Favorite "Color" Bands #11 - The Ocean Blue

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Unless you were watching 120 Minutes on MTV or listening to college/alternative radio in the 1980's, I wouldn't blame you at all if "?" is your reaction to #11 in my countdown of my favorite bands with a color in their name: The Ocean Blue. Because of comparisons to British bands such as The Smiths (ESPECIALLY The Smiths,) Echo and the Bunnymen, The Mighty Lemon Drops, and New Order, many an alternative music fan has been surprised to learn that The Ocean Blue actually hails from Hershey, Pennsylvania, where they formed in 1986. The band signed a three record deal with Sire Records while they were still in high school (The Ocean Blue were tight and polished even back then. A very good friend of mine hails from Philadelphia, and tells me that the group opened for pretty much any and every touring alternative band that passed through the area.) Although only vocalist/guitarist David Schelzel and bassist Bobby Mittan remain from the band's classic early lineup, The Ocean Blue has released seven studio albums, and 13 singles, four of which reached Top 10 status on Billboard's Alternative chart. So just how big is The Smiths influence? I always filed The Ocean Blue right next to The Smiths in my CD collection. A great band that deserves more recognition than they've received. (They aren't British info verified by Wikipedia)