A Band Called O
Encyclopedia
A Band Called O were a band from Jersey
, Channel Islands
. Originally known as "The Parlour Band", playing progressive rock
, they renamed to "A Band Called O" for two albums on CBS/Epic and later to "The O Band" for a further albums with UA. Despite issuing five albums, on three major labels, and being championed by John Peel
, for whom they recorded four Peel Sessions, they had no chart success; but were a popular live act, who toured Britain and Europe.
, circa 1970, as "The Parlour Band", the early line up comprised brothers Mark Anders (bass and vocals) and Craig Anders (lead guitar and vocals) with Peter Filleul (keyboards and vocals) formerly of the Climax Blues Band
, John “Pix” Pickford (guitar and vocals) and Jerry Robbins (drums).
Released in 1972, The Parlour Band's only album Is a Friend?, was produced by Nick Tauber
in a melodic progressive rock style, sounding like a "more mainstream, less art-rock-inclined Yes" with strong keyboard and guitar parts. The Parlour Band toured supporting Caravan
and Steve Hillage
’s Khan.
and John Cipollina
. Later that year, they released their second album, Oasis. They had one track "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do" on a single to promote their tour with Sassafras
and Randy Pie as the "Hot On The Tracks" package.
Filleul left and was replaced by Ian Lynne, after about 6 months he was also replaced by Jeff Bannister, formerly with the John Barry Seven, The Alan Bown Set
and Jess Roden
’s Bronco
.
to soft-rock, but it then moved towards a pop
style. They changed their name to "The O Band" and released their third album Within Reach later that year. A promotional single "Excerpts from Within Reach" was issued in the UK whilst two singles were taken from the album: "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Coasting" was issued in Germany, and "Don't cha Wanna" /"Coasting" in the UK. They played their fourth and final Peel Session on 22 February 1977.
Also in 1977 they released a 12" EP Look to the Left, Look to the Right , before recording their final album The Knife, from which the single "Almost Saturday Night"/"Love Ain't A Keeper" was taken. Shortly before a planned change of management, Pix Pickford decided to leave for a solo career. The O Band later disbanded at the end of 1977.
.
Mark Anders now runs Bug Music
Derek Ballard went on to work with Razar, Charlie Dore
, Bram Tchaikovsky
and John Watts. In 1982 he moved to Germany and works in Berlin as a session musician and photographer.
Filleul rejoined the Climax Blues Band
and later became a session musician recording with numerous artists including, Loudon Wainwright III
, The Blues Band
and Richard Thompson, adding composing, mixing and production work to his keyboard playing.
Pix Pickford had a brief solo career, releasing one album Long Drop, before moving to Spain to play in “Racket Ship”.
Jeff Bannister played with Charlie Dore
, on Joan Jett
's Bad Reputation, and Raphael Ravenscroft
’s Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway.
As A Band Called O
As The O Band
As The O Band
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. Originally known as "The Parlour Band", playing progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, they renamed to "A Band Called O" for two albums on CBS/Epic and later to "The O Band" for a further albums with UA. Despite issuing five albums, on three major labels, and being championed by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
, for whom they recorded four Peel Sessions, they had no chart success; but were a popular live act, who toured Britain and Europe.
The Parlour Band
Formed in Jersey, Channel IslandsChannel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, circa 1970, as "The Parlour Band", the early line up comprised brothers Mark Anders (bass and vocals) and Craig Anders (lead guitar and vocals) with Peter Filleul (keyboards and vocals) formerly of the Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax...
, John “Pix” Pickford (guitar and vocals) and Jerry Robbins (drums).
Released in 1972, The Parlour Band's only album Is a Friend?, was produced by Nick Tauber
Nick Tauber
Nick Tauber is a British record producer best known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Toyah and Marillion in the 1970s and 1980s.Nick Tauber continues to manage, produce, and consult with acts/artists/and producers. In the late 1990s, Tauber was involved with British pop/punk act Kowloon, guiding them...
in a melodic progressive rock style, sounding like a "more mainstream, less art-rock-inclined Yes" with strong keyboard and guitar parts. The Parlour Band toured supporting Caravan
Caravan (band)
Caravan are an English band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Caravan rose to success over a period of several years from 1968 onwards into the 1970s as part of the Canterbury scene, blending...
and Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
’s Khan.
A Band Called O
They relocated from Jersey to Leicester, changed their name to "A Band Called O", and their drummer to Derek Ballard. This line-up released their first album on the Epic label, produced by Ben Sidran of the Steve Miller Band, and Chris White of the Zombies. A Band Called O (1974) and, despite being an album orientated band, a single "Rock and Roll Clown"/"Red Light Mama Red Hot" was released in Germany while they recorded the first of four Peel Sessions on 24 September 1974. They recorded their second Peel Session on 18 March 1975, before touring with ManMan (band)
Man are a rock band from South Wales whose style is a mixture of West Coast psychedelia, progressive rock, blues and country-rock. Formed in 1968 as a reincarnation of Welsh rock harmony group ‘’The Bystanders’’, Man are renowned for the extended jams in their live performances, and having had...
and John Cipollina
John Cipollina
John Cipollina was a guitarist best known for his role as a founder and the lead guitarist of the prominent San Francisco rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service...
. Later that year, they released their second album, Oasis. They had one track "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do" on a single to promote their tour with Sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.-Overview:...
and Randy Pie as the "Hot On The Tracks" package.
Filleul left and was replaced by Ian Lynne, after about 6 months he was also replaced by Jeff Bannister, formerly with the John Barry Seven, The Alan Bown Set
The Alan Bown Set
The Alan Bown Set later known as The Alan Bown! or just Alan Bown, were a British band of the 1960s and 1970s whose music evolved from jazz and blues through soul and rhythm and blues and ended up as psychedelia and progressive rock...
and Jess Roden
Jess Roden
Jess Roden is an English rock singer and guitarist.-Biography:Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon ....
’s Bronco
Bronco UK
Bronco were an English rock/country band signed to Island & Polydor Records 1969-1973.-History:Formed August 1969 by Jess Roden following his split from The Alan Bown Set, Bronco were signed to Island Records and released two albums 'Country Home' and 'Ace of Sunlight'...
.
The O Band
The band changed label from CBS/Epic to United Artists, and played their third Peel Session on 23 March 1976 (the BBC credit all the Peel sessions to A Band Called O, although one or two were after the name change). Musically, their style had already evolved from progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
to soft-rock, but it then moved towards a pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
style. They changed their name to "The O Band" and released their third album Within Reach later that year. A promotional single "Excerpts from Within Reach" was issued in the UK whilst two singles were taken from the album: "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Coasting" was issued in Germany, and "Don't cha Wanna" /"Coasting" in the UK. They played their fourth and final Peel Session on 22 February 1977.
Also in 1977 they released a 12" EP Look to the Left, Look to the Right , before recording their final album The Knife, from which the single "Almost Saturday Night"/"Love Ain't A Keeper" was taken. Shortly before a planned change of management, Pix Pickford decided to leave for a solo career. The O Band later disbanded at the end of 1977.
Unrelated O-Band
Since 2008 the name "The O Band" has been used by an unrelated Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel band from Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Subsequent Careers
Craig Anders later played with Alan Ross and Charlie Dore.Mark Anders now runs Bug Music
Derek Ballard went on to work with Razar, Charlie Dore
Charlie Dore
Charlie Dore is an English singer-songwriter and actress.-Career:Although best known as one of the UK's most respected singer-songwriters, Dore has a multi-faceted career that includes acting in film, TV and radio, comedy-improvisation and composition for film and TV...
, Bram Tchaikovsky
Bram Tchaikovsky
Bram Tchaikovsky is the lead singer of an eponymous power pop band. The group scored a U.S. Top 40 hit in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, with "Girl Of My Dreams". In the Netherlands "Sarah Smiles" was a minor hit, reaching #33 in February 1979.Tchaikovsky was vocalist and guitarist for his band...
and John Watts. In 1982 he moved to Germany and works in Berlin as a session musician and photographer.
Filleul rejoined the Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax...
and later became a session musician recording with numerous artists including, Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
, The Blues Band
The Blues Band
The Blues Band is a British blues band formed in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann, and vocalist/slide guitarist Dave Kelly, who had previously played with the John Dummer Blues Band, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker...
and Richard Thompson, adding composing, mixing and production work to his keyboard playing.
Pix Pickford had a brief solo career, releasing one album Long Drop, before moving to Spain to play in “Racket Ship”.
Jeff Bannister played with Charlie Dore
Charlie Dore
Charlie Dore is an English singer-songwriter and actress.-Career:Although best known as one of the UK's most respected singer-songwriters, Dore has a multi-faceted career that includes acting in film, TV and radio, comedy-improvisation and composition for film and TV...
, on Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
's Bad Reputation, and Raphael Ravenscroft
Raphael Ravenscroft
Raphael Ravenscroft is a Scottish saxophonist and author on saxophone play. He now resides in Exeter, Devon, England.He is best known for his work with Gerry Rafferty, performing the saxophone solo on "Baker Street". Ravenscroft was paid £27 for the session, with a cheque that bounced...
’s Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway.
Albums
As The Parlour Band- Is a Friend (1972) DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
/Deram RecordsDeram RecordsDeram Records was a subsidiary record label established in 1966 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. At this time U.K. Decca was a completely different company than the Decca label in the United States, which was then owned by MCA Inc. Deram recordings were also distributed in the U.S. through...
(SDL 10) - CD (2010) Esoteric (Eclec 2192)
As A Band Called O
- A Band Called O (1974) CBSCBS RecordsCBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
/EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
(EPC 80120) UK - Oasis (1975) CBS/Epic (EPC 80596) UK
As The O Band
- Within Reach (1976) United ArtistsUnited Artists RecordsUnited Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
(UAS 29942) - CD (1944) Repertoire (RR4419) + Bonus tracks (2002) - The Knife (1977) United Artists (UP36276) UK - CD (1994)Repertoire (RR4420) Germany - CD (2006) Repertoire
Singles
As A Band Called O- "Rock & Roll Clown" / "Red Light Mama Red Hot" (1974) Epic (EPCS 2677) Germany
- "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do" (1974) Epic (HOT 1) UK (Concert promo with Sassafras & Randy Pie)
- "No Manners" / "That's Up" (1974) Epic (SEPC 2721) UK
As The O Band
- "Excerpts from Within Reach" (1976) United Artists (UA-PROMO 1) UK
- "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Coasting" (1976) United Artists (36108AT) Germany
- "Don'tchya Wanna" / "Coasting" (1976) United Artists (UP36108) UK*"Look To The Left" / "A Smile Is Diamond" (1977) United Artists (UP36297) UK
- "Look To The Left" / "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Fine White Wine(live)" (12" red vinyl) (1977) United Artists (12-UP36297) UK
- "Almost Saturday Night" / "Love Ain't A Keeper" (1977) United Artists (UP36276) UK