(What's The Story) Morning Glory Turned 26 Today
Where the hell does the time go?
This album is important for so many reasons.
Aside from defining the "Britpop" era, Oasis's second album is one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
Maybe the most impressive thing about (Whats The Story) Morning Glory? was that it was the follow up to one of the best debut albums of all time.
Definitely Maybe released only a year prior was the fastest selling debut album in Britain of all time. Yes, faster than The Beatles. Look it up.
Most bands and artists suffer what those in the industry call the sophomore slump.
I once asked a record executive why do so many bands and artists flop on their second release? His response: "because the first album is always the labels album. They dictate what songs are written, recorded, make the album, and are pushed to radio. The second album is the "artist's album". They get to put the stuff they wanted to be on the debut album on the second album."
With the success and acclaim of Definitely Maybe, critics looked for a reason to be disappointed on the follow up, fans in the UK and abroad looked for a reason to become even more in love with the band.
“Some Might Say”, the lead single from the new album hit the radio airwaves not even eight months on from the debut albums release, and it wasn't even a question. Oasis was the real fucking deal. They were here to stay. In October of 1995 (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? dropped and shot to #1.
Oasis hacked the system back in the day by releasing two albums mastered at a higher level than the standard record. They told their engineer to push the limits on their waveforms. Erring on the side of "louder" vs. cleaner.
The result was a booming sound on all their songs when played by the listener. At home, in bars, or on radio unless the station normalized tracks (something rare in the early 90s). Subconsciously or consciously the tactic worked.
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? was also made in a time when albums were meant to be played first track to last. They didn't necessarily tell a story always, but the sequencing of songs had a purpose. A meaning other than a bunch of singles destined for radio play.
The opening song "Hello" announced Oasis' return.
(The "good to be back" harmonizing is some of the best Liam + Noel teamwork we've ever heard)
The back-to-back placement of "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger" (two of the greatest karoake songs of all time) was purposeful, though even Liam and Noel couldn't have imagined just how big the songs would become.
As were the segue from "Morning Glory" into "Champagne Supernova", interlude and all.
These weren't songs that were here and gone in a months time like music is today. They were classic. Timeless hits. On par production-wise of songs made today, 26 years later, lyrically and more important, creatively, superior.
The album was re-released last year in honor of its 25th anniversary (but I wasn't blogging then so I couldn't write about it then). And they remastered it.
Usually, a remaster means a far better-sounding version. In this case it wasn't. Because of the loudness of the original issuing of the album, diehard fans felt it was a step down from the original. Cleaner and sharper? Yes. But grittier sounding? Nope.
There were also reports of some surface noise across the discs which meant it wasn't pressed perfectly.
(Fun fact - the vinyl version of the album features an exclusive bonus track, “Bonehead’s Bank Holiday” – a song intended to be guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs’ Ringo Starr moment.
Also marking the anniversary was an exclusive interview with Noel Gallagher featuring new insight on the record tited ‘Return To Rockfield’, which sees him returning to the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales for the first time since the band recorded the album to reflect on its legacy.
All-time album. By an all-time rock band. Can't wait for Noel to get his head out of his ass and take Liam up on his offer to reunite and go on the tour of all tours before they inevitably try to kill each other and disband again.
"All your dreams are made…"
p.s. - if you haven't seen it, watch "Supersonic". Whether you like Oasis or not, you clicked on this blog which means you're either 1- a music fan, or 2- extremely bored. So either way, watch this documentary and thank me later. One of the best I've seen and not just because I'm a huge fan.