BOFALLONGO
''BEYOND YOUR HEAD''
1970
41:43
1 $1000 Week (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 2:43
2 The Pioneer Song (Basil Matychak) 3:12
3 Beyond Your Head (Larry Hoppen) 4:57
4 Snow White Lady (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 2:49
5 Endless Questions (Larry Hoppen) 2:00
6 Galaxy Glide (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 5:09
7 Hard To Keep From Cryin' (Larry Hoppen) 4:55
8 Sleepy-Time Guy (Basil Matychak) 2:07
9 Dancing In The Moonlight (Sherman Kelly) 3:08
10 Baby Suite Going Away (Larry Hoppen) 2:44
11 Baby Suite Cold Town In Winter (Larry Hoppen) 2:36
12 Baby Suite Please Love Me (Larry Hoppen) 5:20
Larry Hoppen/Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Dave "Doc" Robinson/Vocals, Bass
Basil Matychak/Vocals, Keyboards
Richie Vitagliano/Drums
ABOUT
- Keith Ginsberg left the band after the release of "Boffalongo". The timeframe most likely would've been late 1968 or early 1969. He was replaced by Dave "Doc" Robinson, a friend of Larry's from Ithaca. The addition of Doc on bass allowed Larry to switch from bass to guitar.
- After the release of "Beyond Your Head" Basil Matychak left the band and was replaced by Sherman Kelly (a friend of Doc's) on Keyboards, and drummer Richie Vitagliano was replaced by Pete Giansante, a former college roommate of Larry's. Although, Sherman does appear on Doc's song "$1000 Week" I don't believe he was an official band member at the time of that recording. Sherman wouldn't become an official member until shortly after the album had been recorded. I believe the album liner notes and credits support that.
- Sherman's song "Dancing In The Moonlight" was heard, liked and perceived to be a "hit" song by the label. The band lineup which was now Larry (guitars), Doc (bass), Sherman (keyboards), and Pete (drums) recorded the song and it was placed on subsequent releases of "Beyond Your Head". The song wasn't promoted by the record label and failed to do well in the charts.
- David "Doc" Robinson would leave the band in 1970, move to Paris, France and form King Harvest the band that would go on to have a top 20 hit with "Dancing In The Moonlight". It was Doc that would sing Lead Vocal on the King Harvest version of the song. The rest of 1970 Boffalongo, consisted of Larry, Sherman, most likely Pete on drums, and various bass players.
- Wells Kelly joined King Harvest in Paris, France in 1971 and left the group by that spring. Shortly after returning to the U.S. Wells would become a member of Boffalongo, along with future Orleans/John Hall Band Alumni Bob Leinbach on Organ and Vocals. So this lineup would consist of Larry (guitars), Sherman (keyboards), Bob (Keyboards), Wells (drums) and various Bass players. This lineup would last until the end of 1971 when Wells left the band to form a new group with John Hall in Woodstock. According to Larry, "Shortly before Christmas, 1971, Wells got a call from John Hall to come to Woodstock, NY and form a band. Wells announced this to all Boff-ians; we realized that our Boff days were over, immediately."
- In some places it's written that Boffalongo evolved into Orleans, this is inaccurate. At the end of 1971 Wells and John formed a band in Woodstock. Wells played keyboards and John was on guitar. In 1972 when their drummer and bassist quit the band Larry was asked to join, which he did. That band shifted to the trio of Wells (drums), John (guitars), and Larry (bass) although they would often switch instruments during the show. This is the lineup that would exist through 1972 and possibly into early 1973. You can hear early recordings of the trio by subscribing to the Orleans Newsletter here. You can download these songs, as well as, others for FREE. At some point in 1972 or very early 1973, Lance (bass) would join the band and Larry would switch to guitar. It was this lineup that would evolve into Orleans, a name apparently suggested by Wells.
''BEYOND YOUR HEAD''
1970
41:43
1 $1000 Week (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 2:43
2 The Pioneer Song (Basil Matychak) 3:12
3 Beyond Your Head (Larry Hoppen) 4:57
4 Snow White Lady (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 2:49
5 Endless Questions (Larry Hoppen) 2:00
6 Galaxy Glide (Dave "Doc" Robinson) 5:09
7 Hard To Keep From Cryin' (Larry Hoppen) 4:55
8 Sleepy-Time Guy (Basil Matychak) 2:07
9 Dancing In The Moonlight (Sherman Kelly) 3:08
10 Baby Suite Going Away (Larry Hoppen) 2:44
11 Baby Suite Cold Town In Winter (Larry Hoppen) 2:36
12 Baby Suite Please Love Me (Larry Hoppen) 5:20
Larry Hoppen/Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Dave "Doc" Robinson/Vocals, Bass
Basil Matychak/Vocals, Keyboards
Richie Vitagliano/Drums
ABOUT
- Keith Ginsberg left the band after the release of "Boffalongo". The timeframe most likely would've been late 1968 or early 1969. He was replaced by Dave "Doc" Robinson, a friend of Larry's from Ithaca. The addition of Doc on bass allowed Larry to switch from bass to guitar.
- After the release of "Beyond Your Head" Basil Matychak left the band and was replaced by Sherman Kelly (a friend of Doc's) on Keyboards, and drummer Richie Vitagliano was replaced by Pete Giansante, a former college roommate of Larry's. Although, Sherman does appear on Doc's song "$1000 Week" I don't believe he was an official band member at the time of that recording. Sherman wouldn't become an official member until shortly after the album had been recorded. I believe the album liner notes and credits support that.
- Sherman's song "Dancing In The Moonlight" was heard, liked and perceived to be a "hit" song by the label. The band lineup which was now Larry (guitars), Doc (bass), Sherman (keyboards), and Pete (drums) recorded the song and it was placed on subsequent releases of "Beyond Your Head". The song wasn't promoted by the record label and failed to do well in the charts.
- David "Doc" Robinson would leave the band in 1970, move to Paris, France and form King Harvest the band that would go on to have a top 20 hit with "Dancing In The Moonlight". It was Doc that would sing Lead Vocal on the King Harvest version of the song. The rest of 1970 Boffalongo, consisted of Larry, Sherman, most likely Pete on drums, and various bass players.
- Wells Kelly joined King Harvest in Paris, France in 1971 and left the group by that spring. Shortly after returning to the U.S. Wells would become a member of Boffalongo, along with future Orleans/John Hall Band Alumni Bob Leinbach on Organ and Vocals. So this lineup would consist of Larry (guitars), Sherman (keyboards), Bob (Keyboards), Wells (drums) and various Bass players. This lineup would last until the end of 1971 when Wells left the band to form a new group with John Hall in Woodstock. According to Larry, "Shortly before Christmas, 1971, Wells got a call from John Hall to come to Woodstock, NY and form a band. Wells announced this to all Boff-ians; we realized that our Boff days were over, immediately."
- In some places it's written that Boffalongo evolved into Orleans, this is inaccurate. At the end of 1971 Wells and John formed a band in Woodstock. Wells played keyboards and John was on guitar. In 1972 when their drummer and bassist quit the band Larry was asked to join, which he did. That band shifted to the trio of Wells (drums), John (guitars), and Larry (bass) although they would often switch instruments during the show. This is the lineup that would exist through 1972 and possibly into early 1973. You can hear early recordings of the trio by subscribing to the Orleans Newsletter here. You can download these songs, as well as, others for FREE. At some point in 1972 or very early 1973, Lance (bass) would join the band and Larry would switch to guitar. It was this lineup that would evolve into Orleans, a name apparently suggested by Wells.
