Music Trivia: Oasis' Be Here Now Was Released On August 21, 1997

Oasis' 3rd album Be Here Now was released in the UK 10 years ago today on August 21st of 1997.

There was considerable hype leading up to the release of Be Here Now with the huge success both commercially and critically of their first two albums 1994's Definitely Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story?) Morning Glory.

The album was recorded from October 1996 to April 1997. The recording sessions were were by all accounts completely out of control. The album's producer Owen Morris said in 2007 "in the first week, someone tried to score an ounce of weed, but instead got an ounce of cocaine. Which kind of summed it up." Creation Records owner Alan McGee said of his visits to the studio "I used to go down to the studio, and there was so much cocaine getting done at that point . . . Owen was out of control, and he was the one in charge of it. The music was just fucking loud."

Many of the songs contained many layers of guitar tracks. "My Big Mouth" for example had an estimated 30 guitar tracks overdubbed onto the song. In most cases the guitars recorded are the same part over and over again to create a wall of sound effect.

The album went on to set the UK record for first day (350,000) and first week (696,000) sales easily entering the UK charts at #1. It also sold 152,000 copies in the first week in the US but this was considered a relative disappointment. It opened at #2 on the US charts. It went to #1 in Canada.

Live performances of Be Here Now songs:

"D'You Know What I Mean?" (sound is a little quiet)