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-->--'''Suzy Creamcheese, a character Zappa himself made up, from a faux letter on the back cover'''
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-->--'''Frank Zappa, in response to said fictitious letter'''
''Freak Out!'' is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1966 through Creator/VerveRecords.
''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being the second double-album in rock history, coming out just one week after Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde''. It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
Even today the music sounds like nothing else out there. The liner notes inside the album are also worth mentioning as they are neatly packaged to appeal [[JustForFun/OneOfUs to all geeks world wide]]. Fan favorites are "Who Are The Brain Police?", "Trouble Every Day", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
''Freak Out!'' is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1966 through Creator/VerveRecords.
''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being the second double-album in rock history, coming out just one week after Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde''. It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
Even today the music sounds like nothing else out there. The liner notes inside the album are also worth mentioning as they are neatly packaged to appeal [[JustForFun/OneOfUs to all geeks world wide]]. Fan favorites are "Who Are The Brain Police?", "Trouble Every Day", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
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''Freak Out!'' is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Music/FrankZappa and his band the Mothers of Invention, released in 1966 through Creator/VerveRecords.
''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time.
Even
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%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
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Crosswicking part of the entry on the trope's page to fix misuse (Distinct Double Album is not for ANY double album).
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* DistinctDoubleAlbum: The album was one of the first rock double albums in history, and may have in fact been the first.[[note]]''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' was allegedly released in May of 1966, while ''Freak Out!'' came out at the end of June. But the date of ''Blonde on Blonde'''s chart entry in July, plus the memories of fans who bought the album when it came out, suggest that ''Blonde on Blonde'' probably actually was released simultaneously with ''Freak Out!''.[[/note]]
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* DistinctDoubleAlbum: The album was one of the first rock double albums in history, and may have in fact been the first.[[note]]''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' was allegedly released in May of 1966, while ''Freak Out!'' came out at the end of June. But the date of ''Blonde on Blonde'''s chart entry in July, plus the memories of fans who bought the album when it came out, suggest that ''Blonde on Blonde'' probably actually was released simultaneously with ''Freak Out!''.[[/note]][[/note]] It features parodies of love songs on the first record and political commentary and complete zany mayhem on the second record.
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''Freak Out!'' is Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention's debut album from 1966.
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''Freak Out!'' is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention's debut album from 1966.Invention, released in 1966 through Creator/VerveRecords.
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* OverlyLongTitle: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
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* JumpScare: The sudden scream that occurs 1:27 minutes into "Who Are The Brain Police".
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* LampShadeHanging: "You're Probably Wondering I'm Here".
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* LampShadeHanging: "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here".
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Trope has been renamed per TRS [1]
. also misuse
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* NotGoodWithPeople: Zappa rejects the general public and especially the safe, conformist norms established by the masses.
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---> ''In any state of any clown?''
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---> ''In any state of if any clown?''clown''
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* RippedFromTheHeadlines: "Trouble Every Day" was inspired by the race riots in Watts, New York in 1966.
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* RippedFromTheHeadlines: "Trouble Every Day" was inspired by the race riots in Watts, New York Los Angeles in 1966.
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''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being one of the first [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double albums in rock history]], along with Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' (also from 1966; the Dylan album was recorded and completed first, but a possible ReleaseDateChange makes it difficult to determine which of the two was actually put on store shelves first). It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
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''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being one of the first [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double albums second double-album in rock history]], along with history, coming out just one week after Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' (also from 1966; the Dylan album was recorded and completed first, but a possible ReleaseDateChange makes it difficult to determine which of the two was actually put on store shelves first).''Music/BlondeOnBlonde''. It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope
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* ManlyTears: "You Didn't Try To Call Me", takes this UpToEleven.
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* ManlyTears: "You Didn't Try To Call Me", takes this UpToEleven.up to eleven.
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Don't know who the silly person is using the wrong trope to add album artist credits, but I'll keep fixing it.
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* Jack Anesh: album cover design
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* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The album cover, designed by Jack Anesh.
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cut trope
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* NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: The Trope Namer.
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* CallBack: The middle part of "Who Are The Brain Police?" later reappears in "Help, I'm A Rock".
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* CallBack: CallBack:
** The middle part of "Who Are The Brain Police?" later reappears in "Help, I'm A Rock".
** The middle part of "Who Are The Brain Police?" later reappears in "Help, I'm A Rock".
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* CarefulWithThatAxe: Occurs in the middle of "Who Are the Brain Police?" and reappears on "Help, I'm a Rock".
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* RecordProducer: Tom Wilson.
* ReferenceOverdosed: It's more subtle on this album than on the others.
* ReferenceOverdosed: It's more subtle on this album than on the others.
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* SelfDeprecation: In the liner notes, Zappa writes:
--> ''When I was eleven years old I was 5 ft. 7 with hairy legs, pimples and a mustache... for some strange reason they'd never let me be the captain of the softball team.''
--> ''When I was eleven years old I was 5 ft. 7 with hairy legs, pimples and a mustache... for some strange reason they'd never let me be the captain of the softball team.''
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* SelfDeprecation: SelfDeprecation:
** In the liner notes, Zappa writes:
--> ---> ''When I was eleven years old I was 5 ft. 7 with hairy legs, pimples and a mustache... for some strange reason they'd never let me be the captain of the softball team.''
** In the liner notes, Zappa writes:
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--> ''It can't happen heeeeeere....'''
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--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...''
--> ''Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmcheeeeeeeeeeesssssseeeeeee!''
--> ''Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmcheeeeeeeeeeesssssseeeeeee!''
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--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, your schools that do not teach''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, the minds that won't be reached''
--> ''Mr. America, try to hide the emptiness that's you inside''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, the minds that won't be reached''
--> ''Mr. America, try to hide the emptiness that's you inside''
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--> ''Don't you know that this could start''
--> ''On any street in any town?''
--> ''In any state of any clown?''
--> ''Decides that now's the time to fight''
--> ''For some ideal he thinks is right''
--> ''And if a million more agree''
--> ''There ain't no great society''
--> ''As it applies to you me''
--> ''Our country isn't free''
--> ''On any street in any town?''
--> ''In any state of any clown?''
--> ''Decides that now's the time to fight''
--> ''For some ideal he thinks is right''
--> ''And if a million more agree''
--> ''There ain't no great society''
--> ''As it applies to you me''
--> ''Our country isn't free''
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--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, it really makes it!''
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--> ''Help, I'm a cop! Help, I'm a cop!''
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--> ''Wednesday I watched the riot''
--> ''Seen the cops out on the street''
--> ''Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff''
--> ''And chokin' in the heat''
--> ''Seen the cops out on the street''
--> ''Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff''
--> ''And chokin' in the heat''
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--> ''But maybe that's not for me to say''
--> ''They only pay me here to play''
--> ''They only pay me here to play''
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--> ''You know that five out of any four''
--> ''Just won't amount to nothing more''
--> ''Than watch the rats go across the floor''
--> ''And make up songs about being poor''
--> ''Just won't amount to nothing more''
--> ''Than watch the rats go across the floor''
--> ''And make up songs about being poor''
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* KazoosMeanSilliness: Kazoos are used on a few songs to comic or satiric effect, most notably on "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and "Hungry Freaks, Daddy."
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The album was listed at #246 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]], the highest ranking Zappa album.
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[[AC: Side One]]
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[[AC: Side Two]]
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[[AC: Side Three]]
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[[AC: Side Four]]
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* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment of this trope. The producers of the album attended the first sessions of the album when the Mothers were recording more traditional material, such as "Any Way The Wind Blows". On hearing this they assumed the band was just "another blues rock band" and left without being alarmed. This may have saved Zappa and the Mothers from not being outright rejected while playing the more heavy and experimental stuff.
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment of this trope. The producers of the album attended the first sessions of the album when the Mothers were recording more traditional material, such as "Any Way The Wind Blows". On hearing this they assumed the band was just "another blues rock band" and left without being alarmed. This may have saved Zappa and the Mothers from not being outright rejected while playing the more heavy and experimental stuff.
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.
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%% * GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment ofGettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this trope. The producers of in the album attended future, please check the first sessions of trope page to make sure your example fits the album when the Mothers were recording more traditional material, such as "Any Way The Wind Blows". On hearing this they assumed the band was just "another blues rock band" and left without being alarmed. This may have saved Zappa and the Mothers from not being outright rejected while playing the more heavy and experimental stuff.
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.current definition.
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment of
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/freak_out_zappa_7160.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: ''Sometimes he sings. Sometimes he talks to the audience. Sometimes there is trouble.'']]
-> ''These Mothers is crazy. You can tell by their clothes. One guy wears beads and they all smell bad. We were gonna get them for the dance after the basketball game but my best pal warned me you can never tell how many will show up... sometimes the guy in the fur coat doesn't show up and sometimes he does show up only he brings a big bunch of crazy people with him and they dance all over the place. None of the kids at my school like these Mothers... specially since my teacher told us what the words to their songs meant.''
-->--'''Suzy Creamcheese, a character Zappa himself made up, from a faux letter on the back cover'''
-> ''Suzy Creamcheese, what's got into you?''
-->--'''Frank Zappa, in response to said fictitious letter'''
''Freak Out!'' is Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention's debut album from 1966.
''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being one of the first [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double albums in rock history]], along with Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' (also from 1966; the Dylan album was recorded and completed first, but a possible ReleaseDateChange makes it difficult to determine which of the two was actually put on store shelves first). It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
Even today the music sounds like nothing else out there. The liner notes inside the album are also worth mentioning as they are neatly packaged to appeal [[JustForFun/OneOfUs to all geeks world wide]]. Fan favorites are "Who Are The Brain Police?", "Trouble Every Day", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
The album was listed at #246 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]], the highest ranking Zappa album.
----
!! Tracklist:
!!!LP One:
[[AC: Side One]]
# "Hungry Freaks Daddy" (3:32)
# "I Ain't Got No Heart" (2:34)
# "Who Are The Brain Police?" (3:25)
# "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" (3:43)
# "Motherly Love" (2:50)
# "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" (2:16)
[[AC: Side Two]]
# "Wowie Zowie" (2:55)
# "You Didn't Try To Call Me" (3:21)
# "Any Way The Wind Blows" (2:55)
# "I'm Not Satisfied" (2:41)
# "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here?" (3:41)
!!!LP Two:
[[AC: Side Three]]
# "Trouble Every Day" (5:53)
# "Help, I'm A Rock" [[note]] "It Can't Happen Here" is included in track "Help, I'm A Rock" (8:39) until 1995. [[/note]] (4:43)
# "It Can't Happen Here" (3:56)
[[AC: Side Four]]
# "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" (12:22)
[-CD releases are on a single disc.-]
!!Personnel
* Music/FrankZappa: composition, conductor, vocals, guitar
* Jimmy Carl Black: percussion, drums, vocals
* Ray Collins: vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers.
* Roy Estrada: bass, guitarron, boy soprano.
* Elliot Ingber: alternate lead & rhythm guitar with clear white light.
* Jeanne Vassoir: voice of Suzy Creamcheese.
* Gene Estes: percussion
* Eugene Di Novi, Mac Rebennack, Les [=McCann=] : piano
* Neil Le Vang: guitar
* John Rotella: clarinet, sax
* Carol Kaye: 12-string guitar
* Kurt Reher, Raymond Kelley, Paul Bergstrom, Emmet Sargeant, Joseph Saxon, Edwin V. Beach: cello
* Arthur Maebe: French horn, tuba
* Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood: noises
* Kim Fowley: hypophone
* Paul Butterfield: vocals
----
!! ''Trope Every Day'':
* AlbumTitleDrop: From "It Can't Happen Here":
--> ''Who could imagine that they would ''freak out'' somewhere in Kansas?''
* AllThereInTheManual: The liner notes of "Freak Out!" explain biographical trivia about Zappa and his band members, relevant quotes, pictures, information about each track and a whole list with people whom influenced Zappa's music.
* AnswerCut: "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here?"
--> ''You tore a big hole in your convertible top''
--> ''What will you tell your mom and pop?''
--> ''"Mom, I tore a big hole in my convertible!"''
* AntiLoveSong: Most of the love songs on this album are parodies of the genre, like "I Ain't Got No Heart".
* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: "Help I'm A Rock", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" have weird exotic chants in a made-up language.
* BadassBoast: "Motherly Love".
--> ''The Mothers got love that will drive you mad, you best believe that's true''
* BiggerThanJesus: In the liner notes a "noted L.A. disc jockey" has the following to say: "I’d like to clean you boys up a bit and mold you. I believe I could make you as big as [[Music/TheTurtles the Turtles]]".
* BreakUpSong: "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder", "Anyway The Wind Blows", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?", "You Didn't Try To Call Me".
* BrokenRecord:
** "It Can't Happen Here."
--> ''It can't happen heeeeeere....'''
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...''
--> ''Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmcheeeeeeeeeeesssssseeeeeee!''
* CallBack: The middle part of "Who Are The Brain Police?" later reappears in "Help, I'm A Rock".
** "It Can't Happen Here" ends with questions asked to Suzy Creamcheese. The next track, "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet", starts with another question addressed to her.
* CapitalismIsBad: Consumerism is criticized in "Hungry Freaks, Daddy".
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by: your supermarket dream''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by: the liquor store supreme''
--> ''Mr. America: try to hide the product of your savage pride''
--> ''(...) Those hungry freaks, daddy!''
--> ''They won't go for no more''
--> ''Great mid-western hardware store''
* CarefulWithThatAxe: Occurs in the middle of "Who Are the Brain Police?" and reappears on "Help, I'm a Rock".
* ConceptAlbum: The songs are accompanied by very specific liner notes which give the listener insight in the lyrics and the inspiration behind the zanyness. The album is often considered the first rock concept album (if Music/TheBeachBoys' ''Music/PetSounds'', which came out a month before it, isn't[[note]]the songs on ''Pet Sounds'' are thematically unified but Music/BrianWilson has hinted that it may not have been consciously intended as a concept album[[/note]]), so it could be listed as the UrExample, [[TropeMakers Trope Maker]], and/or TropeCodifier.
* TheConscience: This exchange takes place at the beginning of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet":
--> '''Zappa:''' Suzy?
--> '''Suzy:''' Yes?
--> '''Zappa:''' Suzy Creamcheese?
--> '''Suzy:''' Yes.
--> '''Zappa:''' This is the voice of your conscience, baby.
* ContinuityNod:
** "Who Are The Brain Police" mentions plastic people and chrome, things Zappa would regularly reference in his work. "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and "It Can't Happen Here" also mention plastic.
** Suzy Creamcheese would have cameos on later Zappa albums, such as ''Music/AbsolutelyFree'', ''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'' and ''Music/UncleMeat''.
** "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" talks about "women painting their faces", another phrase that Zappa would re-use in his conceptual continuity.
** The line "we'll bite your neck" in "Motherly Love" would be revisited on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree'' during the song "Duke Of Prunes" and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It".
** TV dinner and a swimming pool in "It Can't Happen Here" are referenced once more during "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
** Criticism of high school would occur regularly in Zappa's lyrics: "Prelude to King Kong" (''Music/UncleMeat''), "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" (''Music/ZootAllures''),...
** "Caravan with a drum solo" is mentioned again in "America Drinks & Goes Home" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
** "Wowie Zowie" would be referenced again on ''Music/UncleMeat'' (1968), after the line: "My name is Ian Underwood and I'm the straight member of the group." The refrain "up and down my spine" would also reappear in "Cheap Thrills" on ''Music/CruisingWithRubenAndTheJets'' (1968).
** "How Could I Be Such A Fool", "I'm Not Satisfied", "Anyway The Wind Blows" and "You Didn't Try To Call Me" would be sang and arranged in different versions of Zappa's ''Music/CruisingWithRubenAndTheJets'' (1968).
** The line "Blow your harmonica, son", a reference to Lightnin' Slim, would be uttered again during "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Sexually Aroused Gas Mask" on ''Music/WeaselsRippedMyFlesh'' (1970).
** "It Can't Happen Here" would be quoted again near the end of "The Legend of The Illinois Enema Bandit" on ''Music/ZappaInNewYork'' (1977).
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet'' is the first Zappa track featuring monster movie imagery.
** The final line "Leave my nose alone, please" in "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" would also be the final line on the album ''Music/YouAreWhatYouIs'' (1981).
** ''Freak Out!'' is also the first album where Zappa prints the quote "The present-day composer refuses to die" by his idol Music/EdgardVarese in the liner notes.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: "Wowie Zowie":
--> ''I dream of you each morning''
--> ''I dream of you each night''
--> ''Just the other night I got so shook up''
--> ''I had a flash in the afternoon''
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The album cover, designed by Jack Anesh.
* DistinctDoubleAlbum: The album was one of the first rock double albums in history, and may have in fact been the first.[[note]]''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' was allegedly released in May of 1966, while ''Freak Out!'' came out at the end of June. But the date of ''Blonde on Blonde'''s chart entry in July, plus the memories of fans who bought the album when it came out, suggest that ''Blonde on Blonde'' probably actually was released simultaneously with ''Freak Out!''.[[/note]]
* DoowopProgression: "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" follows this pattern.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Zappa claimed to have dreamed the lyrics to "Who Are The Brain Police?"
* ElectronicSpeechImpediment: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" has sped up comedic voices.
* EpicRocking: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" is over 12 minutes long.
* ExcitedEpisodeTitle: "Freak Out!"
* FreakOut and FreakyIsCool: Well, duh!
* GenreRoulette: {{Rock}}, {{Doowop}} and modern ClassicalMusic.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment of this trope. The producers of the album attended the first sessions of the album when the Mothers were recording more traditional material, such as "Any Way The Wind Blows". On hearing this they assumed the band was just "another blues rock band" and left without being alarmed. This may have saved Zappa and the Mothers from not being outright rejected while playing the more heavy and experimental stuff.
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.
* HairyGirl: "Wowie Zowie"
--> ''Baby you're so neat''
--> ''I don't even care if you shave your legs''
* HelpImStuck: "Help, I'm A Rock".
--> ''Help, I'm a rock''
--> ''Somebody!''
--> ''Help, I'm a rock''
--> ''Please!''
* HesBack: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* HighSchoolRejects: "Hungry Freaks, Daddy".
--> ''Mister America, walk on by''
--> ''Your schools that do not teach''
--> ''Mister America, walk on by''
--> ''The minds that won't be reached''
* {{Homage}}: The second movement of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" was titled "In memoriam [[Music/EdgardVarese Edgar Varèse]]", to the composer who was Zappa's main inspiration.
* IAmSong: "I'm Not Satisfied", "Help I'm a Rock", and "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here".
* IconicSongRequest: Frank Zappa once heard someone request "Caravan" by Music/DukeEllington, but "with a drum solo". He referenced this bizarre request in "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and would do so again on "America Drinks And Goes Home" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
* InnerMonologue: Zappa acts as Suzy Creamcheese's conscience at the start of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* KentBrockmanNews: Sarcastically lamblasted in "Trouble Every Day" (see also NewsMonopoly).
* LampShadeHanging: "You're Probably Wondering I'm Here".
--> ''Not that it makes one heck of a difference to you''
* LastNoteNightmare:
** "Who Are The Brain Police?" ends in a slowly speeding up drone.
** Towards the end of "I Ain't Got No Heart", a VomitChainReaction briefly takes place before the song ends with a symphonic fanfare.
* [[ViewersAreGeniuses Listeners Are Geniuses]]: Zappa aimed at a very eccentric and/or intellectual demographic with this album.
* ListSong: "It Can't Happen Here" asks "Who could imagine that they would freak out in...?" and lists Kansas, Minnesota and Washington, D.C.
* LongestSongGoesLast: The album closes with "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" (12:22).
* ManlyTears: "You Didn't Try To Call Me", takes this UpToEleven.
* MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting:
** "Hungry Freaks, Daddy"
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, your schools that do not teach''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, the minds that won't be reached''
--> ''Mr. America, try to hide the emptiness that's you inside''
** "Trouble Every Day", a criticism of the race riots that were frequently in the news during the 1960s and the way the media sensationalized them.
--> ''Don't you know that this could start''
--> ''On any street in any town?''
--> ''In any state of any clown?''
--> ''Decides that now's the time to fight''
--> ''For some ideal he thinks is right''
--> ''And if a million more agree''
--> ''There ain't no great society''
--> ''As it applies to you me''
--> ''Our country isn't free''
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet"
--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, it really makes it!''
* NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: The Trope Namer.
* NewsMonopoly: "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''They say that: If the place blows up''
--> ''They'll be the first to tell''
--> ''Because the boys they got downtown''
--> ''Are doing hard and doing swell''
--> ''And if anyone gets the news before it hits the street''
--> ''They say that no-one blabs it faster''
--> ''Their coverage can't be beat''
* NonSequitur: From "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder":
--> ''You cheated me, baby''
--> ''And told some dirty lies about me''
--> ''Ran around with all those other guys''
--> ''That's why I have to get my khakis pressed''
* NotGoodWithPeople: Zappa rejects the general public and especially the safe, conformist norms established by the masses.
* TheNotRemix: Like many Zappa albums, ''Freak Out'' received some extra production embellishments when it was first reissued on CD via Rykodisc, largely to re-center the audio (the 1966 stereo release simply followed the trend of having half of everything on one channel and the other half on the other); this remix has since been standard for all releases save for the limited edition ''The MOFO Project/Object'' release in 2006. While the remix doesn't deviate too much from the original 1966 release and is overall considered decent enough by Zappa fans (especially for those who dislike pre-70's stereo mixing), most prefer the original.
* OverlyLongTitle: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* PoliceBrutality:
** "Who Are The Brain Police?", naturally.
** "Help I'm A Rock"
--> ''Help, I'm a cop! Help, I'm a cop!''
** "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''Wednesday I watched the riot''
--> ''Seen the cops out on the street''
--> ''Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff''
--> ''And chokin' in the heat''
* ProgressiveRock: More progressive than progressive rock itself.
* ProperlyParanoid: "Who Are The Brain Police?"
--> ''I think I'm gonna die...''
* ProtestSong: Virtually all of the songs reject American government and society.
* PunBasedTitle: "Motherly Love", which references the band's name, the Mothers of Invention.
* QuestioningTitle: "Who Are The Brain Police?", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?"
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Trouble Every Day" was directly inspired by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_riots Watts Riots]], which was notable for being the biggest period of civil unrest in Los Angeles before the 1992 riots.
* RecordProducer: Tom Wilson.
* ReferenceOverdosed: It's more subtle on this album than on the others.
* [[RefugeInAudacity Refuge In Unmitigated Audacity]]: It was ''unheard of'' for an unknown rock group to release a double album at the time ''Freak Out!'' appeared, and by some accounts, it's the first rock double album of any kind. The fact that Tom Wilson[[note]]who had worked with Music/BobDylan and Music/SimonAndGarfunkel during his time as a staff producer at Creator/ColumbiaRecords[[/note]] produced it probably helped the group's fortunes a lot. Wilson had, by that point, gotten the kind of stature that basically meant any act he produced could do pretty much anything they wanted, as long as he signed off on it (which he usually did-- he was a smart enough producer to trust his artists' instincts). Zappa found out late in the recording sessions that Wilson was high on LSD during their time together, which also explains why the Mothers got away with as much as they did on this album.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: "Trouble Every Day" was inspired by the race riots in Watts, New York in 1966.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: During one of their concerts, Zappa actually heard somebody request "Caravan" by Music/DukeEllington, but "with a drum solo." He used this line in "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here".
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: "I'm Not Satisfied".
--> ''I'm not satisfied''
--> ''Everything I've tried''
--> ''I don't like the way''
--> ''Life has been abusing me''
* SelfDeprecation: In the liner notes, Zappa writes:
--> ''When I was eleven years old I was 5 ft. 7 with hairy legs, pimples and a mustache... for some strange reason they'd never let me be the captain of the softball team.''
** "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here":
--> ''But maybe that's not for me to say''
--> ''They only pay me here to play''
* ShoutOut:
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" refers to Monster Magnet, a 1960s toy.
** The second movement of "Help, I'm a Rock" was titled "In memoriam [[Music/EdgardVarese Edgar Varèse]]", the composer who was Zappa's main inspiration. Varèse receives a second shout-out in the liner-notes, where his quote "The present-day composer refuses to die" is cited for the first of many times in Zappa's work.
** In the liner notes, a long list can be read under the following declaration: "These People Have Contributed Materially in Many Ways to Make Our Music What it is. Please Do Not Hold it Against them." Many of them are quite obscure, some more famous than others and some are people from Zappa's own personal circle of friends, colleagues and professional connections. Among the more recognizable names are composers (Music/IgorStravinsky, Music/EdgardVarese, Anton Webern, Pierre Boulez (with whom Zappa would later work together on ''Music/ThePerfectStranger''), Music/CharlesIves, Music/MauriceRavel, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Arnold Schönberg), folk singers (Music/BobDylan, Music/JoanBaez), R&B artists (Richard Berry, best known for the original version of "Louie Louie"), blues artists (Music/MuddyWaters, Music/JohnnyGuitarWatson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Guitar Slim, Lightnin' Slim, Music/HowlinWolf, Albert Collins, Willie Dixon, Skip James, Buddy Guy,...), rock artists (Music/ElvisPresley (whom Zappa hated)), David Crosby (Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung)), [[OutsiderMusic outsider musicians]] (Music/TinyTim, Music/CaptainBeefheart (listed as "Don Vliet")), jazz musicians (Music/EricDolphy, Music/RolandKirk, Bill Evans, Music/CharlesMingus), WorldMusic artists (Music/RaviShankar, Chatur Lal,...), painters (Creator/SalvadorDali, Yves Tanguy), writers (Creator/JulesFeiffer, Creator/RobertSheckley, Creator/CordwainerSmith, Creator/BramStoker, Creator/TheodoreSturgeon, Creator/JamesJoyce), entertainers (Creator/LennyBruce, Creator/WolfmanJack, Sabu, Creator/JohnWayne (whom Zappa had an unpleasant encounter with, according to ''Literature/TheRealFrankZappaBook'')) and record producers and managers including Music/PhilSpector and Brian Epstein.
** "Wowie Zowie" has a shout-out to Music/TheBeatles' "Love Me Do". The song itself inspired Music/DavidBowie to name his son Wowie Zowie Bowie.
** In the liner notes, Zappa mentions that "Help, I'm A Rock" is dedicated to Music/ElvisPresley. Also, the song's title is a reference to Music/SimonAndGarfunkel's "I Am a Rock".
** "It Can't Happen Here" seems to be a reference to Literature/ItCantHappenHere by Creator/SinclairLewis.
* SpeechBubbles: Used on the front and back cover.
* SpokenWordInMusic: During the fade-out of "You Didn't Try To Call Me", the protagonist complains how his girlfriend didn't call him in a rant that gets more ridiculous with each line.
* SuckySchool: "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" attacks the American education system, Zappa being pro-autodidact. The liner notes to this specific song also have this call to arms: "Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to our mediocre educational system. Forget bout the Senior Prom and go to the library and educate yourself if you’ve got any guts. Some of you like pep rallies and plastic robots who tell you what to read. Forget I mentioned it. This song has no message [[MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting Rise for the flag salute.]]"
* TakeThat:
** This album attacks the American government, education system, consumerist society, the flag salute, the general conformist public, television, race riots and sappy love songs.
** "Trouble Every Day" attacks racism, politics, mass media and especially the protest singers of the day:
--> ''You know that five out of any four''
--> ''Just won't amount to nothing more''
--> ''Than watch the rats go across the floor''
--> ''And make up songs about being poor''
** UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson 's plans for a "great society" are sarcastically denounced twice in "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" and "Trouble Every Day".
** TakeThatAudience: The liner notes mention the Mothers' closing message to tourists at the Hollywood Whiskey A-Go-Go: "If your children ever find out how lame you really are, they'll murder you in your sleep."
* VomitChainReaction: "I Ain't Got No Heart" has one near the end.
* WhamLine: "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''Hey, you know something, people? I'm not black, but there's a whole lotsa times I wish I could say I'm not white.''
----
[[caption-width-right:350: ''Sometimes he sings. Sometimes he talks to the audience. Sometimes there is trouble.'']]
-> ''These Mothers is crazy. You can tell by their clothes. One guy wears beads and they all smell bad. We were gonna get them for the dance after the basketball game but my best pal warned me you can never tell how many will show up... sometimes the guy in the fur coat doesn't show up and sometimes he does show up only he brings a big bunch of crazy people with him and they dance all over the place. None of the kids at my school like these Mothers... specially since my teacher told us what the words to their songs meant.''
-->--'''Suzy Creamcheese, a character Zappa himself made up, from a faux letter on the back cover'''
-> ''Suzy Creamcheese, what's got into you?''
-->--'''Frank Zappa, in response to said fictitious letter'''
''Freak Out!'' is Music/FrankZappa and the Mothers of Invention's debut album from 1966.
''Freak Out!'' is widely considered to be one of Zappa's best albums and one of the most impressive debut albums of all time. Historically it's important for being one of the first [[DistinctDoubleAlbum double albums in rock history]], along with Music/BobDylan's ''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' (also from 1966; the Dylan album was recorded and completed first, but a possible ReleaseDateChange makes it difficult to determine which of the two was actually put on store shelves first). It's also an early example of a ConceptAlbum and was one of the main inspirations for Music/TheBeatles' ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
Even today the music sounds like nothing else out there. The liner notes inside the album are also worth mentioning as they are neatly packaged to appeal [[JustForFun/OneOfUs to all geeks world wide]]. Fan favorites are "Who Are The Brain Police?", "Trouble Every Day", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
The album was listed at #246 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]], the highest ranking Zappa album.
----
!! Tracklist:
!!!LP One:
[[AC: Side One]]
# "Hungry Freaks Daddy" (3:32)
# "I Ain't Got No Heart" (2:34)
# "Who Are The Brain Police?" (3:25)
# "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" (3:43)
# "Motherly Love" (2:50)
# "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" (2:16)
[[AC: Side Two]]
# "Wowie Zowie" (2:55)
# "You Didn't Try To Call Me" (3:21)
# "Any Way The Wind Blows" (2:55)
# "I'm Not Satisfied" (2:41)
# "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here?" (3:41)
!!!LP Two:
[[AC: Side Three]]
# "Trouble Every Day" (5:53)
# "Help, I'm A Rock" [[note]] "It Can't Happen Here" is included in track "Help, I'm A Rock" (8:39) until 1995. [[/note]] (4:43)
# "It Can't Happen Here" (3:56)
[[AC: Side Four]]
# "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" (12:22)
[-CD releases are on a single disc.-]
!!Personnel
* Music/FrankZappa: composition, conductor, vocals, guitar
* Jimmy Carl Black: percussion, drums, vocals
* Ray Collins: vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers.
* Roy Estrada: bass, guitarron, boy soprano.
* Elliot Ingber: alternate lead & rhythm guitar with clear white light.
* Jeanne Vassoir: voice of Suzy Creamcheese.
* Gene Estes: percussion
* Eugene Di Novi, Mac Rebennack, Les [=McCann=] : piano
* Neil Le Vang: guitar
* John Rotella: clarinet, sax
* Carol Kaye: 12-string guitar
* Kurt Reher, Raymond Kelley, Paul Bergstrom, Emmet Sargeant, Joseph Saxon, Edwin V. Beach: cello
* Arthur Maebe: French horn, tuba
* Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood: noises
* Kim Fowley: hypophone
* Paul Butterfield: vocals
----
!! ''Trope Every Day'':
* AlbumTitleDrop: From "It Can't Happen Here":
--> ''Who could imagine that they would ''freak out'' somewhere in Kansas?''
* AllThereInTheManual: The liner notes of "Freak Out!" explain biographical trivia about Zappa and his band members, relevant quotes, pictures, information about each track and a whole list with people whom influenced Zappa's music.
* AnswerCut: "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here?"
--> ''You tore a big hole in your convertible top''
--> ''What will you tell your mom and pop?''
--> ''"Mom, I tore a big hole in my convertible!"''
* AntiLoveSong: Most of the love songs on this album are parodies of the genre, like "I Ain't Got No Heart".
* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: "Help I'm A Rock", "It Can't Happen Here" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" have weird exotic chants in a made-up language.
* BadassBoast: "Motherly Love".
--> ''The Mothers got love that will drive you mad, you best believe that's true''
* BiggerThanJesus: In the liner notes a "noted L.A. disc jockey" has the following to say: "I’d like to clean you boys up a bit and mold you. I believe I could make you as big as [[Music/TheTurtles the Turtles]]".
* BreakUpSong: "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder", "Anyway The Wind Blows", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?", "You Didn't Try To Call Me".
* BrokenRecord:
** "It Can't Happen Here."
--> ''It can't happen heeeeeere....'''
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...''
--> ''Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creamcheese! Creeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmcheeeeeeeeeeesssssseeeeeee!''
* CallBack: The middle part of "Who Are The Brain Police?" later reappears in "Help, I'm A Rock".
** "It Can't Happen Here" ends with questions asked to Suzy Creamcheese. The next track, "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet", starts with another question addressed to her.
* CapitalismIsBad: Consumerism is criticized in "Hungry Freaks, Daddy".
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by: your supermarket dream''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by: the liquor store supreme''
--> ''Mr. America: try to hide the product of your savage pride''
--> ''(...) Those hungry freaks, daddy!''
--> ''They won't go for no more''
--> ''Great mid-western hardware store''
* CarefulWithThatAxe: Occurs in the middle of "Who Are the Brain Police?" and reappears on "Help, I'm a Rock".
* ConceptAlbum: The songs are accompanied by very specific liner notes which give the listener insight in the lyrics and the inspiration behind the zanyness. The album is often considered the first rock concept album (if Music/TheBeachBoys' ''Music/PetSounds'', which came out a month before it, isn't[[note]]the songs on ''Pet Sounds'' are thematically unified but Music/BrianWilson has hinted that it may not have been consciously intended as a concept album[[/note]]), so it could be listed as the UrExample, [[TropeMakers Trope Maker]], and/or TropeCodifier.
* TheConscience: This exchange takes place at the beginning of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet":
--> '''Zappa:''' Suzy?
--> '''Suzy:''' Yes?
--> '''Zappa:''' Suzy Creamcheese?
--> '''Suzy:''' Yes.
--> '''Zappa:''' This is the voice of your conscience, baby.
* ContinuityNod:
** "Who Are The Brain Police" mentions plastic people and chrome, things Zappa would regularly reference in his work. "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and "It Can't Happen Here" also mention plastic.
** Suzy Creamcheese would have cameos on later Zappa albums, such as ''Music/AbsolutelyFree'', ''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'' and ''Music/UncleMeat''.
** "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" talks about "women painting their faces", another phrase that Zappa would re-use in his conceptual continuity.
** The line "we'll bite your neck" in "Motherly Love" would be revisited on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree'' during the song "Duke Of Prunes" and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It".
** TV dinner and a swimming pool in "It Can't Happen Here" are referenced once more during "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
** Criticism of high school would occur regularly in Zappa's lyrics: "Prelude to King Kong" (''Music/UncleMeat''), "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" (''Music/ZootAllures''),...
** "Caravan with a drum solo" is mentioned again in "America Drinks & Goes Home" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
** "Wowie Zowie" would be referenced again on ''Music/UncleMeat'' (1968), after the line: "My name is Ian Underwood and I'm the straight member of the group." The refrain "up and down my spine" would also reappear in "Cheap Thrills" on ''Music/CruisingWithRubenAndTheJets'' (1968).
** "How Could I Be Such A Fool", "I'm Not Satisfied", "Anyway The Wind Blows" and "You Didn't Try To Call Me" would be sang and arranged in different versions of Zappa's ''Music/CruisingWithRubenAndTheJets'' (1968).
** The line "Blow your harmonica, son", a reference to Lightnin' Slim, would be uttered again during "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Sexually Aroused Gas Mask" on ''Music/WeaselsRippedMyFlesh'' (1970).
** "It Can't Happen Here" would be quoted again near the end of "The Legend of The Illinois Enema Bandit" on ''Music/ZappaInNewYork'' (1977).
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet'' is the first Zappa track featuring monster movie imagery.
** The final line "Leave my nose alone, please" in "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" would also be the final line on the album ''Music/YouAreWhatYouIs'' (1981).
** ''Freak Out!'' is also the first album where Zappa prints the quote "The present-day composer refuses to die" by his idol Music/EdgardVarese in the liner notes.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: "Wowie Zowie":
--> ''I dream of you each morning''
--> ''I dream of you each night''
--> ''Just the other night I got so shook up''
--> ''I had a flash in the afternoon''
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The album cover, designed by Jack Anesh.
* DistinctDoubleAlbum: The album was one of the first rock double albums in history, and may have in fact been the first.[[note]]''Music/BlondeOnBlonde'' was allegedly released in May of 1966, while ''Freak Out!'' came out at the end of June. But the date of ''Blonde on Blonde'''s chart entry in July, plus the memories of fans who bought the album when it came out, suggest that ''Blonde on Blonde'' probably actually was released simultaneously with ''Freak Out!''.[[/note]]
* DoowopProgression: "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" follows this pattern.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Zappa claimed to have dreamed the lyrics to "Who Are The Brain Police?"
* ElectronicSpeechImpediment: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" has sped up comedic voices.
* EpicRocking: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" is over 12 minutes long.
* ExcitedEpisodeTitle: "Freak Out!"
* FreakOut and FreakyIsCool: Well, duh!
* GenreRoulette: {{Rock}}, {{Doowop}} and modern ClassicalMusic.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** The entire album can be counted as an embodiment of this trope. The producers of the album attended the first sessions of the album when the Mothers were recording more traditional material, such as "Any Way The Wind Blows". On hearing this they assumed the band was just "another blues rock band" and left without being alarmed. This may have saved Zappa and the Mothers from not being outright rejected while playing the more heavy and experimental stuff.
** "Motherly Love" might be the first rock record to directly reference groupies.
** "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" features a sped up recording of Zappa shouting "Fuck!" after smashing his finger, which went unnoticed by the record label.
* HairyGirl: "Wowie Zowie"
--> ''Baby you're so neat''
--> ''I don't even care if you shave your legs''
* HelpImStuck: "Help, I'm A Rock".
--> ''Help, I'm a rock''
--> ''Somebody!''
--> ''Help, I'm a rock''
--> ''Please!''
* HesBack: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* HighSchoolRejects: "Hungry Freaks, Daddy".
--> ''Mister America, walk on by''
--> ''Your schools that do not teach''
--> ''Mister America, walk on by''
--> ''The minds that won't be reached''
* {{Homage}}: The second movement of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" was titled "In memoriam [[Music/EdgardVarese Edgar Varèse]]", to the composer who was Zappa's main inspiration.
* IAmSong: "I'm Not Satisfied", "Help I'm a Rock", and "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here".
* IconicSongRequest: Frank Zappa once heard someone request "Caravan" by Music/DukeEllington, but "with a drum solo". He referenced this bizarre request in "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" and would do so again on "America Drinks And Goes Home" on ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''.
* InnerMonologue: Zappa acts as Suzy Creamcheese's conscience at the start of "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* KentBrockmanNews: Sarcastically lamblasted in "Trouble Every Day" (see also NewsMonopoly).
* LampShadeHanging: "You're Probably Wondering I'm Here".
--> ''Not that it makes one heck of a difference to you''
* LastNoteNightmare:
** "Who Are The Brain Police?" ends in a slowly speeding up drone.
** Towards the end of "I Ain't Got No Heart", a VomitChainReaction briefly takes place before the song ends with a symphonic fanfare.
* [[ViewersAreGeniuses Listeners Are Geniuses]]: Zappa aimed at a very eccentric and/or intellectual demographic with this album.
* ListSong: "It Can't Happen Here" asks "Who could imagine that they would freak out in...?" and lists Kansas, Minnesota and Washington, D.C.
* LongestSongGoesLast: The album closes with "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" (12:22).
* ManlyTears: "You Didn't Try To Call Me", takes this UpToEleven.
* MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting:
** "Hungry Freaks, Daddy"
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, your schools that do not teach''
--> ''Mr. America, walk on by, the minds that won't be reached''
--> ''Mr. America, try to hide the emptiness that's you inside''
** "Trouble Every Day", a criticism of the race riots that were frequently in the news during the 1960s and the way the media sensationalized them.
--> ''Don't you know that this could start''
--> ''On any street in any town?''
--> ''In any state of any clown?''
--> ''Decides that now's the time to fight''
--> ''For some ideal he thinks is right''
--> ''And if a million more agree''
--> ''There ain't no great society''
--> ''As it applies to you me''
--> ''Our country isn't free''
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet"
--> ''America's wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, it really makes it!''
* NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: The Trope Namer.
* NewsMonopoly: "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''They say that: If the place blows up''
--> ''They'll be the first to tell''
--> ''Because the boys they got downtown''
--> ''Are doing hard and doing swell''
--> ''And if anyone gets the news before it hits the street''
--> ''They say that no-one blabs it faster''
--> ''Their coverage can't be beat''
* NonSequitur: From "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder":
--> ''You cheated me, baby''
--> ''And told some dirty lies about me''
--> ''Ran around with all those other guys''
--> ''That's why I have to get my khakis pressed''
* NotGoodWithPeople: Zappa rejects the general public and especially the safe, conformist norms established by the masses.
* TheNotRemix: Like many Zappa albums, ''Freak Out'' received some extra production embellishments when it was first reissued on CD via Rykodisc, largely to re-center the audio (the 1966 stereo release simply followed the trend of having half of everything on one channel and the other half on the other); this remix has since been standard for all releases save for the limited edition ''The MOFO Project/Object'' release in 2006. While the remix doesn't deviate too much from the original 1966 release and is overall considered decent enough by Zappa fans (especially for those who dislike pre-70's stereo mixing), most prefer the original.
* OverlyLongTitle: "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet".
* PoliceBrutality:
** "Who Are The Brain Police?", naturally.
** "Help I'm A Rock"
--> ''Help, I'm a cop! Help, I'm a cop!''
** "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''Wednesday I watched the riot''
--> ''Seen the cops out on the street''
--> ''Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff''
--> ''And chokin' in the heat''
* ProgressiveRock: More progressive than progressive rock itself.
* ProperlyParanoid: "Who Are The Brain Police?"
--> ''I think I'm gonna die...''
* ProtestSong: Virtually all of the songs reject American government and society.
* PunBasedTitle: "Motherly Love", which references the band's name, the Mothers of Invention.
* QuestioningTitle: "Who Are The Brain Police?", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?"
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Trouble Every Day" was directly inspired by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_riots Watts Riots]], which was notable for being the biggest period of civil unrest in Los Angeles before the 1992 riots.
* RecordProducer: Tom Wilson.
* ReferenceOverdosed: It's more subtle on this album than on the others.
* [[RefugeInAudacity Refuge In Unmitigated Audacity]]: It was ''unheard of'' for an unknown rock group to release a double album at the time ''Freak Out!'' appeared, and by some accounts, it's the first rock double album of any kind. The fact that Tom Wilson[[note]]who had worked with Music/BobDylan and Music/SimonAndGarfunkel during his time as a staff producer at Creator/ColumbiaRecords[[/note]] produced it probably helped the group's fortunes a lot. Wilson had, by that point, gotten the kind of stature that basically meant any act he produced could do pretty much anything they wanted, as long as he signed off on it (which he usually did-- he was a smart enough producer to trust his artists' instincts). Zappa found out late in the recording sessions that Wilson was high on LSD during their time together, which also explains why the Mothers got away with as much as they did on this album.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: "Trouble Every Day" was inspired by the race riots in Watts, New York in 1966.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: During one of their concerts, Zappa actually heard somebody request "Caravan" by Music/DukeEllington, but "with a drum solo." He used this line in "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here".
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: "I'm Not Satisfied".
--> ''I'm not satisfied''
--> ''Everything I've tried''
--> ''I don't like the way''
--> ''Life has been abusing me''
* SelfDeprecation: In the liner notes, Zappa writes:
--> ''When I was eleven years old I was 5 ft. 7 with hairy legs, pimples and a mustache... for some strange reason they'd never let me be the captain of the softball team.''
** "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here":
--> ''But maybe that's not for me to say''
--> ''They only pay me here to play''
* ShoutOut:
** "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" refers to Monster Magnet, a 1960s toy.
** The second movement of "Help, I'm a Rock" was titled "In memoriam [[Music/EdgardVarese Edgar Varèse]]", the composer who was Zappa's main inspiration. Varèse receives a second shout-out in the liner-notes, where his quote "The present-day composer refuses to die" is cited for the first of many times in Zappa's work.
** In the liner notes, a long list can be read under the following declaration: "These People Have Contributed Materially in Many Ways to Make Our Music What it is. Please Do Not Hold it Against them." Many of them are quite obscure, some more famous than others and some are people from Zappa's own personal circle of friends, colleagues and professional connections. Among the more recognizable names are composers (Music/IgorStravinsky, Music/EdgardVarese, Anton Webern, Pierre Boulez (with whom Zappa would later work together on ''Music/ThePerfectStranger''), Music/CharlesIves, Music/MauriceRavel, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Arnold Schönberg), folk singers (Music/BobDylan, Music/JoanBaez), R&B artists (Richard Berry, best known for the original version of "Louie Louie"), blues artists (Music/MuddyWaters, Music/JohnnyGuitarWatson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Guitar Slim, Lightnin' Slim, Music/HowlinWolf, Albert Collins, Willie Dixon, Skip James, Buddy Guy,...), rock artists (Music/ElvisPresley (whom Zappa hated)), David Crosby (Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung)), [[OutsiderMusic outsider musicians]] (Music/TinyTim, Music/CaptainBeefheart (listed as "Don Vliet")), jazz musicians (Music/EricDolphy, Music/RolandKirk, Bill Evans, Music/CharlesMingus), WorldMusic artists (Music/RaviShankar, Chatur Lal,...), painters (Creator/SalvadorDali, Yves Tanguy), writers (Creator/JulesFeiffer, Creator/RobertSheckley, Creator/CordwainerSmith, Creator/BramStoker, Creator/TheodoreSturgeon, Creator/JamesJoyce), entertainers (Creator/LennyBruce, Creator/WolfmanJack, Sabu, Creator/JohnWayne (whom Zappa had an unpleasant encounter with, according to ''Literature/TheRealFrankZappaBook'')) and record producers and managers including Music/PhilSpector and Brian Epstein.
** "Wowie Zowie" has a shout-out to Music/TheBeatles' "Love Me Do". The song itself inspired Music/DavidBowie to name his son Wowie Zowie Bowie.
** In the liner notes, Zappa mentions that "Help, I'm A Rock" is dedicated to Music/ElvisPresley. Also, the song's title is a reference to Music/SimonAndGarfunkel's "I Am a Rock".
** "It Can't Happen Here" seems to be a reference to Literature/ItCantHappenHere by Creator/SinclairLewis.
* SpeechBubbles: Used on the front and back cover.
* SpokenWordInMusic: During the fade-out of "You Didn't Try To Call Me", the protagonist complains how his girlfriend didn't call him in a rant that gets more ridiculous with each line.
* SuckySchool: "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" attacks the American education system, Zappa being pro-autodidact. The liner notes to this specific song also have this call to arms: "Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to our mediocre educational system. Forget bout the Senior Prom and go to the library and educate yourself if you’ve got any guts. Some of you like pep rallies and plastic robots who tell you what to read. Forget I mentioned it. This song has no message [[MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting Rise for the flag salute.]]"
* TakeThat:
** This album attacks the American government, education system, consumerist society, the flag salute, the general conformist public, television, race riots and sappy love songs.
** "Trouble Every Day" attacks racism, politics, mass media and especially the protest singers of the day:
--> ''You know that five out of any four''
--> ''Just won't amount to nothing more''
--> ''Than watch the rats go across the floor''
--> ''And make up songs about being poor''
** UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson 's plans for a "great society" are sarcastically denounced twice in "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" and "Trouble Every Day".
** TakeThatAudience: The liner notes mention the Mothers' closing message to tourists at the Hollywood Whiskey A-Go-Go: "If your children ever find out how lame you really are, they'll murder you in your sleep."
* VomitChainReaction: "I Ain't Got No Heart" has one near the end.
* WhamLine: "Trouble Every Day"
--> ''Hey, you know something, people? I'm not black, but there's a whole lotsa times I wish I could say I'm not white.''
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