A Band Called O -

A Band Called O — alternately known as The O Band — was an English hard-rock band from Jersey island that released two albums apiece on Epic and United Artists between 1974 and 1977. The group evolved from rustic-rockers The Parlour Band, which issued the 1972 Deram album Is a Friend?

Members: Pix (vocals, guitar), Pete Filleul (keyboards), Mark Anders (bass), Derek Ballard (drums), Craig Anders (guitar, slide)

Background

Keyboardist Peter Filleul formed the Parlour Band circa 1970 in Jersey with singer–guitarist Mike Harwood, acoustic guitarist Allen Greenall, drummer Nigel Uren, and bassist John Ashworth. Jeff Smith replaced Ashworth before a late-1970 reconstruction brought in Pickford, Craig Anders, Mark Anders, and drummer Jerry Robins. Filleul had previously played with the Climax Blues Band.

The Parlour Band released Is a Friend? in 1972 on Deram with producer Nick Tauber. The quintet supported Caravan and Khan before relocating to Leicester. The musicians changed their name to A Band Called O, while Derek Ballard replaced Robins behind the kit. Epic signed the new iteration for its first album under the revised name.

A Band Called O

A Band Called O released their self-titled debut album, also presented as O, in June 1974 on Epic.

Pickford handles lead singing and guitar beside lead and slide guitarist Craig Anders. Filleul plays electric piano and sings, with Mark Anders on bass and Ballard on drums. The album opens with a version of “Red Light Mama, Red Hot!,” a 1970 Humble Pie song by Peter Frampton, Steve Marriott, Greg Ridley, and Jerry Shirley. Pickford dominates the remaining authorship with contributions from Craig Anders and Filleul.

“Red Light Mama Red Hot” barrels through brassy punctuations beneath a rough-edged lead. “All I Need” slows into an atmospheric guitar lament. “Get Funky” locks into a tight, dancing rhythm. “Captain Cellophane / Sidewalk Ship” stretches through an uninterrupted two-part segue.

A1. “Red Light Mama, Red Hot!” (6:20) – Frampton, Marriott, Ridley, Shirley
A2. “Angelica” (3:41) – C. Anders, M. Anders, Pickford
A3. “Helping Hand” (3:38) – C. Anders, Pickford
A4. “Lady Beatrice” (3:55) – Pickford
A5. “Ride, Ride, Ride” (3:12) – C. Anders, Filleul

B1. “Rock Roll Clown” (3:38) – Filleul
B2. “All I Need” (2:02) – Pickford
B3. “Get Funky” (3:30) – Filleul, Pickford
B4. “Captain Cellophane / Sidewalk Ship” (12:00) – C. Anders, Ballard, M. Anders, Filleul, Pickford

Former Zombies bassist Chris White produced seven tracks, while Ben Sidran produced “Angelica” and “Captain Cellophane / Sidewalk Ship.” Mike Ross engineered the album. White simultaneously co-produced the March 1974 Argent release Nexus; Sidran issued his solo album Don’t Let Go during the same year after earlier work with Steve Miller.

For A Band Called O, CBS creative director Roslav Szaybo developed the sleeve with Simon Cantwell, pairing a front-cover image by Brian D. Hennessy with rear photography by Helen Dixon.

Epic issued “Rock Roll Clown” in Germany during 1974 (b/w “Red Light Mama, Red Hot!”). The band recorded its first John Peel session on September 24, performing “No Manners,” “Angelica,” and “Sidewalk Ship” for an October broadcast.

“No Manners”

Epic issued the standalone “No Manners” in October 1974 (b/w “That’s Up”). The B-side later appeared on Oasis.

A. “No Manners” (2:46)
B. “That’s Up” (3:15)

Oasis

A Band Called O released their second album, Oasis, in 1975 on Epic.

O retained their core quintet for Oasis. Filleul added clavinet and synthesizer to his electric piano parts, while Craig Anders continued on lead and slide guitar.. All five members contributed songs; producer Nicky Graham joined the group credits on “Morrocan Roll” and “Take Your Time.”

“Amovin’” strides beneath a confident lead. “Foolin’ Round” struts through a compact, danceable pattern. “Fine White Wine” rolls beneath a rough-edged lead. “Take Your Time” bounces on jumpy synthesizer figures. “Sleeping” drifts through a spacious opening before a loping offbeat middle passage.

A1. “Amovin’” (3:39) – C. Anders, Filleul, Pickford
A2. “Foolin’ Round” (4:34) – C. Anders, Pickford
A3. “Sleeping” (5:22) – Pickford
A4. “Morrocan Roll” (2:38) – C. Anders, Pickford, Ballard, Filleul, M. Anders, Graham
A5. “Fine White Wine” (3:50) – Pickford

B1. “Take Your Time” (3:10) – C. Anders, Pickford, Ballard, Filleul, M. Anders, Graham
B2. “Bird of Paradise” (4:09) – Pickford
B3. “Ice” (2:08) – C. Anders
B4. “That’s Up” (3:10) – C. Anders, Pickford
B5. “Some People” (5:53) – C. Anders, Pickford

Former Tucky Buzzard keyboardist Nicky Graham produced Oasis with engineer Greg Jackman. Graham had completed five albums with Tucky Buzzard by 1973. Jackman’s surrounding engineering credits included releases by Byzantium and Greenslade.

Szaybo returned for Oasis, shaping the package around photography by Pete Lavery and a double-sided lyric insert.

The band recorded its second Peel session on March 18, 1975, with “There Ain’t Nothing I Wouldn’t Do,” “Fine White Wine,” “Sleeping,” and “Some People.” BBC appearances during the year included The Old Grey Whistle Test and an In Concert broadcast. The group also toured with Man and guitarist John Cipollina.

“There Ain’t Nothing I Wouldn’t Do”

Epic issued the standalone “There Ain’t Nothing I Wouldn’t Do” in May 1975 (b/w “Moroccan Roll”). Craig Anders and Filleul wrote the A-side; Nicky Graham produced both tracks. The release coincided with the Hot on the Trail package tour with Sassafras and Randy Pie.

A. “There Ain’t Nothing I Wouldn’t Do” (3:30) – C. Anders, Filleul
B. “Moroccan Roll” (2:38) – A Band Called O, Graham

The O Band

Filleul left after Oasis. Ian Lynne occupied the keyboard position for approximately six months before Jeff Bannister joined from a sequence that included the John Barry Seven, the Alan Bown Set, and Bronco. The band moved from Epic to United Artists and shortened its name to The O Band.

The musicians recorded another Peel session on March 23, 1976, with “Still Burning,” “Paradise Blue,” “Feel Alright,” and “A Smile Is Diamond.” United Artists promoted the forthcoming album with a seven-inch disc containing excerpts from five tracks.

Within Reach

The O Band released their third album, Within Reach, in 1976 on United Artists.

Bannister plays piano, electric piano, organ, and synthesizer alongside Pickford, Craig Anders, Mark Anders, and Ballard. Mark Anders and Pickford share seven compositions, while Bannister contributes “Paradise Blue” and “Long, Long Way.” Craig Anders adds pedal-steel and slide guitar to his established role.

“A Smile Is Diamond” drives from a striking intro through haunting, exotic contours. “Money Talk” turns on sharp commentary and small arrangement details, including a coin-spin effect. “Still Burning” rolls beneath lively piano work. “Within Reach” glides through a spacious instrumental farewell with a sustained guitar lead.

A1. “A Smile Is Diamond” (7:40) – M. Anders, Pickford
A2. “Feel Alright” (3:15) – M. Anders, Pickford
A3. “Lucia Loser” (4:50) – Pickford
A4. “Dontcha Wanna” (4:40) – M. Anders, Pickford

B1. “Money Talk” (3:25) – M. Anders, Pickford
B2. “Still Burning” (5:10) – M. Anders, Pickford
B3. “Paradise Blue” (3:45) – Bannister
B4. “Long, Long Way” (4:50) – Bannister
B5. “Within Reach” (3:20) – M. Anders, Pickford

The O Band recorded Within Reach at Olympic Studios in Barnes with producer-engineer Doug Bennett and assistant engineer Nigel Brooke-Harte. United Artists executive Andrew Lauder supervised the project. Bennett also engineered Man’s 1976 album The Welsh Connection and later mixed the Stranglers’ 1977 debut Rattus Norvegicus.

United Artists issued Within Reach in an illustrated sleeve by Joe Petagno; some British copies included a poster.

United Artists issued “Don’t Cha Wanna (Have a Real Good Time)” in August 1976, backed with “Coasting,” a non-album Bannister exclusive. Germany received “A Smile Is Diamond” with the same B-side.

A. “Don’t Cha Wanna (Have a Real Good Time)”
B. “Coasting” (5:00) – Bannister

Repertoire reissued Within Reach on CD in 1994 with the single version of “A Smile Is Diamond,” “Coasting,” and “Love Ain’t a Keeper.” Later Repertoire editions retained the expanded twelve-track sequence.

The Knife

The O Band released their fourth and final studio album, The Knife, in 1977 on United Artists.

The album opens with “Look to the Left, Look to the Right” by Spirit guitarist Randy California and John Fogerty’s “Almost Saturday Night.” Bannister contributes “Back Alley Lightning” and co-writes two further tracks; Craig Anders writes “Time Seems to Fly” and “Venus Avenue.”

“I’m Gonna Leave You” strides at mid-tempo beneath close harmony singing. “Time Seems to Fly” drifts beneath plaintive phrasing. “The Knife” coils through shifting sections as restrained passages meet a menacing street narrative. “Got to Run” surges through an animated continuation of Jimmy’s story. “Venus Avenue” darkens from lightly melancholic phrasing into increasingly dissonant orchestration.

A1. “Look to the Left, Look to the Right” (3:18) – California
A2. “Almost Saturday Night” (2:58) – Fogerty
A3. “I’m Gonna Leave You” (3:31) – C. Anders, Pickford
A4. “Strange Lovin’” (3:55) – Bannister, Pickford
A5. “Back Alley Lightning” (4:30) – Bannister

B1. “Time Seems to Fly” (3:45) – C. Anders
B2. “The Knife” (8:11) – Pickford
B3. “Got to Run” (4:13) – Bannister, Pickford
B4. “Venus Avenue” (4:50) – C. Anders

Del Newman produced The Knife, while the band shared production on the two opening covers. Doug Bennett engineered those tracks; Richard Dodd handled the seven originals with assistance from Nigel Brooke-Harte. Newman’s concurrent orchestral credits included the 1977 albums Deceptive Bends by 10cc and Foot Loose & Fancy Free by Rod Stewart.

Paul Henry directed the visual presentation for The Knife around photography by Trevor Rogers.

United Artists issued “Almost Saturday Night” in July 1977, backed with “Love Ain’t a Keeper,” a non-album Bannister exclusive. “Look to the Left, Look to the Right” followed in September (b/w “A Smile Is Diamond”). A red-vinyl twelve-inch edition added a live version of “Fine White Wine.”

A. “Look to the Left, Look to the Right” (3:18) – California
B1. “A Smile Is Diamond” (6:05) – M. Anders, Pickford
B2. “Fine White Wine” (4:58) – Pickford

Repertoire issued The Knife on CD in 1994 with the extended “A Smile Is Diamond” and live “Fine White Wine.” The label returned the album to circulation in 2006.

Later Activity

Pickford left during preparations for a management change, and The O Band dissolved at the end of 1977. He subsequently issued the solo singles “Long Drop” and “Are You Rockin’” before relocating to Spain. Filleul rejoined the Climax Blues Band and developed a session career that included records by Loudon Wainwright III, the Blues Band, and Richard Thompson.

Craig Anders later worked with Alan Ross and Charlie Dore. Ballard recorded with Razar, Dore, Bram Tchaikovsky, and John Watts, while Bannister appeared on 1979 releases by Dore and Raphael Ravenscroft before playing on Joan Jett’s 1980 album Bad Reputation.

Major League Productions released On the Road 1975–77 in June 2012. The collection draws from Nottingham University broadcasts recorded during the Epic and United Artists periods and includes previously unreleased concert material from across the four studio albums.