Noel Gallagher has spent the past three decades grappling with the monumental success of Oasis’s first two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. Despite a highly successful solo career since the band’s split in 2009, Gallagher believes that neither he nor the band have matched the impact of these seminal records.
In a recent interview with Sunday Times Culture, Gallagher reflected on the band’s rapid progression from their debut to their acclaimed follow-up. “We never thought about things like that,” Gallagher said. “We went directly from the last night of the Definitely Maybe tour to record (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, and then spent the following 29 years — and counting — trying to live up to both albums.”
Noel Gallagher Oasis Classic Albums
Gallagher admitted that even with his ongoing success, he would be content if Oasis had released only their debut album. “I guess it’s the definitive Oasis album,” he said of Definitely Maybe. “It has the spirit, the arrogance of youth. Teenage anthems. It’s live — no bullshit. If we’d made only that album, then I’d still be as happy as I am now.”
He also acknowledged that the album’s enduring status as a classic is a result of time rather than immediate recognition. “We knew the songs were great because we played them every night and all the shows were outrageous,” Gallagher explained. “But at that time it was just a good album — nothing more, nothing less. It’s only through time that it has become what it is now.”
Gallagher mused on the “mystery” of how they created such a landmark record, noting their lack of experience in the studio. “In hindsight, we didn’t really know what we were doing. We were trying to ‘make a record’, but none of us had ever done one before. So, we just set the gear up and got into character and pressed record. The rest, as they say, is mystery.”
As Gallagher continues to reflect on Oasis’s legacy, it’s clear that the band’s early work remains a touchstone for both him and their enduring fan base.
Stream Noel Gallagher’s Oasis classic albums here.
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