The Mothers Of Invention* – Absolutely Free

Official Release #2

The gatefold sleeves of "Absolutely Free" vinyl, with the spine to the left, have the front image/title rotated right. When oriented to view correctly - and you turn over - the back is also viewed correctly. On the back, the original art signature of Zappa ("FVZ 12/66") has been removed from the bottom-right corner. Censorship was applied to some issues; On the back cover, above the "Buy America" American flag illustration, the words "War Means Work For All" was either 'ghosted' or removed from Zappa's art. Nor does it appear in later CD images, or on the 2012 reissue.

'Absolutely Free' was recorded at T.T.G. in L.A., during the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 1966. Zappa's comments, within the Libretto, indicate the release of this work was delayed until May 1967 due to the label wishing to apply censorship to the words. Originally intended for inclusion, the Libretto was independently-funded and produced by Zappa as a US mail-order item - including its reproduction in UK's September '67 issue of International Times. Some vinyl is also 'un-banded' [no visible track separation].

On the inner spread Gail Zappa is credited as "My Pumpkin", also relating to the track "Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin".