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.

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.

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.