On December 24, 2012, Ray Collins died aged 76. He was musician (harmonica, tambourine) and singer, best known as member of The Mothers of Invention. Collins was the lead vocalist on most songs for their early albums, including “Freak Out!”, “Absolutely Free”, “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets” and “Uncle Meat”. In 1968 he quit The Mothers of Invention, but continued to contribute to other Frank Zappa projects in the 70s.
Tag Archives: Absolutely Free
The Mothers Of Invention: Absolutely Free
On May 26, 1967, “Verve” label released “Absolutely Free”, the second Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded November 15–18, 1966, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG”, and was produced by Tom Wilson and Frank Zappa.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, conductor
- Jimmy Carl Black– drums, vocals
- Ray Collins– vocals, tambourine
- Roy Estrada– bass, vocals
- Billy Mundi– drums, percussion
- Don Preston– keyboards
- Jim Fielder– guitar, piano
- Bunk Gardner– woodwinds
- Suzy Creamcheese (Lisa Cohen) – vocals
- John Balkin – bass
- Jim Getzoff – violin
- Marshall Sosson – violin
- Alvin Dinkin – viola
- Armand Kaproff – cello
- Don Ellis– trumpet
- John Rotella– contrabass clarinet
- Herb Cohen– cash register machine sounds
- Terry Gilliam, girlfriend and others – voices
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa.
- Plastic People
- The Duke of Prunes
- Amnesia Vivace
- The Duke Regains His Chops
- Call Any Vegetable
- Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin
- Soft-Sell Conclusion
- America Drinks
- Status Back Baby
- Uncle Bernie’s Farm
- Son of Suzy Creamcheese
- Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
- America Drinks & Goes Home
Mothers of Invention: We’re Only in for the Money
On March 4, 1968, “Verve” label released “We’re Only in It for the Money”, the third Mothers of Invention studio album. It was recorded from March to October 1967, at “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles; “Mayfair and Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa – lead vocals, guitar, piano, weirdness, editing
- Jimmy Carl Black –vocals, Indian of the group, drums, trumpet
- Roy Estrada – vocals, electric bass, asthma
- Billy Mundi – vocals, drums, yak & black lace underwear
- Don Preston– retired
- Bunk Gardner – all woodwinds, mumbled weirdness
- Ian Underwood – piano, woodwinds, wholesome
- Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood – baritone and soprano saxophone, all purpose weirdness & teen appeal
- Suzy Creamcheese(Pamela Zarubica) – telephone voice
- Pamela Zarubica – vocals
- Dick Barber – snorks
- Eric Clapton– male speaking part
- Gary Kellgren– “the one doing all the creepy whispering”
- Spider Barbour – vocals
- Dick Kunc – “cheerful interruptions” vocal
- Vicki Kellgren – additional telephone vocals
- Ronnie Williams – backwards voice
- Sid Sharp – conductor
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa
- Are You Hung Up
- Who Needs the Peace Corps
- Concentration Moon
- Mom & Dad
- Bow tie Daddy
- Harry, You’re a Beast
- What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?
- Absolutely Free
- Flower Punk
- Hot Poop
- Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
- Let’s Make the Water Turn Black
- The Idiot Bastard Son
- It’s His Voice on the Radio
- Take Your Clothes off When You Dance
- What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body (reprise)
- Mother People
- The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny
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