Label

L'ORCHESTRA

Formed at the end of 1974 by a group of musicians based in Milan, among which Stormy Six's founder member Franco Fabbri, Cooperativa L'Orchestra was primarily aimed at promoting all sorts of non-commercial music, and included avantgarde, jazz, political, protest and popular music, many of these releases were very interesting in their styles.
It was a unique case, in Italy, of a record label directly managed by the artists themselves, and also had a good promoting activity for their live acts.

Though initially distributed by Ariston (as Stormy Six were still signed to that label at the time), the label's releases were often sold at concerts and through independent bookshops, and were later under the Ricordi and CGD Messaggerie Musicali distribution.

The Orchestra releases listing below is complete. The company ceased its activity in 1983.

LP

number


Band/Artist(s)


Title


year


notes
OLP 10001 Stormy Six Un biglietto del tram 1975 single cover with inner
also on cassette (OC1)
OLP 10002 Yu Kung Pietre della mia gente 1975 single cover with inner
also on cassette (OC2)
OLP 10003 Tecun Uman Soy del pueblo 1975 single cover with inner
also on cassette (OC3)
OLP 10004 Organico di Musica Creativa ed Improvvisata Contro 1975 single cover
OLP 10005 Gruppo Folk Internazionale Festa popolare 1975 single cover with lyric insert
also on cassette (OC5)
OLP 10006 Quarto Stato Quarto Stato 1975 single cover with lyric inner
also on cassette (OC6)
OLP 10007 Pan Brumisti I padroni della città 1976 single cover with lyric inner
OLP 10008 Andrea Centazzo Solos 6/5/76 1976 single cover
OLP 10009 Andrea Centazzo & Guido Mazzon Duetti/Duets 1976 single cover
OLP 10010 Stormy Six Cliché 1976 single cover with inner
OLP 10011 Organico di Musica Creativa ed Improvvisata Free rococo 1977 single cover
OLP 10012 Stormy Six L'apprendista 1977 single cover with inner
also on cassette (OC12)
OLP 10013 Gruppo Folk Internazionale Daloy politzei 1977 single cover with foldout lyric insert
also on cassette (OC13)
OLP 10014 Guido Mazzon Capricorno 1977 single cover with inner
OLP 10015 Guido Mazzon & Mario Schiano Gospel 1977 single cover
OLP 10016 Alfredo Lacosegliaz L'orco feroce 1977 single cover with inner
OLP 10017 Mario De Leo Suonata situazione 1977 single cover with inner
OLD 01/02 Henry Cow Concerts 1977 gatefold with lyric inner (original + Italian translation)
OLP 10018 Organico di Musica Creativa ed Improvvisata Happy days 1979 single cover
OLP 10019 Cavallanti, Della Grotta, Monico Trio 1979 gatefold with inner
OLP 10020 Guido Mazzon Songs and tales 1979 single cover
OLPS 55001 Gruppo Folk Internazionale Il nonno di Jonni 1979 single cover with booklet
also on cassette (50 OLPS 55001)
OLPS 55002 Etron Fou Leloublan Les trois fou's perdegagnent (au pays des...) 1979 single cover with lyric inner (with Italian translation)
OLPS 55003 Art Bears Hopes and fears 1979 single cover
OLPS 55004 Henry Cow Western culture 1980 single cover - red label
OLPS 55005 Art Bears Winter songs 1980 single cover with lyric inner 
OLPS 55006 Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester La cosiddetta banda della sinistra rivoluzionaria 1980 single cover with inner
OLPS 55007 Mamma non piangere N.1 (Musica bestiame e benessere) 1979 single cover
also on cassette (50 OLPS 55007)
OLPS 55008 Strumentoconcerto La natura è musica 1979 single cover with insert
also on cassette (50 OLPS 55008)
OLPS 55009 Stormy Six Macchina maccheronica 1980 gatefold cover with booklet
also on cassette (50 OLPS 55009)
- red label
OLPS 55010 Alfredo Lacosegliaz Triaca oder drek 1979 gatefold cover - black label
OLPS 55011 Tony Rusconi & Paul Rutherford To fall a victim to ice cream's charm 1980 single cover - red label
OLPS 55012 Alessandro Carrera Le cartoline 1981 single cover with inner - red label
OLPS 55013 Picchio dal Pozzo Abbiamo tutti i suoi problemi 1980 single cover with insert and bonus flexi 7" - red label
OLPS 55014 Mamma non piangere N.2 (Sempre avanti a testa bassa) 1980 gatefold cover - red label
OLPS 55015 Strumentoconcerto Lo strumento fa concerto 1980 gatefold cover with inner - red label
OLPS 55016 Tony Rusconi Cowboy esotico 1981 single cover with insert
OLPS 55017 Ensemble Havadià Ensemble Havadià 1981 gatefold cover 
OLPS 55018 Hanns Eisler Musica da camera 1981 single cover with inner
OLPS 55019 Hanns Eisler La madre (Die mutter) 1981 single cover with inner
OLPS 55020 Hanns Eisler Suites/Kleine sinfonie 1981 single cover
OLPS 55555 Various Artists Raccomandato di vinile 1981 promo-only compilation for radio stations with Art Bears, Mamma Non Piangere, Stormy Six, Picchio Dal Pozzo, Alessandro Carrera, Strumento Concerto, Ensemble Havadia - single cover
MILP 70001 Stormy Six Al volo 1982 single cover with inner
MILP 70002 Mary P.Container Mary P.Container 1982 single cover with inner
MILP 70003 Franco Fabbri Domestic flights 1983 single cover 
MILP 70004 Stefano Delù Chitarre solo 1983 single cover 
MILP 70005 Giancarlo Schiaffini A Tung Me 1983 single cover 

 

SINGLES

number


Band/Artist(s)


Title


year


notes
ONP 1001 Stormy Six 1789
Carmine
1976 beige label
OM 101 Gruppo Folk Internazionale Le mille e una notte 1979 12" four-track 45rpm EP
no number Picchio dal Pozzo Uccellin del bosco 1980 one-sided flexi - bonus with OLPS 55013
OLPN 801 Mamma non piangere La fuga al polo
L'ora esatta
1980  
OLPN 802 Alessandro Carrera Piazza S.Ambrogio
Aznavour
1981  
OLPN 803 Stormy Six Cosa danno
Reparto novità
1981  
OLPN 804 Ensemble Havadià Finale
Gocce amare
1981  
MIEP 5001 Ensemble Havadià Specchi 1982 12" five-track 45rpm EP

 

BOOKS & OTHER

Number



Authors



Title



Y
ear



Notes
OMDC 1-2 Claudia Gallone-Paolo Nason Manuale di chitarra 1976 54-page book + 2 tutorial 7" singles

 

 

The LP's catalogue numbers had an OLP prefix. The typical label design had the writing L'Orchestra on the upper half and the titles on the lower side.
Early LP's had labels with the text on the A-side and a different custom image for each album on the B-side, later a black label with silver writings identical for both sides was adopted.

The records were distributed by Ariston and later by Ricordi (when this company acquired Ariston).
Since 1979 L'Orchestra passed under the CGD-Messaggerie Musicali distribution and the LP's had a new OLPS numbering system; some of the older albums were reissued with the "Distribuzione Messaggerie Musicali S.p.A." writing on back cover. A bit later, starting from early 1980, the LP's had a new design with a red label.

In 1982 a new series, only dedicated to Italian artists and called "Musica Italiana" was launched, but only 5 albums and an EP were released in this short-lived series. Again a new label design was prepared, and the records carried MILP and MIEP numbers.

Some foreign artists' albums issued around 1979-1980 (Art Bears, Henry Cow, ...) contained in the shrink a small red rectangular sticker with the logo of "Rock in Opposition". These stickers are difficult to find intact.

 

LP - one of the custom labels

LP - black label (OLP and early OLPS series)

LP - red label (OLPS series - since 1980)

LP - MILP series label (1982)

 

 

Franco Fabbri has an Internet website at www.francofabbri.net, which also contains information on L'Orchestra and a full illustrated discography.

 

 

The biggest GRAZIE to Franco Fabbri for full information on L'Orchestra, its story and its releases.
Many thanks to Alfredo Lacosegliaz for help on his own and Ensemble Havadia releases' details. Also thanks to Pietro Lombardi for information on some of the above albums.