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. Steve Vai’s cover of the song "Sofa" from the album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1994.
Exposing Zappa’s illness When the Zappa’s Universe project was first underway Frank Zappa was supposed to be part of the project, but by the time of the shows he had become too ill to attend, with his absence leading to speculation about his health in the press. This led Zappa's children, Moon and Dweezil, to publicly confirm their father's prostate cancer for the first time, during a press conference in the fall of 1991. His cancer had been first diagnosed in the spring of 1990.
Track listing All Songs were written by Frank Zappa
"Elvis Has Just Left the Building" – 2:48 "Brown Shoes Don’t Make It" – 7:26 "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats" – 4:48 "Inca Roads" – 9:38 "Mōggio" – 2:46 "Nite School" – 5:00 "Echidna’s Arf (Of You)" – 3:53 "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" – 3:28 "Heavenly Bank Account" – 4:12 "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" – 2:54 "Waka/Jawaka" – 3:28 "Sofa" – 3:51 "Dirty Love" – 7:03 "Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel" – 6:28
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
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 HewittCD credits Mixed by Carl Beatty
References