Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention Freak Out Mono

$

50

Artist:

Frank Zappa The Mothers of Invention

Title:

Freak Out!

Label:

Verve(US) # V-5005-2

Date:

1966

Play Speed:

33 rpm 

Important Numbers:

Dead wax: V-5005-2  MG 296, 297, 298

Tracks:

Side 1

• Hungry Freaks Daddy
• I Ain't Got No Heart
• Who Are The Brain Police?
• Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
• Motherly Love
• How Could I Be Such A Fool

Side 2

• Wowie Zowie 
• You Didn't Try To Call Me
• Any Way The Wind Blows
• I'm Not Satisfied
• You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here

Side 3 

•  Trouble Commin' Every Day 
• Help, I'm A Rock (Suite In Three Movements) 

Side 4

• The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet In Two Tableaus)

Record Weight:

158.75 grams (actual) heavy weight vinyl

Additional Notes:

This is a rare, original officially authorized 1966 mono stock copy pressing of FRANK ZAPPA & The Mothers of Invention, "Freak Out!" 2LP, 1966, Verve Records, V-5005-2. First pressing with unique inner gatefold sleeve blurb which includes Freak out “hotspots” in L.A. that only appears on the very first pressing of this album.

Original U.S. pressing with blue VERVE “T” –shaped silver logo. Gatefold made of thick cardboard stock. Thick heavy-weight vinyl.

This is a part of rock historyand those that know what it is don't need the following description. For those that are unaware of the inpact of this album, I have borrowed words from another seller who says it better than I can:

"This is the album that almost single-handedly defined every radical, subversive and in-your-face alt-Rock piece of music recorded over the ensuing 43 years. Not only is this one of the most creative and innovative albums ever made, it was a brainchild of one of America’s most important and brilliant avant-garde composers of the 20th century. At the time this was recorded, Lenny Bruce was still around, and very much a de-facto touring member of the "Mothers", and his influence shows in just about every aspect of Zappa’s lyrics and aesthetics. The album includes a ton of murky, quirky, whimsical musical ideas, not to mention one of the best anti-racism songs ever recorded by anyone ("Trouble coming every day").

Just to put things in perspective: when this album was recorded, neither the Doors’, Pink Floyd’s or Jimi Hendrix’ debut albums were in existence, and the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” was still a year away. You can imagine then, the near-cataclysmic impact this brutally abrasive, satirical, anti-pop-culture masterpiece must have had on the national psyche. The year was 1966, after all – and Frank Sinatra, the Girl Groups and Beatlemania were still the reigning musical taste. One can literally visualize then, how playing “Freak Out” back-to-back with the Righteous Brothers or Dusty Springfield must have felt like to an average American teen."

The sound of the original MONO vinyl pressing will have sonics that are far superior to any digital version of this album you may have and more natural sounding and preferred to the stereo counterpart.

This is a really nice piece that will play very well and the cover actually looks better than the photograph. 

CONDITION

(Please see my notes on “Record Grading”; my standards may differ from other sellers.)

Cover:  

VG. There is light shelf wear around the very edges. There is some ring wear as you can see in the picture, but the photo was taken with strong sidelighting which accentuates the wear marks. The cover actually looks better than the photograph. The lower right corner point has a small compression. There is a small cross-shaped stamp in the lower right back and I am not sure what that is. There is also a small split in the top right corner of the rear cover starting from where the record eneters the cover and extending across approx. 2".

The inside of the cover is clean and excellent except for some very slight yellowing from age.

Vinyl:  

VG+. Some buyers would call this near mint but I am more picky. There are a very small amount (I mean hardly at all) of extremely light whispy scratches that can only be seen under the strong halogen sidelight I use to visually grade my records. These should not even be heard. The record is clean and has it's original lustre. The vinyl is very heavy weight, stiff vinyl that would be audiophile grade by today's standards.

Label:  

NM. Perfect. I don't see any evidence of even having been put on a spindle.

Sleeve(s): 

Both sleeves are original and in nice shape except they are yellwoing slightly as you would expect from a 43 year old piece of paper.

Insert Material:    

None

About me

I have been collecting records for nearly 40 years and have decided to start selling some of my collection. I have been very picky about the condition of the vinyl I add to my collection as I am also an audiophile listener. Unless the record or cover is extremely rare, I have only added vinyl to my collection that is in great playable shape.

Record Grading

I am a collector of records as well as coins and stamps. I know that condition is everything and I do take my descriptions seriously. Since the vinyl I collect is usually in high quality condition I only visually grade the records I offer for sale. I will note where I have played them and can offer some indication as to actual sonic quality. I grade the vinyl separate from the jacket and other materials. I have my own tweaks on grade levels that may differ slightly from other buyers so please read my definitions for grade levels. I have tried to base my grade descriptions on Goldmine standards:

MINT          MINT. (Only used on new and original factory sealed material.)

NM             NEAR MINT. (Nearly perfect. Factory shrink wrap seal is open or missing but looks as if it has never been played or played a few times. LP jacket should have no creases, folds, seam splits. Center label should have no fading. No cut holes in jacket.)

VG+           VERY GOOD PLUS. (Close to mint with very minimal signs of handling and playing. Perhaps some surface chaffing from the paper sleeve, slight and very light surface scratches and a little bit of light wear on the jacket. Center hole shows no wear. Jacket may be marred by cut-out hole or cut corner indicating that it was taken out of print and sold at discount. No writing or retail stickers on jacket.)

VG             VERY GOOD. (Acceptable and playable record.  Some signs of playing, and the possibility of some scratches causing surface noise especially between tracks and in quieter passages. Retail stickers and writing on jacket but does not overwhelm the record.)

VG-            VERY GOOD MINUS. (Significant wear and marks.  Noticeable overall noise or noise in specific areas.)

G+             GOOD PLUS. (Can be played without skipping but will have surface noise. Spindle wear on center hole. Jacket will have significant splits or tears. Writing, except artist signatures, overwhelms the condition.)

G               GOOD to FAIR. (Can be played without skipping but will have surface noise. Other significant wear marks will be noted. Generally I do not sell records in this condition unless they are very rare.)

Record Weight

The weight of a record does have an effect on how quiet a record plays. I try to provide an actual weight of the vinyl record. This is not to be used for shipping calculation it is the weight of the record only and not the total weight of the record, sleeve, cover and any associated insert material. 

1oz. (1 ounce) = 28.2495231 grams.

Bidding + Payment + Shipping Info

I try very hard to please and my time is precious to me. I feel I have the right to choose who I want to sell to.  First time buyers, those with no feedback or significant negative feedback who do not ask permission to bid, your bid will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO EXCEPTIONS.

I will offer any item to the runner-up after the E-Bay mandatory 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder (unless prior notice from the winning bidder of any delay is given beforehand). The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days. Any bidder who has lost an auction can email me to reserve the item as priority second chance.

Payment is due within 4 business days after the auction ends, unless arrangements are made by the bidder with me before the auction ends.

When paying with PayPal, we will only ship parcels to the buyer's registered PayPal address.

I have the right to cancel a sale if payment is not received by the fifth day after the end of the auction.

Items will be shipped 24-48 hours after payment is received and cleared.

Shipping Costs

The rate shown is the listing is EBay’s default rate and not the actual cost of shipping/packing/insurance and handling. Insurance is required and included unless the buyer requests no insurance for an item under $50.00 in sale value. Items over $50.00 in sale value will require insurance, NO EXCEPTIONS. Shipping rates offered here include the cost of proper packing and materials insurance, and costs for multiple items. The shipping costs shown below do not include insurance.

US ONLY (USPS Priority/First Class) Fastest: 3-4 days

o        LP Only Shipments EAST COAST:   $8.50 for the 1st LP + $1 for each additional LP

o        LP Only Shipments WEST COAST:   $10.00 for the 1st LP + $1 for each additional LP

US ONLY (USPS Media Mail) Slowest: 1-3 weeks

o        LP Only Shipments:   $6.50 for the 1st LP + $.50 for each additional LP

(International Shipping)

TO BE DETERMINED BEFOR THE CLOSE OF THE SALE. Insurance is required. USPS provides insurance and tracking information for only Express Mail. A buyer address and phone number and signature is required for overseas shipments. Items will not be sent to “leave at door” or be signed for by friends and roommates. If you request regular airmail without registered or insured service, you agree that I am not responsible for lost or mis-directed shipments.

Please be advised that I ship overseas at buyer's risk. I cannot and will not refund payment for damaged or missing items when shipping outside the US. International eBay shipments with values over $50.00 MUST be shipped via registered mail. Registered mail without insurance costs $11.50 in addition to airmail postage. Full value insurance is extra based on value and country.

DUE TO OVERSEAS POSTAGE SLOWDOWNS, ALL FOREIGN CUSTOMERS MUST AGREE TO WAIT 2 MONTHS BEFORE FILING A LOST PACKAGE CLAIM.

Shipping Calculator

Costs Shown are for Shipping Rate and Packing. Insurance not included in these figures

Fixed

Approximate and Variable

Fixed

# of Items

US Media Rate

Canada

Japan /Australia

Europe (except UK)

United Kingdom

PRIORITY East Coast (US)

PRIORITY West Coast (US) 

1

$6.50

$8.00

$14

$12.50

$12.50

$8.50

$10.00

2

$7.00

$10

$17.50

$16.00

$16.00

$9.50

$11.00

3

$7.50

$12

$20.00

$20

$20

$10.50

$12.00

4

$8.00

$15.00

$24.50

$23.50

$23.50

$11.50

$13.00

5

$8.50

$17.50

$27.50

$26.50

$26.50

$12.50

$14.00

6

$9.00

$24

$35.00

$32.00

$35.00

$13.50

$15.00

7

$9.50

$26.00

$40

$35.50

$40.00

$14.50

$16.00

8

$10.00

$30

$43

$38.50

$43

$15.50

$17.00

9

$10.50

$32

$46

$42

$46

$16.50

$18.00

10

$11.00

$34

$52

$46

$50

$17.50

$19.00

Shipping Discounts

I offer shipping discounts on multiple items purchased. Additional purchases must be made prior to the payment of the initial item(s).

Insurance

Insurance is required for domestic (US Only) sales of items over $50.00. The cost of insurance is $2.25 (for $100.00 in value) for domestic (US Only) sales of under $50.00 the buyer must request no insurance is required, otherwise I will include insurance at the buyers cost.

Packing + Returns

US ONLY- I cannot and will not refund payment for damaged or missing items when shipping outside the US.

I package and ship my vinyl records with the greatest care, using extra-thick packaging to ensure your records arrive in pristine condition.  I have also sold vintage audio for many years and always get high marks for my packing. I make every effort to use good recycled materials for shipping to save costs and do my share for the planet. When I have to purchase a special shipper (such as a Bags Unlimited record shipper) I will have to pass that cost on to the buyer.

I strive to provide superior packing. In my ten years of selling on EBay I have not had an item damaged in transit due to poor packing. If an item does get damaged in transit and it is the fault of the packaging, then I will make every effort to make it right if the buyer contacts me within 7 days after it arrives.

Grading + Returns

I make careful effort to accurately describe and grade my records. I conservatively grade my material. Unless you can make a good point that I have miss-represented an item I do not offer refunds or returns. Please ask questions before you bid.

A Note About Cleaning

Some sellers on E-Bay advertise their records as “cleaned” and feel that this is adding value to the sale. I have a different point of view on cleaning, let me offer it:

Some collectors feel that records need to be cleaned after each play. Some argue that even new ones need to be cleaned to remove silicone mold release agents used in the stamping process. Others like me, feel there is a difference between cleaning needs and vary cleaning techniques and chemicals based upon the need to “restore” vs. “maintain” a record.

The type of plastic used for the record, your technique or device, and the ingredients in the cleaning fluid can greatly affect the sonic quality and archive stability of a record. There are no scientifically tested and agreed to standards and procedures for record cleaning as of yet and results can vary greatly, positively and negatively.

As a general rule I do not clean my records that I am going to sell. Let me explain: I usually look for vinyl that is already in great condition. Therefore, the type of “cleaning” I do is to keep the record from getting dirty. This is generally only a light surface cleaning with a damp pad and proper fluid and involves removing dust and fingerprints. Usually a light, damp surface clean is all that is needed to keep a record in great shape.

Wet cleaning is something I reserve for restoration efforts on rare vinyl or high quality vinyl where I am trying to restore some of the sonic quality. A thorough wet cleaning takes a lot of time and effort to do properly. If not cleaned properly all you have done is dissolve the surface grime and smear it around deeper into the grooves. The choice of cleaning technique or record cleaning device can have great affect of the ability to clean deeply in the groove where the needle actually rides. The choice of fluid can actually degrade the record and affect the long-term stability of the record. This is why I do my wet cleaning by hand and my choice of fluids and technique is done on a record-by-record basis.

The records I sell are sometimes lightly surfaced cleaned for fingerprints and dust, and I will make note of that. If the record needed restoration then I will make note of that also. 

If anyone is interested in proper cleaning methods then I recommend they start by searching out the Library of Congress Standard for cleaning records. They discuss ingredients and techniques.

Thank You.