When the band Oasis comes to mind, the primary albums that people immediately spring to, and indeed the band themselves class as their biggest successes would be, somewhat obviously, ‘Definitely Maybe’, ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ and possibly even b-side collection ‘The Masterplan’ (perhaps THE best b-side compilation ever!). While it can be said that there was a blip around the middle of their decade spanning existence, with the relative flop of albums ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, and more so ‘Heathen Chemistry’, the band still recognise the partial success of both of these, with recent best-of ‘Stop the Clocks’ including a solitary song from each album. However, the band’s 3rd studio album, ‘Be Here Now’ appears to have been completely forgotten about, which to me begs the 
question of why?
When the album was released in 1997, just over 10 years ago, it was a success, much like, if not more so, than the previous 2 albums, with two of the three singles taken from it reaching number one in the charts, and the other single peaking at number 2. This does therefore not seem to suggest an album that is lacking in quality, and although there are not as many stand out classics as there were from ‘Definitely Maybe’ or ‘What’s the Story…’ the three singles, (‘D’you Know What I Mean’, ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘All Around the World’) are fantastic, and indeed the rest of the songs do not seem to be merely filler songs. So why then does the band seem to ignore it? With the sell-out ‘Familiar to Millions’ gig at the old Wembley Stadium only containing one song from the album with just one album released in between it and the tour. It can be seen from listening to it that there has been a development or progression from the sound that made the first two albums so successful, with it sounding rockier than the brit-pop sound that made them so famous. But even this could surely not be a sign for it to be cast away and forgotten about? Because even in sounding slightly different to the aforementioned successes, the signature vocals of Liam Gallagher, and the awesome guitar of elder brother Noel are still ever present.
Even though I am sitting here saying how the band do not seem to appreciate the album much at all, it does still gain recognition from other areas, as last year Q Magazine wrote a special report on the making of it, being the 10 year anniversary, and a collaboration of photographs taken whilst the album was being recorded and on the world tour that followed it being published in the book ‘Was There Then’, by Jill Furmanovsky. Which still begs question as to why the album that, of the 3 singles, 2 went to number one, when the only other single to do so beforehand was ‘Some Might Say’, is still not appreciated or recognised by the band themselves?
However, it could be argued that, while it did bring them more success, it was perhaps too much success. As beforehand, the band was still very much from the working class lifestyle of Manchester, and after the success of the first two albums, this hugely changed. Perhaps shown by the ironic artwork of the band all standing outside a rather large country house (an attack on the single of then rivals Blur?) with such frivolous items as an old gramophone, and a fancy car in a swimming pool, shows that maybe the band were reaping the benefits of fame, and maybe had the feeling, as many do now, that they no longer have many real issues to write about. Perhaps this can be why the band disregards it, as a way of trying to forget their own luxury?
Though on the other hand, one has to remember that, as it was the first album that I ever bought (the original copy I still own, and play, after 11 years, which don’t half make me feel old!) and I am prone to a certain degree of bias towards it! But that is beside the point; the main point of this argument is that, in my opinion, the band should still recognise and appreciate one of, although not quite the, better albums they have recorded.
question of why?When the album was released in 1997, just over 10 years ago, it was a success, much like, if not more so, than the previous 2 albums, with two of the three singles taken from it reaching number one in the charts, and the other single peaking at number 2. This does therefore not seem to suggest an album that is lacking in quality, and although there are not as many stand out classics as there were from ‘Definitely Maybe’ or ‘What’s the Story…’ the three singles, (‘D’you Know What I Mean’, ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘All Around the World’) are fantastic, and indeed the rest of the songs do not seem to be merely filler songs. So why then does the band seem to ignore it? With the sell-out ‘Familiar to Millions’ gig at the old Wembley Stadium only containing one song from the album with just one album released in between it and the tour. It can be seen from listening to it that there has been a development or progression from the sound that made the first two albums so successful, with it sounding rockier than the brit-pop sound that made them so famous. But even this could surely not be a sign for it to be cast away and forgotten about? Because even in sounding slightly different to the aforementioned successes, the signature vocals of Liam Gallagher, and the awesome guitar of elder brother Noel are still ever present.
Even though I am sitting here saying how the band do not seem to appreciate the album much at all, it does still gain recognition from other areas, as last year Q Magazine wrote a special report on the making of it, being the 10 year anniversary, and a collaboration of photographs taken whilst the album was being recorded and on the world tour that followed it being published in the book ‘Was There Then’, by Jill Furmanovsky. Which still begs question as to why the album that, of the 3 singles, 2 went to number one, when the only other single to do so beforehand was ‘Some Might Say’, is still not appreciated or recognised by the band themselves?
However, it could be argued that, while it did bring them more success, it was perhaps too much success. As beforehand, the band was still very much from the working class lifestyle of Manchester, and after the success of the first two albums, this hugely changed. Perhaps shown by the ironic artwork of the band all standing outside a rather large country house (an attack on the single of then rivals Blur?) with such frivolous items as an old gramophone, and a fancy car in a swimming pool, shows that maybe the band were reaping the benefits of fame, and maybe had the feeling, as many do now, that they no longer have many real issues to write about. Perhaps this can be why the band disregards it, as a way of trying to forget their own luxury?
Though on the other hand, one has to remember that, as it was the first album that I ever bought (the original copy I still own, and play, after 11 years, which don’t half make me feel old!) and I am prone to a certain degree of bias towards it! But that is beside the point; the main point of this argument is that, in my opinion, the band should still recognise and appreciate one of, although not quite the, better albums they have recorded.
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