Orange Peel from Haunau near Frankfurt/Main was an early German hard-edged progressive rock band founded in 1968. The line-up consisted of singer and percussionist H. Peter Bischof, guitarist H. Leslie Link, Ralph Wiltheiß on keyboards, bassist Heinrich Mohn and Curt Cress on drums. In 1970, following the release of a single (still without Ralph Wiltheiß) which failed to make an impact, they recorded their only, self-titled album at Tonstudio Dierks with Dieter Dierks as sound engineer. The result, produced by Gerhard Rieger, was released in 1971 on Bellaphon and was an organ-dominated blend of progressive rock and some blues-rock elements.

This release marked the beginning of drummer Curt Cress’s long and impressive career. He was then only 17 years old and still studying the art of percussion, when the album was recorded. The quintet disbanded in 1971, shortly after their first and only LP. Their debut album is still regarded today as an exceptional example of early heavy progressive rock and one of the most intense German albums, characterised by long tracks full of improvised, psychedelic and powerful Hammond organ sounds, edgy electric guitar solos and magnificent drumming. Original copies of the German Bellaphon pressing, featuring cover artwork by Helmut Wenske, are now extremely hard to find.