💿 The Orange Album – Release Info

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(US) ⚔️ Band Cirith Ungol • Format Cassette/MC/Tape and Demo • Published Aug 1978

Tracklist

MC / CD	title	vote	time	Rob	Jerry	Greg	Tim	Neil	written / music by	except for this, first listening to…	lyrics
A01 / 01	Show You All	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	03:20	^ vocal	•				Lindstrom	cover: (2008)	Same as Die Wontcha?
A02 / 02	High Speed Love	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	04:25			*	x vocal		Lindstrom	cover: (2004) / original: MySpace (2004?)	Same as Falcon?
A03 / 03	Neck Romancer	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	03:45		•	*			Lindstrom		instrumental
A04 / 04	Use Me	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	03:00	^		*			Lindstrom
A05 / 05	Bite Of The Worm	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	04:40		•	* ≪ vocal			Lindstrom	original: (2001)
A06 / 06	Witchdance	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	01:10			*			Lindstrom	original: Servants of Chaos (2001)	instrumental
B01 / 07	King Tut Uncommon	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	03:00	^	•				Lindstrom / Garven
B02 / 08	Atom Smasher	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	03:25		•				Lindstrom / Garven / Fogle	remake: (1984)	instrumental
B03 / 09	We Know You’re Out There	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	04:20		•	*	duet vocal	x duet vocal	Lindstrom	original: (2004?)	alien invasion
B04 / 10	Witsucker	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	07:00			*			Lindstrom		instrumental
B05 / 11	Route 666	Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0	04:00		•	* ≪ vocal			Lindstrom / Garven	cover: Falcon (2004), re-recording on Half Past Human (2021)	same as Falcon?
	Total		42:05

Credits

Robert Garven: Drums, Percussion, Lead^, Background Vocals.
Jerry Fogle: Lead•, Rhythm Guitars.
Greg Lindstrom: Bass, Lead*, Rhythm Guitars, Lead≪, Background Vocals.

Special Guests:

Tim Baker: Lead vocals on High Speed Love, Background vocals.
Neil Beattie: Lead vocals on We Know You’re Out There.

Additional Credits from 2020:

Remastered by Bart Gabriel
Iron Grip Management

All songs arranged by Cirith Ungol.
All songs recorded July-August 1978 at Liquid Flame Studios A&B, Ventura, California.
Engineered and mixed by Greg Lindstrom, Robert Garven, and Tim Baker.

- band members -

Robert Garven – 21/22 years then in 1978
Jerry Fogle – 21/22 years then in 1978
Greg Lindstrom – 20/21 years then in 1978
Tim Baker – 21/22 years then in 1978
Neil Beattie – (?) years then in 1978

- music industry, artwork, photography, mention or various misc -

Bart Gabriel – 1/2 years then in 1978
Greg Lindstrom – 20/21 years then in 1978
Jarvis Leatherby – -4/-3 years then in 1978
Jerry Fogle – 21/22 years then in 1978
Neil Beattie – (?) years then in 1978
Robert Garven – 21/22 years then in 1978
Tim Baker – 21/22 years then in 1978

Streaming

Tue 01 Aug 1978 Liquid Flame Studios A&B

ID: 22818
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/1978-liquid-flame-studios-ab/
Title: 1978 (Liquid Flame Studios A&B)

Release label: Liquid Flame Studios A&B
Release date: Tue 01 Aug 1978

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Fri 04 Dec 2020 Iron Grip Records, Limited 666 copies

ID: 22819
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/2020-iron-grip-records-cassette/
Title: 2020 (Iron Grip Records; cassette)

Release label: Iron Grip Records
Release date: Fri 04 Dec 2020
Limited: 666

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Fri 02 Apr 2021 Iron Grip Records, Limited 100 copies

ID: 25631
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/2020-iron-grip-records-cassette-2/
Title: 2020 (Iron Grip Records; cassette 2)

Release label: Iron Grip Records
Release date: Fri 02 Apr 2021
Limited: 100

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Fri 02 Apr 2021 Iron Grip Records, Limited 100 copies

ID: 24094
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/2021-iron-grip-records-igr-001cd1/
Title: 2021 (Iron Grip Records; IGR-001CD1)

Release label: Iron Grip Records
Release number: IGR-001CD1
Release date: Fri 02 Apr 2021
Limited: 100

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Sun 01 Jan 2023 Metal Army / Mindscrape Music

ID: 31589
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/metal-army-mindscrape-music-army-073-cd/
Title: Metal Army / Mindscrape Music – ARMY 073-CD

Release label: Metal Army / Mindscrape Music
Release number: ARMY 073-CD
Release date: Sun 01 Jan 2023

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Tue 31 Dec 2024 Iron Grip Records

ID: 31593
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/iron-grip-records-igr-00lp/
Title: (Iron Grip Records; IGR-00LP?)

Release label: Iron Grip Records
Release date: Tue 31 Dec 2024

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Wed 31 Dec 2025 Iron Grip Records

ID: 24095
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/iron-grip-records-igr-002cd2/
Title: (Iron Grip Records; IGR-002CD2?)

Release label: Iron Grip Records
Release date: Wed 31 Dec 2025

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Heaviest Metal

A cassette demo known as self release, or “Demo Cassette Album“, “Demo cassette”, “Orange demo”, “Orange label”, “Orange cassette”, later “Orange album”, or simply as “Album”. Subtitle is “Heaviest Metal”. Limited to a few hundred copies. The repressed title is called “The Orange Album” from Dec 2020.

Well here’s a surprise for you all! Effective immediately… We present to you a faithful reproduction of our very first demo tape, widely known as “The Orange Album”! There was maybe 100 copies in circulation upon it’s release in 1978, but thankfully we were able to track down one lasting copy in the band’s collection. Today we are proud to reissue this for all who have been wondering what this thing actually sounded like.
This tape is limited to 666 numbered copies, and is available for you TODAY in the following…
Exclusive T-Shirt + Cassette Bundle available at the Iron Grip Bandcamp page (December 4th only)

Official press release blurb…
Cirith Ungol The Orange Album. This is a faithful reproduction of the original 1978 cassette tape, whose name derives from the distinctive bright orange j-card. The Orange Album was the earliest recording ever circulated by the band, who passed out home-dubbed copies to drum up record company interest and line up live show bookings. This is a piece of heavy metal history, shedding light on the origins of Cirith Ungol’s sound in its embryonic, evolutionary stage and featuring four lead vocalists. After being unavailable in any format for more than four decades, freshly remastered by Bart Gabriel but otherwise entirely true to the original release The Orange Album now sees the light of day once again.
– Official CU, 04 Dec 2020

Due to popular demand, we’ve produced 100 more copies of The Orange Album on cassette. It’s Bancamp Friday, so head over to the Iron Grip page and grab yours while supplies last!
– Official CU, 05 Feb 2021

The long-awaited repress of The Orange Album is here! We have 100 more copies of the cassette and 100 CDs in stock.
– Official CU, 02 Apr 2021

The orange cassette was a demo that we were giving to friends and I think we sent some out looking for a label.

– Robert Garven, March 2019

The cassette demo “album” had an orange cover, and it was distributed at gigs. Some of the tunes on the orange cassette included “Show You All” sung by Rob, “Route 666” sung by Greg, “We Know You’re Out There” sung by exiting Neal Beattie and entering Tim Baker and “High Speed Love” sung by Tim Baker.

– Perry Grayson, 31 Jan 2006

The video was recorded in 2020, around the time of the reissue. It features only spoken segments—no music was performed. Neil Beattie, the original vocalist, is still alive, but unfortunately not included. His absence is noticeable, especially considering his role in the band’s earliest days. Hopefully, he can be part of a future project.

Cirith Ungol’s first recorded music dates back to 1978. At that time, no video material was made—only audio recordings exist from that era.

The 2020 release was issued as a limited edition: copy number 000454 out of a total of 00666. The final track fittingly centers on Route 666, reinforcing the band’s signature dark and mystical themes.

Note: Several aspects of their reissues—particularly those released by Iron Grip Records—have drawn criticism for lacking depth and attention to detail.

One major omission is the absence of original vocalist Neil Beattie, who is still alive and has offered valuable insights into the band’s formative years. In a video recorded in December 2020—released around the time of the reissue—he was not included, despite his significance. His absence is felt, and it seems he was deliberately left out of the narrative.
Fans have also hoped for an expanded booklet that would include not just lyrics (excluding instrumental tracks), but also in-depth comments, interviews, rare photos, and the 11 commissioned paintings inspired by the songs. Examples of these include Show You All, High Speed Love, King Tut Uncommon and Route 666. These artworks could have added a powerful visual and thematic layer to the release, but were ultimately ignored.
The format of the physical release has also been a point of contention. Iron Grip Records issued the album as a CD-R in a digipak, which many collectors consider substandard. A proper pressed CD in a jewel case was only later made available—and only in Brazil.
Additionally, the inclusion of bonus tracks has been requested, as these would offer a broader look at the band’s creative process and evolution, yet they too were omitted.
A reissue that respects the legacy of Cirith Ungol should go beyond basic distribution. It should serve as a true archival edition—complete, thoughtfully assembled, and worthy of the band’s storied past.

Show You All, High Speed Love and Route 666 from the cover of Falcon. High Speed Love are maybe from the Matt Baker’s The Cirith Ungol Legion MySpace group (dead link) or Cirith Ungol themself. Bite of the Worm and Witchdance are from the Orange tape and on Servants of Chaos. Atom Smasher has earlier from Orange tape. We Know You’re Out There are from the first Cirith Ungol MySpace.

We recorded a 12 track [ed: 11 track] demo cassette (the “Orange Album”) in 1979 [ed: 1978], which we sold locally and at shows. “Bite of the Worm” and “Witchdance” from that cassette are on “Servants Of Chaos”. We sent the cassette out to a lot of record companies, but I think they were all looking for another Van Halen at that time, so we decided to release an album ourselves.

– Greg Lindstrom, Dark Tales 4/2002

VHS (German): Also zum Orange Album…..ich habe es gehört, besitze es aber nicht. Rob Garven hat es mir bei sich zuhause vorgespielt, als wir den Deal damals für dei Reunion klargemacht haben. Es gibt auch noch alte VHS aus den 70ern mit Jerry Fogle und Greg Lindström, die noch kein Mensch außerhalb Robs Haus gesehen hat. Das war ein sehr langer Abend/Nacht damals. Rob hat daheim ein Buch, bei dem er zu jedem Song des Orange Albums die Lyrics gemalt hat, immer zum Text passend. Ich hab da ein paar Fotos gemacht, muss ich bei Gelegenheit mal rauskramen.

– Oliver Weinsheimer (Deaf Forever forum and artist) from Keep it True.

Engineer and mixer

Dokorder – reel to reel tape recorders. Rob’s parent’s house using a Tascam mixer and a Dokorder 4 channel recorder.

Armed with their own Dokorder reel-to-reel 4 track recorder, Cirith Ungol whapped out a tape chock full of their blistering tunes.

– Perry Grayson, 31 Jan 2006

All the songs on this CD were recorded in our 10 x 14 practice room in Rob’s parents’ house on our trusty Dokorder 7140 4 track reel-to-reel and Teac Model 3 mixer.

– Greg Lindstrom, liner notes

Dokorder – Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording

TEAC. But which “Teac Model 3 mixer” for Cirith Ungol in 1978? This one?

The bootlegs and the genuines

demo are the The Orange Album – December 1977 with pyramid yellow/orange background. Mr. Goniloc talked about records on video (30 May 2018) on Cirith Ungol. Amongst other thing, The Orange Album released maybe 2018, and is fake.
the self-titled Cirith Ungol (1979) and cover is “Praying Skeleton” on white skeleton on black background. And it is also bootleg. Not sure about it’s date, but some years earlier. Maybe released 2002? I have never seen before, just media. Does it really exists the fake demo in real, or just Internet?
On the cassette, what is the source for it? Where’s the sound coming from? Is it real rehearsal tape, or just a fan bootleg?
On Demo ’79 is bootleg it is just a bootleg. Where’s the sound coming from?

There is only one demo before Frost and Fire, not two, regarding on Robert Garven. So Wikipedia, Metal Archives, and so on is fake.

Very funny! The first two releases shown were actually bootlegs. The second was derived from a concert poster I drew!?

– Robert Garven, Goniloc 2018

Probably to have The Orange Album (Dec 1977) on Halloween Party (1976).

I have never seen that, however the art is from a poster I drew for the band I looked and could not find that one in my archives, but still looking.

– Robert Garven, March 2019

The first demo tape is nick named “Orange album”, etc. (Jul/Aug 1978) is genuine. Except that, all of pictures are fake, counterfeit or bootleg.

: Elric at the End of Time, cover art by Rodney Matthews, online bootleg

: Dragon Fire, cover art by Michael Whelan, online bootleg

: Amazing Dragon, cover art by Michael Whelan, online bootleg

: online bootleg, original is Heaviest Metal @ National Guard Armory

: original

: original

: original

: original

The geniune one is The Orange Album with “Praying Skeleton” orange/red background (Aug 1978/remaster 2020).

The second geniune and the last demo are the first Frost and Fire. Sound identical, but not text and pictures.

LP: US (Liquid Flame Records; HM13666)

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