NEW YORK – MGM is massing a major campaign, already well under way, to boom their new "freak-out" music pactees, The Mothers of Invention.

Bud Hayden, exec in charge of album pushing, and Tom Wilson, who produced the two-records-for-the-price-of-one introductory package "Freak-Out!" have already been to see distribs in a number of markets who have been extremely receptive, and the MGM men are readying a further push for this week's MGM meetings.

Jigsaw puzzles of the album cover have been sent out to tease deejays, etc., and the album was sent on the puzzle's tale. A single from the album was shipped late last week.

Hayden has lined up a number of album tie-in dances or "freak outs" and TV shows in a couple of cities (Baltimore, the first) already and is looking for more. Buttons, in-store displays and other incentive moves are coming up.

The Mothers of Invention are exponents of the California "freak" (read "contemporary beatnik") movement, which in musical terms means very free form. The initial elpee was geared to show the spectrum of Mothers of Invention sounds from conventional rock to way out.

Source: americanradiohistory.com

Times Square, New York, record dealer A. Jay hops on the Verve "Freak Out" bandwagon by dispaying an eight-foot sign in front of his shop calling attention to the unusual "Freak Out" album. Sign is seen daily by hundreds of passers-by in the busy Times Square area. 

 

Source: americanradiohistory.com

Source: worldradiohistory.com

Mo Ostin, General Manager of Reprise Records' and Herb Cohen, General Manager of Bizarre, Inc., announced jointly that an exclusive recording and distribution agreement has been concluded between the two. Reprise will control worldwide distribution for all product on the Bizarre label. Bizarre was recently formed by Frank Zappa and Herb Cohen. (read more)

Source: worldradiohistory.com

Neil C. Reshen, Business Manager of Bizarre Records, is now in London on business concerning the newly-formed label which is distributed by Reprise. Reshen is setting up European offices for the operation, discussing the signing of four European acts to the label and doing advance planning for the Mothers Of Invention April European tour. (read more)

 

Source: worldradiohistory.com

Bizarre Records has signed five more artists to exclusive recording contracts, announces Frank Zappa and Herb Cohen, founders: Judy Henske, Jeff Simmons, Captain Beefheart, the GTO's and Alice Cooper. (read more)

Source: worldradiohistory.com

"Just what the world needs. Another record company." That line, from an early announcement ad for Bizarre Records, tells a lot about the organization behind it, which is fast becoming the underground's first entertainment conglomerate. (read more)

Page 13 has an ad for The 1969 Warner / Reprise Songbook, which contained some songs by the Mothers Of Invention.

Source: worldradiohistory.com

We recently had the opportunity to speak with a visiting Frank Zappa, who is very busy being not only the creative, freak behind the Mothers, but a business mogul as well. (read more)

Source: worldradiohistory.com

The original group of execs recruited for the Bizarre, Inc., entertainment 'complex' headquarters has been augmented by three new faces. (read more)

Source: worldradiohistory.com

p 10: The Mothers seem to be alive and well on their first outing since "Uncle Meat." Reuben and The Jets fans will delight in "WPLJ" originally done by the Four Duces and Jackie & The Starlights' "Valerie." Making another appearance is blues violinist Sugar
Cane Harris.

p 20: The major portion of art's creative effort has always been underground. Art exists in a natural state of limited exposure; its emergence onto a mass or even exclusive level being ultimately a monetary profit-loss function. (read more)

Source: worldradiohistory.com

That's the way I play. If I play a bunch of notes – and I also play long notes, too – that's the way I feel, that's who I am. What I'm trying to do at the point where I'm playing a solo is to take a piece of time and decorate it with notes that are relevant to the harmonic climate that's being laid down by the ensemble behind me. Sometimes, you take what you can get as far as accompaniment goes – you may have instructed them to play in the key of A minor, and some of them are playing in A minor, but you might hear a bass note which is coming from another key some place. To some members of the audience, this is jazz. But to a modal enthusiast such as myself, this is heresy, and it makes me want to murder and commit vile deeds right there on stage. But the show must go on, and you keep playing.  (read more)

Source: Javier Marcote