(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis

Double Vinyl LP

From Wikipedia:

(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is the second studio album by English rock band Oasis. Released on 2 October 1995 by Creation Records, it was produced by Owen Morris and the group’s lead guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. The structure and arrangement style of the album was a significant departure from the band’s previous album, Definitely Maybe (1994). Gallagher’s compositions were more focused in balladry and placed more emphasis on “huge” choruses,  with the string arrangements and more varied instrumentation contrasting with the rawness of the group’s debut album. Morning Glory was the group’s first album with drummer Alan White, who replaced Tony McCarroll (though McCarroll still appeared on the album, drumming on the track “Some Might Say“).

The record propelled Oasis from being a crossover indie act to a worldwide rock phenomenon, and is seen by critics as a significant record in the timeline of British indie music. Morning Glory sold a record-breaking 345,000 copies in its first week in the UK before going on to spend 10 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart. It was also the band’s breakthrough in the United States, reaching number four on the US Billboard 200 and being certified 4× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album yielded four major hit singles in the band’s native Britain: “Some Might Say” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” reached number one, and “Roll with It” and “Wonderwall” peaked at number two; the latter has emerged as the band’s biggest selling UK hit, spending 30 consecutive weeks on the chart. “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall” reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. At the 1996 Brit Awards, the album won Best British Album. Over several months in 1995 and 1996, the band supported the album with an extensive world tour, which saw them play to among the largest audiences ever at the time.

Although a commercial success, the record initially received lukewarm reviews from mainstream critics; many reviewers deemed it inferior to Definitely Maybe, with the songwriting and production being particular points of criticism. However, critical opinion towards the album saw dramatic reappraisal in the ensuing months and years, with critics recognising its strengths and its “populist appeal”. Despite the acclaim surrounding it being lesser today due to its intensive media hype at the time, Morning Glory is still considered a seminal record of both the Britpop era and the 1990s in general. The album has also appeared on several lists of the greatest albums in rock music, and at the 2010 Brit Awards, it was named the greatest British album since 1980. It has sold over 22 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. As of January 2024, the album has been certified 17× platinum by BPI for had selling 5.1 million copies in United Kingdom.