"Fillmore East – June 1971" is a live album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers, released in August 1971. It was the twelfth album by Zappa and features the final version of The Mothers to feature a five-piece "basic rock combo" instrumentation. The album is a live recording from the Fillmore East, a popular concert venue in New York City, and it was recorded over two days in June 1971.
The album is noted for its innovative narrative elements, whereby Zappa used live music to tell a story, interspersing the music with comedic skits and improvised dialogues. The music on the album is characteristically diverse, featuring elements of rock, jazz, and classical music. The album is particularly famous for the doo-wop parody "Happy Together".
Fillmore East – June 1971 is also significant because it contains the first official release of the songs "Peaches En Regalia", "Tears Began to Fall" and "Willie the Pimp". The album was well received by critics and fans alike and is considered one of Zappa's most loved works. It reached No. 38 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA in 1987.
As a historical note, the album captures a period of transition for Zappa and The Mothers, as they would subsequently disband and Zappa would soon embark on a solo career. The performances featured on "Fillmore East – June 1971" represent some of the last shows with this lineup of the band.
