The Mothers 1970 cover

The Mothers 1970

Frank Zappa · 2020

268 min · 70 tracks · alternative rock · classical · jazz fusion

A chaotic fusion of live performances and raw studio tracks that capture Zappa's unpredictable genius.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic live performance experience
  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • wave-like pacing and flow
  • exploratory sonic adventures
  • unexpected twists and turns

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2020, 'The Mothers 1970' serves as a retrospective collection during Frank Zappa's prolific period. This album compiles live recordings from a pivotal era when The Mothers of Invention were redefining experimental rock, following the groundbreaking 'Freak Out!' and 'We're Only in It for the Money'.
Stylistic neighbors
Captain Beefheart· The Residents· Henry Cow

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Red Tubular Lighter 4:50
  • 2 Lola Steponsky 3:29
  • 3 Trident Chatter 1:44
  • 4 Sharleena (Roy Thomas Baker mix) 4:04
  • 5 Item 1 5:46
  • 6 Wonderful Wino (FZ vocal) 5:11
  • 7 “Enormous Cadenza” 1:10
  • 8 Envelopes 8:22
  • 9 Red Tubular Lighter (unedited master) 9:25
  • 10 Wonderful Wino (basic tracks, alt. take) 4:56
  • 11 Giraffe (take 4) 8:09
  • 12 Wonderful Wino (FZ vocal, alt. solo) 5:55

Disc 2

  • 1 Introducing…The Mothers (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 3:51
  • 2 Wonderful Wino (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 4:53
  • 3 Concentration Moon (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 2:30
  • 4 Mom & Dad (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 3:12
  • 5 The Air (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 3:17
  • 6 Dog Breath (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 2:09
  • 7 Mother People (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 2:09
  • 8 You Didn’t Try to Call Me (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 4:20
  • 9 Agon (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 0:37
  • 10 Call Any Vegetable (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 7:14
  • 11 King Kong, Pt. I (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 4:30
  • 12 Igor’s Boogie (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 1:08
  • 13 King Kong, Pt. II (live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970) 7:08
  • 14 What Kind of Girl Do You Think We Are? (live at Pepperland September 26, 1970) 4:26
  • 15 Bwana Dik (live at Pepperland September 26, 1970) 2:48
  • 16 Daddy, Daddy, Daddy (live at Pepperland September 26, 1970) 2:47
  • 17 Do You Like My New Car? (live at Pepperland September 26, 1970) 4:27
  • 18 Happy Together (live at Pepperland September 26, 1970) 1:59

Disc 3

  • 1 “Welcome to El Monte Legion Stadium!” (live) 2:18
  • 2 Agon (live) 0:47
  • 3 Call Any Vegetable (live) 8:28
  • 4 Pound for a Brown (live) 4:37
  • 5 Sleeping in a Jar (live) 2:44
  • 6 Sharleena (live) 4:07
  • 7 The Air (live) 3:55
  • 8 Dog Breath (live) 2:00
  • 9 Mother People (live) 2:05
  • 10 You Didn’t Try to Call Me (live) 4:32
  • 11 King Kong, Pt. I (live) 4:03
  • 12 Igor’s Boogie (live) 1:10
  • 13 King Kong, Pt. II (live) 8:27
  • 14 “Eat It Yourself…” (live) 0:47
  • 15 Trouble Every Day (live) 4:04
  • 16 “A Series of Musical Episodes” (live) 2:08
  • 17 Road Ladies (live) 3:56
  • 18 “The Holiday Inn Motel Chain” (live) 2:06
  • 19 What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening? (live) 2:38
  • 20 What Kind of Girl Do You Think We Are? (live) 3:27

Disc 4

  • 1 “What’s the Deal, Dick?” 1:24
  • 2 Another M.O.I. Anti‐Smut Loyalty Oath (live) 2:25
  • 3 Paladin Routine #1 (live) 1:24
  • 4 Portuguese Fenders (live) 2:47
  • 5 The Sanzini Brothers (live) 1:26
  • 6 Guitar Build ’70 (live) 5:16
  • 7 Would You Go All the Way? (live) 3:42
  • 8 Easy Meat (live) 5:43
  • 9 “Who Did It?” 1:16
  • 10 Turn It Down! (live) 4:13
  • 11 A Chance Encounter in Cincinnati 0:47
  • 12 Pound for a Brown (live) 5:58
  • 13 Sleeping in a Jar (live) 2:48
  • 14 Beloit Sword Trick (live) 1:01
  • 15 Kong Solos, Pt. I (live) 15:22
  • 16 Igor’s Boogie (live) 1:13
  • 17 Kong Solos, Pt. II (live) 5:24
  • 18 Gris Gris (live) 8:38
  • 19 Paladin Routine #2 (live) 1:37
  • 20 King Kong – Outro (live) 1:32

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata