CoronaVinyl Day 163 (Britpop): (What's The Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

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Today's CoronaVinyl category is Britpop, the musical genre that developed in the UK in the early to mid '90s as kind of reaction to the sullenness of grunge and shoegaze.  As the name implies, it was more pop oriented, but was still generally guitar-driven rock.  Along with the musical aspects of the genre, it was seen as a rejuvenation of interest in Britain, and particularly the Swinging London-era '60s.  Bands like Oasis, Blur, Suede, and Pulp led the way.  There was famously a press-dubbed "Battle of Britpop" between Oasis and Blur in the mid '90s, as both bands were selling records and charting hits in the UK at a solid clip.

I recently bought a special edition of Oasis's magnificent 1995 sophomore studio album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? that the band put out in honor of its 25th anniversary.  As you can see from the photos above, it's split into two discs, and they are both front-and-back picture discs.

It's just an awesome album, even without the picture discs.  The album is a demonstration in everything that was great about Britpop, full of catchy rock songs with a decidedly British feel.  It has some of Oasis's best-known songs and biggest hits, like "Wonderwall," "Don't Look Back in Anger," "Champagne Supernova," "Roll With It," "Morning Glory," "Some Might Say," and "Hey Now!"

The album was a smash in the UK, selling a then-record-breaking 345,000 copies in its first week in the UK alone.  It would go on to become the UK's best-selling album of the '90s, and it has since sold nearly 5 million copies in the UK, making it the UK's fifth best-selling album and third best-selling studio album of all-time.  The album spent 10 weeks at #1 on the UK album chart, won the award for Best British Album at the 1996 Brit Awards, and spawned four singles in the UK, all of which either hit #1 or #2 on the UK pop chart -- "Some Might Say" (#1), "Don't Look Back in Anger" (#1), "Roll With It" (#2), and "Wonderwall" (#2).  At the 2010 Brit Awards, the album was named the greatest British album since 1980.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory? was also the album that made Oasis into international superstars.  It went to #4 on the Billboard album chart and has gone platinum four times in the U.S.  "Wonderwall" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the band's highest-charting song to date in the U.S.) and "Don't Look Back in Anger" reached #55.  "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," and "Don't Look Back in Anger" were all Top 10 songs on the Billboard Alternative Rock Tracks chart, with the first two both reaching #1.  "Morning Glory" also went to #24 on that chart.

Outside of the UK and U.S.: 

• The album reached the Top 10 on 22 other album charts around the world, topping nine of them.
• "Wonderall" reached the Top 40 on 22 pop singles charts, the Top 10 on 17 of those, and #1 in Australia and New Zealand.
• "Don't Look Back in Anger" reached the Top 40 on 19 pop singles charts, the Top 10 on nine of those and #1 in Ireland and Scotland.
• "Roll With It" reached the Top 40 on nine pop singles charts, the Top 10 on six of those, and #1 in Scotland.
• "Some Might Say" reached the Top 40 on seven pop singles charts, and it also reached the Top 10 on six of those and #1 in Scotland. 
• "Champagne Supernova" reached the Top 40 on four pop singles charts.
• "Morning Glory" reached the Top 40 on two pop singles charts.

Overall, it has sold over 22 million albums worldwide, making it one of the 60 best-selling albums ever.  And because the version I have splits the album into four sides, I get to highlight four songs for you, instead of two.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Wonderwall"

"Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you" is one of the best and most memorable opening lines in rock history.  There's a reason this song was such a huge hit all over the world.  It's a great rock song.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Don't Look Back in Anger"

While "Wonderwall" gets all the love, I like "Don't Look Back in Anger" more.  The chorus is majestic.  Alan White has delicious fills throughout.  This is an anthem, simply put.

Favorite song from Side 3:  "Some Might Say"

"Some Might Say" wasn't released as a single in the U.S., so I feel like it can get lost on this side of the pond when talking about Oasis or this album.  But it's a great song, with a glammy guitar intro and catchy, echo-y chorus that's just so damn '90s.

Favorite song from Side 4:  "Morning Glory"

The title track is more uptempo than most of the album, and it's another solid rock and roll song.