FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All 12" Vinyl LP Album

- 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.

Album Front Cover Photo of FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

Band Description:

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.

Essential Album Information For: FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

Music Genre:

Jazz Fusion, Prog Rock

Label & Catalognr:

DiscReet Records DIS 59207 (Z)

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1975 Germany

FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) Production & Recording Information

Album Packaging

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.

Producers:

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.

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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.

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Kerry McNab - Sound Engineer

Recording Location:

This album "One SIze Fits All" was recorded at: The Record Plant, LA, Caribou

Musicians on: FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

Musicians:

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.

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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

Track-listing of: FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. "Inca Roads" 8:45
  2. "Can't Afford No Shoes" 2:38
  3. "Sofa No. 1" 2:39
  4. "Po-Jama People" 7:
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. "Florentine Pogen" 5:27
  2. "Evelyn, a Modified Dog" 1:04
  3. "San Ber'dino" 5:57
  4. "Andy" 6:04
  5. "Sofa No. 2" 2:42

FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )
Front Cover Photo Of FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

 

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 )

Photo Of The Back Cover FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )
Photo of album back cover FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

 

Photo One Of The Inner Gatefold FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )
Photo of the left page inside cover FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

 

Photo Two Of The Inside Pages FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )
Photo of the right page inside cover FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover )

 

Close up of record's label FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) Side One:
Close up of record's label FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) Side One

Yellow Colour DISCREET DIS 59 207 ( 31,874) Record Label Details: GEMA ℗ Made in Germany

Close up of record's label FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) Side Two:
Close up of record's label FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All ( Gatefold Cover ) Side Two