How Oasis Ruled the Charts
Oasis is getting the old band back together, a moment that, for millions of fans around the world, will be greeted like the return of a king.
Make no mistake, Oasis is rock royalty. Kings of the U.K. charts. Princes in Australia.
The brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher enjoyed an improbably long reign that stretched from 1994, and the release of their debut Definitely Maybe, and arguably ended when the band officially split in 2009.
In the U.K., the Manchester rock band has an impeccable chart record. All seven of their studio albums hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart, as did their 2010 hits compilation, Time Flies 1994-2009 – for a total of eight leaders.
Those first three albums were hard to beat.
Oasis’ 1994 debut Definitely Maybe became the fastest-selling debut album in British history – and has passed 5 million sales in the U.K., where it’s 17-times platinum certified.
Its followup, 1995’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, is the fifth best-selling album of all time in the U.K., according to the Official Charts Company.
Oasis’ third album, 1997’s Be Here Now, was a planet-sized success. It’s the fastest-selling album of all time, shifting 696,000 copies in just three days in its first chart week.
Along the way, the rockers have collected six BRIT Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to British Music, two Ivor Novellos, and 17 NME Awards.
In a sweet piece of symmetry, Oasis has landed eight U.K. No. 1 singles, though “Wonderwall,” their signature song, isn’t one of them. Released in 1995, “Wonderwall” peaked at No. 2.
Australians love the ballad, and Oasis.
“Wonderwall” came in at No. 1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 songs of the past 20 years, which counted down in 2013, and the song was voted No. 1 on the “Hottest 100” for 1995.
“Wonderwall” spent 11 consecutive weeks in the ARIA Top 10, and is certified 12-times platinum in these parts.
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is certified eight-times platinum in Australia, having clocked up four consecutive weeks at No. 1 and 24 consecutive weeks in the top 10.
Be Here Now is platinum certified, and one of the band’s six top 10 efforts on the ARIA Chart.
In an anomaly that Robbie Williams knows all about, Oasis, despite owning the U.K., failed to set the U.S. Billboard charts on fire. Just three Oasis songs cracked the Billboard Hot 100, including a top 10 for “Wonderwall” (peaking at No. 8 in 1996).
On the Billboard 200 albums chart, 11 Oasis titles have made their mark, including three top 10s. Be Here Now got close to the prize, peaking at No. 2 in 1997.
Oasis’s comeback will reach fever pitch in 2025 when the band plays a round of concerts in the U.K. and Ireland, their first shows there in 16 years.
The OASIS LIVE ’25 world tour won’t end there. “Plans are underway for OASIS LIVE ’25 to go to other continents outside of Europe later next year,” reads a statement.
