Orange Wedge - 1974 - No One Left But Me

Orange Wedge

1974

No One Left But Me

01. S.P.
02. Hungry Man
03. No One Left But Me
04. Dream
05. Whisky And Gin
06. People
07. The Date

Joe Farace - Guitar
Don Cowger - Bass
Tom Rizzo - Drums
Greg Coulson - Vocals
Gene Ingham - Bass, Flute
Mark O'Connor - Mellotron, Synthesizer, Clavinet
Gene Meros - Flute

Orange Wedge was established around 1968 in Baltimore, Maryland. The group evolved from Greg & the Originals. Members were Greg Coulson (lead vocals), Fred Zang (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Don Cowger (bass). In 1968 they added Craig Krixer (lead guitar), Dave Burgess (keyboards) and Tom Rizzo (drums). Krixer came up with the name Orange Wedge. The rock band began playing many teen centers, and school dances. After a brief illness and hospital stay in early 1969 Coulson rejoined the band.

They began playing on regular basis quickly becoming one of the top hard rock bands in Baltimore. Orange Wedge could be seen at all the local clubs in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. Zang and Krixer left the group in 1969 and joined Black Foot Smoke. Zang played guitar and / or bass for a lot of other groups. He is still active in the music business. The group that created the records existed between 1971 and 1975.

The 1976 follow up to Wedge was No One Left But Me. Due to the lack of offers the Orange Wedge also released their second LP as a private pressing that was to be sold at gigs and local shops, and it sold like hot bread making this one an elusive piece among hard rock collectors. Their sound here is still 100% high energy, though an evolution has been made and the band sounds a bit more sophisticated.

It was their best selling album at the time with a pressing of 1000 copies that hardly made it out of Baltimore, so here's a very good chance to rediscover this amazing piece of pure rock power. Here at Wah Wah we have respectfully worked on its reissue to offer you a killer release in thick cardboard paste-up sleeve, and featuring an insert with the story of the band and lots of cool photos gently provided by original Orange Wedge guitarist and composer Joe Farace.

Orange Wedge - 1972 - Wedge

Orange Wedge

1972

Wedge

01. Love Me 2:58
02. Death Comes Slowly 11:15
03. Comfort Of You 5:28
04. Keep On Livin' 6:01
05. One Night Lover 4:01
06. Meathouse Shuffle 2:04
07. Revenge 6:34

Joe Farace - Guitar
Don Cowger - Bass
Tom Rizzo - Drums
Dave Burgess - Keyboards
Greg Coulson - Vocals
Gene Ingham - Bass, Flute

Hard Rock band Orange Wedge's first album, was originally released in 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland released as a private pressing on label Contraband,for gifts to girls and broadcast during performances. It is said that only 500 copies were Recorded between march and september 1972 at Flite Tree Recordings.

Band formed in the late sixties and has released two full length meager circulation. Music reminds of contemporaries "Detroit Waves" - no compromise, no anguish, no psychology, but the punch so that the enthusiastic fans jumped head, while conservative opponents became hysterical. It is clear that a team with such a drive was hugely popular on campuses and youth clubs, and, in general, it is not even particularly wanted to so much to be "widespread recognition".

Looking ahead. I will say that the next record came out twice the circulation - the whole thousand! Still - a great, brutal, melodic hard time very good level.Note band practically sang covers, almost all the material - your own. Somehow it is not very typical of a little-known and not too ambitious team.

However, the lack of ambition and not all suffering after it became clear that the ceiling of popularity and promotion of staff are local radio stations, the composition began to rapidly melt and by 1975 there were only away vocalist Greg Colson and drummer Tom Rizzo, who had to announce soon the closure of the project.

This first Orange Wedge album was originally a private pressing of 500 copies. Nowadays it's a very rare album as the original pressing as you might guess. On the musical point of view this is pretty damn strong mix of guitar driven hard rock and psychedelic elements. The album includes seven songs which are all more or less great. "Death Comes Slowly" is the longest song of the album and it's a true killer and probably the ultimate highlight here. But the other songs do their job more than fine as well.

If you're into the early 70's hard rock and heavy psych you don't want to miss this album. Do yourself a favour and check it out if you enjoy those genres. This one is an undiscovered and forgotten gem.