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Welcome to the February Edition of the Orleans Newsletter! We’re glad you’re here!
Topics covered in this E-zine:
1. MySpace anyone?
2. Opus 40 2003 on Video!
3. Grab ALL your Bonuses!
4. Gigs?
5. Cool Links
6. As for me …
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Quick note — The T-Shirts+ Blowout Sale! is still happening. There’s still a chance to get closeout Orleans Logowear at rock-bottom prices.
Well, slowly but surely Orleans is moving into the world of Web 2.0 … or Social Networking as it’s also called. First we entered the world of YouTube, where you can see all the video content we can post (and subscribe if you wish), and now we finally have a MySpace presence, where you can go and get yourself added as a “friend”.
Yeah, I know … we’re not breaking any speed records in getting there and you could hardly call it “cutting edge”, but we’re pickng up steam in using the web to get our music and message out there. And it’s not without a tremendous amount of help from our fans!
CASE IN POINT:
Everyone, meet Steve Eberly — the man behind the official Orleans MySpace page at www.MySpace.com/OrleansOnline
Steve prodded me for months to let him do up a page for us and I always seemed to have other priorities. But, man, am I glad he persisted! Donating an off-the-charts amount of his time and talents, Steve has done an outstanding job of building and managing the site!
See what Steve has done at MySpace ... and get yourself added as Orleans‘ friend (and say “hi” to Steve while you’re at it 🙂
Here’s Steve Eberly with Lance, John and Larry at a gig somewhere in Florida, as I recall.
Good thing we took this shot then (maybe it was back in 2003 or 2004?) or I wouldn’t have any picture to use in this newsletter!
Funny how life just works out most of the time, huh?
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Specially discounted “We’re Still Havin’ Fun” DVD + CD packages still available HERE!
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Like I said, we are getting a tremendous amount of help from our fans! So how cool is this?
On Feb. 12th I got an email from our YouTube channel saying that “BostonDanny” had sent me a video. Tracking tis down, I came to find out that it was not one, but FIFTEEN VIDEOS!
Turns out that BostonDanny is none other than long-time fan and friend, Danny Furlong (of the Boston Furlongs). He and his clan (and there are a LOT of them!) have been attending Orleans shows for as long as any of us can remember.
Apparently, Danny had his camcorder running and managed to capture the bulk of the show at Opus 40 — the amazingly beautiful land sculpture just outside Woodstock, NY) — in September of 2003. Orleans played this particular home-town venue most every Labor Day weekend for over 20 years … but what makes this show unusual is that we appeared as a trio; just John, Larry and myself (Lance).
To see pics of Opus 40 and ALL 15 Videos, head on over to OrleansOnline.com/Opus40_03.html
Danny Furlong on his 2003 cross-country bike trip … from LA to Boston in 30 days! Danny’s “Team Stopalot” raised funds and awareness in support of Larry’s “Sunshine for HIV Kids” foundation, which sends HIV positive kids to camp.
Way to go, Danny!
For info on Sunshine for HIV Kids, visit http://www.sunshinesite.com/
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Wolfgang’s Vault has just released THREE live shows of ours from 1977.
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Congrats on being one of the smart ones … or maybe just the truly interested ones … who subscribed and verified your desire to receive our email transmissions. We appreciate that interest. As such, we do our best to reward you by keeping these epistles informative, lively and, above all else, FUN!
Sure, we’ll have some stuff to hawk from time to time (and you can buy or not, as you wish) but, for the most part, the purpose of these newsletters is to keep you abreast of our travels and evolution; to spin stories and lend insights into what makes Orleans tick.
HERE’S THE THING: Whether you’re brand new or have been here for a while, you’ll want to revisit the FREE DOWNLOADS page. There are now a total of TEN audios available — compiled from the various bonuses we’ve given out this past year or so.
Of course, we will continue to send more free stuff your way over time. Meanwhile, make sure you’ve gotten all there is so far and, while you’re at it, you might want to visit the Video Gallery, where there are LOTS of cool videos old and new, including the Opus 40 show just in from Danny Furlong.
Thanks again for being here! We hope you enjoy reading at least half as much as we enjoy writing to you.
We’ve been enjoying some time off from the road this Winter season, but I think I speak for all the guys when I say we are itching to get back out there!
We did do an RPM date or three … and we all keep busy as in our own ways.
Larry is currently in Japan on tour as the guitarist in Robbie Dupree‘s band.
Lane is the workingest keyboard player in the Orlando area.
Fly is a local phenom is his native New England, especially around Gloucester, MA.
Charlie does recording projects in his home studio, importing files from various artist and producers, laying down drum tracks and then sending them back via the web. “Remote recording” it’s called.
As for me, I keep my hand in play around town in Nashville. I particularly enjoy singing and playing acoustic guitar in the band at my church every Sunday.
Here’s what’s Coming up in March:
Saturday, March 1 – 7 PM
Weston Regional Park (more info) Weston, FL
RPM with Felix Cavaliere (Rascals), Rick Derringer, Jimi Jamison, Ronnie Hammond (Atlanta Rhythm Section) and Alex Ligertwood (Santana)
RPM — Rock & Pop Masters — is Larry Hoppen, Jerry Riggs, Charlie Morgan, Lance Hoppen, Lane Hoppen and Barry Dunaway … doing Orleans‘ hits and backing up some of Classic Rock’s finest on their hits, like the great artists listed above.
Thurs-Sun, March 27-30
Orleans @ Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL
3 shows daily – 11:30 AM, 1: 30 and 3:30 PM
Gigs do tend to pop up from nowhere, so please check the Tour Dates page periodically for details & updates about live shows.
You have a big problem. Let’s say your problem is so big, it’s as big as the earth itself. To put it in perspective, understand the size of the earth. And to go a step further, watch this 6 minute video that will help you to understand the size of the universe. Now how big is your problem?
(offered as a public service)
Chaka Khan at The Concert for the Prince’s Trust, Wembly Arena, 1991
with our own Charlie Morgan on drums
How NOT to advertise for band members!
If you have a “Cool Link” to share, please send it to us at OrleansSupport@gmail.com
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As for me —
I don’t know about you, but I am SO relieved that Valentine’s Day has come and gone. I’m sorry to say that V-Day and I, well … we just can’t seem to get along, no matter how I try. I won’t bore you with the history but trust me — it’s not pretty! Anyway, I’m safe now and I have almost a whole ‘nuther year before it comes ’round again. Better luck next time, huh?
On a brighter note, I am hoping to next move this newsletter thing to the blog at http://orleansonline.blogspot.com/ I mean, it’s been there since November (as you can tell from the one and only initial post), but I just haven’t figured out how to integrate it.
The coolest thing about a blog is that YOU get to talk to US in the “Comments” … not just me talking to you. As comments come in, you can actually talk to each other through the blog, too, and that creates “Community”. So, let’s try an experiment:
If anyone has ANYthing to say to Orleans — comment, question, suggestion, request — please visit the blog and add a Comment. If there’s enough signs of life, I’ll know I’m supposed to fire it up ASAP!
Thanks in advance!
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Best wishes for wherever your path may lead you,
Lance Hoppen
(on behalf of all of Orleans)
PS — please feel free to turn ALL of your friends on to this newsletter — either by forwarding the email version or by referring them to this page — so they may choose to sign up and receive “the good stuff”, too!
Hope you’re enjoying the new web stuff at least half as much as I am creating it. Feedback is always welcome at OrleansSupport@gmail.com
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Somehow missed the Signup Bonus Free Downloads? Grab them HERE.
Missed the more recent Special Perk FREE Downloads? Grab them by going HERE.
If you’re new around here, you can catch up by visiting the links found on our Home page.
PBS began airing “My Music: The 70s Experience” the first weekend of August! (check your local listings)
(for the rest of the story, click here)
“We’re Still Havin’ Fun” (SONY/BMG)
A collection of 10 audio tracks from the DVD of the same name. BONUS! We offer you an EXCLUSIVE, SIGNED, POSTER with every SONY CD! … which you can ONLY get through us.
“Live – Volume 1”: (“Greatest Hits” Live), “Dancin’ in the Moonlight” (latest studio cuts), “Still the One: Live” (30 years of tapes from our personal vaults) — ALL available at FridayMusic
OrleansOnline Digital Download Store is now open!
Analog Men, Ride, Mall Cop, We’re Still Havin’ Fun albums
Analog Men and Ride Downloads!
Two long-lost albums … “Analog Men” (1994) and “Ride” (1996) … are now available as mp3 downloads! These two CDs are out of print and difficult to find anywhere at any price … but we’re making these hidden gems available to YOU at special discount pricing! Listen to samples of TWENTY tracks known only to the most serious diehard fans … checkout the R&B-style REMAKE of “Dance With Me” … then add these cuts to your collection!
“Mall Cop”: If you haven’t yet seen or heard Fly’s offbeat comedic blues tune yet, you can now — released in TWO video versions on YouTube, with the full-length feature on the DVD.
Wolfgang’s Vault is arguably the web’s BEST source for Rock ‘n ‘Roll memorabilia. One of their specialties is the remastering of “vintage live concerts”. We are VERY pleased and proud to announce that Wolfgang’s Vault has just released a live show of ours from 1977.
