ORLEANS http://orleansonline.com/orleans/albums/mca.html

This mid-70s US group comprised John Hall (b. 1948, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; guitar, vocal), Lance Hoppen (b. 1954, Bayshore, New York, USA; bass), Wells Kelly (organ, vocal), Larry Hoppen (guitar, keyboards, vocal) and Jerry Marotta (drums). Drawing from a variety of sources - country, rock, soul and calypso - Orleans acquired a cult following as one of the more intelligent mainstream bands of their era. They signed with ABC in 1973, but were dropped after one album and were picked up by Elektra-Asylum. Success for their new label came immediately with “Dance With Me” an American Top 10 hit. They continued from strength to strength, until Hall left to pursue a solo career in 1977. Morotta departed soon afterwards. They were replaced by Bob Leinback and R.A. Martin, and although the new-look Orleans were less well regarded, they enjoyed another US Top 10 hit in 1979 with “Love Takes Time”

Discography: Orleans later reissued as Before The Dance (ABC 1973)**, Let There Be Music (Asylum 1975)***, Walking And Dreaming (Asylum 1976)***, Forever (Infinity 1979)**, Orleans (1980)**, One Of A Kind (1982)**.