Soul Bank Music

21/05/2024

Listen to Brian Auger chatting to Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt on the Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt podcast. From tales of wartime evacuations, to The Steam Packet to taking calls from Elton John and much more. It’s a must listen.

You can listen here: lnk.to/rockonteurs

08/05/2024

Truly great support in the form of 4-star reviews by and for “Live Oblivion Vol. 1 & 2” - plus a stellar review in Shindiggin’ for the crate diggers.
For the oblivious – both volumes are out this Friday!

Shindig: ★★★★
“The Oblivion Express at the absolute peak of their powers”

MOJO: ★★★★
“melodious, spontaneous lengthy jams that often better the studio versions”

Shindiggin: “most hypnotic and profoundly soulful of grooves”

08/05/2024

Truly great support in the form of 4-star reviews by MOJO and Shindig! Magazine... the latest! for Brian Auger's “Live Oblivion Vol. 1 & 2” - plus a stellar review in Shindiggin’ for the crate diggers.

For the oblivious – both volumes are out this Friday:
https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/LiveOblivionVol1-2

Shindig: ★★★★
“The Oblivion Express at the absolute peak of their powers”
MOJO: ★★★★
“melodious, spontaneous lengthy jams that often better the studio versions”
Shindiggin: “most hypnotic and profoundly soulful of grooves”

26/04/2024

In 1976, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express covered Herbie Hancock’s original ‘Maiden Voyage’. The band’s version was later picked up by notable Hip Hop artists such as Mos Def and Japanese DJ Mitsu The Beats.

The Oblivion Express version of 'Maiden Voyage' is included in the Live Oblivion Vol. 2 - both volumes out May 10.

22/04/2024

The version of the Oblivion Express band featured on both “Live Oblivion” volumes was special, as Brian Auger recalls “we were all absolutely performing at our height”.

Alex Ligertwood’s vocals were back in the lineup after a brief hiatus; bassist Barry Dean, who wrote many of the band’s most popular tunes was as rock solid as ever, and Steve Ferrone was incredible in the drum seat after taking over from original Oblivion Express drummer Robbie McIntosh following his sad and untimely passing in 1974. The LP version of ‘Live Oblivion Vol. 1’ features a dedication to him on the rear.

Rest in peace, Robbie 🕊️

Image 1 bottom left to right:
Barry Dean - bass guitar
Jack Mills - guitar
Steve Ferrone - drummer
Alex Ligertwood - vocalist
Brian Auger - keys

04/04/2024

‘Compared to What’ taken from ‘Live Oblivion Vol. 2' is out now on all platforms.

Brian Auger in the original liner notes opines how live recordings can often have drawbacks, but "I hope that spirit shines through". 50 years on from being committed to tape ‘Live Oblivion 1 & 2’ certainly achieve that – and much more.

Both volumes are out May 10 and available for pre-order now: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/LiveOblivionVol1-2

03/04/2024

"Pianist and Hammond organ master Auger is highly regarded as a pioneer jazzer who sought to “develop this idea of a bridge between jazz and different musical worlds.”"

You can read the full conversation Mr. Brian Auger had with Rob Hughes from Prog Mag:

Multi-genre organ master’s fervent hope is that he opened a channel between rock and jazz: ”And it kind of worked out…”

26/03/2024

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express' 'Live Oblivion Vol. 1 & 2' recordings have been remastered by Bill Smith at United Archiving, LA, from the original 'Wally Heider Mobile' analogue tapes.

Wally Heider (1922-1989) was a renowned U.S. recording engineer and owner of recording studios in LA and San Francisco. The Wally Heider Mobile recording facility had a fleet of remote recording outfits, with four fully operative vans (one with 24-track recording capability), as well as a fifth mobile system.

19/03/2024

Gem alert 💎
Watch Brian Auger's Oblivion Express perform ‘Bumpin’ On Sunset’ live in 1975 at Winterland, San Francisco. The single is out now everywhere as part of the ‘Live Oblivion Vol. 1’: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/LiveOblivionVol1-2

Musicians:
Brian Auger - organ, vocals
Jack Mills - lead guitar
Alex Ligertwood - vocals, guitar, percussion
Clive Chaman - bass
Lennox Laington - congas
David Dowle - drums

14/03/2024

For its 50th anniversary, the original ‘Live Oblivion’ recordings from the golden mid 70s are now being released across two volumes on LP, CD and digitally.

In 1974, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express performed at the Hollywood venue ‘The Whisky A Go Go’ across two nights. The group were finishing off a huge US tour that had roared down the East Coast then across the Midwest and by the time they hit LA, as Brian recalls “we were all absolutely performing at our height. So I decided that I really needed to record the band live at that point”.

Across both volumes there are no fillers and the highlights are many - ‘Bumpin’ On Sunset’, ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’, and ‘Inner City Blues’ are all stunning, but especially the epic version of ‘Maiden Voyage’. ‘Bumpin’ On Sunset’ is now available everywhere.

It’s the first ever vinyl reissue since the original releases in the 1970’s. Both volumes are now available for pre-order – out May 10th: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/LiveOblivionVol1-2

13/02/2024

Mr. Craig Charles himself got his hands on a "Complete Oblivion" box set. Did you get yours yet?

The 'Complete Oblivion' box set the hands of actor, radio presenter & DJ Craig Charles over there in London! Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club

31/10/2023

Brian got his copy - did you get yours yet?

Also - the vinyl & CD box sets are back in stock and available in the US via: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Oblivion-Brian-Augers-Express/dp/B0CGS9KVM8/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1698419893&refinements=p_32%3ABrian%20Auger%27s%20Oblivion%20Express&s=music&sr=1-2

31/10/2023

Huge thanks to DJ Deb Grant for this lovely unboxing video!

31/10/2023

28/09/2023

Oblivion Express’ first line-up back in the days. Serious faces - serious business!

An original 1970 press shot including the late, great drummer Robbie MacIntosh, bass player Barry Dean and the brilliant guitarist Jim Mullen - who wrote several tracks on the bands first 2 albums 'Oblivion Express' and ' A Better Land'.

Full box set landing in less than a month! 🪁

06/09/2023

We're hugely excited to announce the Complete Oblivion box set is being released on Soul Bank on October 20th. It comes as a gorgeous 6LP / 6CD glossy finish box set and includes a booklet featuring rare photos, posters and Sarah Gregory's full length interview with Brian Auger.

It has been entirely remastered from the original studio master tapes by Bill Smith at United Archiving, Los Angeles, and comes in faithful reproductions of the original album sleeves by Jaffa at The Unknown.

Included titles: Closer To It!, Straight Ahead, Second Wind, Reinforcements, Oblivion Express & A Better Land.

Pre-order here: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/CompleteOblivion

28/08/2023

"Auger Incorporated" - the collection of Brian Auger classics, including previously unreleased gems, is now available as 3LP and 2CD on our webshop or in the record store of your choice.

Link: soul-bank-music.lnk.to/AugerIncorporated

From The Oblivion Express era, there’s an intense and driving live version of Freedom Jazz Dance, and the alternative mix/radio edit of Marvin Gaye’s "Inner City Blues", Brian’s mid 80’s Italo-disco hit "Night Train To Nowhere". Auger Incorporated includes something for the die hard fans and all those new to this extraordinary musician's unmatchable 60 year career.

Slide right to get a sneak-peak into some of the images included in the booklet that comes with the LP version. Enjoy!

Pic 2 left to right: Robbie MacIntosh (drummer), Jack Mills (guitar - bottom left), Steve Ferrone (drummer), Alex Ligertwood (vocalist) & Brian himself.

Pic 3: Brian with Julie Driscoll.

22/08/2023

EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH EVENT
We’re glad to welcome all of you for an open-doors Brian Auger evening this Friday, Aug 25th in London from 7pm.

There will be a full playback of the entire “Auger Incorporated” album as well as a smooth set by & a special guest appearance! We’ll also have copies of the triple vinyl LP and double CD available for as long as they last. First come, first serve.

See you on Friday 🎯

08/08/2023

Did you have a chance to watch the full feature yet? It includes countless stories of Brian Auger's eventful past. Definitely worth watching if not done yet! 🎹

Today I sit down with Jazz Rock legend Brian Auger! In this rare interview he shares powerful insights about his life, his unique approach to music, and his ...

02/08/2023

‘Auger Incorporated’ brings us back to Brian Auger’s early 60’s debut as a poll-winning jazz piano prodigy, his transformation into swinging London’s premier Hammond Organ player via his groups’ The Steam Packet and Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, and his flagship 70’s band – The Oblivion Express. Auger's blend of jazz, R&B and pop idioms saw him credited as one of the earliest protagonists of jazz fusion.

Particularly rare highlights include The Steam Packet’s blistering instrumental version of Robert Parkers’s R&B smash ‘Watch Your Step’, the 2 tracks by Sonny Boy Williamson backed by Brian & The Trinity with a young Jimmy Page as guest, the live 1960’s versions of ‘Save Me’ and ‘Red Beans & Rice’ and the recently unearthed version of the jazz dance classic ‘Jeannine’ featuring the unmistakable voice of Julie Driscoll.

Get here: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/AugerIncorporated

26/07/2023

We’re very happy to finally share with you that ‘Auger Incorporated’, the career spanning compilation of Brian Auger’s legendary music, is up for pre-order for August 25th on 3LP / 2CD: https://soul-bank-music.lnk.to/AugerIncorporated

Lauded and loved by artists as diverse as Mose Allison to Emma-Jean Thackray, his tracks have been sampled by Mos Def & Madlib, his original compositions covered by Sarah Vaughan, Richard 'Groove' Holmes and The Main Ingredient.

Auger Incorporated includes classic album tracks, rarities and live concerts performances, some of which have never been released before from Brian’s ground-breaking, genre busting catalogue.

Joining the launch of the physical product is a brand new full-length feature on Doctor Mix’ Youtube where they chat about Brian’s past, memorable stories as well as some humble advice for accessing your creativity.

21/07/2023

"I didn't know what would happen or where it would take me but we were breaking down barriers and going someplace new." - Brian Auger

Read the full artist feature now up on to get a deeper insight into how the 'Godfather of Acid Jazz' was always pushing for something new.

Several multitracks are now available to legally sample on Tracklib.

Read here: https://www.tracklib.com/blog/brianauger-oblivionexpress-samples?utm_source=customerio&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter201-EditionRecords&utm_id=newsletter&utm_content=button

19/07/2023

Can you guess whose set-up this is? 👀
Something exciting coming next week for the vinyl aficionados.

03/06/2023

We are pleasers to announce that many of the legendary jazz/fusion master Brian Auger’s tracks are now available to legally sample thanks to - that’s a goldmine of grooves for producers and DJ’s https://www.tracklib.com/music/artists/brian-auger

14/04/2023

Win a copy! .music

11/04/2023

Listen here! Mark de Clive-Lowe

A playlist featuring tracks from Hiatus Kaiyote, Emma Jean Thackray, and more.

10/04/2023

Award-winning pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock joins the SNJO for the premiere of RELEASE.

10/04/2023

Mark de Clive-Lowe Melanie Charles SHIGETO Jazz FM K7 Music

02/04/2023