Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa

CAL 110 (sleeve front)

At a young age, Zappa bought a copy of The Rite of Spring and loved every note:

The second 33 1/3-RPM record I bought was by Stravinsky. I found a budget-line recording (on Camden) of The Rite of Spring by something called ‘The World-Wide Symphony Orchestra.’ (Sounds pretty official, eh?) The cover was a green-and-black abstract whatchamacallit, and it had a magenta paper label with black lettering. I loved Stravinsky almost as much as Varèse.[1]

Much of my research relies primary sources. Lyrics, liner notes, bootlegs, interviews, and The Real Frank Zappa Book (FZ’s autobiography) make up the bulk of these sources. Along these lines, Avo Raup’s fantastic website Zappa Books–with its search-able database of interviews and zine articles–and Román García Albertos’ IINK (Information Is Not Knowledge)–a huge, cross-referenced database of lyrics and other album information–have been a tremendously helpful resources. But occasionally, I need to get right to the source. Such was the case with finding Zappa’s copy of Stavinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

In my current chapter (which examines cases of musical borrowings from Stravinsky in Zappa’s music), I make the argument that much of Zappa’s understanding of Stravinsky is influenced by the mythology surrounding the older composer. I wondered if there might be any juicy details on the liner notes that would provide some insight regarding the idiosyncrasies with which Zappa viewed Stravinsky. Armed with Zappa’s description I set out to find a copy of the same record…

As it turns out, Camden was a budget label for RCA Victor records, first introduced in 1955 (right about when Zappa would have been buying the record). Some quick Googling revealed that the Camden catalog did include a recording of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring! (I express surprise here due to prior aggravations brought on by tracing comments from The Real Frank Zappa Book…) CAL 110 features World Wide Symphony Orchestra performing The Rite!

341995093_7aa83c50f9The RCA Building in Camden, NJ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebot/
/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Further research revealed some interesting facts about the record. The World Wide Symphony Orchestra, it seems, was a pseudonym for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. This particular record (CAL 110) was actually dubbed from 78 rpm discs of another recording by the SFSO conducted by Pierre Monteux. (Monteux, like the SFSO, isn’t mentioned anywhere on the record. Presumably, the motivation here was to re-release a back catalog of 78 rpm records in a more commercially-viable format using pseudonyms to avoid conflicting with sales of newer recordings of the same artists. It was, as Frank would say, strictly commercial.)

3359562292_d1a7096d70The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerolic/
/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Monteux, as any responsible Stravinsky scholar will jump to tell you, premiered The Rite at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris in 1915 1913 (noted, of course, for the riot it incited). Zappa doesn’t seem to have been aware that his record featured such a prestigious conductor.

And–lucky me–a quick WorldCat search found a copy of the record at UC Santa Cruz! (Which means I could request it and get my grubby hands on it right quick.) This turned out to be a little more difficult that expected (frustrations with an inefficient interlibrary loan system), but the record arrived yesterday! Green-and-black abstract whatchamacallit and all!

Unfortunately, being the budget label that it was, Camden seems to have cut costs by not including liner notes. Oh well… The adventure wasn’t a total bust. I got to listen to the record and pretend to be a young Zappa listening to “The Augers” for the first time.

I snuck off to a remote corner of the library and took a few pictures of the record as well. You can see where some helpful librarian has scratched out “World Wide” and entered the correct performer data. (I would have ripped the vinyl to mp3s, but it was “in library use only.”) Here are some scans of the sleeve and label. Enjoy!

CAL 110 (sleeve front)CAL 110 (sleeve back)

CAL 110 (side A)CAL 110 (side B)

The first record Zappa bought, by the way, was The Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Vol. I (EMS 401). And if Zappa played the Stravinsky as much as he played the Varèse, this disc got a lot of attention. (By one account, Zappa claimed to have listened to The Rite of Spring more than “any man in the world”![2])

References:
[1] Frank Zappa and Peter Occhiogrosso, The Real Frank Zappa Book (New York: Poseidon Press, 1989), 34.
[2] Rip Rense, “A Unique Musical Force or Blasphemous Freak: Which Is Frank Zappa?,” The Valley News (June 27, 1976).
Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa

47,791 thoughts on “Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa

  1. sfhires

    minnesota timberwolves karl anthony towns jersey ferragamo belt men ebay womens nike kobe 12 orange germany purple ugg boots sale adidas ace 17.1 black red white air jordan eclipse green engine

  2. ankarasanal

    nike sb stefan janoski max gris femmes nike internationalist light vert noir wei脽 converse high tops alle star m盲nner air max 90 rot schwarz grau stephen curry 3 menn svart hvit nike air force 1 nero 07

  3. speedy 25 damier azur canvas bag 6

    christian louboutin sneakers womens lou degra spikes woman flat version pompadourmulberry cookie lily bag the gown has beautiful lace in layburberry check detail nude leather sneakers nudesneakers designersneakers burberrysneakers adzoty champion roku…

  4. golfcavedave

    lebron 14 low blanc noir air jordan retro 29 grigio rosso maschio nike free tr flyknit 5.0 arancia gituttio air jordan 12 gull hack authentic air max 95 for salg nike roshe run wei脽 blum盲nner

  5. actorscams

    tory burch robinson chain wallet white mackage tribeca leather jacket adidas zx 930 adidas nmd runner vapour pink light onix exclusive zero ray ban wayfarer rb2132 55mm vintage philadelphia eagles hat

  6. appwhoosh

    replica cashmere burberry scarf fendi python bag price prada mens polarized sunglasses the north face mens full zip denali hoodie mulberry midnight blue purse west virginia bucket hat

  7. burayagidin

    nike air max one woven green air jordan 13 original all black a buon mercato nike free 1.0 maschio rosso lunarglide 8 grey goose nike air force 1 dress cute nike presto white sale

  8. manskapsboden

    mackage cynthia coat nike kobe 9 red viper air jordan 13 black yellow flag nike cortez pink and black yellow black mens asics gel kayano 21 shoes coach city tote bag

  9. onpointresale

    fake ferragamo belt website oakley sunglasses deals 4 travel trailer new era hat limited edition hydra ray ban aviator rb3025 sunglasses gold frames green lens inc air jordan 1 mid top adidas superstar navy white kitchen

  10. thejuicylucy

    nike lebron witness wei脽 braun nike free run 2 femmes or bleu ciel nike hypervenom arancia and bianca nike huarache argento homme yeezy boost 350 brun gull nike air force 1 hi negro croc

  11. lahjeh

    kd 8 wolf gr氓 herre nike lunarglide 6 dam盲nner gold rot nike internationalist mid l忙r sneaker lids jordan legend bl氓 11 for billig nike 5.0 femminile vendita nike air max 90 jacquard qs or hypervenom

  12. nattaravnur

    menn supra vaider lilla maschio nike air max bw caff猫 bianca nike air presto blanc vert maschio nike air huarache light charcoal blu new york jets white jersey mujeres adidas pale rosado gazelle suede trainers

  13. dafuqstory

    nike cortez classic rosso bianca air jordan 6 blood rouge doernbecher custom north face womens gotham jacket review nike lebron xiii13 black brown adidas stan smith rose prix nike air max flair 2017 women royal blue white black sporting

  14. nike kaishi cheetah print

    ralph lauren tops cheap near me mens ray ban cats 5000 bvlgari divas dream rose gold stud earrings with pave diamonds nike air presto palm green for sale mackage handbag love inc the north face vest clearance xl

  15. njbabyboomer

    nike air max 1 femminile cielo blu bianca womens nike pittsburgh steelers 53 maurkice pouncey game white nfl jersey angels of anaheim 27 mike trout red fashion stars stripes flexbase authentic stitched mlb jersey nike kobe 11 em brave blau grau mi zx f…

  16. iflextoday

    dam盲nner air max 90 em schwarz orange salomon xt hawk blu gituttio nike shox gr酶n sort air jordan retro 4 oransje lilla nike roshe negro rosado sole nike free 5.0 v4 azul glow

  17. myflydubai

    mk crossbody pink yellow hermes belt nike air jordan 2 just don adidas ace 16.1 astro pittsburgh pirates all star game hat burberry nova check scarf cashmere

  18. nike air dunk wei脽

    kvinder nike shox turbo 21 lyser酶d sort adidas neo lite racer schwarz and wei脽 nike air max 95 white red grey m忙nd nike internationalist sort hvid nike magistax p roximo street tf svart rosa gr酶nn hvit gul nike shox bianca and verde

  19. cletalover

    jordan 11 bred jordan4 nike mercurial vapor safari iii boston bruins zdeno chara 33 yellow authentic jersey nike air huarache rainbow black nike free flyknit chukka black silver air max 95 flyknit red and black

  20. zeneventsja

    air jordan retro 4 femmes noir bleu ciel hombres air jordan 6 azul nike kobe icon orange blue nike zoom winflo 2 dam盲nner schwarz gr眉n adidas neo mesh oro naranja ua curry 3 lyser酶d sort

  21. nike lebron witness i cehommest rouge blanc

    nike mercurial finale ii ic cleats hvid grass gré…¶n sort nike flyknit roshe run triple schwarz uk value nike magista black orange michael kors wallet womens nike roshe run high cut menn græ°“ blæ°“ nike blazer low bianca

  22. klimafeuer

    adidas nmd runner core nero ops femmes air jordan 4 rose adidas porsche design 911s naranja amarillo nike cortez viola rosa nike lunar elite herre nike blazer low marrone

  23. feelsafeinc

    air jordan 29 azul marrè´¸n adidas springblade negro and blanco instructions ralph lauren polo noir t shirt with crew neck in hommes adidas copa mundial boots blanco negro oro kobe 11 rosso horse on feet clayton kershaw youth jersey

  24. nike air max thea blæ°“ hvid

    coach crossbody strap nike air max griffey 1 viola safari nike kobe 9 mid gituttio rosso indiana hoosiers new era ncaa shadow turn 9forty cap nike lunarglide 8 femmes bleu ciel hommes nike flyknit lunar 2 or vert

  25. nike air zoom total 90 iii blanc rouge

    ohio state buckeyes top of the world ncaa youth signal adjustable cap adidas neo rouge nike air max 2017 herren blau schwarz nike air pegasus 89 white blue air jordan cp3 himmelbl氓 gr酶n m盲nner salomon s lab sense 2 marine royal blau

  26. asoseinhalb

    coach backpack purse air jordan retro 1 nero oro mirror world cup nike hypervenom phantom fg footbtutti rosa fluorescent verde colorado avalanche adidas nhl core basic adjustable cap nike air force 1 ultra flyknit high rouge nike zoom clear out 1 noir…

  27. acheidf

    north face jacket apex bionic water repellent jacket wei脽 alle star converse preis air jordan retro 7 hvid s酶lv bl氓 orange tout gris converse chaussures minnesota wild new era nhl gray black 59fifty cap nike shox oz tout noir

  28. saleuggboot

    nike dunks negro gris mujeres air jordan retro 7 azul blanco north face gray denali womens nike shox r5 schwarz gold air jordan retro 6 kvinders hvid ré…¶d femmes asics gel kinsei 5 oranger blanc

  29. theislandbody

    nike lunarglide 8 himmelen blæ°“ gull air jordan retro 10 gré…¶n a buon mercato arancia nike shox womens air jordan retro 8 red blue air jordan melo sort mintgré…¶n mennns asics gel sendai 2 rosa gull

  30. forttr

    herren rosa adidas superstar converse for kids white converse lå¿™der low sort nike air jordan 6 infrarot nike mercurial vapor cr7 blue jet set travel medium tote bag michael kors

  31. rose and bleu nike free run 5.0

    dallas cowboys thanksgiving jersey 2015 coach borough logo medium coffee satchels nike mercurial vapor xi fg verde arancia nero adidas stan smith blanc velcro white and pink north face jacket nike air max 90 black and yellow

  32. jeffaudette

    nike cortez pelle nero bianca nike flyknit air max rose and bleu nike hyperdunk 2015 low rosa viola malcolm butler throwback jersey the air jordan 6 negro cat nike kobe 10 elite low blanco negro

  33. socabets

    nike kwazi action rojo blanco precio guayos adidas prossoator nike free flyknit 3.0 women sky blue white ray ban black metal aviator sunglasses adidas damian lillard blanc or nike free trainer blanc

  34. sousoushop

    kvinners nike air force 1 low royal blæ°“ air jordan horizon rosa mint gré…¶nn mujeres nike air max 90 blanco amarillo coach signature handbags clearance nike air max express orange grey nike air presto sort cemå¿™ndt græ°“

  35. leatherleif

    mackage kenya leather jacket billig nike free run 3.0 v6 herre guld los angeles kings 32 jonathan quick yellow jersey hermes belt buckle price cheap ray ban cats orange oakland athletics trucker cap zazzle

  36. nike free 4.0 flyknit negro and blanco

    mujeres nike air max 90 premium negro herre nike air more uptempo ré…¶d nike roshe run fluorescent verde dark blu 2 adidas gazelle burgundy and blu game johnny manziel mens jersey cleveland browns 2 home brown nfl pale pink coach bag

  37. allyoucankiss

    nike blazer kleiderkreisel nike free tribal print oakley gascan s sunglasses polo ralph lauren hooded rugby australia ray ban aviator light brown gradient how to clean links of london sweetie bracelet

  38. tentalltales

    pandora disney charms goofy oakley womens olympic sunglasses small prada messenger bag do mackage coats go on sale dates difference between ugg classic and classic 2 fendi belt size 40

  39. ngencomputer

    nike sb blazer high red white nike dunk sky hi uk coach purse with pink trim nike cleveland browns 33 trent richardson pink love jersey air jordan 1 high black gold nike flynit max brown orange

  40. eskortpu

    nike air max quarter basketball adidas superstar 2 light blau asics womens shoes onitsuka tiger mexico 66 sneakers ray ban rb2132 wayfarer sunglasses black frame crystal green len reebok gl 6000 white new balance minimus trail 1010v2

  41. adidas neo skate yellow blue

    nike shox turbo 21 guld gul femminile nike air max tailwind 5 viola nike roshe run slip on all black michael kors logo large black shoulder bags ua clutchfit prodigy rosa svart nike air max zero femminile bianca viola

  42. cooterscamera

    herren air yeezy ii 2 sp max 90 orangen gold mujeres asics gel kayano 21 azul pç…¤rpura nike air max 1 jacquard ré…¶d nike zoom structure 18 rosa gul mens nike shox deliver white nike kd 8 high rosso viola

Comments are closed.