Oasis marks 20th anniversary of 'Definitely Maybe'

I'm still catching up on some press releases from last week. Here's one where I instantly thought, 'I must have it!' Especially since I covered the band regularly around the time of the original CD release. Read on for more info... 

In their 14-year recording career, Oasis sold over 70 million albums worldwide, had 22 consecutive UK Top 10 singles, 7 No.1 studio albums, but, more than that, they helped define a generation.

Now Big Brother Recordings are to reissue the band's classic albums in chronological order as part of the new Chasing The Sun series. Each album has been remastered and available with rare and exclusive bonus content. 

With 2014 marking the 20th anniversary of its original release, Definitely Maybe will be the first release in the series, out May 20. (What's The Story?) Morning Glory and Be Here Now will follow later this year.

Also available to order now from www.oasisinet.com on cassette for a limited period only is Original 1993 Demos, a replica of the legendary demo cassette handed out by the band before Oasis were signed. An incredibly rare rock artifact - only 8 copies were made in its original form - Definitely Maybe producer Mark Coyle has written new sleeve notes for this release.

Additionally, especially for Record Store Day on April 19, Big Brother will release a limited edition remastered replica of Oasis's debut 12 inch single Supersonic on heavyweight vinyl. 

INgrooves Music Group is handling the distribution in the U.S., with its artist services division INresidence overseeing marketing for the catalog.

Definitely Maybe: Chasing The Sun Edition

Definitely Maybe was originally released in August 1994. The fastest selling debut album ever (at the time), it went seven-times platinum in the UK (over 2 million copies), and sold 5 million worldwide.

It contains the hit singles "Supersonic," "Shakermaker," "Live Forever" and "Cigarettes & Alcohol."

Every brand new edition includes a remastered version of the original album. The deluxe CD and super deluxe box set include two CDs including all the B-sides plus rare and unreleased Oasis tracks from the Definitely Maybe era, plus their Christmas single from 1994, "Whatever." All editions come with new sleevenotes by respected rock critic Neil McCormick.

Highlights of the bonus content include:

Previously unheard live acoustic versions of "Live Forever" and "Shakermaker" from a Paris instore gig around the time of the release of Definitely Maybe

"Half The World Away" (Live, Tokyo Hotel Room): an early and intimate version of this Oasis classic, recorded in Noel's Gallagher's hotel room in Toyko in 1994 by Mark Coyle

"Strange Thing" (Demo) from the Original 1993 Demos cassette

"Sad Song" (Live at Manchester Academy) a previously unheard recording 

"Whatever" (Strings): recorded on a portable cassette machine at Maison Rouge Studios by Mark Coyle.

Track listings:

Special Edition 3 x CD:

Disc 1

Rock 'n' Roll Star 

Shakermaker 

Live Forever 

Up In The Sky 

Columbia 

Supersonic 

Bring it on Down 

Cigarettes & Alcohol 

Digsy's Dinner 

Slide Away 

Married With Children 

Disc 2

Columbia (White Label Demo)

Cigarettes & Alcohol (Demo)

Sad Song

I Will Believe (Live)

Take Me Away

Alive (Demo)

D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?

Supersonic (Live)

Up In The Sky (Acoustic) 

Cloudburst

Fade Away

Listen Up

I Am The Walrus (Live Glasgow Cathouse June '94) 

Whatever

(It's Good) To Be Free

Half The World Away

Disc 3

Supersonic (Live At Glasgow Tramshed) 

Rock 'n' Roll Star (Demo) 

Shakermaker (Live Paris in-store) 

Columbia (Eden Studios Mix) 

Cloudburst (Demo) 

Strange Thing (Demo) 

Live Forever (Live Paris in-store) 

Cigarettes & Alcohol (Live At Manchester Academy)

D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman? (Live At Manchester Academy) 

Fade Away (Demo) 

Take Me Away (Live At Manchester Academy)

Sad Song (Live At Manchester Academy)

Half The World Away (Live, Tokyo hotel room)

Digsy's Dinner (Live, Paris in-store)

Married With Children (Demo)

Up In The Sky (Live Paris in-store)

Whatever (Strings)

Original 1993 Demos cassette

Side One:

Cloudburst 

Columbia 

D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman? 

Strange Thing 

Side Two:

Bring It On Down 

Married With Children

Fade Away

Rock 'n' Roll Star 

Supersonic 12 inch single, Record Store Day limited edition

A:Supersonic

B1. Take Me Away

B2. I Will Believe (Live)