Oasis - Be Here Now.... 13 years on

Morninglory

On August 21 1997(nearly to this day) Oasis had releases their most controversial album ever. At this stage in their career they were huge here and gigantic in Britain. But it all went off the tracks after this record and they never really recovered from it. Awful reviews were given for the record. Although the tracks are long, I still rated it as a top album. What did ye think of it ? I don't think it should have been one of the main reasons for Oasis fall in popularity back then. Here the tracklisting. "D'You Know What I Mean?" – 7:44
"My Big Mouth" – 5:02
"Magic Pie" – 7:19
"Stand by Me" – 5:56
"I Hope, I Think, I Know" – 4:22
"The Girl in the Dirty Shirt" – 5:49
"Fade In-Out" – 6:52
"Don't Go Away" – 4:48
"Be Here Now" – 5:13
"All Around the World" – 9:20
"It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)" – 7:00
"All Around the World (Reprise)" – 2:08

lordgoat

Thought it was **** then. Think it's worse now.

Malice

I have to say I liked it. Like Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses, it wasn't as good as what they had done previously and the hype surrounding it meant that it was always going to be poorly received but, taken on its own merits it's not a bad album.

Drummerboy08

Stand by me is a cracker of a song, which I still listen to today.

After that, its a long way behind the likes of What's the Story, and even Definately Maybe.

They've never had a stomping album like either of those since.

windsurfer99ie

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Stand by me is a cracker of a song, which I still listen to today.

After that, its a long way behind the likes of What's the Story, and even Definately Maybe.

They've never had a stomping album like either of those since.

I agree. I particularly like "Don't Go Away" but apart from that I haven't heard either Noel or Oasis play many of those songs in recent times - Noel is particularly critical of that album and attributes it's weakness to drugs and rifts in the band.

Personally, I love a lot of their music, but I think most of it sounds better the way it was originally composed - sung by Noel and accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar. For that reason, I don't miss Oasis and look forward to his "solo" tour next year.

Placid_Casual

I loved Definitely Maybe and liked What's The Story? but Be Here Now put me off Oasis for good. So much so, that I haven't actually listened to any of their subsequent albums.

As an aside, I recall being really excited about the album after reading a 5-star review in Q. I've treated that magazine with suspicion and contempt ever since!

zimovain

It's 20 minutes too long but there are some cracking songs on it. The tour surronding the album was amazing, I saw some great gigs from them in 1997.

pablodunlop

*raids tape collection*

fontanalis

zimovain wrote: »

It's 20 minutes too long but there are some cracking songs on it. The tour surronding the album was amazing, I saw some great gigs from them in 1997.

if you were at the point when Liam showed up that is!
The album had a few good tunes; Magic Pie, Girl in the Dirty Shirt and Don't go Away. The rest of it was over produced coke fueled meh.

Morninglory

zimovain wrote: »

It's 20 minutes too long but there are some cracking songs on it. The tour surronding the album was amazing, I saw some great gigs from them in 1997.

Most of the songs are about 2minutes too long in fairness. If All Around The World was about 4minutes long, it probably would be my favourite Oasis song

zimovain

The phone box was inspired!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i703eaI2bnI

thesultan

D'you Know what I mean' is the forgotten classic of the Oasis catolgue. Can't believe how good it is. Very good album but should have been shortened.

smokedeels

the sound of too much cocaine.

loyatemu

not only is the album too long, every individual song is too long making even the good tracks tedious. Its also overproduced.

Radharc na Sleibhte

I thought it was a great album at the time, and I still do. A bit long in an effort to be epic but still great. Was at the gig in the point. No liam but was still deadly. Happy times.

The only reason that album was slated so so bad was typical english build-them-up-just-to-knock-them-down-itis.

Obviously no morning glory, and certainly no def maybe but i still think it was quality.

Cheers for the link zimovain.

super_furry

A terrible album they never recovered from sounds about right to me. There's some legendary stories of their cocaine consumption while making that record and it comes through loud and clear in it. It's pompous, self indulgent and so ups its own arse. Saw them on that tour in the Point and thought they had totally lost it, Liam not being there didn't help.

Stand by Me is still a cracking tune though.

FUNKY LOVER

i actually think its a cracking album,100 times better than anything released nowadays and i include kings of leon in that:D

Morninglory

FUNKY LOVER wrote: »

i actually think its a cracking album,100 times better than anything released nowadays and i include kings of leon in that:D

I agree, if it was released now I feel it would get a completely different reaction today to the one in which it got. Also, did they play My Big Mouth at Slane last year? Love that song

gustavo

An album I quite enjoy but probably was hindered by over-production

Some great tunes on it though

kippy

Morninglory wrote: »

I agree, if it was released now I feel it would get a completely different reaction today to the one in which it got. Also, did they play My Big Mouth at Slane last year? Love that song

Am with you on that.
At the time they were one of the biggest bands in these Isles and with two absolutely cracking albums that went before it, it was always gonna be difficult for them.

There are a number of stand out songs on the album which I would happily listen to nowadays and the album in general is good. It was fashionable at the time to slate the album and indeed many people didnt listen to too much Oasis since (myself included until recently)
However as you point out, its better than a lot of the muck albums today that have maybe one or two decent tracks and while there is some self indulgance involved in some songs on it, thats what Oasis were famed for at the time.

They lost they're way a lot though after that with some serious infighting, drugs and women causing many an issue. I saw Oasis in Landsdowne sometime after that (cant recall when) and I was bitterly dissappointed.
Doesnt stop me remembering the good songs/times though.

arsenallegend

Its certainly not the worse thing they've done. Its certainly overblown in parts and Magie pie is one of the worse Oasis songs ever. If Noel wasn't so messed up on Coke he would have edit a few numbers like Stand by me Which is far better in this version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfEzujTV1rg

Plus Why the hell Wasn't stay Young not on the album or even Going nowhere both great B-sides. It ruined Oasis as a World class band and apart from the odd country here and there they never were as big again although they had good singles like Importance of been idle and Fallen down, they weren't as great again. It did sell 8 million and was voted album of the year by the fans in rolling stone.

aDeener

up there with the stone roses' second coming as the most underrated album ever!

Oasis_Dublin

A very good album. Some really fantastic tunes on it (My Big Mouth, Stand by Me, DYKWIM, Don't Go Away and All Around the World amongst others). Yes it was overblown and maybe the songs could have been shaved a little bit. The intro to DYKWIM really reminded me of the intro to I Wanna Be Adored from the Stone Roses legendary debut, it really left me dying to hear the first vocal. Brilliant.

For those who wish to hear a shorter version of the ablum, there is a version going around on the internet by the name of Maybe Here Now. Well worth a listen.

To agree with the posts above, it was fantastic to hear My Big Mouth at Slane last year!

Morninglory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lFmK7hs-ig


Be here now review

Morninglory

Oasis_Dublin wrote: »

For those who wish to hear a shorter version of the ablum, there is a version going around on the internet by the name of Maybe Here Now. Well worth a listen.

I havent heard of that. Do you have a link for it?

JerryHandbag

Brilliant album, from the opening airplane and wah-wah, to the closing door slam. Has good memories of summer 97 for me, and would much rather listen to it still over Morning Glory....but thats just me

I Hope I Think I Know is probably the only weak track

aDeener

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Brilliant album, from the opening airplane and wah-wah, to the closing door slam. Has good memories of summer 97 for me, and would much rather listen to it still over Morning Glory....but thats just me

I Hope I Think I Know is probably the only weak track

magic pie would be the weakest for me.

would have loved to have seen the b-side, "the fame" in there instead of it! cracking tune that sums up oasis

zimovain

Another B-side from that era that should have made the cut

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8erBBbZD3s

Ken Tucky

Always loved Magic Pie and Stand by me. Reminds me of a lost weekend in Liverpool just after the album was released....holy siht 13 years ago.
Personally i think its good and didnt mind the album at all.

Android 666

aDeener wrote: »

up there with the stone roses' second coming as the most underrated album ever!

Tee hee hee. Funniest thing I've read all month!

aDeener

Android 666 wrote: »

Tee hee hee. Funniest thing I've read all month!

please enlighten us all oh wise one, that is if it is possible for you to come off that glorious horse of yours :rolleyes:

Android 666

aDeener wrote: »

please enlighten us all oh wise one, that is if it is possible for you to come off that glorious horse of yours :rolleyes:

I don't own a horse; much too expensive in this recessionary period to feed. I have a dog called sweep because of his long hair, then we cut it off because it kept getting matted, now he looks kind of like an overgrown rat with chubby cheeks. But he won't answer to rat so he's still called sweep. Cest la vie.

Anyways, those two albums were the tipping point in the nineties from when indie went from being a musical force with some wit and verve to a bloated parody of its former glories. It probably took the scene a decade to recover from the tripe those two bands produced on those albums.

When I heard the tone deaf monkey boy singing 'From Atlanta, Georgia
To Longsight, Manchester' with out a hint of embarrassment while the once mellifluous playing of Squire began to resemble the dying fart of a drunkard overdosing on brandy.

And Jesus, Be Here Now was like being attacked by the village idiot while the town crier rang his bell in your right ear anda one man band tried desperately to play a Beatles medley in your left. Just utterly relentless.

Whatever you may think of Blur, at least they had the good sense to know when the ship was sinking and look further afield to greener pastures.

Amazotheamazing

Woah, woah, the Second Coming is a great album, it's aged better than most of the stuff released then.

saintsaltynuts

Everybody says it wasnt as good as Def Maybe or Morn Glory true.But no band in the last 16 years has ever topped those albums.Even for themselves they were a tough act to follow on from those two particular albums.What about Standing On The Shoulder of Giants after Be Here Now?

zimovain

Id love to hear the demos to the album, a lot was recorded by Noel, solo, in a villa in Spain. From what I have read there is some beautiful versions of the BHN songs and some other unheard tracks.

When they decide to do a huge box set I expect those demos to be on it.

Morninglory

zimovain wrote: »

Id love to hear the demos to the album, a lot was recorded by Noel, solo, in a villa in Spain. From what I have read there is some beautiful versions of the BHN songs and some other unheard tracks.

When they decide to do a huge box set I expect those demos to be on it.

.

I think they were released but are extremely hard to find but they are around.....,.,,,,,somewhere!

Oasis_Dublin

Android 666 wrote: »

When I heard the tone deaf monkey boy singing 'From Atlanta, Georgia
To Longsight, Manchester' with out a hint of embarrassment while the once mellifluous playing of Squire began to resemble the dying fart of a drunkard overdosing on brandy.

And Jesus, Be Here Now was like being attacked by the village idiot while the town crier rang his bell in your right ear anda one man band tried desperately to play a Beatles medley in your left. Just utterly relentless.

Whatever you may think of Blur, at least they had the good sense to know when the ship was sinking and look further afield to greener pastures.

A bit harsh on poor Mr. Squire there, his guitar playing on 'Tears' is some of the best of his (Stone Roses) career. Brown was never a great lyricist in my opinion, despite what people say about his lyrics on the debut album.

Be Here Now had its good moments, no one would deny that (including the songs mentioned earlier in this thread by yours truly).

Blur went in a different direction and were hit and miss, some of Blur and 13 is worthy only for the bin!

antomorro-sei

Love this album, thought I was one of the only ones though haha

I would love to hear the "Maybe Here Now" thing though. Any link mate?

Minstrel27

Be Here Now is one of my favourite albums.

Morninglory

antomorro-sei wrote: »

Love this album, thought I was one of the only ones though haha

I would love to hear the "Maybe Here Now" thing though. Any link mate?

Would love to hear it aswell but I can't find it anywhere on the internet

antomorro-sei

Morninglory wrote: »

Would love to hear it aswell but I can't find it anywhere on the internet

Same. Keep finding some blog or something. Pffft.

Oasis_Dublin

i found it on the l4e forum a few years ago. i cant seem to find it there now how and ever

Oasis_Dublin

the version I have was edited by Tom Peilow

zimovain

I had it a few years ago but lost it, this, I think was/is the tracklisting. Not missing out on much really.

D'You Know What I Mean (Radio Edit)

My Big Mouth (Short Edit)

Magic Pie (Short Edit)

Stand By Me (Short Edit)

I Hope I Think I Know (Short Edit)

The Girl In The Dirty Shirt (Short Edit)

Fade In-Out (Untouched)

Don't Go Away (Untouched)

Be Here Now (Longer Intro)

It's Gettin' Better (Man!!) (Short Edit)

All Around The World (Medley to Reprisal)

http://live4ever.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=47707&page=1

Xavi6

"D'You Know What I Mean?" – 7:44
"My Big Mouth" – 5:02
"Magic Pie" – 7:19
"Stand by Me" – 5:56
"I Hope, I Think, I Know" – 4:22
"The Girl in the Dirty Shirt" – 5:49
"Fade In-Out" – 6:52
"Don't Go Away" – 4:48
"Be Here Now" – 5:13
"All Around the World" – 9:20
"It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)" – 7:00
"All Around the World (Reprise)" – 2:08

The bolded tracks above are all well above average imo and young 12 year old me loved the album as a whole when it bought it on release day. I still listen to it every so often and would agree that it's miles better than the majority of the stuff they released in the 2000s.

I think Noel is far too critical of it.

L'prof

Really liked this album, not their best work, but pretty good all the same. "Stand by Me", "The Girl in the Dirty Shirt", "Don't Go Away" & "All Around the World" are cracking tunes.

garyfoxes

I think its a highly underated albumn,songs like my big mouth are full just hands on rock n roll,think some of the guitar work and vocals in fade in-out r brilliant!

As for the comment about squire and the second coming,its an asolute genious albumn!Better than the first imo!

Morninglory

Xavi6 wrote: »

The bolded tracks above are all well above average imo and young 12 year old me loved the album as a whole when it bought it on release day. I still listen to it every so often and would agree that it's miles better than the majority of the stuff they released in the 2000s.

I think Noel is far too critical of it.

How about My Big Mouth? That song in my opinion is the best on the album. Just went on YouTube and there live version of this song from their last tour is excellent

i hope i think i know would be up there with my favourite oasis songs, my favourite album of theirs as well

inmyday

1997 was the best year ever for music in my opinion. Verve, Charlatans, OCS, Cast, Stereophonics etc... all released albums that i still listen to often.

Be Here Now was the first album i ever bought.
i loved it, still love it. yes it is too long. but i like listening to dya know what i mean, the whole lot. (love the bside on that, Angel Child). I love Magic Pie, Dont Go Away, & The Girl in the Dirty Shirt (fav on it).

I found My Big Mouth the weakest song on the album, but after hearing that at slane last year and going bananas at it, i like it alot more since. All Around the World was weak too, but had a good video.

Also I dont think Whats the Story was the "best album" they had. so much weak songs on it. Why o why was the swamp song on it twice?(untitled) 6 &11. Some Might Say and Roll With It, I think they are poor songs, I dont know how they got number1. and Shes electric is terrible.

yeah Definitely Maybe is a classic. but whats the story is overratted imo, good single choices of course, wonderwall & DLBIA of course. how champagne wasnt a single in uk &ireland is crazy....

I found many of oasis later work very good but the choice of singles is terrible. Same with alot of bands especially Stereophonics. but
Who Feels Love?
Sunday Morning Call
she is love/little by little
Lyla
how were they singles, so many better songs on each album.

nullzero

Having spent the summer of 1997 looking forward to this album it's an understatment to say I was dissapointed after queuing up for it.

I must say that the finest track on the labum is Magic Pie, and by a country mile. here's an acoustic version (aplogies for the sound quality)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj2swth3_nA

The problem with most of the songs was that they were over produced but that they also didn't stand up to scrutiny stripped down either.
Magic Pie is a good old tune with good structure, it's a pity it's two and a half minutes longer than it should be on the album.

Fade in out was another decent track, a slight departure in style for Oasis and probably the most impressive sounding track on the album.
Stand by me and D'you know what I mean were decent songs, All around the world wasn't a terrible song either but it's hard to defend the album especially when you go back to the previous two (Definitely Maybe and WTSMG?) which were fantatsic albums.

Oasis's problem was throwing amazing songs onto B sides (The masterplan, D'yer wanna be a spaceman etc...)
Modern bands wouldn't be expected to release three B-sides with every single so when you think about it Oasis had already released three albums worth of tracks before they got to Loch Lomond and Knebworth never mind into the studio with a big pile of cocaine to record Be here now.

I think it took a long time for Oasis to get back on track, the next three albums followed the pattern of having a few decent songs and a lot of filler.
Ironically Dig out your soul was a really good album so at least they bowed out on a high even if the magic of the early days had been long lost.

I was a huge Oasis fan back in the day and still have a huge fondness for them but I've always felt that they were at their (Noel Gallaghers) best when they were writing songs based on their lives as normal people. Becoming successful meant the inspiration of being an average joe soap and living a hum drum life was gone therefor the audience couldn't identify with them any more when the lyrics were inspired by the rock n roll lifestyle they had once only aspired to.