ORLEANS
ORLEANS "RIDES" DINOSAUR The new CD RIDE by the band ORLEANS will be released July 30, 1996 by Dinosaur Entertainment. The commercial release will be preceded by the single I'm On Your Side, which will be sent to AAA and A/C radio on Monday, July 29. 20 years after the release of their smash hit Still The One, RIDE is the cumination of a surge that began in 1990 with a live double CD released in Japan, and continued through their appearance at Woodstock '94 and the 1995 Can't Stop Rockin' Tour with FLEETWOOD MAC, REO SPEEDWAGON and Pat BENATAR. After playing more than 100 shows last year, ORLEANS signed with Dinosaur, the new label based in New Orleans and distributed by BMG.
The band's name was taken from the city because in 1972, when they started, ORLEANS was playing a mixture of R&B with Cajun and Second Line roots and TOUSSAINT/NEVILLE covers. As the group's music evolved in a more mainstream direction, they developed their rock/pop sound which led Rolling Stone to call them "the best unrecorded band in the country." After signing with Asylum Records they produced hits such as Dance With Me, Let There Be Music, Love Takes Time, Reach, Forever and, of course Still The One.
All 3 surviving original members, John HALL, Larry HOPPEN and Lance HOPPEN, are still in the band (drummer Wells KELLY died in 1984). Their harmonies and guitar work are as precise and uplifting as ever. "Not only are we proud to have ORLEANS, John, Larry and Lance on our label," says Dinosaur chief Richard PADDISON, "But I truly enjoy the music. It is spiritual and physical at the same - and it makes people happy."
The HOPPENs and HALL are joined on RIDE by drummers Pete O'BRIEN, Eric PARKER and Brian DOHERTY. The album was recorded in Saugerties. NY ("the lover East Side of Woodstock," as John likes to say). Songs were written by John and Johanna HALL (the team that wrote Still The One and Dance With Me) and by Larry and Lance HOPPEN, with contributions by Jules SHEAR, Jonell MOSSER, Bob LEINBACH and Larry KNETCHEL.
ORLEANS continues to be a working band, and the release of RIDE will be supported by a heavy dose of gigs and live radio appearances.
I'M ON YOUR SIDE - The new single by ORLEANS from the CD RIDE
ORLEANS - Ready To RIDE 20 years after the release of their biggest hit, Still The One, ORLEANS is back. John HALL, Larry HOPPEN and Lance HOPPEN, all original members of the Woodstock-based band, have a new CD, RIDE and a new single and video, I'm On Your Side. They continue a surge of activity that began in 1990 with their first live recording, and carried them through numerous gigs to an, appearance at Woodstock '94 and the 1995 Can't Stop Rockin' Tour with FLEETWOOD MAC, REO SPEEDWAGON and Pat BENATAR. And whenever they perform electric with drums, or just with acoustic guitars, audiences are reminded of what upstate New York knows: these guys can sing.
ORLEANS was formed by John, Larry and drummer Wells KELLY in January 1972, rehearsing in John and Johanna HALL's basement in Saugerties, NY, "the Lower East Side of Woodstock" as John likes to say. The band's name was taken from the city of New Orleans because in 1972, when they started, they were playing a mixture of R&B with Cajun and Second Line roots and NEVILLE/TOUSSAINT covers.
As the group's music evolved in a more mainstream direction, they added Larry's brother Lance on bass and played hundreds of gigs at clubs in upstate NY, developing their Rock/Pop sound which led Rolling Stone to call them "the best unrecorded band in the country." ORLEANS was first signed by ABC and then by David GEFFEN at Asylum Records, where under producer Chuck PLOTKIN's tutelage they recorded such hits as Dance With Me, Let There Be Music, Reach and Still The One. In concert they shared the stage with Jackson BROWNE, Bonnie RAITT, LITTLE FEAT, CHICAGO, Melissa MANCHESTER, Marshall TUCKER, and many more.
In 1978, John left the group to pursue a solo career. Larry, Lance and Wells continued recording an,df touring as ORLEANS until the early 80's, recording 3 more albums in the process and hitting the charts again with Love Takes Time and Forever.
In 1984, when the band was inactive, Wells KELLY died while on tour with MEATLOAF in England. Larry and John reunited to sing at a memorial for KELLY and decided to try collaborating again. Coincidentally, at about that time producer and MCA A&R chief Tony BROWN inquired about the possibility of ORLEANS making a record in Nashville. The result was the 1986 album GROWN UP CHILDREN, a Country crossover effort produced by BROWN and former TOTO bassist David HUNGATE, and featuring guest appearances by Bela FLECK, Chet ATKINS, and Ricky SKAGGS.
Returning to their Rock and Roll roots, in 1990 ORLEANS recorded a double live CD at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at the behest of friend and Grammy-nominee Robbie DUPREE. Released in Japan by Pony Canyon, ORLEANS LIVE was the first document of the boisterous, wide-ranging and improvisational shows which their fans have come to expect.
In 1991 they embarked on their first tour of Japan, playing to sold out houses in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. The lines of autograph seekers and rave reviews were welcome validation to a band which had struggled to create an identity other than their 70's hits. With creative juices flowing, ORLEANS withdrew to the studio to begin a project which was released in 1994 in Japan as ANALOG MEN. After 2 more years of writing and recording, 3 of those songs join 10 new ones on the new Dinosaur/BMG CD, RIDE.
ORLEANS features glistening harmonies by 3 vocalists who can and do sing lead. Their voice have been featured on a number one Jazz record (Michael FRANK's DRAGONFLY SUMMER) and a #1 country record (Steve WARINER's YOU CAN DREAM OF ME). While their vocals may be the signature sound that identifies them to most people, Larry, Lance and John are also accomplished writers and instrumentalists.
John HALL has been featured as a guitarist on records by Jackson BROWNE, LITTLE FEAT, Bonnie RAITT, Tah MAHAL, Carly SIMON and others. He has 5 solo albums to his credit, plus 2 as the John HALL BAND. In his early 20s, he wrote and directed the music to Broadway play (MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT) and an off-Broadway play (the Obie-winning HONEST TO GOD SCHNOZZOLA).
With his wife and lyrical partner, Johanna, he has written songs recorded by artists including Janis JOPLIN, Linda RONSTADT, Bobby McFERRIN, Millie JACKSON, Bonnie RAITT, Ricky SKAGGS, James BROWN, Steve WARINER, Chet ATKINS, Chaka KHAN, the DOOBIE BROTHERS and James TAYLOR.
John also produced Bonnie RAITT's third album, TAKIN' MY TIME. With Bonnie, Jackson BROWNE and Graham NASH, he founded Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) in 1979 and co-produced the Warner Brothers triple album NO NUKES. The same activism that manifested itself in the NO NUKES project drove him to run successfully for election to the Ulster County (NY) Legislature, where he served in 1990-91 representing the town of Saugerties. This May he was elected to a 3 year term on the Saugerties Board of Education.
Larry HOPPEN (guitar, keyboards) has the radio voice, the tenor heard singing lead on Still The One, Dance With Me and Love Takes Time, as well as the new single I'm On Your Side. He also wrote Love Takes Time, Forever, and many other songs for ORLEANS.
In addition to his work with ORLEANS, Larry has toured and recorded with Robbie DUPREE, Graham PARKER, the SCREAMING CHEETAH WHEELIES, Garland JEFFREYS, LULU and others. He just put finishing touches on his forthcoming debut solo album : THE UNHERD, which was co-produced by David SANCIOUS. In the last 4 years, much of his time has been devoted to the charity Sunshine For HIV kids, of which he is a founder. By organizing a benefit concert in 1994, and a 120 radio station auction in 1996, Larry has helped raise money which will send HIV-positive children and their families to summer camps.
Lance HOPPEN (bass) is the designated harmony singer, the high falsetto whose voice needs no EQ or aural exciter. On the new CD, he sings 2 lead vocals (Heaven and In My Dream) and is a writer of those songs and several others as well as co-producer.
In between ORLEANS projects, he has been bassist and musical director for CMA Horizon Award winner Suzy BOGGUSS, and also worked with Garland JEFFREYS, Billie Joe ROYAL and BALLIE AND THE BOYS. Lance is a regular on the Nashville session and showcase scene, and has also been active with Peace Celebration, a group of musicians who do performances and workshops at schools focusing on alternatives to violence in resolving conflicts.
DISCOGRAPHY (Group albums) - Orleans (1973 - ABC Records). Produced by Barry Beckett and Roger Hawkins, recorded at Music Shoals Sound Studio, Alabama.
- Orleans II (1974 - ABC Records). Produced by ORLEANS, recorded at Bearsville Sound Studio, Woodstock, NY, released in Europe, then repackaged with first LP and released in The US as Before The Dance.
- Let There Be Music (1975 - Asylum Records). Produced by Chuck PLOTKIN, recorded at Elektra Sound Studios, Hollywood, CA - Track-listing: Fresh Wind, Dance With Me, Time Passes On, Your Life My Friend, Let There Be Music, Business As Usual, Cold Spell, Ending Of A Song, Give One Heart, You've Given Me Something.
- Waking And Dreaming (1976 - Asylum Records). Produced by Chuck PLOTKIN, recorded at Sound Factory, Hollywood, CA - Track-listing: Reach,What I Need, If I Don't Have You, Waking And Dreaming, Sails, Still The One, The Bum, Golden State, The Path, Spring Fever.
- Forever (1979 - Infinity Records). Produced by ORLEANS and Roy CICALA, recorded at the Record Plant, NYC.
- Orleans (1980 - MCA Records). Produced by ORLEANS and Robin LUMLEY, recorded at Wells KELLY's cabin in Saugerties, NY, with Record Plant remote truck.
- One Of A Kind (1982 - Radio Records). Produced by Ben WISCH and Don SILVER, recorded in Miami, FL.
- Grown Up Children (1986 - MCA Records). Produced by Tony BROWN and David HUNGATE, recorded at Emerald Sound Studios, Nashville, TN - Track-listing: Speed Of Love, Grown Up Children, I'll Go Crazy, You're Mine, LadyLiberty, Language Of Love, Fly Away, Circles, On Hold, I've Got To Hand It To You.
- Orleans Live (1990 - Pony Canyon Records Japan and Major Record USA). Double CD produced by John HALL and L- Orleans Live (1990 - Pony Canyon Records Japan and Major Record USA). Produced by John HALL and Larry HOPPEN, recorded at the Bearsville Theater - Track-listing: Dance With Me, Let There Be Music, Time Passes On, Forever, Crazy, Love Takes Time, Power, Reach, Still The One, Tongue Tied, Good Old Daze, I Found Somebody, Poison Rain, Long Ride Home, Juliet, Arms/Half Moon, Miss Grace, Old Timers, Compared To What.
- Analog Men (1994 - Pioneer LDC, available in or from Japan only). Produced by John HALL, Larry HOPPEN and Lance HOPPEN, recorded at Paradise Way, Saugerties, NY - Track-listing: My Idea Of Love, Love's Not Just For Other People, Fat City, Love 2 Watch, Serenity, Heaven, Analog Man, Dance With Me, Back To Your Arms, One Way Or Another, Keep On Changin'.
- Ride (1996 - Dinosaur Entertainment/BMG). Produced by John HALL, Larry HOPPEN and Lance HOPPEN, recorded at Paradise Way, Saugerties, NY - Track-listing: If We Never Meet Again, I'm On Your Side, Heaven, OneTribe, The Great Divide, Ride, In My Dream, Yestertime, Earth Out Tonight, Plastic Money, Looking For The Light, Love's Not Just For Other People, Analog Man.
- Ride (1996 - Pioneer LDC Japan). Produced by John HALL, Larry HOPPEN and Lance HOPPEN, recorded at Paradise Way, Saugerties, NY - Track-listing: If We Never Meet Again, I'm On Your Side, Heaven, OneTribe, The Great Divide, Ride, In My Dream, Yestertime, Earth Out Tonight, Plastic Money, Looking For The Light, Love's Not Just For Other People, Analog Man, Sails, Get A Life.
- Dance With Me, The Best Of (1998 - Elektra Traditions/Rhino Records USA) - Track-listing: Half Moon, Fresh Wind, Dance With Me, Time Passes On, Let There Be Music, Cold Spell, Ending Of A Song, Give One Heart, Reach, What I Need, If I Don't Have You, Waking And Dreaming, Sails, Still The One, Golden State, Spring Fever, Siam Sam, Sweet Destiny, Love Takes Time, Forever.
DISCOGRAPHY (Solo albums and project albums) - KANGAROO - Kangaroo (1968 - MGM Records). John HALL playing bass.
- BOFFALONGO - Boffalongo (1969 - United Artists). Produced by Eric and Steve NATHANSON, Larry HOPPEN on guitar, vocals and songwriting.
- John HALL - Action (1970 - CBS Records). Produced by Harvey BROOKS.
- BOFFALONGO - Beyond Your Head (1970 - United Artists). Produced by the NATHANSONs.
- John HALL - John Hall (1978 - Asylum Records). Produced by Chuck PLOTKIN - Track-listing: Night, Break Of Day, Messin' Round With The Wrong Woman, Trust Yourself, Give Me The Right, The Fault, Good Enough, Voyagers.
- Power (1970 - CBS Records). Produced by John HALL.
- John HALL BAND - All Of The Above (1982 - EMI America). Produced by Richard ORSHOFF.
- John HALL BAND - Search Party (1983 - EMI America). Produced by John HALL, Bob LEINBACH and Bill BOTTRELL.
- John HALL - On A Distant Star (1992 - Pioneer LDC, Japan only). Produced by John HALL.
- THE UNHERD feat. Larry HOPPEN - Looking For The Light (1996 - Songshine Records). Produced by David SANCIOUS and Larry HOPPEN- Track-listing: One Of The Lucky Ones, I Wanna Be In Love, Looking For The Light, No Reply, Pretending To Care, Love Is Love, Give In To It Keep On Shining, Poison Rain, Circles, Lucky Ones (Reprise).
- John HALL - Recovered (1998 - Siren Songs). Produced by Robbie DUPREE and John HALL - Track-listing: Good Enough, Dance With Me, Give One Heart, Miss Grace, Half Moon, You Can Dream Of Me, Two-Faced World, Sails, Power, Still The One, New Star Shining.
© Dinosaur Entertainment - 1996 & Prowest - 1999.
