Frank Zappa discography

This is a list of albums by Frank Zappa, including all those credited to the Mothers of Invention. During his lifetime, Zappa released 62 albums. Since 1994, the Zappa Family Trust has released 66 posthumous albums as of June 2024, making a total of 128 albums/album sets.

Frank Zappa discography
Zappa performing in Ekeberghallen, Oslo, on January 16, 1977.
Albums62
Singles39

In 2012 the distribution of Zappa's recorded output moved to Universal Music Enterprises.[1] In June 2022 the Zappa Trust announced that it had sold Zappa's entire catalog to Universal Music, including master tapes, song copyrights and trademarks.[2]

A list of albums of Zappa's music by other artists is also included here.

Official albums

Released[3]TitlePeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
No.YearMonthUS
[4]
UK
[5]
GER
[6]
NOR
[7]
SWE
[8][9]
AUS
[10]
AUT
[11]
11966JunFreak Out! (with The Mothers of Invention)130
21967JunAbsolutely Free (with The Mothers of Invention)41
31968MarWe're Only in It for the Money (with The Mothers of Invention)3031
4MayLumpy Gravy (with Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra)159
5DecCruising with Ruben & the Jets (with The Mothers of Invention)110
61969MarMothermania (with The Mothers of Invention)151
7AprUncle Meat (with The Mothers of Invention)43
8OctHot Rats17394519
91970FebBurnt Weeny Sandwich (with The Mothers of Invention)9417
10AugWeasels Ripped My Flesh (with The Mothers of Invention)18928
11OctChunga's Revenge1194324
121971AugFillmore East – June 1971 (with The Mothers of Invention)3822
13Oct200 Motels (with The Mothers of Invention)594448
141972MarJust Another Band from L.A. (with The Mothers of Invention)8541
15JulWaka/Jawaka15224
16NovThe Grand Wazoo (with The Mothers of Invention)
171973SepOver-Nite Sensation (with The Mothers of Invention)3221151047US: Gold[12]
181974MarApostrophe (')106671US: Gold[13]
19SepRoxy & Elsewhere (with The Mothers of Invention)27144
201975JunOne Size Fits All (with The Mothers of Invention)265681
21OctBongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart and The Mothers of Invention)6611
221976OctZoot Allures61161782UK: Silver[14]
231978MarZappa in New York57552062474
24SepStudio Tan1473092
251979JanSleep Dirt1751619
26MarSheik Yerbouti21321054536CAN: Gold[15]
27MayOrchestral Favorites16848
28SepJoe's Garage Act I27624112948CAN: Gold[15]
29NovJoe's Garage Acts II & III537531349
301981MayTinsel Town Rebellion6655231389
31Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
32Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More
33Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
34SepYou Are What You Is93511222
351982MayShip Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch2361652026
31/32/33SepShut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (re-release of all three volumes as one triple album)
361983MarThe Man from Utopia1538723
37Baby Snakes67
38JunLondon Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I
391984AugBoulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
40OctThem or Us534222
41NovThing-Fish
42Francesco Zappa
431985AprThe Old Masters, Box I
44NovFrank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention153
451986JanDoes Humor Belong in Music?
46NovThe Old Masters, Box II
47Jazz from Hell
28/291987JunJoe's Garage, Acts I, II & III (re-release of all three acts as one triple album)
48SepLondon Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II
49DecThe Old Masters, Box III
501988AprGuitar824025
51MayYou Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
52OctYou Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2
53Broadway the Hard Way
541989NovYou Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
551991AprThe Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
56JunMake a Jazz Noise Here
57You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
581992JulYou Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
59You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
60OctPlayground Psychotics (with The Mothers of Invention)
611993MarAhead of Their Time (with The Mothers of Invention)
62OctThe Yellow Shark (with Ensemble Modern)6130

Posthumous official albums

Released[3]TitlePeak chart positions
No.YearMonthGER
[6]
SWE
[8]
631994DecCivilization Phaze III87
38/481995AprLondon Symphony Orchestra, Volumes I & II (re-release of both volumes as one double album)
641996FebThe Lost Episodes54
65SepLäther50
66OctFrank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute
671997MayHave I Offended Someone?
681998SepMystery Disc
691999DecEverything Is Healing Nicely
702002AugFZ:OZ
712003FebHalloween (DVD-Audio Disc)
722004MayJoe's Corsage (with The Mothers of Invention)
73OctJoe's Domage
74SepQuAUDIOPHILIAc (DVD-Audio Disc)
752005DecJoe's XMASage
762006JanImaginary Diseases
77NovTrance-Fusion
78DecThe MOFO Project/Object (4-CD set) (with The Mothers of Invention)
79The MOFO Project/Object (fazedooh) (2-CD set) (with The Mothers of Invention)
802007AprBuffalo
81AugThe Dub Room Special!
82OctWazoo
832008JunOne Shot Deal
84SepJoe's Menage
852009JanThe Lumpy Money Project/Object
86DecPhilly '76
872010AprGreasy Love Songs (with The Mothers of Invention)
88SepCongress Shall Make No Law...
89NovHammersmith Odeon
902011SepFeeding the Monkies at Ma Maison
91OctCarnegie Hall (with The Mothers of Invention)
922012OctUnderstanding America
93NovRoad Tapes, Venue 1 (with The Mothers of Invention)
94DecFiner Moments
95AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes: The Compleat Soundtrack 2h 44m 20s (Download only)
962013OctRoad Tapes, Venue 2 (with The Mothers of Invention)
97NovA Token of His Extreme (Soundtrack)
982014JanJoe's Camouflage
99MarRoxy by Proxy
1002015JunDance Me This
101Nov200 Motels: The Suites (LA Philharmonic-Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen)
102OctRoxy The Soundtrack (Roxy The Movie DVD/CD or BD/CD, CD soundtrack not sold separately)39
1032016MayRoad Tapes, Venue 3 (with The Mothers of Invention)
104JulThe Crux Of The Biscuit
105Frank Zappa For President
106SepZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks
107NovMeat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary (with The Mothers of Invention)
108Chicago '78
109Little Dots
1102017OctHalloween 77: The Palladium, NYC (Costume Box Set edition containing a 24-bit WAV audio USB stick of the complete 6 shows: 10.28.77 (2 shows), 10.29.77 (2 shows), 10.30.77, 10.31.77)[nb 1]
110KHalloween 77: October 31, 1977 – The Palladium, NYC[nb 2]
1112018FebThe Roxy Performances[16]55
1122019MarZappa in New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition[17]
113AugOrchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary[18]
114OctHalloween 73[19][nb 3]
114ZHalloween 73 Highlights[19][nb 4]
115DecThe Hot Rats Sessions[20]
1162020JunThe Mothers 1970 (with The Mothers of Invention)[21]30
117OctHalloween 81[22]
117ZHalloween 81 (Highlights From The Palladium, New York City)
118NovZappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1192021JunZappa '88: The Last U.S. Show9
120Dec200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition87
1212022MarThe Mothers 1971 (with The Mothers of Invention)18
122JunZappa/Erie22
123OctZappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana61
124DecWaka/Wazoo
1252023MarZappa '80 Mudd Club/Munich[23][24]33
125AZappa '80 Mudd Club[25][26]75
125BZappa '80 Munich[27][28]
126JunFunky Nothingness[29]15
127NovOver-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition[30] (with The Mothers of Invention)
1282024JunWhisky a Go Go 1968 (with The Mothers of Invention)[31]


Beat the Boots series

ReleasedTitle
1991JulBeat the Boots
1992JunBeat the Boots II
2009JanBeat the Boots III

Compilation albums

ReleasedAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
YearMonthUSAUS
[32]
GER
[6]
UK
1969OctThe **** of the Mothers (with The Mothers of Invention)
1970JulThe Mothers of Invention (with The Mothers of Invention)
1971MarWorst of the Mothers (with The Mothers of Invention)201
1987JunThe Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
1995AugStrictly Commercial635145
1997MayStrictly Genteel
1998FebCucamonga
AprCheap Thrills
1999AprSon of Cheep Thrills
2006DecThe Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle 2006
2008DecThe Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAA Birthday Bundle 2008
2010DecThe Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle 2010
2011DecThe Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAAAM Birthday Bundle 2011[33]
2014DecThe Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle 21.12.2014
2020DecA Very Zappa Birthday EP

Singles

YearSingle (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak Chart positionsAlbum
US
[34]
US Rock
[34]
CAN
[35]
GER
[36]
SWI
[37]
AUT
[11]
NOR
[7]
SWE
[8]
1966"How Could I Be Such a Fool?"
b/w "Help I'm a Rock (3rd Movement: It Can't Happen' Here)" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Freak Out!
"Who Are the Brain Police?"
b/w "Trouble Comin' Every Day" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
1967"Big Leg Emma"
b/w "Why Don't You Do Me Right?" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Non-album tracks (both later included on all CD releases of Absolutely Free)
"Son of Suzy Creamcheese"
b/w "Big Leg Emma" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Absolutely Free
"Lonely Little Girl"
b/w "Mother People" (from We're Only In It For The Money) (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Non-album version (later included on The Lumpy Money Project/Object, different version on We're Only In It For The Money)
1968"Motherly Love"
b/w "I Ain't Got No Heart" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Freak Out!
"Deseri"
b/w "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention, credited to Ruben & the Jets)
Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
"Anyway the Wind Blows"
b/w "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention, credited to Ruben & the Jets)
1969"WPLJ"
b/w "My Guitar" (Non-album track, later included on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5, different version "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" on Weasels Ripped My Flesh) (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
"My Guitar"
b/w "Dog Breath" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Non-album tracks ("My Guitar" later included on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5, different version "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" on Weasels Ripped My Flesh, "Dog Breath later included on Meat Light)
1970"Tell Me You Love Me"
b/w "Will You Go All the Way for the U.S.A.?" [sic]
Chunga's Revenge
1971"Tears Began to Fall" (remix)
b/w "Junier Mintz Boogie" (non-album track, later included on The Mothers 1971) (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Fillmore East – June 1971
"Magic Fingers"
b/w "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy"
200 Motels
"What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning"
b/w "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy"
1972"Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus"
b/w "Eat That Question" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
The Grand Wazoo
1973"I'm the Slime" (single mix with different guitar solo)
b/w "Montana" (both tracks with The Mothers of Invention)
Over-Nite Sensation
1974"Don't Eat the Yellow Snow"
b/w "Cosmik Debris"
86Apostrophe (')
1975"Du Bist Mein Sofa"
b/w "Stink Foot" (from Apostrophe ('))
One Size Fits All
1976"Find Her Finer"
b/w "Zoot Allures"
Zoot Allures
"Disco Boy"
b/w "Ms. Pinky"
105
1979"Dancin' Fool"
b/w "Baby Snakes"
45Sheik Yerbouti
"Bobby Brown"
b/w "Stick It Out" (from Joe's Garage Acts II & III)
45211
"Joe's Garage"
b/w "Central Scrutinizer"
414Joe's Garage Act I
"Stick It Out"
b/w "Why Does It Hurt" (from Joe's Garage Act I)
Joe's Garage Acts II & III
1980"I Don't Wanna Get Drafted"
b/w "Ancient Armaments"
103713Non-album tracks ("I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" later included on The Lost Episodes, "Ancient Armaments" later included on Halloween)
1981"Love of My Life"
b/w "For the Young Sophisticate"
Tinsel Town Rebellion
"Harder Than Your Husband"
b/w "Dumb All Over"
You Are What You Is
"You Are What You Is"
b/w "Pink Napkins" (from Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar)
"Goblin Girl"
b/w "Pink Napkins" (from Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar)
1982"Valley Girl" (with Moon Zappa)
b/w "You Are What You Is" (from You Are What You Is)
321218Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
1983"The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou"
b/w "SEX"
The Man from Utopia
"Cocaine Decisions"
b/w "SEX"
1984"Baby Take Your Teeth Out"
b/w "Stevie's Spanking"
Them Or Us
True Glove EP ("In France" / "Be In My Video" / "He's So Gay" / "Won Ton On")Tracks 1 and 2 from Them Or Us, track 3 from Thing Fish, track 4 non-album version (different version on Thing Fish)
"The Girl in the Magnesium Dress"
b/w "Outside Now, Again"
Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
1987"Peaches en Regalia"
b/w "I'm Not Satisfied" (from Crusing with Ruben & the Jets) and "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up" (from Joe's Garage Act I)
Hot Rats
1988"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace"
b/w "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
Guitar
"Zomby Woof"
b/w "You Didn't Try to Call Me"
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
1991"Stairway to Heaven"
b/w "Bolero"
9The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
Sources:[38][39]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

As sideman

Albums by other artists

  • Jean-Luc Ponty - King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (1970)
  • Plastic Ono Band - Some Time in New York City (1972)
  • BRT Big Band - The BRT Big Band Plays Frank Zappa (1990)
  • Yahonza - Yahozna Plays Zappa (1992)
  • Joel Thome/Orchestra of Our Time - Zappa's Universe—A Celebration of 25 Years of Frank Zappa's Music(1993)
  • Meridian Arts Ensemble - Smart Went Crazy (1993)
  • Harmonia Ensemble - Harmonia Meets Zappa (1994)
  • Jon Poole - What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body? (1994)
  • Omnibus Wind Ensemble - Music by Frank Zappa (1995)
  • Warren Cuccurullo - Thanks to Frank (1995)
  • Meridian Arts Ensemble - Prime Meridian (1995)
  • Meridian Arts Ensemble - Anxiety of Influence (1996)
  • Muffin Men - Frankincense: The Muffin Men Play Zappa (1997)
  • The Ed Palermo Big Band - Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (1997)
  • CoCö Anderson - Dischordancies Abundant (1997)
  • Pierre-Jean Gaucher - Zappe Zappa (1998)
  • Meridian Arts Ensemble - Ear Mind I (1998)
  • Ossi Duri - Sta Chitarra Ammazzera 'Tua Madre (1998)
  • The Persuasions - Frankly a Cappella (2000)
  • Ensemble Ambrosius - The Zappa Album (2000)
  • Bohuslän Big Band - Bohuslän Big Band plays Frank Zappa (2000)
  • Nasal Retentive Orchestra - Fric Out ! (2001)
  • Nasal Retentive Orchestra - Have a Bun (2002)
  • Le Concert Impromptu & Bossini - Prophetic Attitude (2002)
  • Ensemble Modern - Ensemble Modern Plays Frank Zappa: Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions (2003)
  • UMO Jazz Orchestra - UMO plays Frank Zappa feat. Marzi Nyman (2003)
  • Nasal Retentive Orchestra - Tales of Brave Flegmar (2003)
  • LeBocal - Oh No!... Just Another Frank Zappa Memorial Barbecue! (2003)
  • Prząśniczki & Tymon Tymański - Zapparcie, czyli uboczne skutki jedzenia żółtego śniegu (2003)[40]
  • BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra & Zucchini Rocking Teenage Combo - The Purple Cucumber - A Zappa Tribute (2003 and 2008)
  • Nasal Retentive Orchestra - NRO Live (2004)
  • Lemme Take You to the Beach: Surf Instrumental Bands Playing the Music of Zappa (Cordelia, 2005)
  • Colin Towns and the NDR bigband - Frank Zappa's Hot Licks (and Funny Smells) (rent a dog, 2005)[41]
  • Marc Guillermont - Zappostrophe (2005)
  • The Ed Palermo Big Band - Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006)
  • Nasal Retentive Orchestra - Music for Hungry People (2007)
  • Struber Z'Tett - Struber Z'Tett Plays Zappa Live : Les Noces de Dada (2007)
  • Pierre-Jean Gaucher & Christophe Godin - 2G (2007)
  • Dweezil Zappa - Zappa Plays Zappa (2008)
  • The Ed Palermo Big Band - Eddy Loves Frank (2009)
  • The Norwegian Wind Ensemble - The Brass from Utopia (A Frank Zappa Tribute) (2013)
  • The Norwegian Radio Orchestra - Perfect Strangers (Heiner Goebbels, Frank Zappa) (2014)
  • Stefano Bollani - Sheik Yer Zappa (2014)
  • Quintorigo con Roberto Gatto - Around Zappa (Live at Blue Note Milano) (DVD, 2015)
  • Marco Pacassoni Group - Frank & Ruth (2018)

Sales awards

  •  Australia (70,000 sales)[42][43]
    • January 1976: Gold record for "Just Another Band From LA"
    • January 1976: Gold record for "Fillmore East"
  •  Austria (50,000 sales)[44]
    • November 1991: Gold record for "Bobby Brown"
  •  Canada (100,000 sales)[45]
    • September 1979: Gold record for "Sheik Yerbouti"
    • November 1979: Gold record for "Joe's Garage"
  •  European Union (1,000,000 sales)[46]
    • 1991: Gold record for European releases
  •  France (100,000 sales)[47]
    • December 1979: Gold record for "Sheik Yerbouti"
  •  Germany (500,000 sales)[48][49]
    • January 1980: Gold record for "Sheik Yerbouti"
    • January 1980: Gold record for "Bobby Brown"
  •  Norway (50,000 sales)[50]
    • January 1980: Gold record for "Bobby Brown"
  •  Sweden (50,000 sales)[51]
    • October 1993: Gold record for "Bobby Brown"
  •  Switzerland (50,000 sales)[52]
    • December 1980: Gold record for "Bobby Brown"
  •  United Kingdom (60,000 sales)[53]
    • March 1979: Silver record for "Zoot Allures"
  •  United States (1,100,000 sales)[54]
    • April 1976: Gold record for "Apostrophe (')"
    • November 1976: Gold record for "Over-Nite Sensation"
    • June 2006: Gold record for "Does Humor Belong in Music?"
    • February 2015: Gold record for "Baby Snakes"

Notes

References

External links