A Band Called O
A Band Called O | |
---|---|
Also known as | The Parlour Band The O Band |
Origin | Major League Productions |
Members | Mark Anders Craig Anders Peter Filleul Jon "Pix" Pickford Jerry Robbins Derek Ballard Jeff Bannister |
Website | http://abandcalledo.boards.net/ |
A Band Called O was a band from
The Parlour Band
Formed in Jersey, Channel Islands, circa 1970, as 'The Parlour Band', the early 1970 line-up comprised founding member Peter Filleul (keyboards and vocals) formerly of the Climax Blues Band ,[1] with Mike Harwood (lead guitar and vocals) Allen Greenall (acoustic guitar and vocals) Nigel Uren (Drums) John Ashworth (Bass guitar) later replaced by Jeff Smith (Bass and vocals) the last 4 members were replaced in late 1970 by brothers Mark Anders (bass and vocals) and Craig Anders (lead guitar and vocals) Jon "Pix" Pickford (guitar and vocals) and Jerry Robbins (drums).[2] 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"[3] with strong keyboard and guitar parts.[4] The Parlour Band toured supporting Caravan and Steve Hillage’s Khan.[2]
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
Filleul left and was replaced by Ian Lynne, after about 6 months he was also replaced by Jeff Bannister, formerly with the
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
Also in 1977 they released a 12" EP Look to the Left, Look to the Right,[11] before recording their final album The Knife,[12] 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.
On the Road 1975-77 was released in June 2012 on CD (78 minutes) and as a download (118 minutes). Strangely, for a band known for its live performances, "this is the only live material ever released by the band".[13]
Since 2008 the name "The O Band" has been used by an unrelated Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel band from Norfolk, Virginia.[14]
There is also music band from Ukraine called Band O (Гурт О)
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, 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.[1]
- Pix Pickford had a brief solo career, releasing two singles: "Long Drop" and "Are you Rockin'", before moving to Spain to play with 'Racket' comprising Pickford, Nik Ramsey and Arturo Tore. Later, after a personnel change the band became 'Guiri', which saw Tore being replaced by Nigel Barrett on bass/vocals and for a while included Mike Smith on guitar and Blue Weaver on piano and keyboards. After Weaver and Smith's departure, Stefan Wickenden joined the band on guitar/vocals and this continued to be the line-up. Pickford lived in Torre del Mar, and was found dead in Spain, in September 2021, after going missing on 29 August following a meal with friends.[15]
- Jeff Bannister played with Charlie Dore, on Raphael Ravenscroft’s Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway (1979), and Joan Jett's Bad Reputation (1980).[8]
Discography
Albums
- As The Parlour Band
- 1972: Is a Friend (Decca/Deram Records SDL 10[4] / CD: 2010, Esoteric Eclec 2192) [16]
- As A Band Called O
- 1974: A Band Called O (
- 1975: Oasis (CBS/Epic EPC 80596) UK[7]
- 2012 On the Road 1975-77 (Major League Productions (MLP) MLP21CD) UK[13]
- As The O Band
- 1976, Within Reach (United Artists UAS 29942[9] / CD: 1994, Repertoire RR4419) + Bonus tracks (2002)
- 1977: The Knife (United Artists UP36276 UK[12] / CD: 1994 Repertoire RR442, Germany / CD: 2006 Repertoire)
Singles
- As A Band Called O
- 1974: "Rock & Roll Clown" / "Red Light Mama Red Hot" (Epic EPCS 2677) Germany
- 1974: "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do" (1Epic HOT 1 UK) (Concert promo with Sassafras & Randy Pie)
- 1974: "No Manners" / "That's Up" (Epic SEPC 2721) UK
- As The O Band
- 1976: "Excerpts from Within Reach" (United Artists UA-PROMO 1) UK
- 1976: "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Coasting" (United Artists 36108AT) Germany
- 1976: "Don't Cha Wanna" / "Coasting" (United Artists UP36108) UK
- 1977: "Look to the Left" / "A Smile Is Diamond" (United Artists UP36297) UK
- 1977: "Look to the Left" / "A Smile Is Diamond" / "Fine White Wine(live)" (12" red vinyl) (United Artists 12-UP36297) UK
- 1977: "Almost Saturday Night" / "Love Ain't a Keeper" (United Artists UP36276) UK
References
- ^ a b "Credits for Peter Filleul". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-899855-15-5.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Parlour Band". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Review of Is a Friend?". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "A Band Called O". Rezensator (In German). Archived from the original on 7 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Overview of A Band Called O". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Overview of Oasis". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Jeff Bannister". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Overview of Within Reach". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "A Smile is Diamond". Discogs. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Look to the Left, Look to the Right". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Overview of The Knife". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "On the Road 1975-77". Major League. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ "The O Band". Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Jersey musician Jonathan 'Pix' Pickford found dead in Spain", ITV News, 6 September 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021
- ^ "The Parlour Band". Esoteric Records. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- Further Reading
The Alan Bown Set – Before and Beyond by Jeff Bannister, published by Banland Publishing Ltd