Absolutely Free

Absolutely Free is the second album by American rock band the Mothers of Invention, released on May 26, 1967, by Verve Records. Much like their 1966 debut Freak Out!, the album blends complex musical composition with political and social satire. Its blend of jazz, classical, avant-garde and rock idioms within multi-sectional, suite-like compositions, referred to on the album cover as two “oratorios” (with librettos available by mail order), is seen as an important and influential precursor to progressive rock and rock operas. The band had been augmented since Freak Out! by the addition of woodwinds player Bunk Gardner, keyboardist Don Preston, rhythm guitarist Jim Fielder, and drummer Billy Mundi; Fielder quit the group before the album was released, and his name was removed from the album credits.