Stand Up

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as The Zoo Crew spins "Stand Up" by Orion The Hunter from their 1984 self-titled album! This track is a melodic rock gem, featuring the searing vocals of Fran Cosmo and the stellar guitar work of Barry Goudreau. One juicy piece of trivia comes from the album's liner notes on thirdstage.ca, which reveal that Fran Cosmo himself played the phased guitar on "Stand Up," adding a unique texture to the song's driving rhythm. The track also showcases background vocals by Brad Delp, whose unmistakable voice from Boston adds a lush layer to the chorus, particularly noticeable in live performances, as noted by fans on Reddit. Delp's contribution was a big deal, given his status as Boston's iconic frontman, and his harmonies helped make "Stand Up" a standout, even if it didn’t chart as high as the album’s hit "So You Ran."

Another cool tidbit about "Stand Up" comes from fan reviews on Amazon, where listeners praise its infectious energy and compare it to the polished AOR sound of bands like Journey and Starship. One reviewer called it a "nice rocker" but noted it fell just short of the album’s heavier hitters like "Dreamin’." Still, the song’s anthemic quality made it a favorite for rock radio in 1984, and its guitar-driven hooks embody the era’s mainstream rock spirit, as described on Genius. Fans on the Orion The Hunter Fans Facebook group often share nostalgic stories of catching the band’s tour with Aerosmith in ’84, where "Stand Up" was a crowd-pleaser, with Goudreau’s solos lighting up the stage. Though no direct interviews about "Stand Up" surfaced, the band’s short-lived but passionate run left a mark, with fans lamenting the unreleased second album demos mentioned on Wikipedia.

Orion The Hunter got their start as a spinoff from the legendary rock band Boston, formed during a gap between Boston’s 1978 album Don’t Look Back and 1986’s Third Stage. Guitarist Barry Goudreau, a founding member of Boston, teamed up with singer Fran Cosmo, who had previously sung on Goudreau’s 1980 solo album, as noted on AllMusic. The lineup was rounded out by bassist Bruce Smith and former Heart drummer Michael DeRosier, creating a powerhouse of talent. Initially called Orion, the band added "The Hunter" to their name due to legal pressure from Orion Pictures, a fact shared on The Music Museum of New England. Their self-titled debut, released in 1984 on Portrait/CBS Records, was a love letter to AOR fans, with contributions from Boston’s Brad Delp, who co-wrote four songs and sang backups. The album’s polished production and Cosmo’s sky-high vocals caught the ear of Boston’s Tom Scholz, leading to Cosmo joining Boston in the early ’90s, as detailed on Wikipedia.

While Orion The Hunter doesn’t have an official website or active social media accounts today, fans keep the flame alive online. You can dive into discussions on the Orion The Hunter Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can connect with other diehards sharing vinyl finds and concert memories. There’s no official Facebook, Instagram, or X page for the band, but searching those platforms for #OrionTheHunter turns up fan posts and rare photos. For more fan-driven content, check out thirdstage.ca, a site dedicated to Boston and its offshoots, with detailed band info and discography. Another great spot is Rate Your Music, where fans rate and review the album, keeping the legacy of "Stand Up" and Orion The Hunter alive for new listeners.