30 Years of ‘Moseley Shoals’

On April 8, 1996, Britpop legends Ocean Colour Scene released their second album ‘Moseley Shoals’. 

This album is the playground for iconic tracks such as ‘The Riverboat Song’ and ‘The Day We Caught the Train’, alongside the more underrated ‘40 Past Midnight’ and ‘One For The Road’. 

The album was produced by Brendan Lynch (who has also produced for Paul Weller, Primal Scream, and Cast), at the band’s studio in Birmingham. 

The title is a nod to the town Muscle Shoals in Alabama, the host to FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios’. Pinned as the ‘Hit Recording Capital of the World’, the unique ‘Muscle Shoals sound’ has birthed esteemed hits such as: ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Wild Horses’ by The Rolling Stones, ‘I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You)’ by Aretha Franklin, the original rendition of Lynard Skynards’ ‘Free Bird’ and many more. 

‘Moseley Shoals’ reached No.2 in the UK chart and sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide by 1997.  

The album cover was taken at The Jephson Memorial in Jephson Gardens, Warwickshire. 

The debut track, ‘The Riverboat Song’ was popularized on the 1990s music and celebrity interview show ‘TFI Friday’ hosted by Chris Evans. 

Fans describe ‘Moseley Shoals’ as summer encapsulated in an album. ‘Combining the cool influences of the Small Faces, The Who and The Beatles with Simon Fowler’s soulful and folk inspired vocals... an album you can play the whole way through without skipping a single tune’. 

Ocean Colour Scene managed to capture the excitement of when Britpop was at its peak, preserving the freedom and magic of being a young adult in 1996.