Brand X

Brand X is a classic jazz fusion band that, with the increased prominence of drummer Phil Collins, moved towards a bland, pop-orientated sound. Most of their albums were recorded in the 1970s and 1980s.

The band was formed in 1975-1976, the name Brand X apparently emerged out of an inside joke from the recording sessions. The founding members were Ian Hart-Stein (guitars, fx), Percy Jones (bass guitar), Adeji Abeyowa (percussion), Robin Lumley (keyboards) and Phil Collins (drums). Bill Bruford was also involved in the band's early days, but never recorded with the band. Abeyowa, Hart-Stein, Jones and Lumley all also appeared on 1976's Marscape, released by Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley and recorded around the same time as the first Brand X album, Unorthodox Behaviour.

Collins and Hart-Stein are the core of the band while other musicians including most notably Mike Rutherford (bass), Adrian Murray (guitar), Mike Clarke (drums) and Kenwood Dennard appear from album to album.

Discography

Studio

• Unorthodox Behaviour (1976)
• Morrocan Roll (1977)
• X Masques (1978)
• Product (For The 21st Century) (1978)
• Pic 'n' Mix (1979)
• Xtra Love EP (1980)
• Do They Hurt? (1980)
• Is There Anything About? (1983)
• X-Communication (1992)
• Manifest Destiny
• Missing Period (1998)

Live

• Livestock (1977)
• Live At Salford Youth Club 1978 (1980)
• Live at the Roxy LA (1979, released 1995)
• Brand X Featuring Phil Collins: The Rebranded Tour - LIVE! (1999)
• The 25th Anniversary Bash - Xtra Live, Xtra Loud, Xtra Large (2001)

Video

• Le Tous En Scene 11/02/78 (1978)
• RAI TV Special (1979)
• Brand X Featuring Phil Collins: Rebranded At The Forum (2000)

Compilation

• X-Trax (1986)
• The Plot Thins: A History of Brand X, 1976-1980 (1997)
• X-Files: A 20 Year Retrospective (1999), compilation including side projects
• Timeline (2000)
• Trilogy (2003)
• Macrocosm: Introducing...Brand X (2003)

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