- 1st Pressing, Gatefold Album Cover
Frank Zappa's 1975 album "One Size Fits All" is a wild ride of musical complexity and satirical social commentary. The Mothers of Invention, featuring greats like George Duke, deliver jazz fusion, progressive rock, and Zappa's trademark irreverent humor. Controversial yet brilliant, the album captures the band's live energy along with Zappa's studio mastery. It's a landmark release in Zappa's career, showcasing his relentless creativity and refusal to fit into any single mold.
Collector's Info: this the Genuine (original) German first pressing with the "(Z)" on the record'ls label.
Frank Zappa, with his band The Mothers of Invention, unleashed an exceptional work in 1975 with "One Size Fits All"—a musical journey showcasing their unique artistic defiance. This album arrived during a fertile period of experimentation for Zappa, marking a pivotal point in his prolific career.
Music as a Playground
"One Size Fits All" is a testament to Frank Zappa's unyielding creative spirit and the sheer virtuosity of The Mothers of Invention. The album explodes with Zappa's signature blend of progressive rock, jazz fusion, intricate arrangements, and sardonic social commentary. From the opening track "Inca Roads", with its otherworldly vocal performance and complex time signatures, to the extended instrumental workouts of "Can't Afford No Shoes" and "Sofa", the album is a sonic roller coaster.
The Band and the Mastermind
This particular incarnation of The Mothers of Invention featured an impressive lineup. The legendary George Duke on keyboards, Ruth Underwood on percussion, Chester Thompson on drums, Tom Fowler on bass, and Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals and saxophone, formed a tight-knit ensemble that could navigate Zappa's complex compositions with ease. Zappa, as ever, was the creative engine, writing, arranging, and pushing the entire band to their limits.
Challenging the Status Quo
Zappa was notorious for his irreverent humor and willingness to court controversy. "One Size Fits All" is rife with lyrical barbs aimed at consumerism, social conformity, and the hypocrisies of organized religion. Tracks like "San Ber'dino" and "Po-Jama People" exemplify Zappa's talent for razor-sharp satire embedded within musically adventurous pieces.
Pushing the Envelope
The recording process for "One Size Fits All" embraced a blend of studio production and live recordings. The result is a dynamic sonic experience, capturing both the precision and the raw energy that this lineup of The Mothers of Invention brought to the stage.
"One Size Fits All" continues to be an enduring and captivating testament to Frank Zappa's uncompromising vision. It's an album that defied categorization then and continues to reward listeners willing to delve into its kaleidoscopic mix of virtuosity, satire, and fearless musical exploration.
Jazz Fusion, Prog Rock
DiscReet Records DIS 59207 (Z)
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
1975 Germany
This 12" LP vinyl music record comes comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), which is also also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages of this album cover contains photos, artwork.
Frank Zappa - Producer
Frank Zappa (Full-name: Frank Vincent Zappa 1940-1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. He was a pioneer of avant-garde rock and fusion music, known for his innovative and eclectic musical style. Zappa produced over 60 albums and worked with many notable musicians, including the Mothers of Invention, a band he formed in the 1960s. He was also a political activist and spoke out against censorship, making him a controversial figure in his time. Zappa died in 1993 from prostate cancer.
Frank Vincent Zappa Jr was born in Baltimore City, Maryland, United States on 21/12/1940. He was the first child of Francis Vincent Zappa 07/05/1906 and Rose Marie Colimore 07/06/1912. He had two brothers: Charles Robert “Bobby” Zappa 28/08/1943, Carl Lewis Zappa 10/09/1947.
When he was 32 years old, his father Francis Vincent Zappa died (07/04/1973).
He married Kay Sherman in 1960. On 21/09/1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman 01/01/1945 in New York City, New York, United States. He was 19 years old when he married Kay Sherman. He was 26 years old when he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who was 22 years old at that time. He got divorced from Kay Sherman in 1964.
On 06/04/1950, he lived in Bush, Harford, Maryland, United States. On 04/12/1993, he lived in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
On 04/12/1993, he died in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States when he was 52 years old. In 1993, he was buried in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. His wife Adelaide Gail Sloatman died on 07/10/2015, 22 years after him.
Kerry McNab - Sound Engineer
This album "One SIze Fits All" was recorded at: The Record Plant, LA, Caribou
Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar
George Duke – keyboards, vocals, backing vocals, synthesizer
Ruth Underwood – marimba, vibraphone, percussion
Johnny "Guitar" Watson – vocals
James "Bird Legs" Youman – bass guitar
Chester Thompson – drums, sound effects, voices
Tom Fowler – bass guitar
Captain Beefheart (credited as 'Bloodshot Rollin' Red') – harmonica
Captain Beefheart (Full-name: Don Van Vliet ) Captain Beefheart was the pseudonym of Don Van Vliet (1941-2010), an American musician, singer, and artist. He was best known as the frontman of the experimental rock group Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, which he formed in the 1960s. Captain Beefheart's music was characterized by its eclectic and unconventional style, blending elements of blues, avant-garde, and psychedelic rock. He was known for his distinctive and often abstract vocals, as well as his innovative approach to composition and arrangement. Captain Beefheart retired from music in the 1980s to focus on painting and died in 2010 from multiple sclerosis.
The origin of Captain Beefheart's stage name is uncertain, but there are several theories. According to one story, it was inspired by a passing comment made by a friend about a drawing that Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) had created. The friend reportedly said the drawing looked like a "captain's hat" and the "beef heart" of a steer. Another theory is that the name was a reference to a fictional character created by Van Vliet, who was depicted as a bluesman with a heart made of beef. However, Van Vliet himself was often cryptic and evasive when asked about the origin of his stage name, adding to the mystery surrounding it.
Don Van Vliet was born in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States on 15/01/1941. He was the first child of Glen Alonzo Vliet 27/06/1909 and Willie Sue Warfield 03/09/1913.
When he was 25 years old, his father Glen Alonzo Vliet died (10/02/1966). When he was 66 years old, his mother Willie Sue Warfield died (20/02/2007).
On 17/12/2010, he died in Arcata, Humboldt, California, United States when he was 69 years old. In Dec 2010, he was buried in Trinidad Cemetery, Trinidad, Humboldt, California, United States.
Napoleon Murphy Brock – tenor saxophone, vocals, backing vocals, flute
Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )
Yellow Colour DISCREET DIS 59 207 ( 31,874) Record Label Details: GEMA ℗ Made in Germany
Verve V6-5013 / MGS-672 , 1967 , USA
Hold onto your sanity, freaks! Zappa and his Mothers of Invention are back to rip the seams of society wide open with "Absolutely Free." This ain't your mama's rock and roll – it's a carnival of musical madness, a satirical smackdown on consumerism, politics, and conformity.
Absolutely Free 12" Vinyl LPFOO-EEE RI 70538 , 1992 , USA
"The Ark" is a wild, unhinged ride through the mind of Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention. This 1969 live recording captures the band's raw energy and experimental spirit, showcasing a mix of funky grooves, avant-garde compositions, and psychedelic freakouts.
The Ark 12" Vinyl LPDISCREET DS 2234 / 31,936 , 1975 , USA
"Bongo Fury" captures a live recording of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, backed by Zappa's band at the time, The Mothers of Invention. The live portions were meticulously recorded on 20th and 21st May 1975 at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas.
BONGO FURY 12" Vinyl LPBizarre RS 6370 , 1970 , USA
"Burnt Weeny Sandwich" is less a cohesive album and more a sonic collage. It careens from blistering live renditions of early Zappa staples like "The Little House I Used to Live In" to the absurdist spoken-word piece "Valarie." Avant-garde orchestral compositions, like "Igor's Boogie,"
Burnt Weeny Sandwich 12" Vinyl LPVerve 2317 069 , 1968 , Gt. Britain
Zappa had a complex relationship with the pop music of his youth. He simultaneously loved and mocked its simplicity. "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" allowed him to indulge his fascination with doo-wop harmonies and playful lyrics, while also injecting his trademark absurdist humor
Cruising with Ruben & The Jets 12" Vinyl LPReprise Records REP 44150 , 1971 , Germany
"Fillmore East - June 1971" showcases the band's dynamic range. Extended jams like "Little House I Used To Live In" weave together jazz-fusion, progressive rock, and Zappa's blistering guitar solos. Tracks like "The Mud Shark" offer absurdist storytelling with Zappa's humorous narration
Fillmore East June 1971 12" Vinyl LPVerve V6/5005-2 MGS 296 , 1969 , USA
"Freak Out!" is the first album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture.
Freak Out! 12" Vinyl LPREPRISE 44209 , 1972 , Germany
Frank Zappa, a man of unparalleled musical imagination, unleashed his jazz-fusion masterpiece "The Grand Wazoo" in 1972. This ambitious work, along with its companion "Waka/Jawaka", represented a daring detour into the realms of big band composition and improvisation.
Grand Wazoo 12" Vinyl LPReprise Records – REP 44 179 ( MS 2075 ) , 1972 , Germany
From the opening strains of "Billy the Mountain," a sprawling, 24-minute satirical mini-opera about a sentient mountain and a talking tree, it's clear that this is not your average live album. The Mothers careen through a series of musical vignettes, each more outrageous than the last, blending absurdist humor
Just Another Band from L.A. ( Germany ) 12" Vinyl LPReprise Records K 44179 , 1972 , UK
The early 1970s found Frank Zappa in a period of transition. The original Mothers of Invention had disbanded in 1969, and Zappa began to shift his focus towards longer compositions with a heavier emphasis on jazz fusion elements. "Just Another Band From L.A." provides a bridge
Just Another Band from L.A. ( UK ) 12" Vinyl LPDiscReet Records DIS 59207 (Z) , 1975 , Germany
"One Size Fits All" is a testament to Frank Zappa's unyielding creative spirit and the sheer virtuosity of The Mothers of Invention. The album explodes with Zappa's signature blend of progressive rock, jazz fusion, intricate arrangements, and sardonic social commentary.
One Size Fits All 12" Vinyl LPDISCREET DIS 41000 , 1973 , Germany
This album "Over-Nite Sensation" is the seventeenth studio album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. Released on 7 September 1973, it was followed by Zappa's solo album Apostrophe (') (1974), which was recorded during the same sessions.
Over-Nite Sensation 12" Vinyl LPReprise MS 2024/1 , 1969 , Germany
"Uncle Meat" defies easy categorization. It's a collage of avant-garde jazz, spoken word, doo-wop parodies, classical music references, and Zappa's trademark satirical humor. All of this was pushed through a lens of experimental rock, creating a multi-layered, chaotic, and often bewildering listening experience.
Uncle Meat 12" Vinyl LPVERVE Records V6-5045 / MGS 1250 , 1968 , USA
One of the album's most notorious tracks, "Absolutely Free," is a biting satire of the free love movement, while "Flower Punk" lampoons the superficiality of hippie fashion. The album's title track itself is a cynical commentary on the music industry, with Zappa declaring, "We're only in it for the money."
We're only in for the Money 12" Vinyl LPREPRISE RS 2028 , 1969 , Germany
"Weasels Ripped My Flesh" is an album by American experimental rock band The Mothers of Invention, released in 1970. The band was formed by Frank Zappa, who was the primary composer and leader of the group. The album features a mix of musical styles, including rock, jazz, and avant-garde
Weasels Ripped my Flesh 12" Vinyl LP