Over 30 years since its release, ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’, the second album by Manchester Britpop legends Oasis, has become the top-selling studio album of all time in the UK Official Charts. The updated list was published for the 70th anniversary of the Official Album chart, where Oasis have surpassed their personal heroes, The Beatles.
Following up the band’s instant breakthrough with 1994 debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’, ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ released in 1995 to massive commercial success, but split reviews from the press. It sold 345,000 copies in it’s first week and entered the Official Album Chart at number one, spending 35 successive weeks in the top 5 including 10 in the top spot. From its singles, ‘Some Might Say’ and ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ were both UK Number Ones, ‘Roll With It’ and the band’s best selling track ‘Wonderwall’ landed second place, while ‘Champagne Supernova’ was a hit internationally. In 2010, it was recognised by the BRIT Awards as the greatest British album since 1980.
Since the reconciliation of founding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher in 2024 and their Oasis Live ‘25 world tour which sold over 2 million tickets, the Manchester group have been at an incredible new peak to their fame. Their 2011 compilation album ‘Time Flies – 1994-2009’ was one of the best-selling albums of 2025, and a feature-length documentary about the tour is currently building up to release. This week ‘Wonderwall’, which is already certified 9x Platinum in the UK by the BPI after over 5.6 million sales, is back in the chart at number 2 following it’s adoption as an anthem by the England men’s football team at this summer’s World Cup.
The Official Charts announced their Album Chart 70th anniversary list of the biggest albums of all time yesterday, revealing that ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ had moved up to third place overall. The third place had previously been held by the band who most inspired Oasis, The Beatles, and their 1967 classic album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ – which has now dropped to fifth place behind Adele’s hit album ‘21’. First place is occupied by Queen’s 1981 ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation with 7.8 million units sold, with ABBA’s ‘Gold’ collection close behind in second on 7.1 million. This makes ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ the best selling original studio album in British history, with over 6.2 million UK sales and over 22 million worldwide. You can check the full list here.
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Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim Co-Managing Directors of the Official Charts Company write “Huge congratulations to Oasis, as the incomparable ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ is officially crowned the UK’s biggest studio album of all time. Three decades on, its scale and influence remain extraordinary – a defining British record that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack lives.”
Rumours are currently swirling that Oasis are plotting a big tour of the UK and Europe for 2027, with NME reporting the possibility of a 12-night residency in their home city of Manchester and a return to Knebworth, where the group played some of their biggest 2025 shows. The first trailer for the Oasis Live ‘25 documentary film released earlier in July, revealing its name as Don’t Look Back In Anger. You can watch the clip below:
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