Oasis have shared a previously unheard version of ‘Up In The Sky’ from their upcoming 30th anniversary edition of ‘Definitely Maybe’. Check it out below.
The iconic Britpop band announced their plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album earlier this year, when they confirmed that a reissue of the 1994 classic would be arriving on August 30 via Big Brother Recordings (pre-order here).
Coming in various formats, it’ll contain recordings from the abandoned original session at Monnow Valley Studios, as well as outtakes from the definitive album recording session at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall.
Now, ahead of its release, the band have dropped the previously unheard version of ‘Up In The Sky’ – recorded from the scrapped Monnow Valley recording sessions.
The song has become a staple in Oasis’ discography and has often been interpreted as seeing the members take aim at those who place themselves on a pedestal, or feel the need to make grand, political gestures. Originally, it was recorded at the aforementioned Monnow Valley sessions, but ultimately scrapped as the members felt the recordings were overly technical and too polished.
With the latest version, shared today (July 15), Noel Gallagher has remixed the original recording. It is also described in a press release as “offering a fascinating insight into the juxtaposition the band could have found themselves in at the time”, and showcasing “the recording process that led to the finished article of ‘Definitely Maybe’”.
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It follows on from the first track that the band shared from the forthcoming 30th-anniversary edition of the album, when they dropped the Sawmills outtake version of ‘Columbia’ last month.
The 30th anniversary reissue of ‘Definitely Maybe’ also includes an unreleased demo version of ‘Sad Song’ featuring Liam Gallagher’s vocals. Check out the full tracklist below.
The ‘Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)’ tracklisting is:
Volume 1
1. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ (Remastered)
2. ‘Shakermaker’ (Remastered)
3. ‘Live Forever’ (Remastered)
4. ‘Up In The Sky’ (Remastered)
5. ‘Columbia’ (Remastered)
6. ‘Supersonic’ (Remastered)
7. ‘Bring It On Down’ (Remastered)
8. ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ (Remastered)
9. ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ (Remastered)
10. ‘Slide Away’ (Remastered)
11. ‘Married With Children’ (Remastered)
Volume 2
1. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ (Monnow Valley Version)
2. ‘Shakermaker’ (Monnow Valley Version)
3. ‘Live Forever’ (Monnow Valley Version)
4. ‘Up In The Sky’ (Monnow Valley Version)
5. ‘Columbia’ (Monnow Valley Version)
6. ‘Bring It On Down’ (Monnow Valley Version)
7. ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ (Monnow Valley Version)
8. ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ (Monnow Valley Version)
9. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ (Sawmills Outtake)
10. ‘Up In The Sky’ (Sawmills Outtake)
11. ‘Columbia’ (Sawmills Outtake)
12. ‘Bring It On Down’ (Sawmills Outtake)
13. ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ (Sawmills Outtake)
14. ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ (Sawmills Outtake)
15. ‘Slide Away’ (Sawmills Outtake)
16. ‘Sad Song’ (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov’ 92)
The arrival of the new version of ‘Up In The Sky’ comes as Liam Gallagher recently wrapped up his ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th anniversary tour in the UK and Ireland.
The shows saw him play the record in full at the gigs and airing numerous other tracks from that era, including the Noel-sung ‘Half The World Away’ (which he dedicated to his estranged brother and former bandmate) and Noel‘s Oasis-era ‘Lock All The Doors’ demo.
In August, Liam Gallagher will play ‘Definitely Maybe’ in its entirety when he headlines Reading & Leeds 2024. He’s also spoken about the chances of a ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ 30th anniversary tour in 2025.
As for Noel, the singer-songwriter has multiple shows lined up with his solo project High Flying Birds across the summer, including slots at Alexandra Palace Park, Cardiff Castle and Y Not Festival. Visit here for remaining tickets.