Oasis’ iconic 1995 album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, has been officially recognized as the United Kingdom’s largest studio album of all time. This designation comes from the Official Charts Company, which compiled the ranking based on combined sales and streaming data. The album secured the third position overall on the list of the biggest albums ever released in the UK, trailing only two compilation albums: Queen’s Greatest Hits at Number One and ABBA’s Gold: Greatest Hits at Number Two.
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? has achieved a remarkable 6.2 million chart units in the UK. Its popularity saw a notable surge in streams following Oasis’ highly anticipated reunion tour, Live ’25, which took place last summer. This enduring appeal underscores the album’s significant cultural impact nearly three decades after its initial release.
A Defining British Record
The Official Charts Company, celebrating its 70th anniversary, highlighted the extraordinary scale and lasting influence of the Oasis album. Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim Co-Managing Directors at Official Charts, congratulated Oasis on this significant achievement. They emphasized that (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? remains a defining British record that continues to resonate across generations, fill venues, and form the soundtrack to countless lives.
“Three decades on, its scale and influence remain extraordinary – a defining British record that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack lives,” stated Monahan and Austin. They further commented on the chart’s role in capturing public imagination over seven decades, noting that the enduring power of the album serves as a fitting tribute to this landmark anniversary. The album format, they added, continues to be the ultimate expression of an artist’s creativity and vision, even as music consumption evolves.
The All-Time Official Albums Chart Top 10
The comprehensive list of the UK’s all-time biggest albums, as compiled by the Official Charts Company, features several legendary records. The top 10 includes:
- Number One: Greatest Hits – Queen (1981)
- Number Two: Gold: Greatest Hits – ABBA (1992)
- Number Three: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis (1995)
- Number Four: 21 – Adele (2011)
- Number Five: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles (1967)
- Number Six: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
- Number Seven: The Dark Side Of The Moon – Pink Floyd (1973)
- Number Eight: Thriller – Michael Jackson (1982)
- Number Nine: Legend – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
- Number Ten: Brothers In Arms – Dire Straits (1985)
Other notable entries on the broader list include Adele’s 21 at Number Four, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours at Number Six, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller at Number Eight. Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), also secured a place on the chart at Number 39.
Enduring Legacy of ‘Wonderwall’
The album’s single Wonderwall has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity. The track recently soundtracked England’s victories during the 2026 World Cup, leading to a reported 50 percent spike in streams on Spotify in the UK. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher acknowledged the renewed interest, while guitarist Noel Gallagher expressed his surprise and delight at hearing the national team sing the song. Noel Gallagher described the moment as “great” and supported the idea of Wonderwall becoming England’s official World Cup anthem, stating that the song “belongs to the people” and represented a “magical moment between the people and the players.”
Released in 1995, Wonderwall reached Number Two on the official singles chart and has since become one of the best-selling tracks of all time, despite never reaching the top spot. In 2024, it was recognized as the most-streamed song from the 1970s to the 1990s and was previously crowned the biggest-selling Britpop track of the 90s.
Commercial Success and Future Prospects
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? propelled Oasis to global superstardom. It sold an impressive 345,000 copies in its debut week and spent 10 weeks at Number One on the UK Albums Chart. The album earned the band the Best British Album award at the 1996 BRIT Awards. Globally, it has sold approximately 22 million copies, with over 5.5 million units sold in the United States alone.
In recent years, the album has seen continued attention, including a 30th-anniversary edition released last year featuring new unplugged versions of classic tracks. A limited edition 7-inch singles box set was also made available. In 2020, Noel Gallagher revisited Rockfield Studios, where the album was recorded, for an interview reflecting on its creation.
Speculation about a potential Oasis reunion tour in 2027 continues, with reports suggesting a major UK and European tour, possibly including a 12-night residency in Manchester and a return to Knebworth. The release of a new documentary, titled Don’t Look Back In Anger, produced by Steven Knight, has further fueled excitement. The film promises to cover the band’s reunion and comeback tour, reportedly featuring footage of Liam and Noel Gallagher’s first meeting before their recent shows.
While Liam Gallagher has indicated that new Oasis music is not imminent, Noel Gallagher has been reportedly working in the studio. The nature of this work, whether for Oasis or his solo project, the High Flying Birds, remains unconfirmed.
