Search - Frank Zappa :: The Mofo Project/Object

Fascinating, and a great start to a new series

David Goodwin | Westchester, NY United States | 12/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""MoFo" is half reissue, half archival release, something that (somewhat curiously) has never quite happened with a Zappa album before. Barring quibbles with focus, track-listing, and how exactly it relates to the larger, as-yet-unreleased 4-disc variant available directly from the Zappas, it's also an absolutely fantastic thing, and it's a great buy if you're even marginally interested in the album or its author.



Disc 1 of "MoFo" is intended, I suppose, to supplant the current, single-disc "Freak Out!" from Rykodisc. "Freak Out!" was largely spared Zappa's reissue-revisionism (coughCruisin'WithRubencough), but the original 1987 CD of that album--which is, for all intents and purposes, largely identical to the current Ryko CD--didn't escape entirely unscathed. Zappa remixed some cuts, and attempted to compensate for "Freak Out!"'s primitive and muddy stereo presentation by drastically re-equalizing the album and covering it in a layer of digital reverb. The result is far from unpleasant, but still bears little resemblence to "Freak Out!" as it was released in 1966.



MoFo's first disc is thus dedicated entirely to "Freak Out!" as it was, presenting an unvarnished, un-enhanced, 1987-vintage digital transfer of the original stereo mix of the album; in fact, this may have been the very digital transfer that Frank used as the basis for the Ryko "Freak Out." Those familiar with the Ryko album are in for a shock, as this iteration is muddier and heavier and sounds far more like...well, an album from 1966 (those familiar with the difference in tone between the remix of "The Who Sell Out" and the original will find a similar comparison here). Little details, like Ray Collins' "Girl!" at the end of "You Didn't Try to Call Me" or the extra effects on "Who Are the Brain Police?", particularly stand out. It's fantastic to have this presentation of "Freak Out!" back again, and I find it interesting that MoFo's packaging doesn't make its status as a semi-reissue (as opposed to "just" an archival release) more explicit.



It's Disc 2, though, that functions as the main point of the set. Let me get the (few) criticisms out of the way first. Listening to the second disc of MoFo is like listening to the sampler for the three-disc "Pet Sounds Sessions" box, and there's precious little cohesion to be found; as MoFo sort of functions as a "sampler" of the larger box, though, this is understandable. One of the only other criticisms I can muster: it's too short!



Otherwise, Disc 2 is a delight. We're presented with alternate mixes of various vintages, backing tracks, outtakes, and so on, all of which are enlightening to various degrees. The liner notes reveal that a surprising source was utilized for several tracks: apparently, Frank kept a mono reel plugged into the desk at all times. What this means is that the sort of material which wouldn't generally be preserved on the multi-track session tape--say, rough overdub sessions for "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder" or the "finished" vocal overdub mix of "Motherly Love"--are present and accounted for, giving a distinct "documentary" feel to the procedings. Tantalizing tastes of some other surprises, like a 1966 soundboard recording and snippets of demos that coincide with the "Corsage" material, are similarly spectacular, as are bits and pieces of Monster Magnet. It makes you want to hear MORE, and in that fashion serves as a great sampler for the larger set (I should note that the smaller MoFo does contain some exclusive tracks, so completists will need to have both).





Verdict: A solid reissue and fascinating archival release all in one. The beginning of what looks to be a wonderful new series."

It cant happen here???

Blues Bro | Lakewood, Colorado USA | 12/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently, it can. The Zappas are listening and giving us fans what we have asked for eons. This package includes the ORIGINAL stereo version of Freak Out! instead of the current remixed Ryko CD that Zappa prepared in the late 80's. The original is still best and here it is on CD for the first. The Zappas apparently have also understood that the Zappa catalogue is in bad shape sonically and have been using the best of the best mastering engineers in their latest projects. This one has been remastered by Doug Sax, who remastered among other things, the Pink Floyd catalogue. Very well done indeed.



Disc 2 includes mono mixes, outtakes, instrumental only tracks and brief snippets. Similar to the Pet Sounds box, these tracks help tell the story of one of the greatest albums of all time. A 4CD box can also be acquired at Zappa website, which hopefully will be available at amazon soon too.



Higly recommended to all Zappa heads out there!"

A must have for Zappa fans

COMPUTERJAZZMAN | Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States | 04/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"CD 1 is Freak Out in its' entirety, reissued in its' oringial form.

CD2 has studio out-takes, the basic tracks, different takes from the songs in Freak Out! PLUS a couple of live recordings of early Mothers at the end.

This is great stuff. Freak Out was such a revelation for me when I was growing up. Listening to the record, instead of the CRAP that was being played on FM radio really opened up my eyes to a whole world of musical possibilities. The cynicism and satire that it presented is instilled in me to this day.

Having the original release plus the additional CD is required stuff for fans of Zappa. I understand that there is ALSO a 4 CD version instead of the 2 CD one that I have, I am going to get that one too.

"