Oasis: 30 Years of What’s the Story (Morning Glory?)

Thirty Years of What’s the Story: A Milestone in Britpop

On 2 October 1995, Oasis released their second studio album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? - an album that would go on to define a generation and reshape the sound of British rock. As we approach the 30-year anniversary of that release, it’s worth reflecting on why Morning Glory still resonates today, how it changed the band’s trajectory, and what the anniversary reissue offers fans both old and new.

The Moment It Landed

Oasis were already riding high on the success of their debut, Definitely Maybe (1994), but Morning Glory catapulted them into a different stratosphere. 

From its opening chords to its soaring choruses, the album delivered stadium-sized anthems wrapped in working-class swagger. Tracks like “Some Might Say” and “Roll With It” reached the top of UK charts, while “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” became instant classics. 

Commercially, it was explosive. It sold 345,000 copies in its first week in the UK and stayed at number one for ten straight weeks. It went on to sell over 22 million copies worldwide. 

Critically, it cemented Oasis’s place in the Britpop pantheon. The album marked a shift: more ambitious production, more melodic layering, and a confident embrace of arena-sized songwriting. 

Why Morning Glory Still Matters

1. Anthems That Cross Generations

Songs like “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall” have a rare quality: they feel just as vital now as they did in ’95. They’ve become cultural touchstones - heard on radio, at weddings, on guitar-playing nights out. The emotional pull is enduring.

2. The Balance of Swagger and Vulnerability

Oasis weren’t shy about big choruses or bold statements, but there was a sensitivity woven into tracks like “Cast No Shadow” or “She’s Electric.” That juxtaposition of raw confidence and sincere melody gives the album texture beyond bombast.

3. Influence on British Rock and Indie

Morning Glory inspired a wave of Britpop and indie acts who saw that chords and melodies could carry attitude and anthemic ambition. It helped set the blueprint for many British guitar bands in the late ’90s and beyond.

4. Nostalgia and Reappraisal

For many fans, Morning Glory is tied to youth, identity, late nights, and shared experiences. But revisiting it with new ears reveals nuances, production decisions, and songwriting maturity that sometimes gets lost in the nostalgia.

The 30th-Anniversary Reissue: What’s New?

To mark this milestone, Oasis and Big Brother Recordings will release a deluxe 30th anniversary edition on 3 October 2025 (exactly one day after the original release date)

What to expect:

• The original album (2014 remastered version) packaged with five new unplugged recordings: Cast No Shadow, Morning Glory, Wonderwall, Acquiesce, and Champagne Supernova. These are reworked from the original multitrack recordings and produced/mixed by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho.
• New artwork by Brian Cannon, the original sleeve designer, along with fresh sleeve notes. 
• Various physical formats: 2CD, 3LP (coloured and themed vinyl), and digital editions. 
  

The addition of unplugged tracks gives listeners a fresh way to hear these songs - stripped back, more intimate, and emphasising the songwriting over live energy.

 

A Reflection

Fans often think of Morning Glory as a soundtrack to moments: driving at night, shared cigarettes, first loves, arguments, exultation and heartbreak. The best albums don’t just contain songs - they become part of people’s lives.

Revisiting it now, we're struck by how daring and generous it was. Daring to aim for big choruses, generous in letting melody carry weight. And now, thirty years on, it still carries weight.

The anniversary reissue gives us a chance to re-explore, to hear familiar tracks anew, to appreciate the small production choices, to compare versions, and to re-engage with the emotional core of the music.

Final Thoughts

On 2 October 2025, What’s the Story will turn 30. That’s three decades of echoing guitar riffs, anthemic choruses, and an enduring place in British music history. The new reissue and reunion tour don’t just celebrate the past - they invite us to re-live, re-imagine, and re-connect.

If you haven’t revisited Morning Glory in a while (or maybe ever), now’s the time. Play it loud. Listen deep.

You can get the 30th Anniversary 3 LP edition right here on Chalkys.com