Be Here Now
Pressing Play
Hello you. Make a cup of tea, put a record on. Welcome to The A to Z of Britpop, your introduction to the bands, music, and characters that defined the most exciting genre of the 1990s. In this article, we introduce Be Here Now, the third studio album by Oasis, a record that encapsulated both the triumph and excess of Britpop’s golden age.
Britpop was built on personalities, fierce rivalries, soundbites, and of course, the music that defined a decade. It captured the restless energy of the country and signalled a wave of optimism across the UK that had been missing for years.
Each entry in this series is a fact file, giving you the key details: who they were, where they came from, and what they made. It’s the perfect starting point for revisiting the era if you were there, or figuring out why your mum or dad keeps going on about it.
Overview
Released: 21 August 1997
Artist: Oasis
Genre: Britpop
Label: Creation Records
Producer(s): Owen Morris, Noel Gallagher
Singles: "D’You Know What I Mean?", "Stand by Me", "All Around the World", "Don’t Go Away"
Personnel: Liam Gallagher – lead vocals / Noel Gallagher – lead guitar, backing vocals, Mellotron, string arrangements / Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs – rhythm guitar / Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan – bass guitar / Alan White – drums / Mike Rowe – keyboards / Johnny Depp – slide guitar / Mark Feltham – harmonica / Richard Ashcroft – backing vocals
The Making of Be Here Now
Written during a retreat to Mustique, Noel Gallagher crafted expansive, anthemic tracks that aimed to push Oasis’s sound to new heights.
Recorded across multiple studios, including Abbey Road and Ridge Farm, the sessions used layers of overdubs and heavy compression to create its colossal sound.
The process was marred by drug use and personal chaos, reflecting the pressure of following their global success.
The album’s cover, featuring a Rolls-Royce submerged in a swimming pool, became one of the most iconic images of the 1990s.
Release and Impact
Released to enormous anticipation, Be Here Now sold 663,389 copies in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling UK album in history.
The lead single, "D’You Know What I Mean?", debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, cementing Oasis’s status as cultural icons.
The album topped charts in 15 countries and was certified 7× Platinum in the UK by the end of 1997.
Critics initially praised its ambition, though retrospective reviews later highlighted its overproduction and bloated track lengths.
The Music and Legacy
Tracks like "Stand by Me" and "All Around the World" showcase Noel Gallagher’s songwriting prowess. Others reflect the unchecked excess that defined the record.
Be Here Now is often seen as the peak of Britpop’s over-the-top grandeur – both a high point and a turning point.
A 2016 reissue featuring the Mustique demos gave fans a rawer, more stripped-back glimpse of the album’s original concept.
Despite the polarised opinions, Liam Gallagher still regards it as his favourite Oasis album.
Notable Facts
"All Around the World", at over nine minutes long, is the longest Oasis track and the embodiment of the album’s grandiose ambitions.
The Mustique demos reveal a simpler, more intimate version of songs that were later submerged in maximalist production.
The album’s chaotic creation mirrored the band’s larger-than-life public persona at the height of Britpop.
Defining Lyric
"Stand by me, nobody knows the way it’s gonna be."
– Stand by Me (1997)
Essential Listening
"D’You Know What I Mean?" (1997): A thunderous opener that captures the album’s epic ambition and audacious production.
"Stand by Me" (1997): A heartfelt anthem of perseverance, showcasing Noel Gallagher’s lyrical sensitivity.
"All Around the World" (1998): A sprawling, symphonic epic that epitomises the grandiosity of Be Here Now.
Why You Should Revisit Be Here Now
Decades later, Be Here Now remains a fascinating snapshot of Britpop’s boldest moment. Its larger-than-life production, sprawling tracks, and unrelenting ambition encapsulate a band at their absolute peak. Love it or loathe it, the album’s unapologetic excess is a testament to Oasis’s belief in their own legend.
Revisit Be Here Now to experience a record that dared to be bigger, louder, and more audacious than anything else in its time.
See you on down the road.
