FRANK ZAPPA & The Mothers of Invention Vinyl LP Albums Gallery

  This web-page has detailed descriptions and background information on FRANK ZAPPA's Vinyl Recorda and the albums with the "Mothers Of Invention" his first band "The Mothers of Invention", In addition to detailed description you will also find high resolution scans of album covers (front and back), inner sleeves and the record labels, to help you identifying particular releases.

 

large album front cover photo of: Apostrophe

  This page is in two sections: The first section of this web-page lists Frank Zappa's discography in alphabetical order and contains both official and un-official (aka bootleg) albums. The second section lists the "Mothers of Invention" discigraphy. On the top of this web-page you will find a Google Custom Search, which is particular useful in search related to Frank Zappa vinyl discography

Label & Catalogno Band/Performers - Album Title

United Artists Records UAS 29 218 XD
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FRANK ZAPPA - 200 Motels Gatetold (1971, Germany)

"200 Motels" is the 1971 American-British musical surrealist film cowritten and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr. The film covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town Centerville. This soundtrack album was released in the same year.

TMOQ TradeMark Of Quality

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FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - 200 Motels TMOQ Green Vinyl (1971, USA)

this bootleg is 200 Motels Live - although it is also known as Contempo '70 by some collectors to avoid confusion with the official 200 Motels release.

DISCREET DIS 59201

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FRANK ZAPPA - Apostrophe (1974, Germany)

This is the album by Frank Zappa, his eighteenth, released on March 22, 1974

Collector's info: first German pressing with "A DiscreetRecording...By WEA MUSIK" on the record label, DIS 59 201 (Y) printed on the top right hand corner of the album back cover, "A Warner Communications Company" printed at the bottom of the back cover

FOO-EEE RI-70537
  FRANK ZAPPA As An Am

FRANK ZAPPA - As An Am

"As an Am" features recordings from three separate shows. Track 1 is from May 19, 1981 at Rockline, KLOS-FM, Los Angeles, California; tracks 2 and 3 are from May 21, 1982 at Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany and tracks 4-6 are from October 31, 1981 at The Palladium, New York City.
 

CBS S 8216
FRANK ZAPPA - Bobby Brown / Stick it Out

FRANK ZAPPA - Bobby Brown / Stick it Out

DISCREET DS 2234 / 31,936

FRANK ZAPPA CAPTAIN BEEFHEART THE MOTHERS - Bongo Fury

 

FRANK ZAPPA CAPTAIN BEEFHEART THE MOTHERS - Bongo Fury (1975, USA)

This is the album released by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart in 1975. The live portions were recorded on 20 & 21 May 1975 at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Studio tracks were recorded in January 1975 (during the sessions which produced One Size Fits All and much of Studio Tan ).

REPRISE Records REP 44020

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FRANK ZAPPA - Chunga's Revenge FOC (1970, Germany)

"Chunga's Revenge" is the album by Frank Zappa, released on October 23, 1970. Zappa's first effort of the 1970s marks the first appearance of former Turtles members Flo & Eddie on a Zappa record, and signals the dawn of a controversial epoch in Zappa's history (this era is both hated and loved by Zappa fans in equal measure). Chunga's Revenge represents a shift from both the satirical political commentary of his 1960s work with The Mothers of Invention, and the jazz fusion of Hot Rats.

Reprise Records RS 2030 31,107

FRANK ZAPPA - Chunga's Revenge Gatefold (1970, Germany)

Reprise MS 2030

FRANK ZAPPA Chunga's Revenge (1970, Canada)

FOO-EEE RI 70539
  FRANK ZAPPA Freaks And Motherfu*#@%!

FRANK ZAPPA Freaks And Motherfu*#@%!

Freaks & Mother*#@%! was recorded at Fillmore East, New York City on November 13, 1970. 

REPRISE 44209

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FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS - Grand Wazoo (1972, Germany)

This is the 1972 jazz fusion album by Frank Zappa. Composed and recorded during Zappa's period of convalescence following his assault in London, the album, along with its "twin brother" Waka/Jawaka (July 1972), represent Zappa's foray into big band fusion, the logical progression from Hot Rats (1969), which used a much smaller lineup.

Barking Pumpkin Records D1-7421
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FRANK ZAPPA Guitar 2LP (1988, USA)

Guitar is the 1988 album by Frank Zappa. It is the follow-up to 1981's Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar; like that album it features Zappa's guitar solos excerpted from live performances, recorded between 1979 and 1984. It garnered Zappa his 6th Grammy nomination for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance".

REPRISE Records RS 6356

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FRANK ZAPPA - Hot Rats Reprise Teldec FOC (1969, Germany)

"Hot Rats" is the second solo album by Frank Zappa. It was released in October 1969. Five of the six songs are instrumental ("Willie the Pimp" features a short vocal by Captain Beefheart). It was Zappa's first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention. In his original sleeve notes Zappa described the album as "a movie for your ears."

Collector's Info: record label has TELDEC

Reprise Records 44 078 RS 6356 30,936

FRANK ZAPPA - Hot Rats Gatefold (1969, Germany)

"Hot Rats" is the second solo album by Frank Zappa. It was released in October 1969. Five of the six songs are instrumental ("Willie the Pimp" features a short vocal by Captain Beefheart). It was Zappa's first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention. In his original sleeve notes Zappa described the album as "a movie for your ears."

WORLDWHITE Hi-Fi Concert Serie WWA 13

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FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - In Europe / Inspiration WorldWhite (1971, Holland)

(1this unofficial album was most likely recorded in 1971 in the Ahoy Hallen in Rotterdam

CBS 86101

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FRANK ZAPPA - Joe's Garage (1979, Holland)

This album "FRANK ZAPPA - Joe's Garage" is the 1979 rock opera by Frank Zappa. Zappa self-deprecatingly describes the album as a stupid little story about how the government is going to do away with music

VERVE 2317046

FRANK ZAPPA & Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra - Lumpy Gravy

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FRANK ZAPPA & Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra - Lumpy Gravy (1968, GB)

Lumpy Gravy is the debut solo album by Frank Zappa, recorded with a group of session players he dubbed the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra.

Collectior's Info: Black Verve Label with Silver print and largeT shaped logo. White Spine, Black Label, Brown Cover, MacNeill Press Lt

CBS 25251

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FRANK ZAPPA The Man From Utopia Steve Vai (1983, Holland)

This s the 1983 album by Frank Zappa. The album is named after a 1950s song, written by Donald and Doris Woods, which Zappa covers as part of "The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou".

Collector's Info: This is the original first pressing from Holland with the yellow sticker on the front cover: "Cocaine and The Man from Utopia..."

Barking Pumpkin Records ST-74203

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FRANK ZAPPA - Meets the Mothers of Prevention (1985, USA)

This is the 1985 album by Frank Zappa. It was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe. The album's title is a reference to the lobby group, the PMRC, who were campaigning to require record companies to put warning stickers on albums they considered offensive, and to Zappa's former band, The Mothers of Invention.

Collector's Info: album cover black text on white background, custome black inner sleeve, label: Pink Barkin Pumpkin Records , Matrix / Stamper codes (hand written) "ST-74203-1-A-SH1 GF FZ HOTUNE 818-Pumpkin SLM-11027" / "ST-74203-1-B-SH2 EF FZ HOTUNE 818-Pumpkin SLM-11027-X"

DiscReet Records DIS 59207

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FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All FOC (1975, Germany)

This album "FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - One Size Fits All FOC" is the 1975 rock album by Frank Zappa The album features the final version of The Mothers of Invention, with George Duke, Chester Thompson, Ruth Underwood, Tom Fowler and Napoleon Murphy Brock.

Collector's Info: this the Genuine (original) German first pressing with the "(Z)" on the record'ls label

Discreet Records DSK 2294
FRANK ZAPPA Orchestral Favorites  

FRANK ZAPPA Orchestral Favorites

FOO-EEE RI 60544
FRANK ZAPPA Piquantique Stockholm 1973

FRANK ZAPPA Piquantique Stockholm 1973

Piquantique was recorded at Solliden, Skansen, Stockholm on August 21, 1973, with the exception of track 4, which is taken from a concert at the Roxy, December 1973.
 

AMAZING KORNYFONE

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FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Poot Face Booogie

is an unofficial recording of Frank Zappa Live Ahoy Rotterdam 1971 and studio recordings 1968-1868

DISCREET 2DS 2202 31,792

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FRANK ZAPPA & MOTHERS OF INVENTION - Roxy & Elsewhere DLP FOC (1974, USA)

This is the live album by Frank Zappa & The Mothers, which was released in 1974. Most of the songs were recorded at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 8, 9 and 10, 1973. The material taken from the Roxy concerts was later amended with some overdubs in the studio, while the "Elsewhere" tracks ("Son of Orange County" & "More Trouble Every Day") were recorded on May 8, 1974, at the Edinboro State College, Edinboro, Pennsylvania (and parts of "Son of Orange County" on May 11, 1974, at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois (late show)) and do not contain overdubbed material

FOO-EEE RI-70543
  FRANK ZAPPA Saarbrucken 1978
FRANK ZAPPA Saarbrucken 1978
CBS 83551 / 88339
FRANK ZAPPA Sheik Yerbouti
FRANK ZAPPA Sheik Yerbouti (1978, England)

CBS 88339

FRANK ZAPPA - Sheik Yerbouti 2LP FOC  is the live double album with studio elements by Frank Zappa made up of material recorded in 1977 and 1978.

 

FRANK ZAPPA - Sheik Yerbouti 2LP FOC (1979, Holland)

is the live double album with studio elements by Frank Zappa made up of material recorded in 1977 and 1978.

CBS 85804

FRANK ZAPPA - Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch

 

FRANK ZAPPA - Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch (1982, Holland)

is the album by Frank Zappa, released in May 1982. It features five tracks composed by Zappa, and one song, "Valley Girl", co-written with Moon Unit Zappa, his daughter, who provided the spoken monologue mocking some of the Valley girls at her school including "Gag me with a spoon!".

CBS 66368

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FRANK ZAPPA - Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar 3LP Box-set (1981, Holland)

As the title implies, the triiple LP album consists solely of instrumentals and improvised solos, largely performed on electric guitar.

EMI Pumpkin Industries 2402343

 

FRANK ZAPPA Them Or Us DLP FOC (1984, France)

is the rare French releas, released in October 1984. Its opening and closing tracks are covers: "The Closer You Are", which was written by Earl Lewis and Morgan Robinson and originally released by The Channels; and "Whippin' Post", originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band. Zappa also produced and arranged the album.

EMI – 1C 164 Y 24 0234 3

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FRANK ZAPPA - Them Or Us DLP FOC (1984, Germany/Netherlands)

This album "FRANK ZAPPA Them Or Us DLP FoC" is the German/Netherlands release, released in October 1984. Its opening and closing tracks are covers: "The Closer You Are", which was written by Earl Lewis and Morgan Robinson and originally released by The Channels; and "Whippin' Post", originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band. Zappa also produced and arranged the album.

 

CBS 88516

This album "FRANK ZAPPA - Tinsel Town Rebellion DLP FOC" is the double live LP album released by Frank Zappa in 1981. The album was conceived by Zappa after he scrapped the planned albums "Warts and All" and "Crush All Boxes", and it contains tracks that were intended for those albums.

 

 

FRANK ZAPPA - Tinsel Town Rebellion DLP FOC (1981, Holland)

This album "FRANK ZAPPA - Tinsel Town Rebellion DLP FOC" is the double live LP album released by Frank Zappa in 1981. The album was conceived by Zappa after he scrapped the planned albums "Warts and All" and "Crush All Boxes", and it contains tracks that were intended for those albums.

FOO-EEE RI 70542
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FRANK ZAPPA 'Tis The Season To Be Jelly , Live in Sweden 1967

The album front cover of Frank Zappa's unofficial album "'Tis the season to be jelly" is an illustration of Frank Zappa wearing an Oxygen tank and showing off his green smelly sock.

FOO-EEE RI-70540
FRANK ZAPPA Unmitigated Audacity
FRANK ZAPPA Unmitigated Audacity

Blue Label Bizarre MS 2094

This is the 1972 album by Frank Zappa, . The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo (November 1972), and, as the front cover indicates, sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. According to Zappa, the title "is something that showed up on a Ouija board at one time."

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FRANK ZAPPA - Waka / Jawaka - Hot Rats (1972, USA)

This is the 1972 album by Frank Zappa, . The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo (November 1972), and, as the front cover indicates, sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. According to Zappa, the title "is something that showed up on a Ouija board at one time."

Collectors Info: Genuine First Pressing, on Blue Bizarre Label with RE1. Later pressings / issues have been released on the Reprise label.

Label info: Warner Seven Arts, Bizarre Custom Inner Sleeve, Matrix / Stamper codes (hand written) "MS 2094 31456-1" / "MS 2094 31457-1"

CBS 88560

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FRANK ZAPPA You Are What You Is 2LP FOC (1981, Holland)

This album "FRANK ZAPPA You Are What You Is 2LP FOC" is the double album by Frank Zappa.

Warner Bros. Records WB 56298

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FRANK ZAPPA - Zoot Allures (1976, Netherlands)

This is the 1976 rock album by Frank Zappa. This was Zappa's only release on the Warner Bros. Records label. Due to a lawsuit with his former manager Herb Cohen Frank Zappa's recording contract was temporarily re-assigned from DiscReet Records to Warner Bros.

 

Warner Bros WB 56298

 

 

FRANK ZAPPA - Zoot Allures

This is the 1976 rock album by Frank Zappa. This was Zappa's only release on the Warner Bros. Records label. Due to a lawsuit with his former manager Herb Cohen Frank Zappa's recording contract was temporarily re-assigned from DiscReet Records to Warner Bros.

Collector's Info: Genuine (Original) 1976 German pressing, WB 56298, Record label has "Burbank Home of Warner..." printed near 12 O'Clock, "A Warner Bros Recording..." printed near 8 O'Clock, Album Back Cover has Z printed on upper right corner, first track is listed as "Wind Up Working..."

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention albums