All beginnings start with a name. And so, in October 1989, Simon Fowler, Steve Cradock, Damon Minchella and Oscar Harrison sat down together, chose their three favourite words, arranged them in a satisfactory order and became Ocean Colour Scene. A year later, they recorded their debut single ‘One Of Those Days’ and within months had a first taste of chart action with a third single ‘Yesterday Today’. Nevertheless, mainstream success would prove to be a trickier proposition. After a clutch of underperforming single releases, their record label, Fontana, dropped the band.

There followed a three year hiatus and a difficult period of self-examination. When the band re-emerged, they had reinvented themselves and faced the music industry guns blazing. In February 1996, ‘The Riverboat Song’ smashed into the UK chart and trail blazed six consecutive top ten hits. Backed by the triple platinum selling Moseley Shoals and the number one album Marchin’ Already, Ocean Colour Scene became one of the hottest bands in the country, as the hits kept rolling.

Thirty-five years on, and Ocean Colour Scene are still together: making music and regularly selling out huge concert halls across the country. They have the support of an extraordinarily dedicated and loyal fan base who cherish their music and hold close to their hearts a lifetime of memories supporting the group. Yet Ocean Colour Scene have never been popular with the music press. They are frequently overlooked for the key role they played in the nineties music scene. They were, and still are, subjected to derision and scorn. It matters not. Ocean Colour Scene did it their way. Standing firm by their music. They became the people’s band. They believe in the soul of bass, drum and guitar rhythm. They exude melody. And they stand amongst the finest purveyors of the stirring sounds of a live concert. Each of the band has a passion to transcend everyday mundanity with music. And most of all they believe, as they always have, that one song can elevate the spirit and enrich the human experience.

This 228-track 15CD Collection is the first of its kind. A celebration of one of Britain’s finest bands. Including all of their studio albums from the self-titled debut album Ocean Colour Scene, to the chart-topping Moseley Shoals, Marchin’ Already, One For The Modern and the post Brit-pop Mechanical Wonder, North Atlantic Drift, A Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad, On The Leyline and the later albums Saturday and Painting.

Moreover, the B-sides and rarities included in this boxset offer a treasure trove of lesser known Ocean Colour Scene classics. There is the Free inspired ‘So Sad’ and ‘Men Of Such Opinion’ (Simon’s favourite self-written lyric), the irresistibly melodic ‘Huckleberry Grove’ featuring the Jamaican ska legend Rico Rodriguez, and the more sedate ballads ‘Robin Hood’, ‘I Need A Love Song’ and ‘Mrs Jones’. After the ear-blasting ‘Day Tripper’, featuring Noel and Liam Gallagher. To round off the connection, you may also want to listen to an unreleased song of Weller’s, ‘For Dancers Only’, which Steve unearthed for Ocean Colour Scene’s 2007 release, On The Leyline.

Accompanying 15CD collection is a stunning 72-page hardback book, with in-depth essay from award winning author Daniel Rachel depicting the rise of Ocean Colour Scene from the inside. No stone has been left unturned as alongside these words the book is packed with incredible photographs from Ocean Colour Scene photographers Lawrence Watson and Tony Briggs, many previously unseen. There’s also personal memorabilia, tour flyers, back stage passes from legendary gigs, lyrics and more. It’s all here!

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