Le Orme
Le Orme | |
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Members | Michi Dei Rossi |
Le Orme (Italian: "The Footprints") is an Italian
History
Beginnings (1966–1970)
Le Orme was founded in 1966 in Venice by Aldo Tagliapietra (vocals, guitar), Marino Rebeschini (drums), Nino Smeraldi (lead guitar) and Claudio Galieti (bass guitar). Originally intending to name themselves Le Ombre, a literal translation of The Shadows, they ultimately decided on the similar-sounding Le Orme. The band's early work evoked a feel somewhere between beat and psychedelic rock,[1] similar to what was coming out of the United Kingdom at the time. One of their first major performances was on 2 June 1966, when they and other local bands accompanied a British beat group, The Rokes, at the Teatre Corso in Mestre.[2]
In 1967, the day after recording their first single, "Fiori e Colori", for
Mainstream success (1970–1977)
In the spring of 1971 Le Orme recorded their second studio album,
In January 1974, Le Orme recorded their first live album, In concerto at the Teatro Brancaccio in Rome. Later in the year a further studio album, Contrappunti, followed. It also was successful, charting in the top ten, but failed to reach the lofty heights achieved by Felona e Sorona. In 1975 Neil Kempfer-Stocker's Cosmos imprint issued Beyond Leng, a largely instrumental compilation to introduce the band to a wider American audience. The band then headed to Los Angeles to record their next album. At the same time, they hired a guitarist, Tolo Marton, bringing the group to four members. The resulting Smogmagica, boasting a cover by Paul Whitehead, was significantly more commercially oriented than their previous work, and was largely viewed as a disappointment by fans.[7] Marton left soon after the album was completed, and Germano Serafin was recruited in his stead. The following album, however, Verita nascoste, was a return to form and would prove to be a high point as the band would soon suffer from the downturn in progressive rock's popularity.[8]
Changes in direction (1977–1982)
Following the release of their eight studio album, Storia o leggenda, Le Orme retired from touring to focus on exploring new directions for their music.[9] The result was 1979's Florian in which the band members traded in their electric instruments for classical ones, emerging with a sound more akin to chamber music than rock. The album was critically acclaimed, winning an Italian Music Critics' Award.[10] They followed up with Piccola rapsodia dell'ape, which, although stylistically similar was not nearly as successful. Reverting to their classic trio formation, the band attempted to return to the mainstream with a straight-pop effort, Venerdi. This album was also unsuccessful, and the band split amiably following its release.
Reformation (1986–1992)
Le Orme would reform in 1986, intending to play concerts only.
Return to form (1992–2009)
Encouraged by the success of their concerts and strong sales of their 1970-1980 anthology, the band returned to the recording studio. The result was 1995's
Post Tagliapietra (2009–)
At the end of 2009, Aldo Tagliapietra left the band. He was replaced as lead singer by Jimmy Spitaleri of fellow Italian progressive rock band Metamorfosi.[13] In 2011 the group released La via della seta a concept album inspired by the Silk Road, with lyrics written by Maurizio Monti, former collaborator of Patty Pravo, Mina and Riccardo Cocciante. With the new organic, Le Orme started a tournée, sharing the stage with Banco del Mutuo Soccorso to promote the new album.
Member history
Discography
- Studio albums
- Ad gloriam (1969)
- Collage (1971)
- Uomo di pezza (1972)
- Felona e Sorona (1973)
Later re-recorded in English and released in the UK as Felona and Sorona. - Contrappunti] (1974)
- Smogmagica (1975)
- Verita nascoste (1976)
- Storia o leggenda (1977)
- Florian (1979)
- Piccola rapsodia dell'ape (1980)
- Venerdi (1982), aka Biancaneve (1994)
- Orme (1990)
- Il fiume (1996)
- Amico di ieri (1997)
- Elementi (2001)
- L'infinito (2004)
- La via della seta (2011)
- Felona e Sorona 2016 (2016)
- Sulle ali di un sogno (2019)
- Live album
- In Concerto (1974, live)
- Compilations
- Beyond Leng (1976)
See also
Other Italian progressive rock bands:
- Il Balletto di Bronzo
- Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
- I Cervello
- La Locanda delle Fate
- Notturno Concertante
- Osanna
- Nova
- Premiata Forneria Marconi
- Il Rovescio della Medaglia
References
- Allmusic. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "A tutto beat: Hopopi, Orme, Uragani... era il 2 giugno 1966" (in Italian). Supereva.it. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- )
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ISBN 978-0-615-17566-9.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Le Orme: Biography" (in Italian). Le Orme Official Site. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "La Canzone d'Autore Italiana: Storia de Le Orme" (in Italian). RAI. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Classifica Sanremo 1987" (in Italian). Festivaldisanremo.com. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "An Interesting Metamorphosis". Italian Prog Map. Retrieved 6 June 2011.