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 | |
---|---|
Albums | 62 |
Singles | 39 |
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] | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Year | Month | US [4] | UK [5] | GER [6] | NOR [7] | SWE [8][9] | AUS [10] | AUT [11] | ||
1 | 1966 | Jun | Freak Out! (with The Mothers of Invention) | 130 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2 | 1967 | Jun | Absolutely Free (with The Mothers of Invention) | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
3 | 1968 | Mar | We're Only in It for the Money (with The Mothers of Invention) | 30 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | |
4 | May | Lumpy Gravy (with Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra) | 159 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
5 | Dec | Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (with The Mothers of Invention) | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
6 | 1969 | Mar | Mothermania (with The Mothers of Invention) | 151 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
7 | Apr | Uncle Meat (with The Mothers of Invention) | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
8 | Oct | Hot Rats | 173 | 9 | 45 | — | — | 19 | — | ||
9 | 1970 | Feb | Burnt Weeny Sandwich (with The Mothers of Invention) | 94 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | |
10 | Aug | Weasels Ripped My Flesh (with The Mothers of Invention) | 189 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
11 | Oct | Chunga's Revenge | 119 | 43 | — | — | — | 24 | — | ||
12 | 1971 | Aug | Fillmore East – June 1971 (with The Mothers of Invention) | 38 | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | |
13 | Oct | 200 Motels (with The Mothers of Invention) | 59 | — | 44 | — | — | 48 | — | ||
14 | 1972 | Mar | Just Another Band from L.A. (with The Mothers of Invention) | 85 | — | — | — | — | 41 | — | |
15 | Jul | Waka/Jawaka | 152 | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | ||
16 | Nov | The Grand Wazoo (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
17 | 1973 | Sep | Over-Nite Sensation (with The Mothers of Invention) | 32 | — | 21 | 15 | 10 | 47 | — | US: Gold[12] |
18 | 1974 | Mar | Apostrophe (') | 10 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 71 | — | US: Gold[13] |
19 | Sep | Roxy & Elsewhere (with The Mothers of Invention) | 27 | — | — | 14 | 4 | — | — | ||
20 | 1975 | Jun | One Size Fits All (with The Mothers of Invention) | 26 | — | — | 5 | 6 | 81 | — | |
21 | Oct | Bongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart and The Mothers of Invention) | 66 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | ||
22 | 1976 | Oct | Zoot Allures | 61 | — | — | 16 | 17 | 82 | — | UK: Silver[14] |
23 | 1978 | Mar | Zappa in New York | 57 | 55 | 20 | 6 | 24 | 74 | — | |
24 | Sep | Studio Tan | 147 | — | — | — | 30 | 92 | — | ||
25 | 1979 | Jan | Sleep Dirt | 175 | — | — | 16 | 19 | — | — | |
26 | Mar | Sheik Yerbouti | 21 | 32 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 53 | 6 | CAN: Gold[15] | |
27 | May | Orchestral Favorites | 168 | — | 48 | — | — | — | — | ||
28 | Sep | Joe's Garage Act I | 27 | 62 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 94 | 8 | CAN: Gold[15] | |
29 | Nov | Joe's Garage Acts II & III | 53 | 75 | 31 | 3 | 4 | — | 9 | ||
30 | 1981 | May | Tinsel Town Rebellion | 66 | 55 | 23 | 13 | 8 | — | 9 | |
31 | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
32 | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
33 | Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
34 | Sep | You Are What You Is | 93 | 51 | — | 12 | 22 | — | — | ||
35 | 1982 | May | Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch | 23 | 61 | 65 | 20 | 26 | — | — | |
31/32/33 | Sep | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (re-release of all three volumes as one triple album) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
36 | 1983 | Mar | The Man from Utopia | 153 | 87 | — | — | 23 | — | — | |
37 | Baby Snakes | — | — | 67 | — | — | — | — | |||
38 | Jun | London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
39 | 1984 | Aug | Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
40 | Oct | Them or Us | — | 53 | 42 | — | 22 | — | — | ||
41 | Nov | Thing-Fish | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
42 | Francesco Zappa | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
43 | 1985 | Apr | The Old Masters, Box I | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
44 | Nov | Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention | 153 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
45 | 1986 | Jan | Does Humor Belong in Music? | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
46 | Nov | The Old Masters, Box II | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
47 | Jazz from Hell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
28/29 | 1987 | Jun | Joe's Garage, Acts I, II & III (re-release of all three acts as one triple album) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
48 | Sep | London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
49 | Dec | The Old Masters, Box III | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
50 | 1988 | Apr | Guitar | — | 82 | 40 | — | — | — | 25 | |
51 | May | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
52 | Oct | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
53 | Broadway the Hard Way | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
54 | 1989 | Nov | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
55 | 1991 | Apr | The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
56 | Jun | Make a Jazz Noise Here | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
57 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
58 | 1992 | Jul | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
59 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
60 | Oct | Playground Psychotics (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
61 | 1993 | Mar | Ahead of Their Time (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
62 | Oct | The Yellow Shark (with Ensemble Modern) | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | 30 |
Posthumous official albums
Beat the Boots series
Released | Title | |
---|---|---|
1991 | Jul | Beat the Boots |
1992 | Jun | Beat the Boots II |
2009 | Jan | Beat the Boots III |
Compilation albums
Released | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Month | US | AUS [32] | GER [6] | UK | |
1969 | Oct | The **** of the Mothers (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | — | — |
1970 | Jul | The Mothers of Invention (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | — | — |
1971 | Mar | Worst of the Mothers (with The Mothers of Invention) | 201 | — | — | — |
1987 | Jun | The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa | — | — | — | — |
1995 | Aug | Strictly Commercial | — | 63 | 51 | 45 |
1997 | May | Strictly Genteel | — | — | — | — |
1998 | Feb | Cucamonga | — | — | — | — |
Apr | Cheap Thrills | — | — | — | — | |
1999 | Apr | Son of Cheep Thrills | — | — | — | — |
2006 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle 2006 | — | — | — | — |
2008 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAA Birthday Bundle 2008 | — | — | — | — |
2010 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle 2010 | — | — | — | — |
2011 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAAAM Birthday Bundle 2011[33] | — | — | — | — |
2014 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle 21.12.2014 | — | — | — | — |
2020 | Dec | A Very Zappa Birthday EP | — | — | — | — |
Singles
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Peak Chart positions | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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" | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Apostrophe (') |
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" | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sheik Yerbouti |
"Bobby Brown" b/w "Stick It Out" (from Joe's Garage Acts II & III) | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
"Joe's Garage" b/w "Central Scrutinizer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | Joe'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" | 103 | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | 3 | Non-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) | 32 | 12 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | Ship 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" | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life |
Sources:[38][39] | ||||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
As sideman
- The Penguins - "Memories of El Monte" (Original Sound, 1963)
- Bob Guy - "Dear Jeepers", B-side "Letter from Jeepers" (Del-Fi, 1963)
- The Heartbreakers - "Every Time I See You", B-side "Cradle Rock" (Del-Fi, 1964)
- Bobby Jameson - "Gotta Find My Roogalator", B-side "Reconsider Baby" (Penthouse, 1966), uncredited
- The Animals - Animalism (MGM Records, 1966)
- Burt Ward - Boy Wonder I Love You (MGM, 1966)
- Barry Goldberg - Carry On (Verve/Folkways, 1967)
- Wild Man Fischer - An Evening with Wild Man Fischer (Bizarre/Reprise, 1968)
- The GTOs - Permanent Damage (Straight, 1969)
- Jeff Simmons - Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (Straight, 1970)
- John Lennon - Some Time in New York City (Apple, 1972)
- Ruben and the Jets - For Real! (Mercury, 1973)
- George Duke - Feel (Verve, 1974), credited as Obdewl'l X
- Grand Funk Railroad - Good Singin', Good Playin' (MCA, 1976)
- Robert Charlebois - Swing Charlebois Swing (Solution/RCA France, 1977), on "Petroleum"
- Flint - Flint (Columbia, 1978)
- L. Shankar - Touch Me There (Zappa, 1979), credited as Stucco Homes
- Pražský výběr - Adieu C. A. (Art Production K, 1992)
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
- Official Frank Zappa website
- Frank Zappa discography at Discogs
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