Penguin Cafe Orchestra 'Penguin Cafe Orchestra' - LP (Apricot Vinyl)

Penguin Cafe Orchestra is the second studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, released in 1981, and recorded between 1977 and 1980. By this album, the line-up for the band had expanded greatly, with contribution including Simon Jeffes, Helen Leibmann, Steve Nye, Gavyn Wright of the original quartet, as well as Geoff Richardson, Peter Veitch, Braco, Giles Leamna, Julio Segovia and Neil Rennie. All pieces were composed by Simon Jeffes except for "Paul's Dance" (Jeffes and Nye), "Cutting Branches" (traditional), and "Walk Don't Run" (by Johnny Smith). The cover painting is by Emily Young.

"Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter" is based on the traditional Zimbabwean song "Nhemamusasa", a field recording of which can be heard played on mbira on the Nonesuch Records album The Soul of the Mbira.

The Boston Globe opined that "this is one of the most eccentric records released this or any year... It's also one of the most delightful."

In 2021, Penguin Cafe Orchestra was named among the fifty best albums of 1981 by Spin

This re-press uses the 2008 remaster, pressed on Apricot vinyl.

Limited Run. 

Side A

A1 Air À Danser 

A2 Yodel 1

A3 Telephone And Rubber Band

A4 Cutting Branches For A Temporary Shelter

A5 Pythagora's Trousers

A6 Numbers 1-4

Side B

B1 Yodel 2

B2 Salty Bean Fumble

B3 Paul's Dance

B4 The Ecstasy Of Dancing Fleas

B5 Walk Don't Run

B6 Flux

B7 Simon's Dream

B8 Harmonic Necklace

B9 Steady State