London Symphony Orchestra (Zappa albums)

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Allmusic	^[1]

Professional ratings
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Allmusic	^[2]

London Symphony Orchestra is an album series by Frank Zappa, released in two parts as London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I in 1983 and London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II, in 1987. They were recorded at the same sessions, in January 1983. The two albums were later combined, and re-released on a Rykodisc CD as London Symphony Orchestra Vol. I & II (1995).

Background

Volume I features the London Symphony Orchestra performing four instrumental compositions — "Sad Jane", "Pedro's Dowry", "Envelopes", and "Mo 'n Herb's Vacation" — from sessions recorded in January 1983. The album was Zappa's fourth to employ an orchestra, following Lumpy Gravy (1967), 200 Motels (1971) and Orchestral Favorites (1979).

The album was recorded using a digital 24-track recorder. It was one of the earliest digital multitrack recordings of an orchestra. By recording the orchestra with many microphones very close to the instruments the album sounds more detailed than possible with previous stereo recording techniques. Extensive use of editing was employed to fix musical mistakes.

The original vinyl LP recordings were tweaked in the studio to hide out-of-tune and wrong notes as well as to add in a sheen of reverb to further obscure parts. These audio "enhancements" were removed when the recordings were remixed for the compact disc re-issue in 1995. This version of the album was combined with London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II (1987), and re-released on a Rykodisc CD as London Symphony Orchestra Vol. I & II.

Track listings

Volume One

All tracks written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sad Jane"	10:05
2.	"Pedro's Dowry"	10:26
3.	"Envelopes"	4:11

Side two
No.	Title	Length
4.	"Mo 'n Herb's Vacation First Movement – 4:50 Second Movement – 10:05 Third Movement – 12:56"	27:11

Volume Two

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bogus Pomp"	24:32

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"Bob in Dacron"	12:12
3.	"Strictly Genteel"	6:53

CD

Disc One
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bob in Dacron, First Movement"	5:36
2.	"Bob in Dacron, Second Movement"	6:34
3.	"Sad Jane, First Movement"	4:46
4.	"Sad Jane, Second Movement"	5:04
5.	"Mo 'N Herb's Vacation, First Movement"	4:47
6.	"Mo 'N Herb's Vacation, Second Movement"	10:04
7.	"Mo 'N Herb's Vacation, Third Movement"	12:50

Disc Two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Envelopes"	4:06
2.	"Pedro's Dowry"	10:25
3.	"Bogus Pomp"	24:34
4.	"Strictly Genteel"	6:56

Personnel

Musicians

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano
David Ocker – clarinet
Chad Wackerman – drums
Ed Mann – percussion

Production staff

Frank Zappa – producer
Mark Pinske – recording engineer
John Vince – cover design
James Stagnita – graphic design (Vol II)
Mark Hanauer – cover photo (Vol II)

References

^ Ruhlmann, W. (2011). "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 - Frank Zappa | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
^ Ruhlmann, W. (2011). "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II - Frank Zappa | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

External links

[1] Ruhlmann, W. (2011). "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 - Frank Zappa | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

[2] Ruhlmann, W. (2011). "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II - Frank Zappa | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

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