#52 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

52

2011 Album Rank

50

Total Points

1067

Year Released

1995

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

4

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

4,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

Buy Album

Apple Music Amazon

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? Album Details

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? transformed Oasis from rising stars into global icons and defined the sound of mid-1990s Britpop. Compared to their raw debut, this second album embraced lush production, sweeping melodies, and emotional balladry, all grounded by the swagger of Noel and Liam Gallagher. The record combined rock anthems and Beatlesque ballads, channeling British working-class defiance and vulnerability in equal measure. While critics were initially mixed, audiences responded overwhelmingly, propelling the album to massive sales and cultural ubiquity. It remains one of the UK's best-selling albums and a high point of the Britpop era.

Noel Gallagher took more creative control during these sessions, expanding his songwriting palette with themes of introspection, fame, and hope. The album's mix of stadium-ready choruses and vulnerable lyricism gave it staying power. Despite band tensions and chaotic recording sessions at Rockfield Studios in Wales, the final result captured a moment when Oasis stood at the center of British youth culture, with Liam's snarl and Noel's melodies defining a generation.

Interesting Facts About (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

• The song Wonderwall was originally titled Wishing Stone, and Noel wrote it about an imaginary friend. Despite its romantic reputation, he later said it wasn't written about his then-girlfriend Meg Mathews.
• While Wonderwall became the album's most iconic song, Noel initially preferred Don't Look Back in Anger and was hesitant to even include Wonderwall on the record.
• Liam Gallagher's vocals on Champagne Supernova were recorded in one take, and Paul Weller (of The Jam and The Style Council) played lead guitar and provided backing vocals on the track.
• The infamous sibling rivalry peaked during the sessions, with Liam reportedly bringing a group of friends into the studio and heckling Noel during vocal takes.
• Most of the songs were written in a short creative burst during Oasis's American tour in 1994, and many were demoed on Noel's portable 4-track recorder.
• The opening track Hello borrows a lyric from Gary Glitter's Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again, which required securing rights from Glitter and his co-writer Mike Leander.
• Though not released as a single in the UK, Champagne Supernova became a radio staple and helped break the band in the U.S., reaching #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.
• The record sold over 22 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling album in the UK during the 1990s, surpassing even Definitely Maybe.
• At the height of their fame following the album's release, Oasis played two nights at Knebworth in 1996 to over 250,000 people, a landmark moment in British rock history.

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? Tracklist

1. Hello
2. Roll with It
3. Wonderwall - Reached #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
4. Don't Look Back in Anger
5. Hey Now!
6. Untitled
7. Some Might Say
8. Cast No Shadow
9. She's Electric
10. Morning Glory
11. Untitled
12. Champagne Supernova

Wonderwall Music Video

• Next Album: #51. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
• Previous Album: #53. The Wall by Pink Floyd