The Mothers Of Invention* – Freak Out!

Official Release #1

Early US sleeves had a small "Hot-Spots Freak Map" promo on the inside spread. There is a typographical error in the text of this for the venue “Bido Lido's”, which is printed “Bido Lito's”. Post-1967 sleeves were reprinted without this ad, upon expiry of map availability. (As the map was mail-order and not included, its inclusion with a valid release does not make that particular copy unique – although the rarity of the original map does greatly enhance its value and sellers need to be mindful of commenting on whether it is included. Caution: reproductions of the map are also in circulation.)

Vinyl catalog numbers have 2 IDs: V for mono & V6 for stereo.
Vinyl US sleeves came with 3 catalog numbers: V-5005-2, V6-5005-2 & V6-5005-2X
Vinyl US sleeve inner spreads also came with 2 generic mono/stereo imprints: V/V6-500502 & V/V6-5005-2, which may contain either mono or stereo issues.
Early US labels, pressed by MGM Record Manufacturing Division (MGM/Verve plant, Bloomfield) have V6-5005-2 & the 3rd Story Music credit in 2 lines, with crediting as (Zappa).
Contracted-out pressings & later US labels have V6/5005-2 & the 3rd Story Music credit in 3 lines, with crediting as (F. Zappa) or (Frank Zappa).
For both mono & stereo, the slash “/” on label catalog numbers is common to later issues, which include the addition of the Sunset Boulevard address in the radial text following PolyGram acquisition in 1972.