Oscar was an English art-rock/pop band from Manchester that released a 1974 self-titled album on Buk Records, followed by the 1976/77 DJM titles Twilight Asylum and Cobblestone Heroes.
Members: Tony Bamforth (keyboards, vocals), Gary McDougall (bass, vocals), Brian McGladdery (12-string guitar, vocals), Kevin Parrott (lead guitar, vocals), Roger Tweedale (drums, vocals)
Background
Oscar formed in Manchester in 1969 as Samsun when singer Brian McGladdery teamed with lead guitarist Kevin Parrott, keyboardist Tony Bamforth, bassist Gary McDougall, and drummer Roger Tweedale.
McGladdery came from Lemon Line, The Royal Variety Show, and Remo Sands & The Spinning Tops, the last two with Bamforth. Parrott arrived from The Pathfinders and The Big Sound, a Manchester soul band based for periods in Denmark with tours across Europe and Israel.
Samsun toured abroad and attracted the attention of Geoff Gill, Cliff Wade, and ex-Orange Bicycle Wil Malone. The quintet spent a week at Morgan Studios on a ten-song album with material that included “The Wind (Talking to the Pines),” “I Am New Orleans (Genevieve),” and the Mountain cover “Mississippi Queen.” Samsun released the latter two songs as an August 1972 RCA single.
By 1974, the quintet adopted the Oscar name and signed with the newly established Buk Records. Oscar opened the Buk singles catalogue in September with “Well Known Lady” (b/w “Feel Alright”). Gill brought the group to Strawberry Studios, the advanced Stockport facility owned by 10cc.
Discography:
- Oscar (1974)
- Twilight Asylum (1976)
- Cobblestone Heroes (1977)
Artist/Album Pages:
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