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.

Read more...

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

 

MOTHERS OF INVENTION ( with Frank Zappa ) VINYL RECORDS

THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Absolutely Free
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Absolutely Free 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

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 LP
FRANK'S MOTHERS OF INVENTION – The Ark
Thumbnail of FRANK'S MOTHERS OF INVENTION – The Ark 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

FOO-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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION ( with FRANK ZAPPA and CAPTAIN BEEFHEART ) - BONGO FURY
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION ( with FRANK ZAPPA and CAPTAIN BEEFHEART ) - BONGO FURY 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

DISCREET 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Burnt Weeny Sandwich 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Bizarre 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Cruising with Ruben & The Jets
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Cruising with Ruben & The Jets 12quot, Vinyl LP album front cover

Verve 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 LP
THE MOTHERS - Fillmore East June 1971
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS - Fillmore East June 1971 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Reprise 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Freak Out!
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Freak Out! 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Verve 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 LP
THE MOTHERS - Grand Wazoo
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS - Grand Wazoo 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

REPRISE 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 LP
LAS MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Just Another Band from L.A. ( Germany )
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Just Another Band from L.A. ( Germany ) 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

 Reprise 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 LP
THE MOTHERS - Just Another Band from L.A.
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS - Just Another Band from L.A. ( UK ) 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Reprise 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 LP
FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All
Thumbnail of FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

DiscReet 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 LP
THE MOTHERS - Over-Nite Sensation
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS - Over-Nite Sensation 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

DISCREET 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Uncle Meat
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Uncle Meat 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Reprise 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - We're only in for the Money
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - We're only in for the Money  12" Vinyl LP album front cover

VERVE 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 LP
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Weasels Ripped my Flesh
Thumbnail of THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Weasels Ripped my Flesh 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

REPRISE 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
FRANK ZAPPA - Vinyl Album Discography