Orchestral Favorites

1979 live album with studio elements by Frank Zappa

Orchestral Favorites

Cover art designed by Gary Panter

Live album with studio elements by

Frank Zappa

Released| May 4, 1979
Recorded| September 17–19, 1975
Venue| Royce Hall, UCLA
Length| 33:55 LP
151:22 40th Anniversary 3CD
Label| DiscReet
Producer| Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa chronology
| Sheik Yerbouti
(1979)  | Orchestral Favorites
(1979)  | Joe's Garage
(1979)

|
|

Alternative cover

40th anniversary deluxe edition

Orchestral Favorites is an album by Frank Zappa, released in May 1979 on his own DiscReet Records label.[1] The album is entirely instrumental and features music performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra. It reached No .168 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States.

## Recording sessions

[edit]

The recordings were sourced from performances recorded September 17–19, 1975 at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus with conductor Michael Zearott. There were two nights of live concert performances and an additional day of recording sessions without the audience.

"Strictly Genteel" was heard earlier as part of the 200 Motels film and soundtrack album in 1971. "Bogus Pomp" is also made up of themes that were used in 200 Motels. The album contains a new arrangement of "Duke of Prunes", originally on the 1967 album Absolutely Free. There are no overdubs on the album other than Zappa's electric guitar solo, which he later added to this track.[2] According to Zappa, he funded the entire production cost of about $200,000 from his own pocket.[3]

## History

[edit]

An early version of the album titled Six Things was cut as a demo acetate disc at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California, in April 1976. This was a different edit which included "Re-Gyptian Strut" and "Music For Guitar & Low Budget Orchestra", which were later cut from the album.[4] The same year Zappa negotiated a distribution deal for an orchestral album with Columbia Masterworks, but the deal fell through when Columbia did not agree to Zappa's terms.[5] Zappa also played a demo disc of an unreleased orchestral album in 1976, according to biographer Barry Miles.[6]

In May 1976, Zappa's relationship with manager and business partner Herb Cohen ended in litigation. Zappa and Cohen's company DiscReet Records was distributed by Warner Bros. Records. At this point, Zappa was still contracted to deliver four more albums to Warner for release on Discreet.

In March 1977, Zappa delivered master tapes for all four albums to Warner to fulfill this contract.[3] Zappa did not receive payment from Warner upon delivery of the tapes, which was a contract violation.[2] In a 1978 radio interview, Zappa listed the four albums delivered to Warner and called this album by the title Zappa Orchestral Favorites.[7]

During a long legal battle, Warner eventually released four Zappa albums on Discreet during 1978 and 1979: Zappa In New York, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt and Orchestral Favorites. (Since Zappa In New York was configured as a two-LP set, the complete four individual album collection actually contains a total of five full-length LPs.)

Much of the material from these four albums was also edited by Zappa into a four-LP box set called Läther. Zappa announced this album in a mid September 1977 interview where he described it as his "current album".[8] Three tracks from Orchestral Favorites also were included in Läther: "Pedro's Dowry", "Naval Aviation in Art?", and "Duke of Prunes" (titled there as "The Duke of Orchestral Prunes".)

Zappa negotiated a distribution deal with Phonogram Inc. to release Läther as the first release on the Zappa Records label. The album was scheduled for a Halloween October 31, 1977 release date. But Warner claimed ownership of the material and threatened legal action, forcing Zappa to shelve the project.[9]

As Zappa had delivered only the tapes to Warner, Orchestral Favorites was released in May 1979 with no musician or music publishing credits.[10] Warner also commissioned sleeve art by cartoonist Gary Panter, which was not approved by Zappa. The album went out of print when the Warner/Discreet distribution agreement ended in 1982.

## CD editions

[edit]

Zappa chose to issue Orchestral Favorites on Compact Disc on his Barking Pumpkin label in 1991 with Panter's original artwork and added credits. It marked the first time the album was issued with Zappa's authorization.[11] This edition has the stereo orientation of the left and right channels switched from the original release. This CD was reissued in 1995 by Rykodisc and at that time Panter provided additional art.

The Läther album was released on CD in 1996 after Zappa's death.

In 2012, Orchestral Favorites was reissued by the Zappa Records label. Despite new packaging the content is the same as previous CD releases. The 40th Anniversary Edition, which released in 2019, uses the original stereo orientation as the 1979 LP. This version also contains two discs of previously unreleased bonus material from the 1975 sessions.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide| [13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [14]

The Gazette wrote that "the big arrangements here are in an imaginative melding of 20th century classical music such as Stravinsky, the wacky kitchen sink music of Spike Jones and the electric entanglements of Jimi Hendrix."[15]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.

Side oneNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Strictly Genteel"| 7:04
2.| "Pedro's Dowry"| 7:42
3.| "Naval Aviation in Art"| 1:20
Total length:| 16:06

Side twoNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Duke of Prunes"| 4:20
2.| "Bogus Pomp"| 13:29
Total length:| 17:49

### 40th Anniversary Track Listing

[edit]

Disc one - 40th Anniversary RemasterNo.| Title| Length

|
|

6.| "Strictly Genteel" (Keyboard OD Version)| 7:16
Total length:| 41:09

Disc two - The Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra - Live At Royce Hall, September 18th, 1975No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Show Start/Bogus Pomp Explained"| 6:28
2.| "Bogus Pomp"| 15:01
3.| "Revised Music for Low-Budget Symphony Orchestra"| 6:54
4.| "The Story Of Pedro's Dowry"| 2:10
5.| "Pedro's Dowry"| 8:08
6.| "The Story Of Rollo"| 3:38
7.| "Rollo"| 7:00
Total length:| 49:19

Disc three - The Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra - Live At Royce Hall, September 18th, 1975No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Black Napkins Instructions"| 4:34
2.| "Black Napkins"| 7:30
3.| "Dog/Meat"| 5:02
4.| "The Players"| 1:07
5.| "Naval Aviation In Art?"| 2:05
6.| ""Another Weirdo Number""| 1:04
7.| "Lumpy Gravy (Extract)/Improvisation"| 7:01
8.| "Evening At The Hermitage"| 3:23
9.| ""A Special Guest Artist""| 0:43
10.| "Duke Of Prunes"| 5:40
11.| ""Absolutely Disgusting""| 1:43
12.| "The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary"| 13:39
13.| "Strictly Genteel"| 7:23
Total length:| 60:54

## Personnel

[edit]

* Frank Zappa – guitar, vocals
* Ian Underwood, Mike Lang & Ralph Grierson – keyboards
* Bill Mays – Clavinet
* Dave Parlato – bass
* Terry Bozzio – drums
* Emil Richards, Alan Estes, John Bergamo & Tom Raney – percussion
* Mike Altschul – flute and clarinet
* Malcolm McNab, Gene Goe & Ray Poper – trumpet
* Bruce Fowler, Jock Ellis & Kenny Shroyer – trombone
* Dana Hughes – bass trombone
* Don Waldrop – tuba & contrabass trombone
* Dave Shostac – flute, tenor sax
* Gary Foster – 2nd flute (and doubles)
* Ray Reed – flute, alto sax
* Vic Morosco – clarinet, alto sax
* Jay Migliori – clarinet, tenor sax
* Mike Altschul – bass clarinet, baritone sax
* Earle Dumler – oboe, English horn, bass oboe
* John Winter – oboe, English horn
* David Scherr – 2nd oboe, tenor sax
* Joann Caldwell – bassoon
* Bobby Tricarico – bassoon, contrabassoon
* David Duke, Arthur Briegleb, Todd Miller & Bob Henderson – French horn
* Tommy Morgan – harmonica (on "Duke Of Prunes")
* John Wittenberg & Bobby Dubow – violin
* Pamela Goldsmith – viola
* Jerry Kessler – cello
* Lou Anne Neill – harp
* Michael Zearott – conductor

## Charts

[edit]

Album – Billboard (United States)

Year  | Chart  | Position

|
|

1979  | Billboard 200 | 168[16]
Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] | 48
Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] | 59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 77

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Selvin, Joel (May 20, 1979). "Frank Zappa: Orchestral Favorites". San Francisco Examiner. p. 51.
2. ^ a b Davis, Michael. "Record Review Interview: Frank Zappa". Record Review, April 1979. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
3. ^ a b Rense, Rip. "Frank Zappa – A Would-be Chemist Who Turned to Music". The Valley News, December 30, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
4. ^ "FRANK ZAPPA Lather / Six Things 1976 6-Song 12" Metal Acetate LP". Popsike.com. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
5. ^ Hopkins, Scott. "The Frankness of Zappa". Music Media, December, 1976. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
6. ^ Zappa: A Biography, by Barry Miles, published 2005
7. ^ "CFNY, Toronto, October 2, 1978".
8. ^ John D'Agostino, "Zäppa (pronounced Zappa)", San Diego Reader, 15 September 1977, p26
9. ^ Miles, 2004, Frank Zappa, p. 261.
10. ^ FZ vs. Warner Brs. Story or Lather/Laether/Leather, Zappa in New York, Arf.ru
11. ^ "Biffy the Elephant Shrew looks at Läther".
12. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Orchestral Favorites – Frank Zappa". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
13. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 758.
14. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 799.
15. ^ Rodriguez, Juan (May 19, 1979). "Zappa lumbers in style". The Gazette. p. 32.
16. ^ "Charts and Awards for Orchestral Favorites". AllMusic. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Frank Zappa – Orchestral Favorites" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Frank Zappa – Orchestral Favorites". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album discography

Official releases
(1966–1993)|

| 1960s|

* Freak Out!
* Absolutely Free
* We're Only in It for the Money
* Lumpy Gravy
* Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
* Mothermania
* Uncle Meat
* Hot Rats

|

1970s|

* Burnt Weeny Sandwich
* Weasels Ripped My Flesh
* Chunga's Revenge
* Fillmore East – June 1971
* 200 Motels
* Just Another Band from L.A.
* Waka/Jawaka
* The Grand Wazoo
* Over-Nite Sensation
* Apostrophe (')
* Roxy & Elsewhere
* One Size Fits All
* Bongo Fury
* Zoot Allures
* Zappa in New York
* Studio Tan
* Sleep Dirt
* Sheik Yerbouti
* Orchestral Favorites
* Joe's Garage Act I
* Joe's Garage Acts II & III

1980s|

* Tinsel Town Rebellion
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More
* Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* You Are What You Is
* Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
* The Man from Utopia
* Baby Snakes
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I
* The Perfect Stranger
* Them or Us
* Thing-Fish
* Francesco Zappa
* The Old Masters, Box I
* Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* The Old Masters, Box II
* Jazz from Hell
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II
* The Old Masters, Box III
* Guitar
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2
* Broadway the Hard Way
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3

1990s|

* The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
* Make a Jazz Noise Here
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
* Playground Psychotics
* Ahead of Their Time
* The Yellow Shark

Posthumous
official releases|

| 1990s|

* Civilization Phaze III
* The Lost Episodes
* Läther
* Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute
* Have I Offended Someone?
* Mystery Disc
* Everything Is Healing Nicely

|

2000s|

* FZ:OZ
* Halloween
* Joe's Corsage
* Quaudiophiliac
* Joe's Domage
* Joe's Xmasage
* Imaginary Diseases
* Trance-Fusion
* The MOFO Project/Object
* The MOFO Project/Object (Fazedooh)
* Buffalo
* The Dub Room Special!
* Wazoo
* One Shot Deal
* Joe's Menage
* The Lumpy Money Project/Object
* Philly '76

2010s|

* Greasy Love Songs
* "Congress Shall Make No Law..."
* Hammersmith Odeon
* Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison
* Carnegie Hall
* Understanding America
* Road Tapes, Venue #1
* Finer Moments
* AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #2
* A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack
* Joe's Camouflage
* Roxy by Proxy
* Dance Me This
* 200 Motels: The Suites
* Roxy the Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #3
* The Crux of the Biscuit
* Frank Zappa for President
* ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks
* Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary
* Chicago '78
* Little Dots
* Halloween 77
* The Roxy Performances
* Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary
* Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary
* Halloween 73
* The Hot Rats Sessions

2020s|

* The Mothers 1970
* Halloween 81
* Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show
* 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition
* The Mothers 1971
* Zappa/Erie
* Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana
* Waka/Wazoo
* Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich
* Funky Nothingness
* Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
* Whisky a Go Go 1968
* Apostrophe (') 50th Anniversary Edition
* Cheaper Than Cheep

Miscellaneous|

* Lumpy Gravy (Primordial)
* The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
* Beat the Boots!
* Beat the Boots! II
* Beat the Boots! III

| Compilations|

* The **** of the Mothers
* Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa
* Strictly Genteel: A "Classical" Introduction to Frank Zappa
* Cucamonga
* Cheap Thrills
* Son of Cheep Thrills

|

Birthday Bundle series|

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011

|

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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