Zappa.com

I was all set to get this album set .....then my wife lost her job and I backed out ,last minute. Is this the "bee's balls" ,or is it "sorta OK"....according to you "the fans" ?

I am really referring to the "bonus stuff" and the etching.....plus that Libretto (which I'm not too sure I've ever seen in full?).

I'm looking at this as the purchase of an item I've bought countless times over.......and yet I am drooling at the prospect. But with the future being none to certain.....well, I guess you know where I'm going with this.....please help me make a decision . Thanks , in advance.

Has it even been released yet? Amazon seemed to move it from "pre-order" status directly to "temporarily out of stock"; now they have an October 14 in-stock date.

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Let's face the cold hard truth. This is a great release for Zappa fans, old and new alike, but it is not essential if you have another form of it. My two cents.

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The Complete Libretto

http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/docs/002 ... Y_FREE.htm


I have vinyl rips of both the mono and stereo versions of "Absolutely Free."...
So, I think I'll pass on this release.

BTW, it is not the first time it's been released in vinyl since the 60s, as it has been claimed. It was reissued in the Old Masters Box...

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Thanks for libretto link! I guess I never saw this before. So, it's number one reason I may want it. BUT......and it's a big one.....what are the rare bonus tracks like? Especially of interest to me are the two radio commercials.....and the "quoted" track(which I'd bet is spoken word......but how long of a cut?).


By the way it IS out now. But Amazon sold out before they even shipped all pre-orders (the pricks).....or I would have had a copy before my wife lost her job. I could not wait any longer ,and had to cancel out of the pre-order. I DID see it for sale in local indie LP shops! So it is around AND on sale too.

Thanks for all comments and info so far....anyone have more to add?

You have seen that, haven't you?
http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/zappacast-episode-33-happy-50th-absolutely-free_115376

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Yeah.....I've skimmed through it. But does the commercial in the podcast mean that the LP's commercial is 2017 vintage('cause one bit is new ,and a few seconds are old vintage),.....or of the LP release's era? It's a nice podcast,but it confuses me a little.

haven't seen it or heard it. I'd like to hear the extra bits someday. But the package is too expensive for me.

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" . . . On the outside now . . ."

Yes.....more or less ,my story too. That's why I'm asking for any hype on the bonus tracks. It seems the truly rare cuts are the two commercials, and that "quoted" (glutton for punishment) track. If the commercials are from the 1960's then I'd like to hear them. The other track had better be a killer......or it's a bit of a bust for me, especially at over $30.

I picked up the 50th anniversary Absolutely Free vinyl set yesterday at a local record store. I am a proponent of vinyl, and the clarity, warmth, and depth of this release is very good. It's nice to have the full libretto, which puts to rest the original release date as 'around' May 26, 1967. Why Don'tcha Do Me Right and Big Leg Emma are in mono on side 3. America Drinks and Goes Home on side 3 is without the party atmosphere noise in the background, so the 'Mandy Tension/drink it up folks/nite all' dialogue at the end is clearer.

I was raised on the CD, so it's nice to hear the album in its proper sequence without WDDMR and BLE 'between' sides 1 and 2.

Thanks for releasing this!

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There ain't nothin' left to talk about

Oh, Man! You're the man that can answer this........What are the commercials on side 3 and what is the Glutton For Punishment track?? That's what I'd like to know. Are the commercials from the 1960's?

Penguini,
The two ads certainly sound authentic from the 60's as FZ speaks on both of them. The first ad references both the Freak Out! and Absolutely Free albums. Both have snippets from songs from Absolutely Free. The ads run 1:01 apiece.

Glutton for Punishment runs 24 seconds. This is not FZ speaking, but perhaps someone in a studio discussing lack of sound effects on Brown Shoes and America Drinks.

All of side 3 (eight tracks total) runs 19:34.

Hope this helps.

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There ain't nothin' left to talk about

So I was right not to get excited about the prospect of a previously unheard MOI nugget from the '60s!

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Buy some! Now!
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Yes...yes,yes! This is exactly what we needed! Thanks. I guess the booklet is the BIG deal here? But those commercials are a nice thing too.

I was on the fence about this release but very glad I pulled the trigger. It sounds fantastic.

Finally picked this up; I don't know what made me not when it initially was released, but thank goodness AMAZON still had some left. I guess, it's because I Pre-Ordered the BWS, so I was like hey wait, what about this one. Either way cannot wait until both come in. I recently got the HOT RATS Reissue as well so I guess I better crank up Ye' Ole' kerosine Phonograph. In a way all of the positive reviews here also were a good reflection of what to expect.

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The Sound of the BuffaloVoice (((((o)))))

I grabbed it and love the blank side with the black on black Zappa face artwork.

The bonus material actually made me appreciate the album a lot more(or was it the fact it sounded so much better on vinyl than the CD edition?), that along with hearing and seeing Dweezil and the MOTHERS play 'Call Any Vegetable' live in Brisbane Australia a few months ago.

Perhaps what clinched it was learning what 'Call Any Vegetable' was actually written about and you can find that information out by reading Andrew Greenaway's 'The Inside Stories of Zappa's other people.' A book featuring interviews with many Zappa alumni. The interview with Lorraine Belcher Chamberlain is the one you want to read to learn the true meaning of 'Call Any Vegetable' and I will not spoil it for you. I just about fell off my seat with laughter. Both a serious and hilarious tale at the same time.

It's a really nicely presented deluxe version of this classic and often overlooked Zappa and The Mothers of Invention album.

Well worth the price if you can justify it.

2nd that and hope you enjoy the Hot Rats pressing. It's well worth it if your an audiophile.

For the record(sad pun and drum bidda boom ching there), my favourite version is actually the Ryco release version of Hot Rats on CD because that's the one I got used to listening to and then when I heard the proper version with original mastering my ears went 'SAY WA!!!!' Sonically the current release and it's vinyl counter part are of far superior quality but I still like Frank's late 80's mix of the album(which correct me if I am mistaken is what the Ryco release ultimately was.)