Why Ocean Colour Scene’s Moseley Shoals album is so iconic

8 April 2024, 12:40

Ocean Colour Scene in 1996 and the cover of their Moseley Shoals album. Picture: Martyn Godacre/Getty Images/Press

By Jenny Mensah

As the Birmingham band's seminal album turns 28, we delve into its' name, artwork and biggest singles.

This week sees Ocean Colour Scene's Moseley Shoals album celebrate 28 years since it was released.

Unleashed on the world on 8th April 1996, the album featured singles in the likes of The Riverboat Song, The Circle and The Day We Caught the Train, but how much do you really know about the album and its creation? And what makes it so iconic?

Get our facts on the Birmingham band's seminal release here.

Moseley Shoals was Ocean Colour Scene's second album

It might be the band's most famous album, but it was actually their second studio release and the follow-up to their eponymous 1992 debut.
The title is inspired by their local area

Moseley is a suburb of south Birmingham, where the band formed in 1989.
The title is also a pun on Muscle Shoals

Moseley Shoals is a pun on Muscle Shoals, Alabama - a city which was famous for its studios that recorded various 1960s soul acts such as Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading and Wilson Pickett.
The band also recorded the album in their own studio of the same name.
Moseley Shoals was Ocean Colour Scene's second highest scoring album

Moseley Shoals reached number two on the UK album chart, which no doubt helped them achieve a success when scoring a No.1 with their 1997 Marchin' Already album.
The album gave them their highest scoring single

The Day We Caught The Train scored a No.4 on the UK singles chart - their highest chart position to date.
Hundred Mile High City, which is taken from the band's third studio album Marchin' Already also scored a No.4.
The Riverboat Song single featured on TFI Friday

The first single taken from the album was The Riverboat Song. Despite only reaching No.15 on the UK single charts, the song is much-loved and well-known for featuring in Chris Evans' famous '90s weekly entertainment show when he introduced guests.

Natalie Imbruglia - Interview on TFI Friday 2000
The album cover artwork is taken in Leamington Spa

The cover of Ocean Colour Scene's 1996 Moseley Shoals album. Picture: Press/Album Artwork

The memorial which the band can be seen standing in front of in the album artwork is The Jephson Memorial in The Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa.
It's not the first time the Warwickshire park has made its way onto an album cover either. Leamington Spa punk band The Shapes featured the park's Underpass on their 1998 Songs For Sensible People album.