Orpheus - Congress Alley (1968)

"Congress Alley" - Arnold's friend and fellow "alley" inhabitant, Steve Martin, auditioned this song as a possible Orpheus track. Arnold wisely grabbed it but not before completely rearranging it for the band. Listen to Martin's own version available on his website (www.stephenbmartin.com) and you will appreciate the distinct differences between the two artists. After "CFPlace," "Congress Alley" is the second most covered song originally performed by Orpheus. Later versions were recorded by The Alan Lorber Orchestra, Clean Living and a group called Congress Alley, headed up by former Doo-Wop legend, Lee Andrews.
Credits:

....source: http://psychspaniolos.blogspot.com/2008/09/orpheus-orpheus-1967.html

...more Orpheus albums: http://psycheoutmyblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/february-2007-pt1.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• psych
• gem
• story
• orpheus
• hippie
• demonstration
• acid
• rock

[TheIntruders]

This sounds like it was taken from the inferior 1995 remaster done by Foothill Digital in New York. Those remasters appear on the Big Beat CD releases as well as the Akarma version. It sounds muddy and low-fi compared to the newer remaster done by Dan Hersch at DigiPrep in 2001. You will find those on Varese Sarabande's "The Very Best of Orpheus". Don't waste your money on Lorber's mp3 downloads either. They recycle the old Foothill Digital remasters. The guy is a crook.

[AldousLeary]

@TheIntruders Thank you for the info. I reupped the tune, this time with the version from the Best-Of-Album. I'm very glad to get comments like yours (feel free to comment my other videos as well - if there's something that can be improved I would really like to know it).

For new version see video-answers.

[BIrish512]

graduating from Wentworht back in 70, i used to hear groups in the area doing their material. Always great. I own the cd collection and the 1st 2 album

[ihatehumans11213]

sooooo dope!!

[barriobajaj]

@TheIntruders What's your impression of the Iris Music Group release from 2006 of the self titled debut?

[freqazoidiac]

Wow, so that's what it sounds like with Bernard Purdie and Joe Macho holding down the rhythm.

The second album, they decided not to use them. So it sounds like a cheap imitation at times. Orpheus even sample this track and trigger a bit of the harmony part "hey, what a groovy day" in the song "Love Over Here". on the album 'Ascending'. Thanks for posting this song.

[furakkueroru]

Great Stuff Bro!