Speaking of receiving help from friends in high places…..

Ocean Colour Scene formed in Birmingham, England in 1989, rising from the ashes of two bands who had recently broken up. Fortunately, they soon acquired a record deal, but unfortunately, their label wasn’t entirely happy with the band’s debut album. Without the band’s permission, the label remixed the album to sound more like the Madchester dance-rock currently favored in the UK music scene. Critics at large received it poorly, and the public followed suit.

The rift between Ocean Colour Scene and their record label meant the band had no money, but they caught another break when they caught the attention of retro-rocker Paul Weller (formerly of The Jam and The Style Council) who tapped the group to open for him in concert and asked a couple of the guys to appear on his next album. The money they earned allowed Ocean Colour Scene to afford food and studio time — all that a band needs — and they were able to complete a demo tape.

That demo tape made the rounds and found its way into the hands of Noel “The Brother Who Writes The Songs” Gallagher, who asked the group to open shows for Oasis on their 1995 tour. All the attention from Weller, Oasis, and the demo tape led to Ocean Colour Scene signing with MCA, and then it was back into a proper studio, with proper financial backing, to record their proper “debut” album, Moseley Shoals.

The first single from the album, “The Riverboat Song,” was released in early 1996 and sailed into the UK Top 15. They would score bigger hits in the next few years, but “The Riverboat Song” announced their presence with authority, establishing the band’s own sound apart from Oasis, Blur, and the other Britpop groups. Could they have made it on their own? Probably. But it never hurts to have a little help from your friends.

So free an eagle instead … with Ocean Colour Scene.