Orchestral Favorites
Encyclopedia
Orchestral Favorites is an album by Frank Zappa
first released in May, 1979 on his own DiscReet Records
label. The album is instrumental and features music performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
. Much of the music on this album is also part of the Läther
album which was planned for release in 1977 but not issued until 1996.
ended in litigation. Zappa and Cohen's company DiscReet Records
was distributed by Warner Brothers. When Zappa asked for a re-assignment of his contract from DiscReet to Warner in order to advance the possibility of being able to do special projects without Cohen's involvement, Warners briefly agreed, which led to the 1976 release of Zoot Allures
on Warner. At this point, Zappa was contractually bound to deliver four more albums to Warner and or DiscReet.
Early in 1977, Zappa delivered the master tapes for four albums to Warner Bros. There exact contents of these tapes remain unclear. Some sources claim that it was a quadruple-LP set, entitled Läther
. Other sources insist that the albums were four individual titles. Zappa In New York
(a two-LP set) was delivered complete with Zappa-approved artwork. This was followed by Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt
, and Orchestral Favorites
. For the latter 3 albums Zappa delivered tapes only. It is unlikely that a single 4LP set could have fulfilled the requirements of Zappa's Warner Bros. contract, which would have ordinarily called for 4 individual titles. In any case, Warner Bros. refused to release the albums. Perhaps believing that the material was not up to par, Warner refused to pay Zappa for his production costs upon delivery. This violated of the terms of Zappa's contract.
During 1977 Zappa created the Läther
compilation by re-editing recordings from same batch of tapes that made up the individual album configuration. He then attempted to get a distribution deal with Mercury
/Phonogram
to release Läther on the new Zappa Records label. Warner Bros. to threatened legal action, preventing the release of the Läther album. Between 1978 and 1979 Warner finally decided to release the 3 remaining individual albums they still held, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt, and Orchestra Favorites on the DiscReet label. As Zappa had delivered the tapes only, the three individual albums were released with no musical credits. (see http://www.arf.ru/Notes/Ziny/append.html) Warner commissioned their own sleeve art by Gary Panter
, which was not approved by Zappa.
on drums. The material included are primarily sourced from live performances recorded at Royce Hall
on the UCLA campus in September, 1975; with additional studio overdubs to correct performance errors. This was the third album by Zappa to use an orchestra, with Lumpy Gravy
and 200 Motels
being the first and second. The album contains an instrumental version of the track "The Duke of Prunes" originally from the 1967 album Absolutely Free
. Zappa plays an electric lead guitar solo with the orchestra on this track. "Strictly Genteel" was heard earlier as part of the 200 Motels
film and soundtrack album. Bogus Pomp is also made up of themes that were used in 200 Motels.
Orchestral Favorites was reissued in a digitally remastered version on CD by Barking Pumpkin in 1991 (oddly; with the left and right channels reversed, due to an error in audio mastering
); this edition was reissued again in 1995 by Ryko
. Much of the material on the album was made available to the public again when Läther was finally officially released to the public in 1996 after Zappa's death.
(North America)
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
first released in May, 1979 on his own DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records was a company founded by Frank Zappa and his then business partner/manager Herb Cohen. It was created in 1973 when their previous companies Bizarre Records and Straight Records were discontinued...
label. The album is instrumental and features music performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
The Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra was a group of Hollywood session musicians organized by Frank Zappa in 1967 to record music for his first solo album Lumpy Gravy. Some of these musicians are thought to have worked together in various combinations under the leadership of Ken...
. Much of the music on this album is also part of the Läther
Läther
Läther is an album by Frank Zappa which was released on CD posthumously in 1996. Produced by Zappa in 1977, the recordings contained in Läther were made between 1972 and 1977 . A collection of these tapes was delivered to Warner Bros...
album which was planned for release in 1977 but not issued until 1996.
Background
In early 1976, Zappa's relationship with manager and business partner Herb CohenHerb Cohen
Herbert "Herb" Cohen was an American personal manager, record company executive, and music publisher, best known as the manager of Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, and many other Los Angeles-based musicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:Cohen was born in New York...
ended in litigation. Zappa and Cohen's company DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records was a company founded by Frank Zappa and his then business partner/manager Herb Cohen. It was created in 1973 when their previous companies Bizarre Records and Straight Records were discontinued...
was distributed by Warner Brothers. When Zappa asked for a re-assignment of his contract from DiscReet to Warner in order to advance the possibility of being able to do special projects without Cohen's involvement, Warners briefly agreed, which led to the 1976 release of Zoot Allures
Zoot Allures
Zoot Allures is a 1976 rock album by Frank Zappa. This was Zappa's only release on the Warner Bros. Records label. Due to a lawsuit with his former manager Herb Cohen Frank Zappa's recording contract was temporarily re-assigned from DiscReet Records to Warner Bros.The title is a pun on the French...
on Warner. At this point, Zappa was contractually bound to deliver four more albums to Warner and or DiscReet.
Early in 1977, Zappa delivered the master tapes for four albums to Warner Bros. There exact contents of these tapes remain unclear. Some sources claim that it was a quadruple-LP set, entitled Läther
Läther
Läther is an album by Frank Zappa which was released on CD posthumously in 1996. Produced by Zappa in 1977, the recordings contained in Läther were made between 1972 and 1977 . A collection of these tapes was delivered to Warner Bros...
. Other sources insist that the albums were four individual titles. Zappa In New York
Zappa in New York
Zappa in New York is a live double album by Frank Zappa. It was recorded at a series of concerts at New York City's Palladium in December 1976. It was released by Zappa's DiscReet Records label in 1977, then quickly withdrawn. A second version was re-released in 1978 with changes ordered by...
(a two-LP set) was delivered complete with Zappa-approved artwork. This was followed by Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt
Sleep Dirt
Sleep Dirt is an album by Frank Zappa released in January, 1979 on his own DiscReet Records label. It reached 175 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart...
, and Orchestral Favorites
Orchestral Favorites
Orchestral Favorites is an album by Frank Zappa first released in May, 1979 on his own DiscReet Records label. The album is instrumental and features music performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra...
. For the latter 3 albums Zappa delivered tapes only. It is unlikely that a single 4LP set could have fulfilled the requirements of Zappa's Warner Bros. contract, which would have ordinarily called for 4 individual titles. In any case, Warner Bros. refused to release the albums. Perhaps believing that the material was not up to par, Warner refused to pay Zappa for his production costs upon delivery. This violated of the terms of Zappa's contract.
During 1977 Zappa created the Läther
Läther
Läther is an album by Frank Zappa which was released on CD posthumously in 1996. Produced by Zappa in 1977, the recordings contained in Läther were made between 1972 and 1977 . A collection of these tapes was delivered to Warner Bros...
compilation by re-editing recordings from same batch of tapes that made up the individual album configuration. He then attempted to get a distribution deal with Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
/Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
to release Läther on the new Zappa Records label. Warner Bros. to threatened legal action, preventing the release of the Läther album. Between 1978 and 1979 Warner finally decided to release the 3 remaining individual albums they still held, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt, and Orchestra Favorites on the DiscReet label. As Zappa had delivered the tapes only, the three individual albums were released with no musical credits. (see http://www.arf.ru/Notes/Ziny/append.html) Warner commissioned their own sleeve art by Gary Panter
Gary Panter
Gary Panter is an illustrator, painter, designer and part-time musician. Panter's work is representative of the post-underground, new wave comics movement that began with the end of Arcade: The Comics Revue and the initiation of RAW, one of the second generation in American underground comix...
, which was not approved by Zappa.
Content
The music was performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra with Terry BozzioTerry Bozzio
Terry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.-Biography:Terry Bozzio was born December 27, 1950 in San Francisco, California. He started at age 6 playing makeshift drum sets. At the age of 13 he saw The Beatles premier performance on The Ed...
on drums. The material included are primarily sourced from live performances recorded at Royce Hall
Royce Hall
Royce Hall is a building on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles . Designed by the Los Angeles firm of Allison & Allison in the Italian Romanesque Revival style and completed in 1929, it is one of the four original buildings on UCLA's Westwood campus and has come to be the...
on the UCLA campus in September, 1975; with additional studio overdubs to correct performance errors. This was the third album by Zappa to use an orchestra, with Lumpy Gravy
Lumpy Gravy
Lumpy Gravy is the first solo album by Frank Zappa, originally released in 1967, but not generally available until May 1968. Zappa was credited as conductor on the album cover and he described the contents as "a curiously inconsistent piece, which started out to be a BALLET, but probably didn't...
and 200 Motels
200 Motels
200 Motels is a 1971 American-British musical surrealist film cowritten and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr. The film covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town Centerville...
being the first and second. The album contains an instrumental version of the track "The Duke of Prunes" originally from the 1967 album Absolutely Free
Absolutely Free
Absolutely Free is the second album by The Mothers of Invention, led by Frank Zappa. Absolutely Free is, again, a display of complex musical composition with political and social satire. The band had been augmented since Freak Out! by the addition of saxophone player Bunk Gardner, keyboardist Don...
. Zappa plays an electric lead guitar solo with the orchestra on this track. "Strictly Genteel" was heard earlier as part of the 200 Motels
200 Motels
200 Motels is a 1971 American-British musical surrealist film cowritten and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr. The film covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town Centerville...
film and soundtrack album. Bogus Pomp is also made up of themes that were used in 200 Motels.
Orchestral Favorites was reissued in a digitally remastered version on CD by Barking Pumpkin in 1991 (oddly; with the left and right channels reversed, due to an error in audio mastering
Audio mastering
Mastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
); this edition was reissued again in 1995 by Ryko
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
. Much of the material on the album was made available to the public again when Läther was finally officially released to the public in 1996 after Zappa's death.
Personnel
- Terry BozzioTerry BozzioTerry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.-Biography:Terry Bozzio was born December 27, 1950 in San Francisco, California. He started at age 6 playing makeshift drum sets. At the age of 13 he saw The Beatles premier performance on The Ed...
– drums - Dave Parlato – bass
- Emil RichardsEmil RichardsEmil Richards, born Emilio Joseph Radocchia on September 2, 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut, is a percussionist who plays a variety of different percussion instruments.-Biography:...
– percussion - Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
– guitar, keyboards, vocals
Charts
Album - BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Pop Albums | 168 |