Oasis Went “Supersonic” 20 Years Ago

Two decades ago, on April 11, 1994, the Gallagher brothers in Oasis unleashed their fury on the world with the release of their first official U.K. single, "Supersonic." Here are 11 things you should know about Oasis's early days.

1. They weren't initially a huge success.

Oasis didn't set the world on fire from the get-go. "Supersonic" only made it to No. 31 on the U.K. Singles Chart, giving it the dubious distinction of being the band's lowest peaking single. However, it keep selling, eventually exceeding sales of 215,000 to make it their 13th biggest selling single in the U.K.

2. The single fared better in the U.S.

The track was also the band's first U.S. single and received a much warmer welcome across the pond, where it peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart in December 1994.

3. It's held up well over the years.

More than a decade after its release, critics and fans continue to hold the track in high regard. In March 2005, it placed No. 20 on Q magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Two years later, it ranked No. 25 on NME's 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. "Definitely Maybe," the album featuring the track, was ranked No. 1 in a 2008 Q magazine/HMV poll of the Greatest British Albums.

4. It was recorded quickly and evolved out of a jam session at Liverpool's Pink Museum recording studio in 1993.

While preparing to record "Bring It On Down," another track that ended up on "Definitely Maybe," drummer Tony McCarroll and rhythm guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs start jamming on a rhythm, which Noel Gallagher started humming a melody over. Tony Griffiths of the Real People was working the session and suggested the impromptu jam had the potential to become a hit single. Inspired, Noel wrote the lyrics in the studio. Griffiths later guided Liam Gallagher through the song and added backing vocals. It was done in 11 hours.

5. The black Rickenbacker guitar included in the single's cover photo belongs the Smiths' Johnny Marr.


6. There may or not be a longer version of the song.

In a 1994 interview with NME, Noel Gallaher said, "The version [of 'Supersonic'] that’s on ['Definitely Maybe'] and on the single fades out, but originally that song went for f**king days, with lots of mad guitar, radio interference and all kinds of things. Perhaps we’ll release a full-length version one day."

However, engineer Dave Scott says, "I think Noel was thinking of 'Slide Away' in that quote. It did go on forever and evolved into an I am the Walrus type thing."

7. It was one of the highlights on "Definitely Maybe," Oasis's debut album, released in August 1994.

The album did better in the charts in the U.K., where it debuted at No. 1 and was the fastest-selling debut album of all time, selling a record-setting 86,000 copies. In the U.S., it did go on to sell more than 1 million copies, but only managed to reach No. 58 on the Billboard 200.

8. Upon the album's initial release, Noel Gallagher showed incredible foresight.

"In 20 years’ time, people will buy 'Definitely Maybe' and listen to it for what it was. That’s what is important," he said.

The album is being reissued on May 19 in a special "Chasing the Sun" Edition that includes the original album, as well as two extra CDs of B-sides and rare and previously unreleased tracks from the "Definitely Maybe" era.

9. There's some debate over what exactly the song is about.

In a 1994 interview with NME, Noel Gallager said, "I met a girl the other night and I felt really sorry for her, because she came up to me and said (really quietly), 'I've got "Supersonic" and I'm, er, really into your lyrics and I've been through a lot as well.' And I went, What do you mean? 'Supersonic' is about some f***ing nine-stone geezer who got Charlie'd off his nut one night... it's not about anything!' It's just about a feeling, you just get up and play it."

Later he said, "Who'd have the bollocks to release a first single like 'Supersonic,' with lyrics like that about Alka-f***ing-Seltzer? I just hope that some band reads those lyrics and goes, 'What does it all mean, maaaan?', while the guy who actually wrote it is in a pub somewhere, pissed as a F**ING T**T!"

In another interview, Gallagher dismissed the notion the song was about teenage prostitution and it was later revealed that the "Elsa" named in the song was actually a Rottweiler that belonged to engineer Dave Scott. The dog had a problem with gas, which inspired the line "she's into Alka Seltzer."

10. There are two different official videos for the song.

The British version features the band performing live on a rooftop, somewhat reminiscent of the Beatles' famed rooftop gig.

The U.S. version also features the band performing, but it crosscut with trippy images of the band riding in a limo, staring at a bank of TVs and visiting a giant dinosaur statue in the California desert.

11. The band made their TV debut playing the song live on March 18, 1994 on "The Word."

During the performance, someone handed Liam a Super 8 camera and he started filming the audience.

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