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Definitely Maybe
Studio album by
Oasis
Released29 August 1994 (1994-08-29)
Recorded17 December 1993 – 3 May 1994 (1993-12-17 – 1994-05-03)[1][a]
Studio
Genre
Length51:57
LabelCreation
Producer
Oasis chronology
Definitely Maybe
(1994) 		(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
(1995)
Singles from Definitely Maybe
  1. "Supersonic"
    Released: 11 April 1994
  2. "Shakermaker"
    Released: 20 June 1994
  3. "Live Forever"
    Released: 8 August 1994
  4. "Cigarettes & Alcohol"
    Released: 10 October 1994

Definitely Maybe is the debut studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released on 29 August 1994 by Creation Records. The album features Noel Gallagher on lead guitar, backing vocals and as chief songwriter, Liam Gallagher on lead vocals, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs on rhythm guitar, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan on bass guitar and Tony McCarroll on drums.

The band booked Monnow Valley Studio near Rockfield in January 1994 to record the album; they worked with producer Dave Batchelor, whom Noel Gallagher knew from his time working as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets. However, sessions were unsatisfactory, and Batchelor was subsequently fired. In February 1994, the group began re-recording the album at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, where Noel produced sessions alongside Mark Coyle. The results were still deemed unsatisfactory; in desperation, Creation's Marcus Russell contacted engineer and producer Owen Morris, who eventually worked on mixing the album at Johnny Marr's studio in Manchester.

Definitely Maybe was an immediate commercial success in the United Kingdom, having followed on the heels of the singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker", and the UK top-ten hit "Live Forever", which was also a success on US modern rock radio. It went straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart and became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history at the time; it went on to be certified 10× platinum by the BPI for sales of over 3 million units.[5] It was also successful in the United States, being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.[6][7] It is the only Oasis album to feature all five original members completely; drummer Tony McCarroll was ejected from the band in early 1995, but he would still partially appear on their second album on the track "Some Might Say".

Upon release, Definitely Maybe received widespread critical acclaim and helped to spur a revitalisation in British pop/rock music in the 1990s. It was embraced by critics for its optimistic themes and rejection of the negative outlook of much of the grunge music of the time and is regarded as a cornerstone of the Britpop genre, having since appeared in many publications' lists of the greatest albums of all time. In 2006, the NME conducted a readers' poll in which Definitely Maybe was voted the greatest album ever. In 2015, Spin included the album in their list of "The 300 Best Albums of 1985–2014".[8] Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 217 on its 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Background and recording

[edit]

Formerly called the Rain, Oasis was formed in 1991 by Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, Tony McCarroll and Liam Gallagher. Liam soon asked his older brother, Noel Gallagher, to join. Despite reports that Noel insisted on total creative control and leadership,[9] he said in 2016: "There is the myth that I kicked open the fucking rehearsal room door to the theme tune to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and said 'Everybody stop what they're doing. I am here to make us all millionaires', you know? It wasn't that at all".[10] Although Noel wrote all the album's songs, guitarist Bonehead said, "I came up with the riff for 'Up in the Sky' and he built the song around that one but generally Noel would arrive with the finished song".[11]

After recording "Supersonic" at the Pink Museum Studios in Liverpool in December 1993, Oasis booked Monnow Valley Studio near Rockfield to record the album in January 1994. Their producer was Dave Batchelor, whom Noel knew from working as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets. The sessions were unsatisfactory, and Bonehead recalled, "It wasn't happening. [Batchelor] was the wrong person for the job... we'd play in this great big room, buzzing to be in this studio, playing like we always played. He'd say, 'Come in and have a listen.' And we'd be like, 'That doesn't sound like it sounded in that room. What's that?' It was thin. Weak. Too clean."[12]

Additionally, engineer Dave Scott commented, "I couldn't connect with him [Batchelor] artistically or technically, neither could I get any idea from him what his vision for the album was. This made life very difficult for me. I had rarely worked under other producers and when I had, there had always been a collaboration. I think that the lack of direction and different expectations led to an uncoordinated session with too many compromises."[13] Scott described various technical issues that befell the sessions, including defective equipment, poor quality headphones, and excessive sound variation between mixing channels. He was fired by Batchelor after two clashes while recording "Slide Away", and was later informed "Slide Away" was the only track kept from the sessions.[13]

The sessions at Monnow Valley were costing £800 a day. As the sessions proved increasingly fruitless, the group began to panic. Bonehead said, "Noel was frantically on the phone to the management, going, 'This ain't working.' For it not to be happening was a bit frightening."[12] Batchelor was fired, and Noel tried to make use of the music already recorded by taking the tapes to a number of London studios. Tim Abbot of Creation Records said while visiting the band in Chiswick, "McGee, Noel, me, and various people had a great sesh [session], and we listened to it over and over again. And all I could think was, 'It ain't got the attack.' There was no immediacy."[14] Liam Gallagher would say years later that the recordings at Monnow Valley were also characterised by the presence of a "ghost".[15]

Oasis continued the album's recording sessions at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall in February

In February 1994, the group returned from an ill-fated trip to Amsterdam and set about re-recording the album at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall. This time the sessions were produced by Noel alongside Mark Coyle. The group decided the only way to replicate their live sound in the studio was to record together without soundproofing between individual instruments, with Noel overdubbing numerous guitars afterwards. Bonehead said, "That was Noel's favourite trick: get the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar down, and then he'd cane it. 'Less is more' didn't really work then."[14] The results were still deemed unsatisfactory, and there was little chance of another attempt at recording the album, so the recordings already made had to be used.

In desperation, Creation's Marcus Russell contacted engineer and producer Owen Morris, who had previously mixed the album's songs. Morris recalled after hearing the Sawmills recordings, "I just thought, 'They've messed up here.' I guessed at that stage Noel was completely fucked off. Marcus was like, 'You can do what you like – literally, whatever you want.'" Among Morris's first tasks was to strip away the layers of guitar overdubs Noel had added, although he noted that the overdubs allowed him to construct the musical dynamics of songs such as "Columbia" and "Rock 'n' Roll Star".[16]

Morris worked on mixing the album at Johnny Marr's studio in Manchester. He recalled that Marr was "appalled by how 'in your face' the whole thing was" and would question Morris's mixing choices, such as leaving the background noise at the beginning of "Cigarettes & Alcohol".[16] Inspired by Phil Spector's use of tape delay on the drums of John Lennon's song "Instant Karma!" and Tony Visconti's use of the Eventide Harmonizer on the drums of David Bowie's album Low, Morris added eighth-note tape delays on the drums, which lent additional groove to McCarroll's basic beats.[16] Tape delay was employed to double the drums of "Columbia", giving the song a faster rhythm, and tambourines were programmed on several songs to follow McCarroll's snare hits.[16]

Morris also used a technique he had learned from Bernard Sumner while recording the self-titled album by Sumner's group Electronic, routing the bass guitar through a Minimoog and using the filters to remove the high end, which he used to hide imprecise playing, and heavily compressed the final mix to an extent he admitted was "more than would normally be considered 'professional'".[16]

Morris completed his final mix of the record on the vintage Neve console during the bank holiday weekend in May in Studio 5 at Matrix Recording Studios in London's Fulham district. Music journalist John Harris noted, "The miracle was that music that had passed through so many hands sounded so dynamic: the guitar-heavy stew that Morris had inherited had been remoulded into something positively pile-driving."[14]

On the other hand, engineer Anjali Dutt criticised the abrasive mix: "Though I don't think that the original mixes were amazing, I did prefer them to the final album, as the relentlessness of the compressed chainsaw guitars just wears you out even if the initial feeling of excitement is invigorating. ... I think his mixes did the job and gave it that much needed excitement and attitude. But it wasn't my kind of sound and found it far too abrasive so I can only recall ever playing a few tracks at a time."[17]

Cover art

[edit]

The photograph on the front cover of the album was taken by rock photographer Michael Spencer Jones in guitarist Bonehead's house in Didsbury, Manchester.[18] The image was inspired by the back cover of the Beatles' 1966 compilation LP A Collection of Beatles Oldies,[19] and, in the positioning of Liam on the floor, by a visit Spencer Jones had made to the Egyptology section at the Science and Industry Museum.[18] In a 2019 interview, Spencer Jones said that the idea to photograph the band at Bonehead's house came from Noel, who originally wanted the band to be seated around Bonehead's dining table; Spencer Jones instead suggested shooting in the lounge, facing a bay window. He also said that he asked Liam to lie on the floor to draw attention away from the room's wood flooring, which he felt would make the picture look like an advert for varnish. The wine glass to Liam's right was filled with diluted Ribena; although an urban legend suggests that this was used because the band could not afford wine, Spencer Jones explained that it was actually because red wine often turns out black instead of red on pictures.[20]

Spencer Jones asked the band to bring objects of personal value to them to the shoot.[20] Cannon drew inspiration from Jan van Eyck's Flemish Renaissance painting Arnolfini Portrait (1434) for the way it is "littered with visual metaphors", and applied the same significance for the objects on the Definitely Maybe sleeve.[21][22] The television is showing a scene with actors Eli Wallach and Antonio Casale from Sergio Leone's film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A still of actor Gian Maria Volonté from another Leone film, A Fistful of Dollars, is visible on the television on the back cover.[23] According to Spencer Jones, this was Noel's favourite film.[20] A picture of footballer Rodney Marsh playing for Manchester City (the football team of the Gallaghers and McGuigan) is propped against the fireplace. A photograph of footballer George Best can be seen in the window at the behest of Bonehead, a Manchester United fan.[20] A poster (actually the inside of a gatefold sleeve)[20] of Burt Bacharach, one of Noel's idols, is also shown leaning against the side of the sofa on the lower left-hand side of the cover. Bonehead's Epiphone Riviera, which he used on every Oasis recording and gig during his tenure in the band, is propped against the wall.[24] Some writers believe that Oasis were trying to pay homage to the album cover of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma (1969) by placing Bacharach's picture in the same prominent position used for the soundtrack of Vincente Minnelli's film Gigi on Ummagumma.[25]

Release and promotion

[edit]

Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993. The limited-edition 12-inch single "Columbia" was released later that year as a teaser for journalists and radio shows, and was unexpectedly picked up by BBC Radio 1, who played it 19 times in the two weeks after its release.[26] The band's first commercial single "Supersonic" was released on 11 April 1994. The following week, it debuted at No. 31 on the British singles chart.[27] The song was followed by "Shakermaker" in June 1994, which debuted at No. 11 and earned the group an appearance on Top of the Pops.[28]

The release of Definitely Maybe was preceded by a third single, "Live Forever", which was released on 8 August 1994 and became the group's first top ten single. The continuing success of Oasis partially allowed Creation to ride out a period of tough financial straits; the label was still £2 million in debt, so Tim Abbot was given only £60,000 to promote the upcoming album. Abbot tried to determine how to best use his small budget: "I'd go back to the Midlands every couple of weeks and people I knew would say, 'Oasis are great. This is what we listen to.' And I'd be thinking, 'Well, you lot don't buy singles. You don't read the NME. You don't read Q. How do we get the people to like you?'"[29] Abbot decided to place ads in publications that had never been approached by Creation before, such as football magazines, match programmes, and UK dance music periodicals. His suspicions that Oasis would appeal to these non-traditional audiences were confirmed when the dance music magazine Mixmag, which usually ignored guitar-based music, gave Definitely Maybe a five-star review.[30]

Definitely Maybe was released on 29 August 1994.[31][32][33] The album sold 100,000 copies in its first four days.[30] On 4 September, the album debuted at No. 1 on the British charts. It outsold the second-highest album (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994, which had been favoured to be the chart-topper that week), by a factor of 50%. The first-week sales earned Definitely Maybe the record of the fastest-selling debut album in British history.[30] "Cigarettes & Alcohol" was released as the fourth single from the album in October, peaking at No. 7 in the UK, which was then a career high for the band. Noel said "Slide Away" was considered as a fifth single but he ultimately refused, arguing, "You can't have five [singles] off a debut album."[34]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Contemporary reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
Chicago Sun-TimesStarStarStarHalf star[35]
Fort Worth Star-TelegramStarStarStarHalf star[36]
Music WeekStarStarStarStarStar[37]
NME9/10[38]
QStarStarStarStar[39]
Select5/5[40]
Smash HitsStarStarStarStarStar[41]
Vox8/10[42]

Definitely Maybe received widespread critical acclaim and was a commercial success, with many critics and listeners welcoming the album's fearless optimism, particularly in an era of rock which was dominated by American grunge which seemed at odds with the album.[43] Noel's songwriting and melodic skills, along with Liam's vocals, received particular praise. Keith Cameron of NME called Noel "a pop craftsman in the classic tradition and a master of his trade" and believed that "the only equivocal thing about Definitely Maybe is its title ... everything else screams certainty ... the fact is that too much heartfelt emotion, ingenious belief and patent songwriting savvy rushes through the debut Oasis album for it to be the work of a bunch of wind-up merchants ... it's like opening your bedroom curtains one morning and discovering that some f—er's built the Taj Mahal in your back garden and then filled it with your favourite flavour of Angel Delight".[38] Melody Maker gave the album its star rating signifying a "bloody essential" purchase, and its critic Paul Lester said, "Of all the great new British pop groups, Oasis are the least playful, the least concerned with post-modern sleights of influence ... Definitely Maybe is 'What the World's Been Waiting For', a record full of songs to live to, made by a gang of reckless northern reprobates who you can easily dream of joining ... If you don't agree it offers a dozen opportunities to believe that 1994 is the best year ever for pop/rock music, then you're wrong".[44]

Stuart Maconie of Q described Definitely Maybe as "an outrageously exciting rock/pop album ... a rutting mess of glam, punk, and psychedelia, you've heard it all before of course, but not since the Stone Roses debut have a young Lancastrian group carried themselves with such vigour and insouciance".[39] Vox's Mike Pattenden stated that "occasionally – and in this voracious, selfish, faddish industry it is only occasionally – something materialises that justifies the endless bullshit that represents its daily diet... the 11 songs that make up Definitely Maybe ... lie shining like so much crystal-cut glass among the debris of the nation's hotel rooms".[42] Writing in Mojo in 1994, Jim Irvin felt the record was "bloody close" to the "punch-yer-lights-out debut they'd intended. Certainly when put next to the flimsy, uncommitted music of most new British bands, Definitely Maybe spits feathers ... Spunky, adolescent rock, vivifying and addictive".[45]

In the US, Rolling Stone included the album in its end-of-year round-up of 1994's most important records, with Paul Evans saying, "Liam Gallagher has God-given cool. And with his brother Noel supplying him with sumptuous rockers, it's easy to see why this quintet is next year's model. Heavier on guitar than Blur or Suede, they're the simpler, catchier outfit."[46] Neil Strauss of The New York Times wrote of the songs; "On its own, each one sounds like a classic, rippling with hard guitar hooks, strong dance beats and memorable choruses."[47]

Legacy

[edit]
Professional ratings
Retrospective reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarStar[48]
Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStarStarStar[49]
MojoStarStarStarStarStar[50]
Pitchfork8.8/10[51]
QStarStarStarStarStar[52]
Record CollectorStarStarStarStar[53]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStarHalf star[54]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarStarStar[55]
SpinStarStarStarStarHalf star[56]
Uncut8/10[57]

Reviewing the 2014 reissue of Definitely Maybe in Mojo, Danny Eccleston stated, "There's nothing more exhilarating than the feeling that something great is about to happen. It's a force that courses, unmanageably, through Oasis' debut album even today... This is transcendental rock'n'roll music that celebrates the moment, not a moment."[50] In his review of the reissue, Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield said, "Twenty years on, Oasis' debut album remains one of the most gloriously loutish odes to cigarettes, alcohol, and dumb guitar solos that the British Isles have ever coughed up."[54] The same year, a study of the album by writer Alex Niven was published in Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series.[58] Niven reviewed the album from a sociopolitical context of Oasis as a working-class answer to four decades of political strife.[59]

In October 2023, Liam Gallagher announced plans to tour and perform Definitely Maybe in full, marking the album's 30th anniversary.[60]

Accolades

[edit]

In 1997, Definitely Maybe was named the 14th greatest album of all time in a "Music of the Millennium" poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian, and Classic FM.[61] On Channel 4's "100 Greatest Albums" countdown in 2005, the album was placed at No. 6.[62] In 2006, NME placed the album at No. 3 on its list of the greatest British albums ever, behind the Stone Roses' self-titled debut album and the Smiths' The Queen Is Dead.[63] In a 2006 British poll run by NME and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, the album was voted the best album of all time, with the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band finishing second.[64] Q placed it at No. 5 on its greatest albums of all-time list in 2006, and NME hailed it as the greatest album of all time that same year.[64][65]

In a 2008 poll conducted by Q and HMV of the greatest British albums of all time, Definitely Maybe placed at No. 1.[65] Rolling Stone ranked the album at No. 217 on its 2020 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time",[66] No. 78 on its 2011 list of the "100 Best Albums of the Nineties",[67] as well as No. 42 on its 2013 list of the "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time".[68] The German edition of Rolling Stone ranked the album at No. 156 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[69]

In 2000, the album was voted No. 44 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[70] In July 2014, Guitar World ranked Definitely Maybe at No. 19 on its list of "50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994".[71] The album was ranked at No. 160 on Spin's "300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985–2014)" list.[72] In 2017, Pitchfork listed the album at No. 9 on its list of the "50 Best Britpop Albums".[73] On the other hand, it was ranked at No. 4 on the list of most overrated albums ever in a 2005 BBC public poll.[74] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[75]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Noel Gallagher.

Definitely Maybe track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Rock 'n' Roll Star"5:23
2."Shakermaker"5:08
3."Live Forever"4:36
4."Up in the Sky"4:28
5."Columbia"6:17
6."Supersonic"4:43
7."Bring It On Down"4:17
8."Cigarettes & Alcohol"4:49
9."Digsy's Dinner" ([b])2:32
10."Slide Away"6:32
11."Married with Children"3:11
Total length:51:56

Bonus tracks

Songs not included on most releases
No.TitleLength
4."Cloudburst" (Japanese edition only)5:22
6."Sad Song" (Japanese edition only)4:27
12."Whatever" (Mexican edition only)6:22
Japanese 2014 Deluxe Edition bonus tracks[76]
No.TitleLength
12."Shakermaker" (Slide Up mix)5:36
13."Bring It On Down" (Monnow Valley version)4:23
Total length:1:01:59

Vinyl version

[edit]

All tracks are written by Noel Gallagher.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Rock 'n' Roll Star"5:23
2."Shakermaker"5:08
3."Live Forever"4:36
Total length:15:07
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Up in the Sky"4:28
2."Columbia"6:17
3."Sad Song"4:30
Total length:15:15
Side three
No.TitleLength
1."Supersonic"4:43
2."Bring It On Down"4:17
3."Cigarettes & Alcohol"4:49
Total length:13:49
Side four
No.TitleLength
1."Digsy's Dinner"2:32
2."Slide Away"6:32
3."Married with Children"3:15
Total length:12:19

Singles box set

[edit]
Definitely Maybe
Box set by
Oasis
Released4 November 1996
Recorded1993–1994
GenreBritpop, rock
Length87:38
LabelCreation
ProducerOasis, Mark Coyle, Owen Morris, Dave Batchelor
Oasis chronology
Definitely Maybe
(1996) 		(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
(1996)

The Definitely Maybe box set was released on 4 November 1996, featuring four discs of singles, including B-sides, and one disc of interviews. The set charted at number 23 on the UK Albums Chart.[77]

All songs written by Noel Gallagher, except "I Am the Walrus" by Lennon–McCartney.

Disc one
No.TitleLength
1."Interviews"18:22
Total length:18:22
Disc two
No.TitleLength
1."Supersonic"4:44
2."Take Me Away"4:30
3."I Will Believe" (Live)3:46
4."Columbia" (White label demo)5:25
Total length:18:23
Disc three
No.TitleLength
1."Shakermaker"5:08
2."D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?"2:41
3."Alive" (8-track demo)3:56
4."Bring It On Down" (Live)4:17
Total length:16:02
Disc four
No.TitleLength
1."Live Forever"4:36
2."Up in the Sky" (Acoustic version)3:32
3."Cloudburst"5:21
4."Supersonic" (Live)5:12
Total length:18:41
Disc five
No.TitleLength
1."Cigarettes & Alcohol"4:49
2."I Am the Walrus" (Live)8:15
3."Listen Up"6:39
4."Fade Away"4:13
Total length:23:54

2014: 20th anniversary reissue

[edit]

To mark the 20th anniversary of the original release[78] and as part of a promotional campaign entitled Chasing the Sun, the album was released on 19 May 2014, a deluxe edition featured the remastered original album packaged with two additional discs of material. Additionally, a limited edition reproduction of the band's original 1993 demo cassette was also made available to purchase.

2014 reissue disc 2: B-Sides
No.TitleLength
1."Columbia" (White Label Demo)5:29
2."Cigarettes & Alcohol" (Demo)4:38
3."Sad Song"4:30
4."I Will Believe" (Live)3:49
5."Take Me Away"4:33
6."Alive" (Demo)3:59
7."D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?"2:42
8."Supersonic" (Live)5:16
9."Up in the Sky" (Acoustic Version)3:35
10."Cloudburst"5:24
11."Fade Away"4:16
12."Listen Up"6:43
13."I Am the Walrus" (Live at the Glasgow Cathouse. Glasgow, Scotland, June 1994)8:19
14."Whatever"6:23
15."(It's Good) to Be Free"4:24
16."Half the World Away"4:22
Total length:1:18:22
2014 reissue disc 3: Rare Tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Supersonic" (Live at Glasgow Tramshed, Glasgow, Scotland, 7 April 1994)5:32
2."Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Demo)5:47
3."Shakermaker" (Live Paris In-Store Performance)4:06
4."Columbia" (Eden Studios Mix)5:38
5."Cloudburst" (Demo)5:11
6."Strange Thing" (Demo)5:15
7."Live Forever" (Live Paris In-Store Performance)4:43
8."Cigarettes & Alcohol" (Live at Manchester Academy, Manchester, England, 18 December 1994)3:59
9."D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?" (Live at Manchester Academy, Manchester, England, 18 December 1994)2:47
10."Fade Away" (Demo)4:24
11."Take Me Away" (Live at Manchester Academy, Manchester, England, 18 December 1994)4:16
12."Sad Song" (Live at Manchester Academy, Manchester, England, 18 December 1994)4:30
13."Half the World Away" (Live at Tokyo Hotel Room)3:54
14."Digsy's Dinner" (Live Paris In-Store Performance)2:37
15."Married with Children" (Demo)3:17
16."Up in the Sky" (Live Paris In-Store Performance)3:20
17."Whatever" (Strings only)4:54
Total length:1:14:10
2014 reissue additional download only tracks[79]
No.TitleLength
1."Live Forever" (Live Gleneagles March ‘94)4:26
2."Digsy's Dinner" (Live Gleneagles March ‘94)2:24
Total length:6:50

2024: 30th anniversary reissue

[edit]

To mark the 30th anniversary of the original release,[80] the album was reissued on 30th August 2024. The reissue includes the remastered original album packaged with one additional disc containing the previously discarded original recording session from Monnow Valley along with outtakes from Sawmills Studios and a demo of Sad Song (with Liam Gallagher on vocals).

2024 reissue disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Monnow Valley Version)6:17
2."Shakermaker" (Monnow Valley Version)4:50
3."Live Forever" (Monnow Valley Version)4:55
4."Up In The Sky" (Monnow Valley Version)4:57
5."Columbia" (Monnow Valley Version)4:50
6."Bring It On Down" (Monnow Valley Version)4:00
7."Cigarettes & Alcohol" (Monnow Valley Version)4:27
8."Digsy's Dinner" (Monnow Valley Version)2:40
9."Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Sawmills Outtake)6:32
10."Up In The Sky" (Sawmills Outtake)4:32
11."Columbia" (Sawmills Outtake)7:17
12."Bring It On Down" (Sawmills Outtake)4:22
13."Cigarettes & Alcohol" (Sawmills Outtake)5:06
14."Digsy's Dinner" (Sawmills Outtake)3:03
15."Slide Away" (Sawmills Outtake)6:03
16."Sad Song" (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov’ 92)4:34
Total length:1:18:25

DVD

[edit]

Definitely Maybe was released on DVD in September 2004 to mark the tenth anniversary of its original release. It went triple platinum in the UK. The DVD featured an hour-long documentary about the recording of the album featuring interviews with the band and its associates. Also included was the album in its entirety, at 48 kHz, including a remix of "Sad Song" with double tracked vocals during the chorus. "Sad Song" originally only appeared on the UK vinyl and Japanese CD versions of the album, as well as on a French bonus CD included with copies of the album sold at FNAC stores. Other content included live and TV performances of the album's twelve tracks, and the promo videos to "Supersonic" (UK & US versions), "Shakermaker", "Live Forever" (UK & US versions), "Cigarettes & Alcohol" and "Rock 'n' Roll Star". A limited-edition release in the UK and Ireland included a bonus DVD containing more live footage and anecdotes.

There was also an accompanying made-for-TV documentary, entitled There We Were, Now Here We Are ... : The Making Of Oasis. This was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK at 11:30 pm on Friday, 3 September, three days before the release of the Definitely Maybe DVD. The programme combined existing and unused interview footage from the DVD documentary and focused on the origins of the band, and the four singles from Definitely Maybe. It also included a clip of "All Around the World" performed live at a rehearsal session in the Boardwalk in 1992, five years before it was eventually recorded and released on Be Here Now. The DVD received the NME award for Best Music DVD.[81] The DVD earned Gold status in Australia.[82]

Live versions
No.TitleMusicDateLength
1."Rock 'n' Roll Star"Top of the Pops8 September 1994 
2."Shakermaker"Naked City, Las Vegas, Nevada7 June 1994 
3."Live Forever"Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, Somerset, England26 June 1994 
4."Up in the Sky"Metro Chicago, Chicago, Illinois15 October 1994 
5."Columbia"Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, London, England13 December 1994 
6."Supersonic"The Word18 March 1994 
7."Bring It On Down"Gleneagles, Scotland6 February 1994 
8."Cigarettes & Alcohol"Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, England30 November 1994 
9."Digsy's Dinner"Buckley Tivoli, Flintshire, Wales31 August 1994 
10."Slide Away"Wetlands Preserve, New York City21 July 1994 
11."Married with Children"Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles, California29 September 1994 
12."Sad Song"Later... with Jools Holland10 December 1994 

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Definitely Maybe

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[137] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[138] Gold 100,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[139] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[140] 2× Gold 200,000*
Italy (FIMI)[141]
sales since 2009 		Platinum 50,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[142] Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[143] Platinum 15,000^
Sweden (GLF)[144] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[145] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] 10× Platinum 3,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[146] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[147] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Definitely Maybe DVD

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[148] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[149] 3× Platinum 150,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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References

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Sources

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Definitely Maybe

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from Grokipedia
Definitely Maybe is the debut studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released on 29 August 1994 by . Recorded primarily at Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth, , and Sawmills Studio in , it was produced by Oasis alongside Mark Coyle, Owen Morris, and Dave Batchelor, blending influences from , , and acts into an anthemic sound characterized by raw energy, working-class bravado, and soaring melodies. The album features 11 tracks on its standard CD edition, including standout singles such as "Supersonic", "Shakermaker", "Live Forever", and "Cigarettes & Alcohol", which propelled Oasis from Manchester's underground scene to national stardom. The full track listing is as follows:
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Star"
  • "Shakermaker"
  • "Live Forever"
  • "Up in the Sky"
  • "Columbia"
  • "Supersonic"
  • "Bring It On Down"
  • "Cigarettes & Alcohol"
  • "Digsy's Dinner"
  • "Slide Away"
  • "Married with Children"
Upon release, Definitely Maybe debuted at number one on the , selling 86,000 copies in its first week and becoming the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history at the time. It has since achieved over 8.5 million copies sold worldwide, with 2.4 million certified sales in the (8× platinum) as of 2025. Critically acclaimed for its unapologetic ambition and role in revitalizing British indie rock during the mid-1990s explosion, the album saved its label from financial ruin and established Oasis—led by brothers Liam and —as central figures in the era's cultural shift toward guitar-driven, stadium-ready anthems. In 2024, a 30th-anniversary deluxe topped the charts once more, underscoring its enduring legacy.

Production

Background

Oasis formed in Manchester, United Kingdom, in 1991, initially under the name The Rain, with Liam Gallagher on vocals, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs on guitar, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan on bass, and Tony McCarroll on drums. The band drew early inspiration from the raw energy of punk acts like the Sex Pistols, the glam rock swagger of T. Rex, and the melodic songcraft of the Beatles, shaping their aggressive yet anthemic sound from the outset. They began playing small gigs around Manchester's local scene, including their debut at the Boardwalk venue in August 1991, where Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher, recently returned from a stint as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, witnessed the performance. Impressed but critical, Noel joined shortly after as lead guitarist and primary songwriter, bringing a batch of original material including "Live Forever," which he had composed in 1991 as an optimistic rebuttal to the nihilism of grunge bands like Nirvana. The group renamed themselves Oasis—inspired by a poster for an Inspiral Carpets tour—and Noel's contributions quickly elevated their repertoire, blending his Beatles-influenced hooks with the band's rowdy live energy. By early 1993, Oasis had honed their set through relentless gigs and decided to commit their songs to tape, heading to to record rough demos at The Real People's Porter Street studio over several weekends in spring. This session, known as the "Live Demonstration" tape, captured around a dozen tracks, including early versions of "," "Columbia," and "Strange Thing," produced on a basic 8-track setup and featuring Noel's emerging songwriting prowess alongside the band's unpolished enthusiasm. These demos showcased Oasis's potential, with Noel's recent composition "Supersonic"—penned in a burst of inspiration just months earlier—highlighting their ability to craft instant, riff-driven anthems. The recordings, facilitated by band People, marked Oasis's first professional step toward capturing their sound, though they remained raw and garage-like, reflecting the group's working-class roots and DIY ethos. A pivotal moment came in May 1993 during a gig at Glasgow's , where Oasis, supporting 18 Wheeler, performed a blistering set that caught the attention of founder . Their manager, Marcus Russell, had tipped off McGee about the show, leading to an impromptu signing to the label that night after McGee was captivated by tracks like "I Am the Walrus" and "Supersonic." This breakthrough validated the band's early development and Noel's songwriting, securing a six-album deal worth £40,000 and paving the way for more structured sessions later that year.

Recording

The recording of Oasis's debut album Definitely Maybe began in January 1994 at Monnow Valley Studio near Rockfield in , , under the production of Dave Batchelor, a friend of from his time in the . The band had signed with just months earlier and entered the three-week session with high expectations, laying down basic tracks for nine of the album's eleven songs, including early versions of "Live Forever," "," and "." However, the results were deemed too polished and lacking the raw energy of Oasis's live performances, with the isolated recording approach—using separate booths and click tracks—failing to capture the band's chaotic dynamism. Only the track "Slide Away" was salvaged from these sessions, which wrote on the spot using Johnny Marr's guitar in a at the studio. The Monnow Valley tapes cost approximately £45,000, contributing to significant budget pressures on the fledgling label. Unsatisfied with the output, Oasis relocated to Sawmills Studio in Golant, , a residential recording facility on the River —for sessions in 1994, aiming to replicate their raucous live sound. Engineer Mark Coyle, formerly of The Real People, handled the recording without , allowing the band to perform live together in , which bled instruments across for a dense, unseparated mix. This approach yielded the core takes for most tracks, including heavy guitar overdubs by and Liam Gallagher's lead vocals, though some, like those for "" and "Columbia," proved challenging and required later re-recordings of vocals at Loco Studios in , . The Sawmills sessions were marked by the band's hedonistic lifestyle, with brief 20-minute recording bursts amid drinking and socializing, but they captured the album's explosive essence in just a few days. With Creation facing financial strain from the scrapped Monnow Valley work and ongoing costs—estimated to have exceeded £100,000 in total for the project—the label brought in Owen Morris, a former engineer for , to remix the Sawmills tapes and salvage elements from Monnow Valley. Morris, influenced by and , applied aggressive compression to the overall mix, varispeeded tapes for heightened intensity (such as speeding up "Live Forever"), and layered effects like tape delay on drums and on guitars to amplify the wall-of-sound quality. Initial mixing attempts at in were abandoned as unworkable, leading to further work at Matrix Studios in before final mixes were completed in 1994 at 's studio in , where Morris pushed the levels to create one of the loudest albums since The Who's Live at Leeds. These choices addressed the band's dissatisfaction with the initial "too clean" results while navigating label demands under tight deadlines. In 2024, the 30th-anniversary deluxe reissue of Definitely Maybe included previously unreleased outtakes from both the Monnow Valley and Sawmills sessions, offering new insight into the album's troubled production.

Artwork and packaging

Cover art

The cover art for Oasis's debut album Definitely Maybe features a photograph taken by Michael Spencer Jones in May 1994 at the West Didsbury home of band member Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, located at 8 Stratford Avenue in Manchester. The image depicts the original lineup—brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, Bonehead, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll—in a cluttered, dimly lit living room with stripped floorboards, evoking a sense of intimate domesticity that mirrors the band's working-class Manchester origins. Liam lies on the floor in a relaxed, eyes-closed pose inspired by Egyptian artifacts Jones had seen at the Manchester Museum, while Noel sits on a couch holding an electric guitar, with the other members scattered around the room in casual postures. The composition draws inspiration from the back cover of The Beatles' 1966 compilation A Collection of Beatles Oldies, which shows the band gathered informally around a table in a hotel room, as suggested by Noel Gallagher to capture a similar "fly-on-the-wall" vibe. Additionally, designer Brian Cannon incorporated symbolic elements reminiscent of Jan van Eyck's 15th-century Flemish Renaissance painting The Arnolfini Portrait, using layered props to convey deeper metaphors about the band's identity and aspirations. Key items include an inflatable globe spinning in the foreground to symbolize global ambitions, personal photographs of football icons George Best and Rodney Marsh reflecting the members' rival Manchester United and Manchester City fandoms, a Burt Bacharach record, a pink flamingo belonging to Bonehead, a packet of Benson and Hedges cigarettes, and a mirror sourced from Cannon's own flat. In the background, a vintage television displays a scene from the 1966 Western film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly—Noel Gallagher's favorite movie—adding a layer of cinematic nostalgia to the scene. Cannon, working under his Microdot studio, handled the overall artwork and packaging design, including the handwritten "Definitely Maybe" title in his own script, which was applied post-photoshoot to enhance the album's raw, handcrafted aesthetic. The inner sleeve and booklet expand on this visual narrative with additional black-and-white photographs of taken by Spencer Jones during the session, capturing unguarded moments that reinforce the album's themes of youthful and camaraderie, alongside production credits and produced by Oasis and collaborators like Mark Coyle and Owen Morris. This cluttered, lived-in arrangement not only grounds the artwork in Britpop's emphasis on authenticity but also positions Definitely Maybe as a visual of the era's cultural undercurrents.

Packaging variations

The original 1994 UK release of Definitely Maybe was available in multiple physical formats, each with distinct packaging elements designed for the era's standard media. The CD edition, catalogued as CRECD 169 on , came in a standard jewel case with a 12-page booklet featuring and band photos. The cassette version, under catalog CRE MC 169, utilized a conventional cassette case with a double-sided inlay card for artwork and track information. The vinyl LP was issued as a (CRE LP 169) in a , allowing space for an inner spread with additional imagery and credits, enhancing the collectible appeal for analog enthusiasts. Regional variations introduced unique packaging to cater to local markets, often incorporating cultural or promotional elements. The Japanese CD edition (ESCA 6045 on Epic), released concurrently in 1994, featured a traditional obi strip wrapped around the standard jewel case, along with a 22-page booklet containing Japanese and English lyrics; this version also included bonus tracks not present on the release, distinguishing it as a premium import. Such adaptations were common for international markets to boost appeal and comply with regional distribution norms. In 1996, a limited-edition singles box set compiled the four singles from the album era, packaged in a cigarette pack-style cardboard box with a special booklet by journalist Paul Mathur providing context on each track's background. The set includes four CD singles with artwork replicating the originals, making it a sought-after collector's item for fans seeking standalone releases in one cohesive format. The 10th anniversary edition marked a shift toward packaging, releasing as a limited-edition two-disc DVD set (RKIDVD6 on Big Brother Records) in a slimline or with a booklet of production notes and photos. This version included a bonus disc with extended features like live performances and interviews, emphasizing archival content over traditional audio formats. For the 30th anniversary in 2024, several reissues featured expanded packaging options. The edition (RKID125DA4) is a 5-CD + box set housed in a hardback with rare and memorabilia, while vinyl variants include a 4-LP set (RKID125) in a deluxe sleeve with printed inner bags and a download code. Cassette reissues (RKID125C) come in a standard case with updated artwork, and a limited-edition 7-inch singles (RKID125BOX) replicates the but in vinyl format. These editions, released on August 30, 2024, highlight the album's enduring appeal with collectible elements like etched discs and bonus content.

Musical content

Composition and style

Definitely Maybe exemplifies the genre with its raw, energetic rock sound, incorporating influences from psychedelia, 1970s glam rock, and 1990s to create a turbo-charged aesthetic that revitalized British indie music. The album comprises 11 tracks totaling 51:57 in length, emphasizing anthemic song structures designed for communal sing-alongs and stadium-sized energy. Central to the album's sonic identity is the instrumentation, featuring Noel Gallagher's work, primarily on borrowed guitars such as a and a 1992 Epiphone Les Paul Standard, which delivered the raw, distorted riffs heard throughout tracks like "Supersonic." Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs' complemented this with dense, supportive layers, while Tony McCarroll's straightforward, raw drumming provided a propulsive backbone that underscored the band's unrefined, working-class ethos. Production techniques further enhanced this wall-of-sound approach, including multi-tracked guitars for a thick, immersive texture and the prominent use of effects via the RE-201 Space Echo unit to add depth and reverb to the mixes. Specific tracks highlight these elements: "Live Forever" builds through verse-chorus dynamics to an anthemic, euphoric chorus that encapsulates the album's optimistic defiance, while "Cigarettes & Alcohol" layers distorted guitars into a raucous, feedback-heavy climax reminiscent of 1970s glam influences like T. Rex. The album also nods to classic British rock forebears, such as The Beatles' psychedelic experimentation in "Shakermaker," where swirling, echo-laden arrangements evoke 1960s studio innovation. Overall, these compositional choices forge a cohesive style that prioritizes immediacy and grandeur over subtlety.

Lyrics and themes

Noel Gallagher's songwriting on draws heavily from autobiographical experiences, capturing the frustrations of working-class life in while on the dole and channeling them into universal themes of , fame, and youthful . Written primarily during a period of and limited prospects, the lyrics reflect a desire to break free from socioeconomic constraints, often portraying rock as a pathway to transcendence and self-assertion. Gallagher has described the album's songs as born from this context, emphasizing ambition and defiance against mundane existence. Specific tracks exemplify these elements through vivid, stream-of-consciousness narratives. In "Supersonic," Gallagher employs hedonistic imagery to convey rebellious individuality and carefree excess, with lines like "You need to be yourself, right now / You're not foolin' no one" underscoring a call to authentic living amid chaos. "Slide Away" explores fleeting relationships and emotional vulnerability, urging a partner to "slide away and give it all you've got / My today fell in from the top," which Gallagher has hailed as one of his finest compositions for its poignant blend of longing and impermanence. Recurring motifs throughout the album include references to working-class drudgery, substance use as escapism, and the allure of rock 'n' roll glory. Songs like "Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "Cigarettes and Alcohol" evoke Manchester's post-industrial grit and Thatcher-era discontent, celebrating cigarettes, booze, and music as acts of rebellion against systemic futility. "Live Forever," Gallagher's personal favorite, counters grunge's nihilism with optimistic defiance—"I wanna live, I don't wanna die"—inspired by Kurt Cobain's pessimism and embodying the invincibility of youth. Liam Gallagher's vocal delivery amplifies these themes with a snarling, confrontational attitude that infuses the lyrics with raw urgency and Mancunian swagger, transforming introspective words into anthems of collective aspiration and unrest.

Release and promotion

Initial release

Definitely Maybe, the debut studio album by English rock band Oasis, was released on 29 1994 in the United Kingdom by . The album's launch was built on the momentum from earlier singles, particularly "Live Forever", released on 8 1994, which generated substantial buzz and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Initial formats included (CRE CD 169), double vinyl LP (CRE LP 169), and cassette (C-CRE 169). In the United States, the album was issued by on 31 August 1994, with formats such as (EK 66431), cassette (ET 66431), and (EM 66431). The US rollout featured "Supersonic" as a key promotional single to introduce to American audiences, with radio play leading to its debut at number 33 on the Modern Rock Tracks on 1 October 1994. Oasis's first single "Supersonic", originally issued in the UK on 11 April 1994, had already established the band's raw, anthemic sound and contributed to the album's anticipation. The global rollout extended to Europe on 4 September 1994, coinciding with the album's chart debut at number 1 in the UK, and included market-specific variations, such as different track orders in some territories like Japan under Epic (ESCA 6045). This strategic release schedule allowed Creation and Epic to capitalize on the growing Britpop movement, positioning Definitely Maybe as a cornerstone of the genre's early wave.

Marketing and singles

Pre-release promotion for built significant anticipation through features in leading music publications such as and , which highlighted Oasis's raw energy and potential as a revitalizing force in British rock. The band appeared simultaneously on the covers of , , and The Face in the weeks leading up to the album's release, amplifying their visibility among indie and alternative audiences. This media exposure coincided with the launch of the band's headline tour in March 1994, which included co-headlining dates and helped solidify their live reputation through high-energy performances of early material. The singles rollout began with "Supersonic," released on 11 April 1994, which peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart and introduced Oasis's anthemic sound to a wider . This was followed by "" on 20 June 1994, reaching number 11 on the chart and further establishing the band's Beatles-influenced melodies amid growing controversy over musical similarities to other artists. Post-album promotion continued with "" on 10 October 1994, which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart, and "" on 24 April 1995, which debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, marking Oasis's first chart-topping single and extending the buzz from . Marketing efforts emphasized Oasis's unapologetic persona through brash interviews where band members, particularly Noel and , dismissed contemporaries and proclaimed their supremacy, generating tabloid and music press controversy that boosted their notoriety. Television exposure included performances on , such as their debut appearance for "" in June 1994 and a follow-up for "" in April 1995, which showcased Gallagher's charismatic stage presence to national viewers. Music videos played a key role, with "Supersonic" and "" directed by Mark Szaszy in a gritty, black-and-white style that captured the band's roots and chaotic camaraderie, while "" was helmed by Stuart Fryer, featuring surreal imagery to align with the song's uplifting tone. In the United States, promotion centered on the band's inaugural tour in September 1994, which included notable stops like a chaotic performance at the in , helping to cultivate transatlantic interest through word-of-mouth and support from acts like . These efforts, combined with imported singles and radio play, laid groundwork for Oasis's eventual breakthrough across the Atlantic.

Reception and performance

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1994, Definitely Maybe received widespread critical acclaim in the UK music press for its raw energy and anthemic rock sound. NME awarded the album 9/10, with reviewer Keith Cameron praising its "blistering urgency" and ability to capture the exuberance of youth rebellion through tracks like "Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "Supersonic." Q magazine gave it 4/5 stars, highlighting its "stadium-sized anthems" and infectious hooks that evoked classic British rock traditions, though noting occasional over-reliance on bombast. However, some critics pointed to derivative elements, with The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan describing it as "guitar pop distilled to its simplest form" but critiquing its heavy Beatles-inspired melodies as lacking originality amid the Britpop surge. Retrospective reviews have solidified Definitely Maybe's status as a landmark debut. AllMusic assigned it 5/5 stars, lauding its unfiltered passion and role in revitalizing guitar rock post-grunge. Pitchfork's 2014 reissue review scored it 8.8/10, emphasizing how the album's working-class Manchester ethos and Gallagher brothers' sibling tension channeled the defiant spirit of 1990s youth, even if its bombastic style bordered on excess. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 217 on its 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, crediting its escapist optimism for bridging indie and mainstream appeal. The 2014 remastered edition aggregated a Metacritic score of 95/100 from critics, reflecting reappraisals that celebrated its enduring vitality while acknowledging critiques of subtlety. Common themes in reviews praise the album for embodying the aspirational energy of British youth culture, with Noel's songwriting and Liam's snarling vocals creating anthems of defiance and camaraderie. Detractors, however, often noted a lack of nuance, viewing its loud, swaggering production as more bluster than depth—though this very trait amplified its commercial breakthrough, selling over 8 million copies worldwide. , former guitarist, encapsulated its impact by calling it "the sound of a coming to town," underscoring its rowdy, collective force.

Commercial performance

Definitely Maybe debuted at number one on the dated 10 September 1994, marking the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history at the time with initial sales of 86,000 copies. The album spent one week at the summit during its initial run, remaining in the Top 10 for 26 non-consecutive weeks and accumulating over 5 million sales in the UK, bolstered by the movement's rise. It has been certified 9× Platinum by the (BPI) for shipments exceeding 2.7 million units, though actual sales reached 2,870,017 units according to data as of July 2025. In the UK year-end albums chart for 1994, it ranked 27th with 380,000 sales, reflecting strong initial momentum from promotional singles and the band's rising profile. The 's enduring commercial success, driven in part by marketing efforts around its singles, has seen sustained sales through the era and beyond. In September 2024, a 30th-anniversary deluxe returned the to number one on the , boosted by the Oasis reunion announcement, with sales increasing 408% week-on-week and over 50% from vinyl formats. This resurgence continued into 2025 with the band's Live '25 tour, further elevating its chart performance. Internationally, the album peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It has been certified Platinum by the (RIAA) for sales of 1 million copies in the United States, as well as Platinum in (70,000 units) by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and Platinum in (100,000 units) by . Globally, Definitely Maybe has sold 6.68 million physical copies, with equivalent album units reaching 9.57 million when including digital and streaming activity as of September 2025.

Formats and track listings

Original track listing

The original edition of Definitely Maybe, released on 29 August 1994 by in the , contains 11 tracks across CD and cassette formats, with a total runtime of 51:51. All tracks were written by . The double LP vinyl edition follows the same sequence for most tracks but includes an additional bonus track, "Sad Song" (4:34), positioned after "Columbia" on side B to balance runtimes, resulting in no other major variations from the standard edition.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.5:23
2.5:09
3.Live Forever4:37
4.Up in the Sky4:28
5.Columbia6:17
6.Supersonic4:44
7.Bring It On Down4:18
8.4:49
9.Digsy's Dinner2:33
10.Slide Away6:32
11.3:13
The vinyl sides are divided as follows: side A (tracks 1–3), side B (tracks 4–5, bonus "Sad Song"), side C (tracks 6–8), and side D (tracks 9–11).

Reissues and variants

The Japanese edition of Definitely Maybe, released in 1994 by Epic Records, featured two exclusive bonus tracks: "Cloudburst" and "Sad Song", extending the album's runtime beyond the standard 11-track configuration. This variant was aimed at the local market and included additional mastering for the region, with "Sad Song" serving as a raw, unreleased demo-like addition not found on most international pressings. In 1996, Oasis issued the Definitely Maybe Singles box set through , compiling the album's key singles—"Supersonic", "", "Live Forever", and ""—across five CDs, each containing the A-side, B-sides, and related non-album tracks on the first four discs, with the fifth disc featuring interviews with the band, totaling over 100 minutes of material. Packaged in a distinctive silver "cigarette-style" box with a 12-page booklet featuring and artwork, this edition highlighted the era's B-sides such as "Take Me Away" and "I Will Believe", providing fans with a curated collection of the debut's promotional output. A limited-edition 7-inch vinyl of this box set was later released in 2024, limited to 4,000 numbered copies with marbled vinyl and original inserts, including posters and period photography. The 2004 DVD edition, marking the album's 10th anniversary, was released by and featured a two-disc set with an hour-long documentary directed by , detailing the recording process at Monnow Valley and through interviews and archival footage. Disc one included the full album audio in uncompressed stereo alongside a visual montage of live performances and studio clips, while the bonus disc offered exclusive live footage from 1994 shows, such as "Live Forever" and a cover of ' "" from Glasgow's Cathouse. This release emphasized the album's chaotic creation, with behind-the-scenes insights from band members on scrapped sessions and creative tensions. For the 20th anniversary in , Oasis released a remastered edition via , available in multiple formats including a three-CD deluxe set and a limited super deluxe box. The deluxe CDs comprised the remastered original album on disc one, a selection of demos and outtakes on disc two (including early versions of "" and "" from 1993 sessions), and B-sides on disc three (such as "Columbia" in demo form and "Sad Song"). The super deluxe edition expanded this with a gatefold double heavyweight vinyl, a 56-page hardbound of essays and photos, a 12x12-inch print, tote bag, enamel key ring, badge set, and five postcards with exclusive imagery, all housed in a collector's box limited to a small run. These additions drew from the discarded Monnow Valley sessions, offering alternate takes that showcased the band's raw evolution. The 30th anniversary super deluxe edition, released on 30 August 2024 by Oasis Recordings in formats including a five-CD/Blu-ray set and four-LP box, built on prior reissues with newly unearthed material from the original sessions. Disc one features the 2014 remastered album, while disc two presents eight tracks from the previously unreleased Monnow Valley sessions (e.g., "Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "Live Forever" in their discarded forms), and disc three covers eight alternate mixes from Sawmills Studios. Disc four compiles B-sides and demos, including a Liam Gallagher-vocaled version of "Sad Song", and disc five offers further rarities like early takes of "Up in the Sky". The accompanying Blu-ray provides a new 5.1 surround sound mix of the album alongside high-resolution stereo audio, enhancing the immersive listening experience with spatial elements from the original tapes. Limited-edition variants, such as a two-LP marble-colored pressing with updated artwork, were also made available exclusively through the band's store. In , to coincide with the band's Live '25 reunion tour, a tour-exclusive limited-edition 2LP vinyl pressing was released on June 20 at Manchester's Oasis Pop-Up Store and select tour locations. This edition features the remastered on cream and turquoise swirl-colored 180g vinyl, accompanied by an exclusive 12x12-inch print of tour artwork. Availability was restricted to in-person purchases at pop-up and stores in the UK during the summer tour period.

Personnel and credits

Band members

The lineup of Oasis for their debut album Definitely Maybe (1994) consisted of the following core members, who performed on the record.
  • Liam Gallagher – lead vocals
  • Noel Gallagher – lead guitar, backing vocals; all songwriting
  • Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs – rhythm guitar
  • Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan – bass
  • Tony McCarroll – drums (replaced post-album by Alan White)

Additional personnel

Owen Morris co-produced and mixed Definitely Maybe, working alongside the band Oasis, Mark Coyle, and Dale Batchelor to refine the album's raw sound after initial sessions proved unsatisfactory. Dale Batchelor – (on "Slide Away") Recording engineer Dave Scott handled much of the technical capture during the sessions at Monnow Valley Studio and subsequently at Sawmills Studio in . Additional engineering support came from Anjali Dutt and Roy Spong. Guest contributor Anthony Griffiths provided backing vocals on the track "Supersonic". The album was mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering in . Sleeve design and art direction were handled by Brian Cannon of , with photography by Michael Spencer Jones.

Legacy and impact

Accolades

Upon its release, Definitely Maybe received widespread recognition, including a nomination for the 1995 , where it competed against albums such as Portishead's Dummy and PJ Harvey's , though Portishead's Dummy ultimately won. At the 1995 , the album was honored as Album of the Year, with Oasis also winning Best New Band and Best Single for "Live Forever". Definitely Maybe has been frequently ranked among the greatest albums in various publications. It placed at number 217 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in the 2020 update. The album's commercial success contributed to its accolades, earning 8× Platinum certification from the for 2.4 million units sold in the as of 2024, making it the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time of release with 86,000 copies in its first week—a record it held until 2006.

Cultural significance

Definitely Maybe played a pivotal role in defining the era, igniting a revival of British guitar rock in the mid-1990s by emphasizing anthemic, working-class anthems that contrasted with the prevailing and American-dominated sounds. Released in 1994, the album's raw energy and swagger helped solidify as a movement celebrating identity, with Oasis at its forefront alongside bands like Blur. The intense chart rivalry between Oasis and Blur, dubbed the "Battle of Britpop" in 1995, captured national attention and media frenzy, elevating the genre's visibility and cultural dominance. This competition not only boosted sales but also paved the way for "," a broader cultural resurgence under Tony Blair's that fused music, fashion, and national pride in the late . The album's influence extended to subsequent generations of artists, particularly in the indie and rock scenes of the 2000s and beyond. Arctic Monkeys' frontman Alex Turner has openly acknowledged Oasis's impact, recalling how he and bandmate Matt Helders emulated the Gallaghers in school performances, shaping their early songwriting and stage presence. Similarly, Kasabian drew inspiration from Oasis's sheer sonic power and frontman charisma, with the band stating they "wouldn't be a band without Liam Gallagher," crediting him for influencing their energetic, crowd-stirring style. These connections highlight how 's blueprint of bold, guitar-driven informed acts, fostering a lineage of British bands prioritizing attitude and melody over experimentation. Socially, Definitely Maybe became a symbol of 1990s laddism—a boisterous, masculine of football, drinking, and unapologetic bravado—rooted in Oasis's Northern English, specifically Mancunian, identity forged amid Thatcher-era hardships in south . The Gallaghers' working-class ethos and regional pride resonated as an authentic counterpoint to Southern, more polished acts like Blur, embodying a gritty that celebrated resilience and . The brothers' ongoing feuds, from onstage brawls in the 1990s to the 2009 band split, amplified this mythos, transforming their into a defining element of rock's chaotic allure and sustaining Oasis's "bad boy" legend that captivated global audiences. In its modern legacy, the album's cultural footprint endures through commemorative events and renewed interest, including a expanded 30th anniversary edition featuring unreleased recordings from its sessions, which coincided with the Oasis 2025 reunion tour. The tour has further boosted the album's streams and sales, reintroducing it to new generations as of 2025. The 2016 documentary Supersonic, directed by Mat Whitecross, chronicles the band's explosive early years, prominently featuring as the catalyst for their meteoric ascent and internal tensions. However, this revival has spotlighted gender critiques within Britpop's legacy, with Oasis's laddish image linked to normalized in the , while post-2020 fanbase evolution reveals a more diverse global audience, including Gen Z discovering the music via streaming and —though tensions persist, as seen in accusations of and against younger, often female fans during ticket sales for the reunion shows.

References

  1. https://oasisinet.com/music/definitely-maybe/
  2. https://grammy.com/news/how-oasis-definitely-maybe-shaped-90s-rock-30th-anniversary-reissue-reunion
  3. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8580-2/
  4. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/oasis-biggest-albums-sales/
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z8krh4j
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20240827-why-oasis-defined-the-spirit-of-90s-britain
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/430079.stm
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  12. https://www.beyond-the-grooves.co.uk/song-stories/song-stories-oasis-supersonic
  13. https://monobrowdemos.wordpress.com/definitely-maybe-2/
  14. https://lostmediawiki.com/Definitely_Maybe_%28partially_lost_original_sessions_of_Oasis_album%3B_1993-1994%29
  15. https://www.oasis-live.net/shows/2002/2002-10-19a
  16. https://www.facebook.com/ClassicPopMag/posts/on-this-day-in-1993-oasis-signed-a-six-album-deal-with-creation-records-for-a-40/1248284900648316/
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  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/5073915-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/3883180-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/517224-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/2800835-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe-Singles
  25. https://www.discogs.com/release/3460213-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe
  26. https://shop.oasisinet.com/definitely-maybe
  27. https://rockcellarmagazine.com/oasis-definitely-maybe-legacy-interview-noel-liam-gallagher-britpop/
  28. https://riffology.co/2024/08/27/the-making-of-definitely-maybe-by-oasis/
  29. https://www.groundguitar.com/tone-breakdown/noel-gallaghers-gear-on-definitely-maybe/
  30. https://www.theculturegyre.online/definitely-maybe
  31. https://tripgunn.com/2021/11/oasiss-definitely-maybe/
  32. https://www.riffstreet.co.uk/what-made-definitely-maybe-a-game-changing-album/
  33. https://www.culturesonar.com/7-oasis-tracks-that-ripped-off-other-songs/
  34. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/04/oasis-noel-gallagher
  35. https://theguitarmarketplace.com/oasis-definitely-maybes-top-5-lyrics/
  36. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/living-fast-revisiting-oasiss-definitely-maybe
  37. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/06/noel-gallagher-oasis
  38. https://www.clashmusic.com/features/oasis-definitely-maybe-five-crucial-facts/
  39. https://www.discogs.com/master/52255-Oasis-Definitely-Maybe
  40. https://oasisinet.com/music/supersonic/
  41. https://www.setlist.fm/forum/music/setlists-concerts-and-tours/oasis-1994-co-headline-tour-53d71715
  42. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/10/the-day-oasis-went-supersonic-exhibition-marks-20-years-debut
  43. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/oasis-shakermaker/
  44. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1943731.stm
  45. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/oasis-cigarettes-and-alcohol/
  46. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93p26wrgg4o
  47. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01x1w5y
  48. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5685696/
  49. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5685720/
  50. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5685728/
  51. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/out-crystal-meth-tour-1994-1235088975/
  52. https://www.wtyefm.com/2024/08/29/oasis-definitely-maybe-review/
  53. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/4335-oasis-definitely-maybe.php
  54. https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/26/oasis-definitely-maybe-reviewed-1994
  55. https://www.allmusic.com/album/definitely-maybe-mw0000117851
  56. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19258-oasis-definitely-maybe-reissue/
  57. https://www.metacritic.com/music/definitely-maybe-remastered/oasis
  58. https://americansongwriter.com/johnny-marrs-iconic-guitar-that-led-to-hits-by-the-smiths-and-oasis/
  59. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/oasis-definitely-maybe-30-anniversary-reunion/
  60. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-impact-of-oasis-debut-album-definitely-maybe-25-years-on-everything-felt-big-immediately__6065/
  61. https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/oasis-reunite-international-chart-history-66149/
  62. https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/the-scale-is-incredible-inside-oasis-campaign-as-live-25-kicks-off/092237
  63. https://www.facebook.com/BRITs/posts/definitely-maybe-the-album-by-oasis-is-now-brit-certified-9x-platinum/1060020005683736/
  64. https://bestsellingalbums.org/year-end/UK_Top_Albums_1994
  65. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/oasis-definitely-maybe-number-1-30-anniversary/
  66. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/live-forever-oasis-career-charts-1235761746/
  67. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Oasis&ti=Definitely+Maybe#search_section
  68. https://bestsellingalbums.org/album/34205
  69. https://chartmasters.org/cspc-oasis-popularity-analysis/
  70. https://koolcd.com/mobile/m_shop/m_ItemDetail.asp?id=9179
  71. https://open.spotify.com/track/1H8Vfx98Hmbc5UaLKzw30U
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