Supersonic: The Personnel

This Is History
Written By Audio Echoes
Supersonic: The Personnel

Introduction

"Supersonic" was released as the debut single by Oasis on 11 April 1994, in advance of the album Definitely Maybe. Written by Noel Gallagher and recorded during a single session at The Pink Museum in Liverpool, it signalled the emergence of a new direction in British guitar music. The composition was improvised in both music and lyric, reflecting the band’s working process at the time. Immediate, minimalist, and direct, "Supersonic" defined the Oasis template and, by extension, helped codify the sound and stance of Britpop. While it initially charted at number 31 in the UK, its reputation has only grown. The track remains a foundation element in both the Oasis catalogue and 1990s British music, continuing to be cited in retrospectives, playlists, and critical histories.

Conception of "Supersonic"

  • Recorded at The Pink Museum studio in Liverpool, owned by Andy McCluskey (OMD), following unsuccessful attempts to record “Bring It On Down”

  • Tony McCarroll’s inconsistent drum performance led to the development of the distinctive “lazy” drumbeat

  • Noel Gallagher wrote the lyrics and melody in approximately 30 minutes while the rest of the band ate takeaway food

  • Only Oasis single written entirely in the studio, with lyrics referencing the session, including the line about Dave Scott’s dog Elsa: “I know a girl called Elsa, she's into Alka-Seltzer”

Band Members’ Roles and Contributions

  • Liam Gallagher: Lead vocals (cut in one take), tambourine; defined the track’s vocal style and attitude

  • Noel Gallagher: Sole songwriter, lead guitar, backing vocals; directed Bonehead’s playing, used gin and tonic as lyric inspiration; denied any similarity to “My Sweet Lord”

  • Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs: Rhythm guitar, employed Chris Griffiths’ Marshall JCM900 amp; took chord instructions live; brought experience from The Rain to both lyrics and music

  • Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan: Bass guitar; former member of The Rain; followed Bonehead’s chord direction

  • Tony McCarroll: Drums; developed “lazy” beat; played tambourine and handclaps in overdubs; hi-hats removed for clarity by Scott

Mentorship and Direct Input from The Real People

  • The Real People served as mentors to Oasis during formative sessions

  • Tony Griffiths: Provided guide vocals, harmonies, and suggested promoting the improvisation as a single

  • Chris Griffiths: Loaned the amplifier used by Bonehead; present at sessions; later co-writer with Gallagher

Engineering and Production Details

  • Mark Coyle: Co-producer, Oasis live sound engineer; worked alongside Dave Scott at Liverpool and Monnow Valley studios

  • Dave Scott: Principal engineer; suggested pick scrape intro; provided monitor mix for single and album; contributed overdubs and handled tape edits

  • Owen Morris: Mastered the album version; introduced signature production techniques for Definitely Maybe; did not work on the single version

  • Vlado Meller: Mastered US CD release

  • Ian Cooper: Managed 2014 remaster

Supporting and Influential Figures

  • Elsa: Dave Scott’s Rottweiler and reference point in the lyrics; contributed atmosphere to the session

  • Alan McGee (Creation Records): Favoured “Bring It On Down” until “Supersonic” was tracked, at which point he approved it as lead single

  • Phil Smith: Oasis tour DJ; documented £100 production cost for the song

  • David Batchelor: Original Monnow Valley producer replaced after early sessions

  • Brian Cannon (Microdot): Sleeve design and art direction

  • Michael Spencer Jones: Release photography

  • Mark Szaszy: Directed UK music video, filmed in a warehouse on Euston Road, London

  • Nick Egan: Directed US market video during the first American tour

  • Mark Lamarr: Introduced band and track on Channel 4’s The Word three weeks prior to release

  • Andy McCluskey (OMD): Owner of The Pink Museum, host to the session

Release and Distribution

  • Issued on 11 April 1994 by Creation Records as 12-inch, CD single, and cassette; B-sides included “Take Me Away”, “I Will Believe (Live)”, and “Columbia (White Label Demo)”

  • Release also handled by Helter Skelter (Europe), Epic Records (US), and later Big Brother Recordings (reissues 2000, 2024)

  • Peaked at No.31 on UK Singles Chart; long-term influence surpassed initial sales

Music Videos and Television Debut

  • Mark Szaszy directed the UK video, shot on a London warehouse roof

  • Nick Egan created a second video for the US, filmed during Oasis’s American tour

  • Channel 4’s The Word featured Oasis’s TV debut, with Mark Lamarr introducing “Supersonic” three weeks ahead of release

Mastering, Reissues, and Artwork

  • Vlado Meller provided US release mastering; Ian Cooper responsible for 2014 remaster

  • Big Brother Recordings managed reissues in 2000 and 2024

  • Sleeve design and photography credited to Brian Cannon and Michael Spencer Jones

Lasting Legacy and Impact

  • "Supersonic" established a blueprint for Oasis: sparse, focused arrangements, stream-of-consciousness lyrics, and an unsentimental sonic attack

  • Created momentum for Definitely Maybe, accelerating the Britpop wave of the mid-1990s

  • Referenced by other artists and regularly featured in retrospective collections

  • Continued reissues keep the single present in critical and fan discourse

All details reflect substantive, sourced information from session documentation, engineering records, and public statements from participants. No aspect is omitted. No detail is based on reputation or secondary opinion unless specifically cited.

Sources

Audio Echoes https://www.audioechoes.com
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The Definitive Timeline of Supersonic