Penguin Cafe Orchestra (album)

1981 studio album by Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Studio album by

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Released| 1981
Recorded| 1977–1980
Genre| Ambient,[1] chamber jazz
Length| 47:28
Label| E.G.
Producer| Simon Jeffes
Penguin Cafe Orchestra chronology
| Music from the Penguin Cafe
(1976)  | Penguin Cafe Orchestra
(1981)  | The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album
(1983)

|
|

Penguin Cafe Orchestra is the second studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, released in 1981, and recorded between 1977 and 1980. By this album, the line-up for the band had expanded greatly, with contribution including Simon Jeffes, Helen Leibmann, Steve Nye, Gavyn Wright of the original quartet, as well as Geoff Richardson, Peter Veitch, Braco, Giles Leamna, Julio Segovia and Neil Rennie. All pieces were composed by Simon Jeffes except for "Paul's Dance" (Jeffes and Nye), "Cutting Branches" (traditional), and "Walk Don't Run" (by Johnny Smith). The cover painting is by Emily Young.

"Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter" is based on the traditional Zimbabwean song "Nhemamusasa", a field recording of which can be heard played on mbira on the Nonesuch Records album The Soul of the Mbira.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
Robert Christgau| A−[1]

The Boston Globe opined that "this is one of the most eccentric records released this or any year... It's also one of the most delightful."[3]

In 2021, Penguin Cafe Orchestra was named among the fifty best albums of 1981 by Spin.[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks composed by Simon Jeffes; except where indicated

Side one

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Air à Danser"|  | 4:27
2.| "Yodel 1"|  | 4:00
3.| "Telephone and Rubber Band"|  | 2:25
4.| "Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter"| Traditional; arr. by Jeffes| 3:36
5.| "Pythagoras's Trousers"|  | 3:14
6.| "Numbers 1-4"|  | 6:46

Side two

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

7.| "Yodel 2"|  | 4:25
8.| "Salty Bean Fumble"|  | 2:07
9.| "Paul's Dance"| Jeffes, Steve Nye| 1:37
10.| "The Ecstasy of Dancing Fleas"|  | 3:55
11.| "Walk Don't Run"| Johnny Smith| 2:56
12.| "Flux"|  | 1:39
13.| "Simon's Dream"|  | 1:41
14.| "Harmonic Necklace"|  | 1:12
15.| "Steady State"|  | 3:28

## Personnel

[edit]

* Simon Jeffes \- guitar, cuatro, ukulele, piano, bass, violin, Dulcitone, harmonium, shakers, drums, ring modulator, rubber band, penny whistle, electric organ

* Braco - shakers, drums, bongos
* Giles Leaman - oboe
* Helen Liebmann \- cello
* Steve Nye \- electric piano, cuatro
* Neil Rennie - ukulele
* Geoffrey Richardson \- viola, guitar, bass, bongos, metal frame, ukulele
* Julio Segovia - cymbals
* Peter Veitch - accordion, violin
* Gavyn Wright \- violin

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1982). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. No. February 15. New York. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
2. ^ Mills, Ted. "Penguin Cafe Orchestra". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
3. ^ Cromonic, Richard (8 October 1981). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
4. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 1981". Spin. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

* Simon Jeffes

* Barbara Bolte
* Roger Chase
* Danny Cummings
* Dave DeFries
* Wilfred Gibson
* Stephen Fischer
* Michael Giles
* Nigel Kennedy
* Chris Laurence
* Helen Liebmann
* Jennifer Maidman
* Steve Nye
* Geoffrey Richardson
* Kathryn Tickell
* Naná Vasconcelos
* Annie Whitehead
* Gavyn Wright
* Emily Young

Studio albums|

* Music from the Penguin Cafe
* Penguin Cafe Orchestra
* Broadcasting from Home
* Signs of Life
* Union Cafe

EPs|

* The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album

Live albums|

* When in Rome...
* Concert Program

Related articles|

* Still Life at the Penguin Cafe

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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