ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES

Hmmm... the liner notes on the Barking Pumpkin CD version of this album say "Orchestral Favorites was originally released in lp format, May 1974". They also say 'recorded at Royce Hall, Los Angeles, September 1975". Zappa must have been quite the time traveller.

This album, as short as it is, has three songs that would later appear on the London Symphony Orchestra albums, Strictly Genteel, Pedro's Dowry and Strictly Genteel. Despite these versions being shorter, I would recommend these versions over the LSO. Here, the orchestra, containing some Zappa regulars, is more serious about playing Frank's wild compositions, and the performances are much better. Also, the sound, especially on the remixed CD versions, is much more clear.

You must know by now that these songs were originally meant for the "Lather" album, but when Warner Brothers refused to release that three LP set, Zappa chopped it up into a bunch of other LPs, this one containing the orchestral pieces.

This is a good introduction to Zappa's orchestral compositions. So if you don't have "Lather", I'd highly recommend it.