On Friday, Zappa Records/UMe announced its latest archival release. The Mothers 1970, a 4-CD box set, is due on June 26.

Like previous Zappa archive projects such as last year’s 50th anniversary edition of Hot Rats, this one has been produced by Ahmet Zappa and “Vaultmeister” Joe Travers to provide a look at a heralded period of creativity.  The short-lived Mothers of Invention iteration heard on these discs featured Aynsley Dunbar (drums), George Duke (piano/keys/trombone), Ian Underwood (organ/keys/guitar), Jeff Simmons (bass/vocals) and Flo and Eddie a.k.a. Howard Kaylan (vocals) and Mark Volman (vocals/percussion) of The Turtles.

In their brief time together, the group not only recorded the successful Chunga’s Revenge, but also toured across North America and Europe.  (The next version of the group, with FZ, Flo and Eddie, Underwood, and Dunbar joined by The Turtles’ Jim Pons, can be heard on two acclaimed live albums, Fillmore East 1971 and Just Another Band from L.A.  Bob Harris handled keyboards on the former and Don Preston, a guest on Fillmore, on the latter.)  This lineup of The Mothers injected a heavily comedic, often off-color element to Zappa’s oeuvre while still retaining the impeccable musicality for which the maverick composer was known.

With over four hours of unreleased material, including sessions from London’s Trident Studios, recently unearthed songs, alternate takes of fan favorites, plus live recordings from The Netherlands, California, Spokane and beyond, this box will be a definitive look at the acclaimed Mothers of 1970 in the studio and onstage.

For the studio material, Travers and Zappa have included early versions and alternate mixes from the Trident sessions, including Roy Thomas Baker’s rough mix of “Sharleena,” “Wonderful Wino,” and newly unearthed versions of “Red Tubular Lighter,” “Giraffe,” and “Envelopes.”  The producers have also dug into the vault to find original tapes of the widely circulated VRPO radio session, plus concert recordings from Santa Monica and Spokane which have been presented together to form one hybrid concert.  The set also includes a disc of live recordings and candid moments from the 1970 U.S. Tour as captured by Frank Zappa on his trusted UHER recorder.

All tracks were sourced from the Zappa Vault and transferred and compiled by Travers this year.  Longtime Zappa Trust member Craig Parker Adams mixed some tracks, while John Polito handled mastering.  Travers also contributes liner notes to the booklet, which boasts a wealth of photos taken onstage and behind-the-scenes.

In all, the set promises to be an exciting look at a defining period of Zappa’s incredible career.  You can order The Mothers 1970 from the links below and check out the preview track, a live recording of “Portuguese Fenders,” on your preferred streaming service.  The box is due out on June 26!

Frank Zappa and The Mothers, The Mothers 1970 (Zappa Records/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Trident Studios, London, England June 21-22, 1970

1. Red Tubular Lighter
2. Lola Steponsky
3. Trident Chatter
4. Sharleena (Roy Thomas Baker Mix)
5. Item 1
6. Wonderful Wino (FZ Vocal)
7. “Enormous Cadenza”
8. Envelopes
9. Red Tubular Lighter (Unedited Master)
10. Wonderful Wino (Basic Tracks, Alt. Take)
11. Giraffe – Take 4
12. Wonderful Wino (FZ Vocal, Alt. Solo)

CD 2: Live Highlights Part 1 – “Piknik” VPRO June 18, 1970 / Pepperland September 26, 1970

1. Introducing…The Mothers (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
2. Wonderful Wino (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
3. Concentration Moon (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
4. Mom & Dad (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
5. The Air (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
6. Dog Breath (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
7. Mother People (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
8. You Didn’t Try To Call Me (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
9. Agon (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
10. Call Any Vegetable (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
11. King Kong Pt. I (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
12. Igor’s Boogie (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
13. King Kong Pt. II (Live on “Piknik” June 18, 1970)
14. What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are? (Live at Pepperland September 26, 1970)
15. Bwana Dik (Live at Pepperland September 26, 1970)
16. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy (Live at Pepperland September 26, 1970)
17. Do You Like My New Car? (Live at Pepperland September 26, 1970)
18. Happy Together (Live at Pepperland September 26, 1970)

CD 3: Live Highlights Part 2 – Hybrid Concert: Santa Monica August 21, 1970 / Spokane September 17, 1970

1. “Welcome To El Monte Legion Stadium!” (Live)
2. Agon (Live)
3. Call Any Vegetable (Live)
4. Pound For A Brown (Live)
5. Sleeping In A Jar (Live)
6. Sharleena (Live)
7. The Air (Live)
8. Dog Breath (Live)
9. Mother People (Live)
10. You Didn’t Try To Call Me (Live)
11. King Kong Pt. I (Live)
12. Igor’s Boogie (Live)
13. King Kong Pt. II (Live)
14. “Eat It Yourself…” (Live)
15. Trouble Every Day (Live)
16. “A Series Of Musical Episodes” (Live)
17. Road Ladies (Live)
18. “The Holiday Inn Motel Chain” (Live)
19. What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening? (Live)
20. What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are? (Live)

CD 4: Live Highlights Part 3 – FZ Tour Tape Recordings

1. “What’s The Deal, Dick?”
2. Another M.O.I. Anti-Smut Loyalty Oath (Live)
3. Paladin Routine #1 (Live)
4. Portuguese Fenders (Live)
5. The Sanzini Brothers (Live)
6. Guitar Build ’70 (Live)
7. Would You Go All The Way? (Live)
8. Easy Meat (Live)
9. “Who Did It?”
10. Turn It Down! (Live)
11. A Chance Encounter In Cincinnati
12. Pound For A Brown (Live)
13. Sleeping In A Jar (Live)
14. Beloit Sword Trick (Live)
15. Kong Solos Pt. I (Live)
16. Igor’s Boogie (Live)
17. Kong Solos Pt. II (Live)
18. Gris Gris (Live)
19. Paladin Routine #2 (Live)
20. King Kong – Outro (Live)