Zappa's Universe Explained

Zappa’s Universe
Type:	Album
Artist:	Various Artists
Cover:	Zappa'sUniverse.jpg
Released:	1993
Genre:	Rock, jazz
Label:	Verve^[1]

Zappa's Universe is a 1993 Frank Zappa tribute album featuring alumni from many of Zappa's bands. The music was compiled from a series of concerts from four consecutive nights of concerts at The Ritz in New York City, and filmed for a concert video of the same name.^[2] Steve Vai’s cover of the song "Sofa" from the album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1994.^[3]

Exposing Zappa’s illness

When the Zappa’s Universe project was first underway Frank Zappa was supposed to be part of the project, but was too ill to attend the shows. When reporters attempted to find out why, they reported that he was ill. This led to Zappa's children, Moon and Dweezil exposing to the public for the first time their father's prostate cancer during a press conference in the fall of 1991. His cancer had been first diagnosed during the spring of 1990.^[4]

Track listing

All Songs were written by Frank Zappa

1. "Elvis Has Just Left the Building" – 2:48
2. "Brown Shoes Don’t Make It" – 7:26
3. "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats" – 4:48
4. "Inca Roads" – 9:38
5. "Mōggio" – 2:46
6. "Nite School" – 5:00
7. "Echidna’s Arf (Of You)" – 3:53
8. "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" – 3:28
9. "Heavenly Bank Account" – 4:12
10. "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" – 2:54
11. "Waka/Jawaka" – 3:28
12. "Sofa" – 3:51
13. "Dirty Love" – 7:03
14. "Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel" – 6:28 ^[2]

Personnel

Musicians

• Joel Thome – conductor
• Sal Scarpa – assistant conductor
• The Persuasions – choir
• Rockapella – choir
• Dweezil Zappa – guitar (track 13)
• Steve Vai – guitar (tracks 12, 13)
• Mike Keneally – guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Scott Thunes – Bass, vocals
• Dale Bozzio – vocals (track 14)
• Mats Öberg – keyboards, piano, vocals
• Marc Ziegenhagen – keyboards
• Morgan Ågren – drums
• Abe Appleman – violin
• Alvin Rogers – violin
• Joyce Hammann – violin
• Ming Yeh – violin
• Peter Vanderwater – violin
• Sandra Billingstea – violin
• Sanford Allen – violin
• Sheila Reinhold – violin
• Stan Hunte – violin
• Al Brown – viola
• John Dexter – viola
• Richard Spencer – viola
• Bruce Wang – cello
• Fred Zlotkin – cello
• John Beal – double bass
• Cynthia Otis – harp
• Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Ron Sell – horn
• Jim Pugh – trombone
• Dave Taylor – bass trombone, tuba
• Virgil Blackwell – clarinet, bass clarinet
• Dave Tofani – flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone
• Robert Magnuson – oboe, alto saxophone
• John Campo – bassoon, tenor saxophone
• Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
• Jonathan Haas – percussion

The Persuasions

• Jay Otis Washington
• Jerry Lawson
• Jimmy Hayes
• Joe Russell

Rockapella

• Barry Carl
• Elliot Kerman
• Scott Leonard
• Sean Altman ^[1]

Production staff

• Virgil Blackwell – music coordinator
• Walt Taylor - Production Manager
• James Badrak - Stage Manager
• Mitch Keller - Lighting
• Dave "Pops" Clements - Guitar Tech

Record Production

• Produced (sort of) by Davitt Sigerson
• Executive Producer and Album Compilation by Guy Eckstine
• Recorded by David Hewitt^[5]
• Mixed by Carl Beatty

Notes and References

1. Web site: Various - Zappa's Universe: A Celebration Of 25 Years Of Frank Zappa's Music (CD, Album) at Discogs. discogs.com. 2015-06-24.
2. Web site: Zappa's Universe - Zappa's Universe | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic. allmusic.com. 2015-06-24.
3. Bomb. X Motion Picture and Center for New Art Activities (New York, N.Y.). Bomb: Conversations Between Artists, Writers, Actors, Directors, Musicians. 1994. X Motion Picture and Center for New Art Activities. 0743-3204. 2015-06-24.
4. Book: Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends who Changed Music Forever. 2008-01-01. ABC-CLIO. 9780313338458. en.
5. CD Credits