Album Challenge - 1966 pt. 1 - Zappa

I'm starting off the 2024 Album Challenge with a 1966 record that influenced my taste in music. I've written about this album online a couple of times over the years and maybe a somewhat unexpected choice unless you knew me back in my teenage years. We're talking about the debut album of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention... Freak Out. This record has been often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums and was Zappa's satirical expression of American pop culture. It was released in June 1966 and was the second rock music double album ever released and the first one that was a debut album. Dylan's Blonde On Blonde double album was released the week before Freak Out.

This was the first regular full album that I went out and bought with my own money... my first real album. I had been buying singles and I had a few Motown singles compilation albums but this was different. This was a 2 LP set. I used some money from my birthday and got it for myself for Christmas 1966. I'm not sure where I first heard about it. I just turned 15, hanging out in neighborhood record stores and very impressionable. That's where I probably first heard some Zappa. I also read record reviews about all kinds of music anywhere I could find it.

I loved this album as a teenager because it had so much of almost everything I was into at the time. Four sides of rock, doo-wop, psychedelic weirdness and wild avant-garde craziness. I would have friends over in our basement rec room and play records. Usually I would play lots of Motown, garage rock and British Invasion records and people would be dancing but then I would always throw in a little Zappa… Help I’m A Rock.

The first song Those Hungry Freaks Daddy had me. I was hooked. Who Are The Brain Police, Trouble Every Day, Your Probably Wondering Why I'm Here all had me wondering what the heck I was listening too but knew it was important. I liked how the album was musically all over the place. I especially loved the doowop songs as much as the weird psychedelic music and avant-garde feel.

This was the beginning of a long appreciation of Frank Zappa and the start of a large collection of his work. The first time I saw The Mothers of Invention in concert was at the Electric Factory in March 1968 in downtown Philly. I saw them again in 1969 at the Atlantic City Pop Festival and then again at the Spectrum in Philly in 1974 on the Apostrophe Tour. The opening act that night was a very intense performance by the Mahavishnu Orchestra. 

So this album was the first of over 40 Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention album I've added to my collection over the years. In addition to the many studio albums I also have live albums, compilations and box sets. 

Zappa released 62 albums during his lifetime and their were 67 posthumous albums later released. 

Here is my list of Frank Zappa albums in my collection:

1. Freak Out, 1966
2. Absolutely Free, 1967
3. We’re Only In It For The Money, 1967
4. Lumpy Gravy, 1968
5. Cruising with Ruben & The Jets, 1968
6. Uncle Meat, 1969
7. Hot Rats, 1969
8. Burnt Weeny Sandwich, 1970
9. Weasels Ripped My Flesh,, 1970
10. Chunga’s Revenge, 1970
11. Fillmore East Live – June 1971, 1971
12. 200 Motels, 1971
13. Just Another Band From L.A., 1972
14. Waka/Jawaka, 1972
15. The Grand Wazoo, 1972
16. Over-Nite Sensation, 1973
17. Apostrophe (‘), 1974
18. Roxy & Elsewhere, 1974
19. One Size Fits All, 1975
20. Bongo Fury, 1975
21. Zoot Allures, 1976
22. Zappa in New York, 1978 (2CD)
23. Studio Tan, 1978
24. Sleep Dirt, 1979
25. Sheik Yerbouti, 1979
26. Orchestral Favorites, 1979
27. Joe’s Garage Act I, 1979
28. Joe’s Garage Act II & III, 1979 (2CD)
29. Tinsel Town Rebellion, 1981
30. Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar, 1981 (2CD)
31. You Are What You Is, 1981
32. Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch, 1982
33. Baby Snakes, 1983
34. Guitar, 1988 (2CD)
35. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1, 1988 (2CD)
36. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2, 1988 (2CD)
37. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3, 1989 (2CD)
38. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4, 1991 (2CD)
39. The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life, 1991 (2CD)
40. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5, 1992 (2CD)
41. You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6, 1992 (2CD)
42. The Yellow Shark, 1993
43. Strictly Commercial, 1995
44. Lather, 1996 (2CD)
45. Buffalo Live 1980, 2007 (2CD)
46. Philly Live 1976, 2009 (2CD)
47. Hammersmith Odeon Live 1978, 2010 (3CD)