L.E.O.- Alpacas Orgling

Stephen Serber · 18 Oct 2006

For all of you who miss ELO this is for you. This sounds exactly like ELO from the Out of the Blue era. Best album that Jeff Lynne never made. I think one of the guys from Belly is the brains behind it.

DanO · 30 Jul 2006

Love that record! Also features member(s) of Jellyfish, I believe.

leek · **Joined:** 14 Feb 2007 **Posts:** 4

Bleu was actually the mastermind of LEO. The participants are amazing. Here's is an excerpt from the official LEO bio:

Quote:

Among the collaborators assembled here as L.E.O. are vocalist Andy Sturmer, from nineties power pop-icon Jellyfish; singer-guitarist Mike Viola, formerly of the Candy Butchers and co-writer of the Oscar-nominated movie theme "That Thing You Do!"; multi-platinum producer John Fields; Papas Fritas founder/producer Tony Goddess; Matt Mahaffey of the acclaimed one-man-band Self; Jason Scheff, vocalist and bassist for the legendary band Chicago; singer-songwriter Paula Kelley; Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman; and even the Hanson brothers. This wildly eclectic crew was brought together by Boston pop auteur Bleu (William James McAuley III), who whimsically decided to embark on this unique project four years ago and managed to cajole his many far-flung pals to join him for the ride.

It is a must have.

RobertSwanderson · 01 Jan 2007

I really need to drop some hints about this for Father's day.

Walter P · 20 Sep 2006

I had missed this album...just listened to it on Rhapsody...SOLD! It's pretty cool. I just ordered it.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Apr 20, 2007 1:38 pm

Cover art, audio samples, etc:

>> If the three letters of this band's name look familiar, just rearrange the first two. That's right--Alpacas Orgling is an homage to the orchestral sweep of '70s hitmakers Electric Light Orchestra. What's so compelling about these ten songs is how they capture the spirit of that earlier music without coming off as retro or nostalgic, even while directly referencing Jeff Lynne's arrangement, production, and writing styles. (The lyric "I can hear the cellos singing" in "Distracted" is certainly a tip of the hat in that direction). LEO have impressive credentials: assembled by Boston-based Bleu, a.k.a. William James McAuley III, the members include Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, Tony Goddess of Papas Fritas, and Mike Voila of the Candy Butchers, whose past works make them dovetail perfectly. Though all brand-new originals, the set sounds like a greatest-hits collection. (And buried at the end, unlisted, is a cover of ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down.") This is the soundtrack of one decade, updated and right at home in another--braiding the years together, making the world go 'round. <<

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HRME6Y?tag ... 9BFWGQ2YJ&

(Lots of cheap used copies are available through Amazon's third party dealers at the link above.)

Stephen Serber · 18 Oct 2006

I got confused with the name of the group Jellyfish and their album Belly.

Walter P · 20 Sep 2006

Bellyfish? Sounds like a good name for a new group. :yahoo:

Hank · 01 Dec 2004

I pre-ordered this when Not Lame sent me an email after I bought Roger Manning's album (also very good).

I also talked it up in the ELO reissues thread.

I think "You Had Me Going" is the greatest dance record ever recorded.

L.E.O.- Alpacas Orgling

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