Frank Zappa discography | |
---|---|
Zappa performing in Ekeberghallen, Oslo, on January 16, 1977. | |
Studio albums | 62 |
Compilation albums | 13 |
Singles | 34 |
Tribute albums | 40 |
Miscellaneous | 6 |
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 62 posthumous albums as of January 2023, making a total of 125 albums/album sets.
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.
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 | Apr | Absolutely Free (with The Mothers of Invention) | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
3 | Aug | Lumpy Gravy (with Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra) | 159 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
4 | 1968 | Mar | We're Only in It for the Money (with The Mothers of Invention) | 30 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | |
5 | Nov | 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 | — | — | 15 | 10 | 47 | — | US: Gold[12] |
18 | 1974 | Mar | Apostrophe (') | 10 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 71 | — | US: Gold[13] |
19 | Jul | 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 | — | — | |
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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
48 | 1987 | 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 | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
57 | Make a Jazz Noise Here | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
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 | Nov | 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 |
Released[3] | Title | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Year | Date | GER [6] |
SWE [8] | |
63 | 1994 | 2 December | Civilization Phaze III | 87 | — |
64 | 1996 | 27 February | The Lost Episodes | — | 54 |
65 | 24 September | Läther | — | 50 | |
66 | Oct | Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute | — | — | |
67 | 1997 | May | Have I Offended Someone? | — | — |
68 | 1998 | Sep | Mystery Disc | — | — |
69 | 1999 | Dec | Everything Is Healing Nicely | — | — |
70 | 2002 | Aug | FZ:OZ | — | — |
71 | 2003 | Feb | Halloween DVD-Audio Disc | — | — |
72 | 2004 | May | Joe's Corsage (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — |
73 | Oct | Joe's Domage | — | — | |
74 | Sep | QuAUDIOPHILIAc DVD-Audio Disc | — | — | |
75 | 2005 | Dec | Joe's XMASage | — | — |
76 | 2006 | Jan | Imaginary Diseases | — | — |
77 | Dec | The MOFO Project/Object (4-CD set) A FZ Audio Documentary | — | — | |
78 | The MOFO Project/Object (2-CD set) A FZ Audio Documentary | — | — | ||
79 | Oct | Trance-Fusion | — | — | |
80 | 2007 | Apr | Buffalo | — | — |
81 | Aug | The Dub Room Special! | — | — | |
82 | 30 Oct | Wazoo | — | — | |
83 | 2008 | Jun | One Shot Deal | — | — |
84 | Sep | Joe's Menage | — | — | |
85 | 2009 | Jan | Lumpy Money Project/Object (3-CD set) A FZ Audio Documentary | — | — |
86 | Dec | Philly '76 | — | — | |
87 | 2010 | Apr | Greasy Love Songs A FZ Audio Documentary | — | — |
88 | Sep | Congress Shall Make No Law... | — | — | |
89 | Nov | Hammersmith Odeon | — | — | |
90 | 2011 | Sep | Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison | — | — |
91 | 31 Oct | Carnegie Hall (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — | |
92 | 2012 | 31 Oct | Road Tapes, Venue 1 (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — |
93 | 31 Oct | Understanding America | — | — | |
94 | Dec | Finer Moments | — | — | |
95 | Dec | Baby Snakes: The Complete Soundtrack (Download Only) | — | — | |
96 | 2013 | Oct | Road Tapes, Venue 2 (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — |
97 | Nov | A Token of His Extreme (Soundtrack) | — | — | |
98 | 2014 | Jan | Joe's Camouflage | — | — |
99 | Mar | Roxy by Proxy | — | — | |
100 | 2015 | Jun | Dance Me This | — | — |
101 | Nov | 200 Motels: The Suites (LA Philharmonic-Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen) | — | — | |
102 | 31 Oct | Roxy The Soundtrack (Roxy The Movie DVD/CD or BD/CD, CD soundtrack not sold separately) | 39 | — | |
103 | 2016 | May | Road Tapes, Venue 3 (with The Mothers of Invention) | — | — |
104 | Jul | The Crux Of The Biscuit A FZ Audio Documentary | — | — | |
105 | Jul | Frank Zappa For President | — | — | |
106 | Sep | ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks | — | — | |
107 | Nov | Meat Light Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary | — | — | |
108 | Nov | Chicago '78 | — | — | |
109 | Nov | Little Dots | — | — | |
110 | 2017 | 31 Oct | Halloween 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] | — | — |
110.5 [called 110K] |
31 Oct | Halloween 77: October 31, 1977 – The Palladium, NYC [3-CD edition][nb 2] | — | — | |
111 | 2018 | Feb | The Roxy Performances[16] (7-CD box set) (all four public shows from December 9–10, 1973 at the Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, California) | 55 | — |
112 | 2019 | Mar | Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary (Deluxe edition)[17] (5-CD box set) | — | — |
113 | Aug | Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary (Deluxe edition)[18] (3-CD box set) | — | — | |
114 | 31 Oct | Halloween 73[19] [4-CD box set featuring over four and a half hours of live material, recorded in Chicago on October 31, 1973][nb 3] | — | — | |
114.5 [called 114Z] |
31 Oct | Halloween 73 Highlights[19] [1-CD edition][nb 4] | — | — | |
115 | 20 Dec | The Hot Rats Sessions[20] (6-CD box set) (A collection of studio session recordings from the Hot Rats album on its 50th anniversary) | — | — | |
116 | 2020 | 26 Jun | The Mothers 1970[21] (4-CD box set) (a collection of live and studio session recordings from the 1970 Mothers line-up) | 30 | — |
117 | 2 October | Halloween 81[22] (6-CD box set) (recorded live at The Palladium, NYC, October 31 & November 1, 1981) | — | — | |
117Z | 2 October | Halloween 81 (Highlights From The Palladium, New York City) [1-CD edition] | — | — | |
118 | 27 November | Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [3-CD / 2-LP / 5-LP editions] | — | — | |
119 | 2021 | 18 June | Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show [2-CD / 4-LP / 4-LP editions] | 9 | — |
120 | 17 December | 200 Motels 50th Anniversary [6-CD box set] | 87 | — | |
121 | 2022 | 18 March | The Mothers 1971 [8-CD box set] | 18 | — |
122 | 17 June | Zappa/Erie [6-CD box set] | 22 | — | |
123 | 14 October | Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana [2-CD] | 61 | — | |
124 | 16 December | Waka/Wazoo [4-CD box set] | — | — | |
125 | 2023 | 3 March | Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich[23][24] [3-CD box set] | 33 | — |
Released | Title | |
---|---|---|
Year | Month | |
1982 | May | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (Box Set) |
1987 | May | Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III |
1991 | Jul | Beat the Boots |
1992 | Jun | Beat the Boots II |
1995 | Apr | London Symphony Orchestra, Volumes I & II |
2009 | Jan | Beat the Boots III |
2015 | Oct | Roxy The Movie (DVD/CD or BD/CD, Roxy The Soundtrack CD not sold separately) |
Released | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Month | US | AUS [25] |
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[26] | — | — | — | — |
2012 | Dec | The Frank Zappa Finer Moments 18.12.2012 | — | — | — | — |
2014 | Dec | The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle 21.12.2014 | — | — | — | — |
2016 | Sep | ZAPPAtite | — | — | — | — |
2020 | Dec | A Very Zappa Birthday EP | — | — | — | — |
Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Peak Chart positions | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [27] |
US Rock [27] |
CAN [28] |
GER [29] |
SWI [30] |
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)" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Freak Out! |
"Who Are the Brain Police?" b/w "Trouble Comin' Every Day" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1967 | "Big Leg Emma" b/w "Why Don't You Do Me Right?" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks (later issued on CD version of Absolutely Free) |
"Son of Suzy Creamcheese" b/w "Big Leg Emma" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Absolutely Free | |
"Lonely Little Girl" b/w "Mother People" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | We're Only In It for the Money | |
1968 | "Motherly Love" b/w "I Ain't Got No Heart" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Freak Out! |
"Deseri" b/w "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cruising with Ruben & the Jets | |
"Anyway the Wind Blows" b/w "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1969 | "WPLJ" b/w "My Guitar" (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Burnt Weeny Sandwich |
"My Guitar" (Original version) b/w "Dog Breath" (45-only version w/o lyrics) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-LP tracks ("My Guitar" later issued on "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5" CD) | |
1970 | "Peaches en Regalia" b/w "Little Umbrellas" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hot Rats |
"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) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Grand Wazoo |
1973 | "I'm the Slime" (single mix with different guitar solo) b/w "Montana" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
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" b/w "You Are What You Is" (from You Are What You Is) With Moon Zappa (daughter). |
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 |
"In France" B-side unknown |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" b/w "Outside Now, Again" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger | |
1988 | "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" b/w "Watermelon in Easter Hay" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Guitar |
"Zomby Woof" paired with "You Didn't Try to Call Me" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 | |
1991 | "Stairway to Heaven" paired with "Bolero" |
— | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life |
Sources:[31][32] | ||||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |