Definitely Maybe

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Lore & Background

The album's recording was a struggle. The band booked Monnow Valley Studio near Rockfield in January 1994 with producer Dave Batchelor, whom Noel Gallagher knew from his time working as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets. Sessions were unsatisfactory, and Batchelor was fired. In February 1994, the group began re-recording at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, where Noel produced alongside Mark Coyle. The results were still deemed unsatisfactory. In desperation, Creation's Marcus Russell contacted engineer and producer Owen Morris, who eventually worked on mixing the album at Johnny Marr's studio in Manchester. Morris added eighth-note tape delays on the drums, inspired by Phil Spector's use of tape delay on John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" and Tony Visconti's use of the Eventide Harmonizer on David Bowie's album 'Heroes'. He completed his final mix on the vintage Neve console during the bank holiday weekend in May in Studio 5 at Matrix Recording Studios in London's Fulham district.

In Their Own Story

The photograph on the front cover was taken by rock photographer Michael Spencer Jones in guitarist Bonehead's house in Didsbury, Manchester. The image was inspired by the back cover of the Beatles' 1966 compilation LP A Collection of Beatles Oldies, and, in the positioning of Liam on the floor, by a visit Spencer Jones had made to the Egyptology section at the Science and Industry Museum. Spencer Jones said that the idea to photograph the band at Bonehead's house came from Noel, who originally wanted the band to be seated around Bonehead's dining table; Spencer Jones instead suggested shooting in the lounge, facing a bay window. The wine glass to Liam's right was filled with diluted Ribena.

Reader's Guide

Definitely Maybe was an immediate commercial success in the United Kingdom, having followed on the heels of the singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker", and the UK top-ten hit "Live Forever", which was also a success on US modern rock radio. It went straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart and became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history at the time; it went on to be certified 10× platinum by the BPI for sales of over 3 million units. It was also successful in the United States, being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide. It is the only Oasis album to feature all five original members completely; drummer Tony McCarroll was ejected from the band in early 1995, but he would still partially appear on their second album on the track "Some Might Say".

Did You Know?

• The wine glass on the cover was filled with diluted Ribena, not wine.
• The cover photo was shot in guitarist Bonehead's house in Didsbury, Manchester.
• Producer Dave Batchelor was fired after unsatisfactory sessions at Monnow Valley Studio.
• Owen Morris mixed the album at Johnny Marr's studio in Manchester.
• The album is the only Oasis album to feature all five original members completely.