Frank Zappa - Absolutely Free (1967)

Yeah yeah Hot Rats is awesome, shut the hell up about it already. Before he decided he was better than everyone else (well actually he didn't but he was) and went solo, Zappa cut some really great records with The Mothers of Invention. Freak Out!'s a good place to start, but Absolutely Free is by far my personal choice for best early Zappa album.

"Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" alone should be enough convincing for all the jazzy-rock fans out there. And of course, all you Patton worshipers could get a wake-up call from the original genre-hopper as he and the band move from that little number to a old-school Elvis-style rock number on "Big Leg Emma" and then from THAT onto the pre-zepp blues rock of "Why Dont'cha Do Me Right." Don't forget other non-sensical silly numbers like "Call Any Vegetable" and "America Drinks" (I've got your fucking Disco Volante right here you art-school hipster assholes). Seriously guys, I could talk about Zappa all day before I even get to the non-Mothers' stuff.

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Absolutely Free

As an added bonus because I love all of you (momentarily), I'm putting up Weasels Ripped My Flesh which is another of my favorites that includes live recordings of the Mothers showcasing all of their range (Avant-garde classical to Doo-wop)

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Weasels Ripped My Flesh