{{Short description|US musical group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Major Organ and the Adding Machine | image = | caption = | background = group_or_band | origin = [[Athens, GA]], [[United States]] | genre = [[Indie rock]], [[experimental rock]], [[indie pop]], [[Experimental music|experimental pop]] | years_active = 1997–present | label = [[The Elephant 6 Recording Company|Elephant 6]], [[Orange Twin Records|Orange Twin]] | associated_acts = [[Neutral Milk Hotel]], [[The Olivia Tremor Control]], [[The Music Tapes]], [[of Montreal]] | website = | current_members = Major Organ<br />[[Kevin Barnes]]<br />[[Jeff Mangum]]<br />[[Robert Schneider]]<br />[[Julian Koster]] | past_members = }}
'''Major Organ and the Adding Machine''' is an [[Elephant 6]] supergroup led by the elusive and possibly fictional Major Organ.<ref name='E6'>[http://www.elephant6.com/bands/major.html The Elephant Six Recording Company - Major Organ and the Adding Machine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017082734/http://www.elephant6.com/bands/major.html |date=2006-10-17 }}</ref> The liner notes of the band's debut album, ''Major Organ and the Adding Machine'', leave it a mystery as to who is officially featured. When performing live on the Holiday Surprise Tour, the members of the band wore paper masks to maintain their anonymity.<ref name='OA'>[http://opticalatlas.com/?cat=34 Major Organ and the Adding Machine], Opticalatlas.com</ref> It is believed that the main contributors are [[Jeff Mangum]], [[Julian Koster]], [[Robert Schneider]], and [[Kevin Barnes]], whose vocals are most obviously present on the album,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ari Wiznitzer |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/major-organ-and-the-adding-machine-mw0000012312 |title=Major Organ and the Adding Machine - Major Organ and the Adding Machine | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=2001-06-19 |accessdate=2020-03-31}}</ref> but a number of other Elephant 6 musicians are believed to have contributed too, including members of [[The Olivia Tremor Control]], [[Elf Power]], and [[of Montreal]].<ref name='E6'/>
In 1997, when thought to be a side project of [[Jeff Mangum]] and [[Julian Koster]], Major Organ and the Adding Machine contributed a cover of [[Louis Armstrong]]'s "[[What a Wonderful World]]" to a [[Kindercore Records]] [[Christmas]] compilation. Over the next few years, they recorded a self-titled album and released it on [[Orange Twin Records]] in 2001.<ref name='RYM'>[http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/major_organ_and_the_adding_machine Major Organ and the Adding Machine], Rateyourmusic.com</ref>
A trailer for a Major Organ and the Adding Machine film was shown at the [[40 Watt Club]] on May 5, 2007 and August 11, 2007. The film was premiered on October 7, 2008 and shown at every show on the Holiday Surprise Tour in the following weeks. The film contains no dialogue and is accompanied by alternate arrangements of songs from the Major Organ and the Adding Machine album. An expanded version of the album, including a DVD of the film, was released on September 14, 2010, although some consumers received their copies before the announced release date. The film's credits, as well as the commentary, seemingly confirm the suspected roster of Elephant 6 musicians.
==Discography== *''Major Organ and the Adding Machine'' (CD) - [[Orange Twin]] - 2001 *''Major Organ and the Adding Machine'' (DVD) - [[Orange Twin]] - 2010
The band also submitted a version of "[[What a Wonderful World]]" to the [[Kindercore Records]] [[compilation album]] ''[[Christmas in Stereo]]'', released in 1997
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{E6}}
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[[Category:Elephant 6 artists]] [[Category:Rock music groups from Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Musical groups from Athens, Georgia]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1997]]