Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 04/23/2002

Since it appears that Rykodisc and the Zappa Family Trust cannot reach an agreement about releasing material from Frank's vault, Rykodisc has resorted to repackaging the music they do have access to in order to keep Zappa on the retail radar. Ultimately, these efforts won't appeal to fans (except obsessive completists), because they already have everything, but instead they are aimed at ensnaring the curious consumer. To this end, the Threesome collections are well-thought-out: Take three albums that bear some sort of thematic resemblance and offer them at a midline price with newly created box artwork by the legendary Cal Schenkel. Threesome, Vol. 1 contains the first three albums by the Mothers of Invention: Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, and We're Only in It for the Money. Each of these albums is an early masterpiece, with Zappa subverting pop music forms and taking well-aimed potshots at all aspects of American society. If you're unfamiliar with the music of Frank Zappa, this set is a great place to start. [Note: This rating is based on the lack of new material. It does not reflect the quality of the albums themselves.]

~Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide

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Don Preston - ?
Jimmy Carl Black - Drums
Jimmy Carl Black - Vocals
Bob Stone - Remixing
Ray Collins - Harmonica
Ray Collins - Tambourine
Ray Collins - Vocals
Ray Collins - ?
Ray Collins - Finger Cymbals
Ray Collins - Hair Stylist
Roy Estrada - Bass
Roy Estrada - Guitarron
Roy Estrada - Soprano (Vocal)
Frank Zappa - Guitar
Frank Zappa - Arranger
Frank Zappa - Conductor
Frank Zappa - Vocals
Frank Zappa - Producer
Frank Zappa - Main Performer
Frank Zappa - Orchestration
Frank Zappa - Remixing
Frank Zappa - Concept
Frank Zappa - Layout Design
Frank Zappa - Collage
Frank Zappa - Cover Art
Frank Zappa - Execution
Bunk Gardner - ?
Ami Hadani - Engineer
Elliot Ingber - Guitar
Elliot Ingber - Guitar (Rhythm)
Billy Mundi - ?
Cal Schenkel - Artwork
Cal Schenkel - CD Layout
Jim Sherwood - ?
Val Valentin - Director of Engineering
Tom Wilson - Producer
Tom Wilson - Executive Producer
Mothers of Invention - Performer
Ferenc Dobronyi - Repackaging
Jerry Deiter - Photography
Jerry Schatzberg - Photography
Alice Ochs - Cover Photo
Tiger Morse - Fashion Advisor
Jack Anesh - Cover Design
Marshal Harmon - Photography

Desire of the Rhino King
    Adrian Belew / CD / 1991
Heroes
    David Bowie / CD / 1977
Ege Bamyasi
    Can / CD / 1972
Here Come the Warm Jets
    Eno / CD / 1974
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
    Captain Beefheart / CD / 1978
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
    Frank Zappa / CD / 1992
The Island Years
    John Cale / CD / 1996

Release Date: 04/23/2002
Genre: rock