste instrumenten van dit album, HOE DAN!? Dit hele album voelt als een parodie op muziek, alsof er alles aan gedaan word om het zo onluisterbaar mogelijk te maken. De stukken die ok klinken moeten verpest worden door raar geschreeuw op de achterkant. Denk je dat deze band geld betaald heeft om op deze lijst gezet te worden? Ik denk dat ik Stockholm syndroom begin te begrijpen, na de 10e kazoo solo kan ik niets anders doen dan lachen. Wat een ontzettend dom album is dit zeg. Dit album is een parodie op muziek, dat is mijn conclusie. Is het goed? Nee, maar misschien hoort dat want het is een parodie. Ben ik blij dat ik dit heb gehoord voor ik doodga? Ja, ik waardeer alle andere muziek opeens een stuk beter. FAVO: Motherly Love(die kazoo solo, hou op met me), Wowie Zowie

This album is so weird and derivative but in the worst blend of actual good music. The vibes were beyond creepy and how they secured any sort of record deal is beyond me.

Low key really dislike this album. Just too out there (and I like weird music)...and the vocal delivery kind of annoys me. 1.5/5

Guys if you are going to make a band... find a good singer... awful

Avant garde? Eclectic? A difficult listen? You think you're doing okay and then "It Can't Happen Here and Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" wrap up the album. It might be smart music, it just doesn't come across that way. A very rough go.

Wow, ok. I don't really know what this is, but I'm pretty sure that I hate it. I made it until the fifth song and then couldn't take anymore.

I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think Frank Zappa is brilliant...and so prescient! I own several of his albums, but not this one, although I've seen it before.

To completely counter the “peace and love” hippie movement of the 60s, Zappa created a chaotic sound collage to show us the darker underbelly of fame and society.

"Freak Out!" Is the debut album by American rock band The Mothers of Invention. The Mothers of Invention consisted of Frank Zappa (guitarist/vocalist), Ray Collins (lead vocalist/tambourine), Ray Estrada (bass/vocalist), Jimmy Carl Black (drummer/vocalist) and Elliot Ingber (guitarist). The album's producer signed the band to Verve Records (MGM) for their white-blues sound. He got that and also doo-wop, songs with orchestral arrangements and avant-garde and experimental rock. The album was one of the earliest double albums and one of the first concept albums with Zappa's satirical perception of American pop culture and the growing freak scene in LA. It was not initially a commercial success but later developed a cult following along with Frank's other albums. Hey, it's The Stones! No, it's actually a rhythm and guitar that sounds like "(Can't Get Me No) Satisfaction" in the opener "Hungry Freaks Daddy." A searing guitar solo. An attack on the American school system. A bass drum and eerie work start "Who are the Brain Police" People screaming and pyschedelic guitar. This has a religious theme of sorts with people policing their own brains. Even Frank said this was one of his scariest songs. I'd agree. "Motherly Love" is more pop sounding with some nice 60's sounding harmonization. I think about groupies. An orchestral background is added to "How Could I Be Such a Fool" which satirizes teenage love. "Wowie Zowie" has a piano and is doo-wop. I think it's actually satirizing doo-wop. Did Pavement name their last album after this song? The third side begins with "Trouble Everyday." Here's the dirty bluesy sound the producer was looking for with the guitar and harmonica. Another excellent Frank guitar solo. A song about racial injustice and the Watts' Riots. One of my favorite Zappa songs. From here on out, things get weird and experimental even for Frank. "Help, I'm a Rock" is a three part suite. A repetitive beat and rhythm. A droning background. People making all sorts of random noise including a woman having an orgasm. Hey, this is 1965 for heaven's sake. Tipper Gore was not in the room. This reminded me of Pink Floyd's "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathering" so I'm a fan to a point. The entire fourth side is "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" where we are introduced to Suzy Cream Cheese and her conscious talking to her. The first half is a pyschdelic jam. The second half involves actual freaky people they brought in from the Hollywood streets to make random noises. The furry animals are back. I don't want to meet Suzy Cream Cheese ever. If you want variety and weirdness, this is it: blues, pyschedelic, garage, doo-wop and experimental. The satirical lyrics are pretty funny and so is the satire of actual music styles which I think they are doing at times. I like this album throughout but for the normal person, sticking to the first half and the singles is probably recommended. But, hey, if you like random sounds and chaos keep the record going.

And, just like that, the world has been introduced to the ever chaotic, completely unorthodox and creatively intelligent world of the one and only Frank Zappa. At once maddening and ingenious, there is no way of knowing where he can go, where he should go and where he may ultimately end up and, on Freak Out!, all the cards are suddenly on deck. While not the greatest representation of what he and the Mothers of Invention had to offer, there is plenty to take away in regards to the material here, which does not shy away at all from satirical and at times farcical depictions of the culture that was at the time with some of the more genuine interpretations of doo-wop and psych rock and the kind of claustrophobic and cluttered sounds that best define the album's title. As far as the gospel of Zappa is concerned, this is perhaps the best place to start but, be warned, there is more where that came from. Favorites: Hungry Freaks, Daddy, I Ain't Got No Heart, Go Cry on Someone Else's Shoulder, How Could I Be Such a Fool, You Didnt Try to Call Me, Anyway the Wind Blows, You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here, Trouble Every Day, Help, I'm a Rock.

Zappa is always weird but this one actually starts off fairly normal and then devolves into madness by the end. Most of the songs are satirical portrayals of 60s pop music and they do a good job. Some songs are even serious like Trouble All The Time. Overall pretty good but definitely can skip some songs.

Bien divertissant, l'humour des paroles est très bon, la musique est très originale et unique, surtout en comparaison à ce qui se faisait à la même année. Pas exactement mon genre mais j'apprécie beaucoup le soucis de qualité dont l'album fait preuve. 8/10

Frank Zappa is clearly very talented and quite creative, but for whatever reason, he demonstrates almost no interest in making music the average person would describe as good. He does produce some entertaining send-ups of 50s pop and 60s rock on this album, but I think those are mostly accidents that come out of his real intent of mocking those genres and the people who like them. I can’t tell if Zappa is a grump that hates fun or if he’s actually having more fun than any other musician out there. Either way, this album is worth hearing even if it will obviously not be everyone’s taste.

This is some real hippie shit.

Different. Mostly in a good way. 3.5

1966: Anyway The Wind Blows, Trouble Every Day

'66? That's impressive. I just read they were signed and produced by Tom Wilson. He is one of the more interesting music people you never heard of. Check him out. Be sure to find a photo, too. Here's a good teaser from reddit: Talk about having an ear for greatness! Knowing who to put together was his super power. I did not know he did the overlay of electric instruments for S&G's "Sound of Silence" and that they had already broken up as a duo and came back together because of his version. Launched their career. Launched Dylan's electric period. Put it on the line for Zappa's debut. Velvet Underground, Soft Machine, etc. The list goes on...! Not to mention his humble Jazz beginnings with Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor & Donald Byrd no less. Woof

Frank Zappa’s music is amazing…when Frank Zappa isn’t singing over it.

Man the 60s were not good

Overly intellectual snobbery posing as buffoonery. There is talent to be sure but the songs feel drained of joy and pleasure. I’ll take Beefheart any day over Zappa.

You can taste the vitriol Zappa has for 60s American culture dripping off this record. I admire it for that. However, in terms of personal enjoyment, I find several of the tracks completely unlistenable. Some are funny, and I found myself at different points feeling like Zappa was musically writing punchlines. However, it’s a big mess, and not something I’d like to listen to again.

I fucking hate people who "see through the bullshit, man!" Nothing is less appealing than people who think they are better than "normies" and "sheeple". A bunch of losers deciding they are enlightened because they couldn't hack real life. This whole record is a battle cry for these types. I'll give a 2 because this wasn't the worst example of this and there is some good instrumentation.

The sex noises in the latter half of the album kinda ruin it

I am finally old enough to admit that I am never going to like Frank Zappa. I feel like I know his type (based on his music): he is the guy at the party that is all shitty about people getting too drunk and always talking about the things that make music boring instead of the things that make music good. Oh, and have you seen his strat? You gotta see his strat. I don't have enough time left to try and like Frank Zappa before I die. 2 out of 5 stars. (sorry, not sorry)

A large portion of this album felt like the nihilistic satire that says “I’m smarter than you because I make fun of everything”. And then it all went crazy in the last couple songs. Not fun to listen to but at least it was creative? 4/10

Not good.

t's amazing how an album that's so offbeat can be so dull to listen to, it's like the band decided to be weird for the sake of being weird and totally forgot to make actually interesting music. Each song just seems to drone on and on, and I wound up only being able to get about halfway through it before shutting it off, and even then I was forcing myself through each song. Absolutely terrible.

Frank Zappa is one of the most annoying people that has ever lived. This was an endurance test. It has its moments but the problem is that he ruins everything with his grating voice and childish humor. Fuck I can't stand a single thing about him or his fans. Everything he touches is the most grating, try hard bull shit. 12 minute song that is just chimpanzee sounds, moaning and burp noises. Cool thanks, insufferable tool.

why is Freak Out! considered a good album? I find it annoying. I understand it's satire but the lyrics are annoying. The music is unlistenable. It doesn't sound like pop music and the Zappa is missing the actual music that is evolving. The year before The Beatles put out 3 great albums. Dylan was putting out albums. The Rolling Stones had great albums. His point is invalid. It's just annoying. No one is claiming that 1960s pop was incredible but it was incredibly listenable. This misses on listenability as well as being an endless, unfunny, pointless joke. Imagine if an SNL skit went on for an hour, with the same joke, but also with terrible music. Fuck, I really cannot express how much I dislike this album.

I really hate the cult of personality this participation trophy of a musician has. I am firmly of the belief that some people should speak less.

I’m so confused. What just happened to me? Send help. I need a shower and an adult. Even my dog is staring with a concerned look. If these guys had a podcast today everyone would listen to it but they all secretly hate it. They talk just for the sake of talking. Sounds like it could be background music for a horror movie in an insane asylum, specially toward the end. I think they hate women. I NEVER want to hear this again.

Jaysus

Brilliantly inventive! All time favourite

This is what happens when a creative musical genius and a group of great musicians get in a studio with a producer that’s tripping on acid and doesn’t turn down any suggestions. Most artists would never even have the idea to include half of what Frank Zappa pulled off. This kind of creativity can’t come from taking yourself seriously. I feel like the Mothers and Zappa in general is a bit underrepresented in this list, I’d recommend Absolutely Free, The Mothers of Invention’s following album, if you liked this. I believe Absolutely Free is better than Freak Out! and is also the first prog rock album, but that’s another story. 5/5

I grew up listening to this album via my first high proformance full coverage stero earphones. The memories are fantastic.

A psychedelic parade collapsing in on itself — part satire, part revolution, part “what happens if you let genius get bored.” Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Freak Out! is the sound of Frank Zappa breaking into 1966, grabbing rock music by the collar, and saying, “Why are you all doing the same thing?” It’s chaotic, sarcastic, musically dense, and way smarter than it pretends to be. It mixes doo-wop parody, orchestral weirdness, political bite, and avant-garde noise into something that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. It’s less an album and more an explosion — messy, hilarious, furious, and decades ahead of its time. Favorite Track: Trouble Every Day

Easy 5, haha. So, so lustig und dabei gleichzeitig (in schön eingeflochtenen Teilen) bewegend - und (für mich persönlich) so befreiend … viel mehr geht eigentlich nicht. „I don’t like the way life has been abusing me“ bringt mich jedes Mal wieder zum Lachen! Hab sie dieses Jahr tatsächlich als near mint von 1971 gefunden ❤️ O, wie gern hätte ich „You’re probably wondering why I’m here“ einmal live erlebt! Ich find das Timing des Generators echt richtig gut ^^ auf dieser Platte kann ich mir Gesellschaftskritik anhören, ohne dabei wütend zu werden. Mit Witz und Gleichmut zu reagieren, ist so viel angenehmer… eigentlich wollte ich Autechre hören. Dabei und danach hätte ich mich nie so lebensfroh gefühlt - ich sollte mir feste Gutelaunemusikzeiten einplanen!

They did a phenomenal job of being musical chameleons and humorously questioning the pop music at the time. It reminds me of how the James Bond movies all had saucy (and frankly insulting) women's names until Austin Powers' Alotta Fagina showed up. The Mothers of Invention showed up with a love/hate relationship of current music and practically dared everyone to do better, be more experimental.

Day678 - hits all the marks of being a must listen. strange , fun and smart

Seriously moving, this album is great and it dawned on me that I don’t know much of this Zappa band. I need to get more Mothers of Invention in my ears. Wowie Zowie was a stand out, fun song. I also don’t care about shaved legs. This album is melting pot of genres, tongue, and cheek pop.

imagine thinking you signed a white blues rock outfit and receving this double lengthed tape? And pressing it. Absurd and ahead of it's time. A sarcastic commentary on LA and American culture. A debut albut. It's incredible.

I've got a sweet spot for The Mothers of Invention

It's Zappa.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. So many great tracks! I especially liked these on my first listen: Who Are The Brain Police?, Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, Motherly Love, How Could I Be Such A Fool, Wowie Zowie, Anyway The Wind Blows, You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here, Help, I'm A Rock (great one!!!), The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (the cream cheese song) That's a lot of tracks!

Not my favorite Zappa album but I do love me some weird.

*Freak Out!*, the 1966 debut album by The Mothers of Invention, is a landmark work that shattered conventions of what rock music could be. Masterminded by Frank Zappa, it is a satirical, ambitious, and wildly eclectic double album that combines social critique with avant-garde experimentation . For a quick overview, the table below captures the core aspects of the album. | Aspect | Summary | | :--- | :--- | | **🎵 Music & Style** | A satirical mix of doo-wop, R&B, blues, and pop, juxtaposed with avant-garde sound collages and musique concrète . | | **💡 Themes & Lyrics** | A cynical satire of consumerism, conformity, "straight" society, and the education system, while celebrating individual freaks . | | **🎙️ Production** | Produced by Tom Wilson; known for its innovative, sometimes chaotic studio techniques created on a relatively small budget . | | **✨ Influence & Legacy** | A major influence on The Beatles' *Sgt. Pepper*; one of rock's first concept albums and first double-LP debuts . | ### 🎵 Music and Production The album's music is a purposeful collision of styles, reflecting Zappa's dual love for 1950s rhythm and blues and 20th-century classical avant-garde. * **Satirical Pop Songs**: The first half of the album features short, catchy songs that meticulously mimic and skewer popular genres of the time. Tracks like "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder" are perfect doo-wop pastiches, while "How Could I Be Such a Fool" incorporates Motown and Mexican trumpet flourishes . The intent was to expose the banality of mainstream pop through exaggeratedly accurate replication . * **Avant-Garde Experiments**: The second half descends into more experimental territory. "Help, I'm a Rock" is a droning, repetitive suite with layered vocal chaos, and the 12-minute finale, "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet," is an unfinished ballet of percussive jams and studio improvisation featuring a large group of "freaks" . Zappa cited influences like Edgard Varèse, using the studio as an instrument to create revolutionary soundscapes . * **The Production Story**: Producer Tom Wilson signed the band under the impression they were a white blues band after hearing "Trouble Every Day" . The story goes that he was shocked when they began recording the bizarre "Who Are the Brain Police?" but ultimately championed Zappa's vision to the label, securing a double-album format . The production, while ambitious, was reportedly completed quickly and on a modest budget . ### 💡 Themes and Lyrics Zappa's lyrics serve as a sharp social critique, targeting the hypocrisy and conformity of mid-60s America with equal opportunity scorn. * **Social Satire**: The album opens with a direct attack on the establishment in "Hungry Freaks, Daddy," lambasting the educational system and "Mr. America" . "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" mocks the superficiality of the social scene and even the band's own audience . * **Cynicism and Parody**: Love songs are not about romance but about heartless transactions ("I Ain't Got No Heart") or cynical send-ups ("Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder") . The tone is consistently sarcastic and distrustful of sentimentality. * **Serious Commentary**: Amid the parody, "Trouble Every Day" stands out as a serious, blues-based commentary on the Watts riots of 1965, with Zappa expressing frustration with media sensationalism of racial violence . ### ✨ Influence and Legacy *Freak Out!* was commercially unsuccessful but became massively influential. * **Pioneering Format**: It was the first rock double album consisting entirely of new material and is frequently cited as one of the very first concept albums, presenting a unified satirical vision rather than a collection of singles . * **Musical Impact**: Its influence on other musicians was immediate. Paul McCartney has been quoted as calling *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band* The Beatles' attempt at their own *Freak Out!* . It also paved the way for experimental and progressive rock . ### Pros and Cons Here is a balanced look at the album's strengths and weaknesses. | Pros | Cons | | :--- | :--- | | **Historical Importance**: A groundbreaking and fearless debut that expanded the possibilities of the rock album format . | **Inconsistent Tone**: The shift from parody pop to avant-garde experimentation can be jarring and may not appeal to listeners seeking a cohesive experience . | | **Satirical Brilliance**: The songwriting is clever, funny, and sharp, effectively critiquing social norms with intelligence . | **Deliberately Unpolished**: The vocal performances are often intentionally off-key or nasal, and the production can sound dated or chaotic, which may frustrate some listeners . | | **Creative Ambition**: The sheer scope and willingness to experiment, from complex vocal arrangements to tape manipulation, remains impressive . | **Unfinished Feel**: Zappa himself noted that the final track, "Monster Magnet," was unfinished due to budget constraints, which can make it feel like an extended, directionless jam . | ### Final Verdict *Freak Out!* is an essential listen for anyone interested in the history of rock music. It is not necessarily an "easy" album to enjoy, as its humor is cynical and its experiments challenging. However, its creativity, intelligence, and sheer audacity are undeniable. It established Frank Zappa as a unique and uncompromising voice whose influence resonates to this day.

Capolavoro. Pensare che è uscito nel 66...

I knew going into this I liked it, but I wasn't expecting to give it a 5! The debut album of Zappa and the Mothers is full of really great psychedelic blues-garage rock and some really nice experimental tape stuff as well, and it's all tied together by the super dry and sarcastic lyrics about American society and the San Francisco freak scene. This is the kind of stuff that really shows how generational of an artist Frank Zappa was.

Not to be taken seriously, but also to be taken seriously.

Love the mothers

A fever dream of an album, from some alternate 1960s timeline. At times downright scary (Who Are The Brain Police?) and others beautiful (How Could I Be Such A Fool) but it's all full of fascinating little details. Anyway The Wind Blows is brilliant, crystal chimes echoing the guitars. We get full on blues rock on Trouble Every Day. No one is safe from their satirical jabs. Help I'm A Rock opts for surrealism, and It Can't Happen Here is jazzy before devolving into doo wop a capella? The closing track begins with an almost indescribable rhythm. Part art rock, part bad trip. There's no real melodies or lyrics, but snatches of insane voices and chopped up, dissonant percussion that Autechre would be proud of. I begin to start questioning my sanity. Five stars.

i love this album. it's obviously not going to be everyone's tea, but i do think this is probably the most accessible zappa/mothers album. it was my first exposure to them years ago and i kind of fell in love with it. it's a bit goofy and zany and there's lots of quirky shit on here, but when push comes to shove, it's really fun and really strong musically. to me, 'trouble every day' and 'any way the wind blows' are terrific. true to the album's name, there are some really fun 'freak out' sections on here, but also it's a freaky album (in a 1960s sense, an album for Freaks). yeah man, this is the good stuff.

als je zo kunt debuteren, ben je goed bezig.. een amalgaam aan stijlen, satirische teksten over hippies (die nog maar net opkwamen)... en dan nog een dubbelLP op de koop toe...

It could have been written and recorded today.

Album 808 of 1089 The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! (1966) Rating : 5 / 5 What an awesome album. Frank has been a longtime favorite so this one isn't unfamiliar to me. One of the earlier concept albums, it is a satirical expression of Zappa's perception of American pop culture and the nascent freak scene of Los Angeles. Even on this debut album I see and hear themes and styles which were later prevalent on some of his solo albums - a couple which are among my all-time favorites. An amazing fusion of doo-wop, blues, avant-garde along with his sometimes sarcastic and biting commentary. It has been called “a miracle of nature” and “a freaking brilliant, sarcastic sendup of society” and I won't argue with that.

Of course Frank gets 5 stars. I wish I could hear it again for the first time.

Loaded with satire and with tongues planted firmly in cheeks, this is an absolute gas from start to finish. It's mainly doo-wop, frat and garage rock but along the way there is plenty of experimentation and imagination with social commentary on tracks like the genuinely frightening 'Who are the Brain Police' and quick fire lyrics on 'Trouble Everyday'. It's not a perfect album but it is highly listenable and surprisingly commercial.

Intelligent invention. Love this album.

I went into this expecting weird nonsense, and I definitely got that, but I also got a lot more really solid music that I didn't expect. The satire and the zaniness were peak, and the music was just behind.

Don’t mind if I do!! I’m freaking out that at the tender age of 29, I finally understand the Deep Purple lyric “Frank Zappa and the Mothers.” I was always perplexed by the inclusion of said mothers. Who were they? Why were they with Frank? Now, before I lose any more of my previously untarnished credibility, I discovered this a few months ago. Despite my late arrival to the party, I hope to sift through the smouldering wreckage of the French nightclub and find what it was that set it ablaze. It’ll be odd to hear Frank Zappa doing music, and not just taking down news anchors in whatever heavily tailored short form content loops I’ve been on. Hungry Freaks, Daddy - Oh no. I don’t like that song title. It sounds like how people speak on the internet now. I do love a good freak mention though. Mr. America? Is this a Hulk Hogan song? I wouldn’t be surprised if this song could somehow predict the future. This is wild. Very cool instrumentation choices, an a super likeable track. I Ain’t Got No Heart - That guitar lick in the background. This is not what I expected. I was kind of just thinking this album would be fart noises in an attempt to be subversive, but here we are getting coherent psychedelic pop. Sounding excellent. Who are the Brain Police? - We’ve had hearts and now brains. I’m seeing a shoulder up ahead as well. I’m concerned about the lack of autonomy we have over the body parts here. I wish I could answer this query. Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder - Man. This is fantastic. A throwback with a tongue firmly planted in the cheek. The ironic thing? This is actually a pretty good song, even if you listen to it unironically. Yeah the background vocals are a little silly, but I love the atmosphere they create. Completely insane. I’m in love. Motherly Love - Aside from the “turkey in the straw” kazoo solo, this one was mkre standard for the time. Not hating it, but not as exhilarating as the previous tracks. How Could I Be Such a Fool - So many rhetorical questions on this album. Well, maybe not rhetorical. Unanswerable? Whatever. It’s also my review writing style. To ask questions that will never receive responses. Wowie Zowie - Progressive feminist slay mixed in with a nod to a childlike regression precipitated by a trip on bad acid. More 50’s nonsense. Get the straitjackets. You Didn’t Try to Call Me - More of the same sentiment from the band and a reduced sentiment of praise from me. Overall, fine, but kind of a filler track. Anyway the Wind Blows - Am I finally picking up on the theme here? Back and forth between teeny-bopper breakup songs and starry-eyed odes to love. This song has a lovely chorus. I’m Not Satisfied - YUUEAHHH. HELL yeah dude. Oh no, Frank, don’t kill ur slef. ur gud at song. YUUEAHHH. That’s my new favourite sound. I’m telling ya. This shit is in my Q zone big time. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here - I was wondering, yes. Why are you in my office with this bizarre song? Oh. You also don’t know. Yeah that’s fine. Rip a kazoo solo. Pull up a chair. THE YUUEAHHs ARE BACK!! Score. Trouble Every Day - Uhh yeah this should be the title of this website. Another scorching zinger provided by yours truly. Wait a second I’m not yours. Nice try, idiot. Cool song. Why aren’t more albums cool like this? Help, I’m a Rock - Ok. I’ve seen this before. What you’re going to need to do is remain perfectly still, which should be relatively simple considering your predicament. I will fetch a green onion salve and consult with Garlac the wizard. He will ask of you a riddles three. Your answer to these riddles will be irrelevant as your communion eith Garlac becomes complete on the final syllable of the third riddle. He will transition you from rock to Parsnip which any hack Shaman can return to human form with a simple Beetwort juice. It Can’t Happen Here - Insane. True. Art. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet - Put Susie Cream Cheese on the line. I have some questions about this song title. Yeah hello Ms. Cream Cheese. Sorry. Mrs. Cream Cheese. Yeah, Isn’t Monster Magnet some horrible modern butt rock band? Or am I thinking of that the guy who calls himself “Monster Truck?”The one who did that anti-mask song with Kid Rock. Anyway. I think this song is about him. HELP. I’m on a song with Kid Rock. Say hello to Mr. Cream Cheese for me. Stay out of the sun you rascals. After sitting here with my jaw agape for the full 13 minutes, I’ll call this one “The Jenius of the Jungle.” I’ve heard some Zappa lyrics that are just literally lines about shit. Just poop lyrics. Not a metaphor. Needless to say I thought this would suck. I love bizarre and avant-garde tinged art, but I find when people are stuck for “far out” ideas, they return to the bathroom. Now. This album did anything but circle the drain. The debut effort from the Mother of Invention is and completely insane in all the best ways and somehow politically relevant to this day. From art pop to jazz fusion to comedic parodies that ridicule overdone musical tropes whilst improving on them at the same time. I did not realize I needed this, or that something almost 60 years old could still sound out there in this over saturated age of oddity we live in today. This is what I want music to be. A love letter to the art form with pointed criticisms of said art form sprinkled in to keep lousy bands on their toes. Not something you lazily play next to your smelly RV on a pay and park beach, but something to be studied and felt. Something that makes an impact. I give this 12 Freaks Up, which with inflation, translates to about 5 Stars. Freak out! 5 HIGHLIGHTS: Hungry Freaks, Daddy, I Ain’t Got No Heart, Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder, Anyway the Wind Blows, Trouble Every Day, Help, I’m a Rock, It Can’t Happen Here

Wild and weird, especially for 66. This album is insane, but somehow still relatively accessible which is very impressive. Plus adding in its place as one of the first concept albums AND one of the first double albums, it's definitely earned its place here.

Fucking so weird. My first taste of Zappa and I am blown away. Genius. Punk. Psychedelic. Funk. Blues. Dripping LSD. Psychosis. Complete mind fuck.

A pretty good album with an easy listen vibe. I liked I Ain't Got No Heart, Go Crystal On Somebody Else's Shoulder and Trouble Everyday the most.

This is PURE GOLD, absolute historic evidence of the way that genius can magnetize other geniuses in a crowd.

It’s pretty incredible how fresh this sounds. Zappa was a visionary and errr still catching up to him to this day.

Trouble Every Day - Great Song