Orchestral Favorites

The recordings were sourced from September 1975 performances recorded at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus with conductor Michael Zearott. Strictly Genteel was heard earlier as part of the 200 Motels film and soundtrack album released 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 other than Zappa's electric guitar solo, which he later added to this track.[2]

Three tracks are also included on the shelved album Läther, which was not officially released until 1996. These are "Pedro's Dowry'", "Naval Aviation in Art", and "Duke of Prunes" (titled there as "The Duke of Orchestral Prunes".)

In early 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. When Zappa asked for a reassignment of his contract from DiscReet to Warner in order to advance the possibility of doing special projects without Cohen's involvement, Warner agreed. This led to the 1976 release of Zoot Allures on Warner. But Warner changed its position following legal action from Cohen.

At this point Zappa was contracted to deliver 4 more albums to Warner for release on Discreet. During 1977 Zappa delivered master tapes to Warner to fulfill his contract. Zappa did not receive payment by Warner upon delivery of the tapes, which was a contract violation.

After a legal battle the material was eventually released during 1978 and 1979 on 4 individual albums: Zappa In New York, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt and Orchestral Favorites.

Much of the material from these tapes was also compiled by Zappa in 1977 into a 4-LP box set called Läther. 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, preventing the release of Läther and forcing Zappa to shelve the project.

As Zappa had delivered only the tapes to Warner Bros. Orchestral Favorites was released with no musician credits.[3] Warner also commissioned sleeve art by cartoonist Gary Panter, which was not approved by Zappa.

Zappa chose to issue Orchestral Favorites on CD on his Barking Pumpkin label in 1991 with Panter's original artwork. This edition has the stereo orientation of the left and right channels switched. This was reissued in 1995 by Rykodisc and at that time Panter provided additional art. The Läther CD, officially released in 1996 after Zappa's death, also contains three tracks which overlap with this album.

In 2012 the CD was reissued by the Zappa Records label. Despite new packaging the content is the same as previous CD releases. The 40th Anniversary Edition, 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.

All tracks written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.

• 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

Album – Billboard (United States)