Ocean Colour Scene

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Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene logo
Ocean Colour Scene logo
Background information
Origin England Birmingham, England
Genre(s) Rock, Alternative Rock, Britpop
Years active 1992–present
Label(s) Fontana Records
Island Records
Sanctuary Records
Moseley Shoals Records
Website Official site
Members
Simon Fowler
Steve Cradock
Oscar Harrison
Dan Sealey
Andy Bennett
Former members
Damon Minchella

Ocean Colour Scene (often abbreviated to OCS) are a rock band from Birmingham, England. They were formed after two other local bands called The Boys and Fanatics disbanded. Fanatics released an E.P. titled Suburben Love Songs.

Their first 7" single was called "Sway" and was released in the early '90s UK indie era. However, when their record label was swallowed up by larger company Phonogram their eponymous debut was mixed, against the band wishes, to fit in with the Madchester musical trend of the time. With the album largely deemed a failure, and with the band in dispute with their record company, they spent several years in the wilderness.

With the explosion of the Britpop scene, OCS's music became nationally and internationally known. Their second album Moseley Shoals was received to critical acclaim, containing four hit singles and reaching the heights of #2 in the UK Albums Chart and the follow up, Marchin' Already displacing Oasis at the top of the charts.

Their song The Riverboat Song was featured on Chris Evans' TFI Friday - as the backing music when guests were introduced, and "Hundred Mile High City" and "July" were used in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and the associated television series.

Having undergone lineups changes, the band continue to record and perform, though they have struggled to recapture the success they enjoyed with their breakthrough album, Moseley Shoals.

Their sound is deliberately retro, and influenced by sixties rock especially.

Contents

[edit] Band members

Their traditional line-up has consisted of:

Damon Minchella was fired by the band in 2003, temporarily replaced by Gary "Mani" Mounfield for a support slot with Stereophonics and then was permanently replaced by Dan Sealey on bass. Another guitarist, Andy Bennett was also added, making them a five-piece.

[edit] Other contributing musicians

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

released Title Highest chart position
1992 Ocean Colour Scene 54 (upon 1996 re-release)
April 1996 Moseley Shoals 2
September 1997 Marchin' Already 1
September 1999 One from the Modern 4
April 2001 Mechanical Wonder 7
July 2003 North Atlantic Drift 14
March 2005 A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad 30

[edit] B-sides, Compilations and Lives

March 1997 B-sides, Seasides and Freerides 4 B-sides compilation of material from the "Moseley Shoals" era.
December 2002 Live on the Riverboat N/A/ Live recording of an acoustic concert by Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison and released via their website in limited edition run of 3000 copies.
July 2001 Songs for the Front Row 16 Compilation of mainly singles up to 2001 with some other tracks. Also a limited edition was released with bonus live CD.
July 2003 Anthology 75 A complete collection of Ocean Colour Scene's material from their debut album up to 2001. Including singles and b-sides. A limited edition CD was released with bonus disc featuring alternative mixes, b-sides and live songs.
September 2004 One For The Road 99 A live album taken from their 2004 summer festival tour.
April 2005 Anthology (re-issue) N/A Re-issue of 2003's Anthology, including 'Filmed From the Front Row' DVD instead of the original bonus disc.
May 2006 Live Acoustic at the Jam House 73 Live album from a Birmingham acoustic gig in mid-February 2006.

[edit] UK Singles

  • 1989 (as The Fanatics) "Suburban Love Songs"
  • 1990 "One Of Those Days"
  • 1990 "Sway"
  • 1991 "Yesterday Today EP" #49
  • 1992 "Sway" reissue #88
  • 1992 "Giving It All Away" #83
  • 1992 "Do Yourself A Favour EP" #94
  • 1996 "The Riverboat Song" #15
  • 1996 "You've Got It Bad" #7
  • 1996 "The Day We Caught the Train" #4
  • 1996 "The Circle" #6
  • 1997 "Hundred Mile High City" #4
  • 1997 "Travellers Tune" #5
  • 1997 "Better Day" #9
  • 1998 "It's a Beautiful Thing" #12
  • 1999 "Profit in Peace" #13
  • 1999 "So Low" #34
  • 2000 "July / I am the News" #31
  • 2000 "The Waves"
  • 2001 "Up on the Down Side" #19
  • 2001 "Mechanical Wonder" #49
  • 2001 "Crazy Lowdown Ways" #64
  • 2003 "I Just Need Myself" #13
  • 2003 "Make the Deal" #35
  • 2004 "Golden Gate Bridge" #40
  • 2005 "Free My Name" #23
  • 2005 "This Day Should Last Forever" #53

[edit] Collaborations

  • 1998 England United "(How Does It Feel) To Be On Top Of The World" #9 (Official England World Cup song Featuring Ocean Colour Scene, Echo & the Bunnymen, Space and The Spice Girls) (although credited as OCS, only Fowler was involved).

[edit] DVDs & Videos

  • 1997 Times of Our Lives [VHS]
  • 1998 Travellers Tune [VHS]
  • 2003 Filmed From the Front Row [DVD] (re-issued in 2005 as part of the 3 disc Anthology box set)

[edit] External links

Ocean Colour Scene
Steve Cradock • Simon Fowler • Oscar Harrison • Damon Minchella
Discography
Studio albums: Ocean Colour Scene (1992) • Moseley Shoals (1996) • Marchin' Already (1997) • One From The Modern (1999) • Mechanical Wonder (2001) • North Atlantic Drift (2003) • A Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad (2005)
Live albums: Live on the Riverboat (2003) • One For The Road (2006) • Live at the Jam House (2006)
Compilations: B-sides, Seasides and Freerides (1997) • Songs for the Front Row (2001) • Anthology (2003)
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