‘Be Here Now’ was released on 21 st August 1997 and followed the success of ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’, Oasis’ biggest selling album and the record that broke them globally. The previous summer, Oasis played to more than 250,000 people over two nights at Knebworth, with an astounding 2.5 million people applying for tickets.
By 1997, Oasis were at the pinnacle of their success and had become omnipresent in British youth culture. The appetite for ‘Be Here Now’ was immense and it was amid this overheated anticipation that they made arguably the most eagerly awaited record since the heyday of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
‘Be Here Now’ was produced by Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher and recorded at Abbey Road, Ridge Farm, Air, Master Rock and Orinoco Studios between November 1996 and April 1997. As well as ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’, the band’s 3 rd No. 1 single, the album features the ambitious 9-minute ‘All Around The World’ plus evergreen classic ‘Stand By Me’, which is one of Oasis’ most streamed tracks. The epic elements of ‘Be Here Now’ are contrasted by the heartfelt introspection of ‘Don’t Go Away’ and the surreal psychedelia of ‘Magic Pie’.
Released at midnight on Thursday 21 st August 1997, at a time when most albums were released on Monday, ‘Be Here Now’ sold a staggering 400,000 copies on the first day in the UK, with 663,400 sales in just 3 days. It was No.1 in fifteen countries and remained at the top of the UK Album Chart for 4 weeks. To date, it has the most album sales in the first seven days of release in UK Official Chart history and has sold over 8 million copies globally.
‘Be Here Now’ stands as a unique album in the Oasis catalogue with its unrepentant excess and supersize swagger. 25 years on, it enjoys legendary status as the sound of a generation-defining band at their absolute peak.
- Extras:
- Silver coloured vinylbr/
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