Album Notes | Track Listing | Review

Original album art © Iris Properties, Inc. Used with permission Note: One of the original members of Orpheus has requested that his name and likeness be removed from this page, as well as all sound clips on which he performed, or of songs that he has written. We have complied in part, by deleting his name from this representation of the Album Notes (below), wherein he is identified as (name deleted). However, we have not complied with the remainder of this request, because this individual does not hold the rights to the material in question. This is copyrighted by Iris Properties, Inc., and is used with permission.

Orpheus' second album, Ascending, was recorded in May of 1968. By this time the group's live performances had become smooth, precise and polished, and producer Alan Lorber elected to try to capture some of this ambience in the recording. Accordingly, Orpheus' own instrumental work was featured more than it had been previously, and the material selected for inclusion showed the group's versatility and breadth. With songs ranging from the orchestrated show-stopper I'll Fly to the jug band / roaring twenties styling of Borneo, from the campy Don't Be So Serious to the intimate and beautiful ballad Mine's Yours, this album became a showcase for the individual and collective talents of the group. The magnificent Walk Away Renie, with its extraordinary group vocal harmonies, helped Ascending to win a Top 10 place in the 1969 Playboy magazine Best Vocal Album reader poll. Even more significantly, the album ranked higher in the poll results than such classics as Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles, By The Time I Get To Phoenix by Glen Campbell, Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin, and Simply Streisand by Barbra Streisand, to name just a few. Nevertheless, the group's folk roots were preserved. The songs Just A Little Bit and So Far Away In Love had actually been written several years earlier, and had been mainstays of the performances of the folk duo The Villagers (one of the predecessors of Orpheus), comprising Jack and (name deleted). Ascending was released in July of 1968 as MGM SE-4569, and rode Billboard magazine's Top Pop Albums chart for 12 weeks, peaking at no. 159. During the same recording sessions, Orpheus also recorded the theme song for the MGM film "Marlowe," which starred James Garner as Raymond Chandler's private detective character Philip Marlowe. The movie, based on Chandler's novel The Little Sister, has become a cult favorite. TRACK LISTING: Click on the song titles to hear sound clips I'll Fly Just Got Back Mine's Yours Don't Be So Serious So Far Away In Love She's Not There Love Over Here Borneo Just A Little Bit Walk Away Renée Roses Magic Air BONUS TRACK: Little Sister (Theme from "Marlowe") This is a "Limited Reissue," authorized by and is available only at performances of Orpheus Reborn or Stephen and The Snake. All but the Bonus Track are vailable for digital download from eMusic, iTunes, amazon.com, msnMusic, Napster and Rhapsody. All information in the album notes above is a matter of public record. All performances and most songs copyright by Iris Properties, Inc.; clips posted with permission The following review has been excerpted from an article entitled Boston Groups - Second Time Around, published in DISCOSCENE MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND, 1968 ...With a highly successful tour of the United States under their belts, Orpheus is climbing the charts with their second LP which is titled Orpheus Ascending. Their first album, Orpheus, did extremely well in sales not only in the New England area but also throughout the entire United States. That LP contains such beautiful music that I never thought it would be possible for Orpheus to generate another album which would surpass or even equal their first; yet Harry Sandler, Jack McKennes, (name deleted) and John Eric (Snake) Gulliksen have done just that. The group's material is basically all original with the exception of two cuts, She's Not There and Walk Away Renée, both of which are done in unique and different arrangements as only Orpheus can do. Perhaps the most beautiful cut on their new album is Roses, a soft and tender ballad of love with the sound of the ocean in the background. Harry Sandler, the percussion man for Orpheus, surprises us all on this new LP by singing his first composition entitled Magic Air. Just A Little Bit, another beautiful ballad by (name deleted), creates an air of love and warmth which can only be done by Orpheus. Believe me, this recording (the entire album) is a masterpiece of music. By Charles G. Martignette, Jr. First | Previous | Next | Last Return to Trak12 Catalog Orpheus Reborn Home Page