Ocean Colour Scene: il cofanetto per celebrare 21 anni di carriera

Da queste parti, purtroppo vengono ricordati per lo più a causa di un famoso episodio di plagio. Quando uscì “Un giorno migliore” dei Lunapop, i pochi che li conoscevano si affrettarono a gridare allo scandalo: troppo simile l’attacco della strofa di Cremonini e soci alla loro “Better Day”, di cui parafrasavano (per non dire ‘copiavano’) anche il titolo.

Invece la carriera ventennale degli Ocean Colour Scene è di quelle da incorniciare. Un disco (l’omonimo esordio del ’92 era stato poco più di un biglietto da visita), “Moseley Shoals”, con cui raggiungono il secondo posto nelle classifiche UK. Figlio del brit-pop ma soprattutto della cultura Mod, registrato con un santino di Paul Weller appeso in studio. Ruvidi, ancora vittime di ingenuità, ma con un suono e un talento nel giostrarsi melodia e attitudine soul già spiccatissimo.

Col terzo arrivò la consacrazione. “Marchin’ Already” scalzò dalla vetta nientemeno che gli Oasis. La voce di Simon Fowler conquistò una nazione proprio con “Better Day”. Milioni di copie vendute che gli garantirono recensioni entusiaste e grandi palchi. La loro carriera continua fino ad oggi (procuratevi “North Atlantic Drift” e la raccolta di b-sides “B-sides, Seasides and Freerides”) e gli Ocean Colour Scene decidono di celebrarla con un cofanetto quadruplo, intitolato semplicemente “21”: tanti infatti sono gli anni trascorsi dalle prime prove della band. Dopo il salto, trovate la tracklist completa e il video di “Better Day”.

CD1 – 1992-96:

1 One of those days
2 Sway (Version 2) – Previously unreleased
3 Yesterday today (Out-Take) – Previously unreleased
4 Another girl’s name
5 Fly me – Previously Unreleased
6 Giving it all away
7 Do yourself a favour
8 Flowers
9 Vanishing trick (Live) – Previously unreleased – Unreleased song
10 Dreams (Demo) – Previously unreleased – Unreleased song
11 The riverboat song
12 The day we caught the train
13 I need a love song
14 The circle
15 Huckleberry grove
16 You’ve got it bad (Demo)
17 Policeman & pirates
18 40 past midnight (w/Paul Weller, Rico & Jools Holland) -Previously Unreleased
19 One for the road (Single Mix) – Previously Unreleased
20 Get away (Live In Southampton 15/10/96) – Previously Unreleased

CD2 – 1997-99:

1 Hundred mile high city
2 Expensive chair
3 Spark and Cindy (BBC Session 19/6/97) – Previously unreleased
4 Traveller’s tune (with PP Arnold) (BBC Session 19/6/97) -Previously unreleased
5 Half a dream away
6 On the way home
7 Better day
8 Big star
9 Get blown away (Later with Jools Holland) – Previously unreleased
10 It’s a beautiful thing (with PP Arnold) (Manchester Apollo 22/2/98) – Previously unreleased
11 Song of a baker
12 July (Single version)
13 I am the news (New Version)
14 So low
15 Hoping you’re making it too
16 Step by step
17 Profit in peace (Single Edit)
18 This understanding (Live at Stirling Castle)
19 The waves
20 Soul driver (Live at Birmingham NIA 28/10/99) – Previously Unreleased
21 All or nothing (Live at Birmingham NIA 28/10/99) – Previously Unreleased

CD3 – 2001-03:

1 Mechanical wonder
2 In my field (Demo) – Previously Unreleased
3 Hanging around (Demo) – Previously Unreleased – Unreleased Song
4 Can’t get back to the bassline
5 Free on the wind
6 Give me a letter
7 These are the ones
8 Up on the downside
9 You are amazing
10 We made it more
11 Easy love (Demo) – Previously Unreleased – Unreleased Song
12 Crazy Lowdown ways
13 North Atlantic drift (Live On The Riverboat)
14 Will you take her love
15 I wanna see the bright lights tonight
16 Second hand car (Live Manchester Apollo 10/10/03)
17 For every corner
18 Make the deal (Single Edit)
19 On my way
20 I just need myself
21 Oh collector (Live)
22 Golden Gate bridge (Live)

CD4 – 2005-10:

1 Free my name
2 Make it better
3 God’s world
4 Have you got the right
5 This day should last forever
6 Another time to stay
7 The word (BBC Session) – Previously Unreleased
8 Still trying (BBC Session) – Previously Unreleased
9 I won’t get grazed (Jam House)
10 My time (Jam House)
11 I told you so
12 For dancers only
13 Jimmy Wonder
14 I just got over you (Radio Edit)
15 Loneliest girl in the whole wide world
16 These days I’m tired
17 Go to sea (Acoustic) (Xfm Session) – Previously Unreleased
18 Magic carpet days
19 Sing children sing
20 Old pair of jeans
21 Saturday (Xfm Session) – Previously Unreleased
22 Dawn cried the day
23 Twenty one – Brand wew song