Owen Morris, The 'Fifth Beatle' of Oasis
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Join James Hargreaves to discover how a little-known Welsh sound engineer single-handedly saved Oasis' disastrous recording sessions for 'Definitely Maybe', and helped propel them to the top of the world.
NOTE ON SLIDE AWAY - The final version of Slide Away includes tracks which were recorded at Monnow Valley, but there was never a Monnow Valley Mix released. Just to clarify...
Many images and videos in my UA-cam content have been found online without any attribution or credit available. In many cases I have therefore not been able to add a credit in the videos themselves due to lack of information. If your image or video has been used and a credit is required, please email me with your details and evidence of authorship and a credit will be added into the video description.
Many thanks, JH.
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I wish Liam Gallagher would make a new album with Owen Morris to get this sound on a new album
Yeah that’s a cool idea. Would be amazing
It'd probably never happen as Liam has virtually no say in his deal with the record label. The label will continue to push for a more pop sound which we got especially in WMWN.
That would be great 👍
Owen Morris lost his hearing I believe ? ..if that’s right he wouldn’t be able to do it
@@user-oh7iv3ij5xI remember was Mark Coyle with hearing problems the live technician
I think Bonehead is worth a mention too. His 'Wall of Sound' is very much important.
Yeah I do need to do a proper Bonehead video. He was so important to definitely maybe.
Yes. If they do reform, I would like to see the wtsmg line up
True. But I imagine that’s from Noel & Owen Morris, despite who actually played the rhythm. Not to downplay boneheaded, he was the man.
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar That's what I want! , have you had the chance of meeting or hearing from any of the Oasis members?
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar perhaps a video demonstrating the importance of Tony McCarroll's drumming style on Definitely Maybe and the sad but (arguably) necessary decision to replace him with Alan White?
Great video mate, very informative and enjoyable to watch!
Much appreciated!
Despite Be Here Now not being at the level of the first 2 albums, I really wish Owen Morris had produced all of their later albums. I didn't realize that the Monnow Valley version of Bring it on Down was released. It's not terrible, but the final version from Definitely Maybe is far better. Luckily Creation was patient and willing to spend the money to rerecord the album.
Looking back now be here now I believe is up there
Yeah I agree re Owen Morris producing their newer stuff
No that Monnow Valley mix of BIOD is awful alright.
For me, I just love all of the obscure but excellent sound effects which Owen placed on songs, like the helicopters on Morning Glory and The Swamp Song transitions on WTSMG! I also think that Alan White was responsible for the feel of WTSMG thanks to his refreshing and new drumming style.
Yeah 100% agree
Thank you for covering Owen Morris. His contributions are so underrated in the Oasis timeline. Looking forward to more Oasis content :)
More to come! 👍👍👍
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Although I remember he said that he randomly wiped Noel's tracks instead of listening critically to each track cos according to the Definitely Maybe Documentary, Noel had a guitar part that served every purpose in the song. Correct me if I'm wrong hmm..
Another excellent video James!
Fun fact: If you look closely on the cover of WTSMG, you can see Owen Morris holding the album master tape in front of his face.
Cheers contrapposto
Yep! That's the man!
Great video as always. I always credited Morris for the amazing early-Oasis records sound. He made the magic possible. I hope Owen Morris sees this video.
Thanks! Hey me too, that would be cool
I'd love to hear him remix HC and DBTT. I'm also Hopeful we'll get a properly remixed Be Here Now for the 25th anniversary, like they did with D'You Know What I Mean. But would nice if Owen and Noel worked on it together.
Yeah that would be awesome
15:53 Nice to see Paul Arthurs getting some recognition:)
Yeah Bonehead was fundamental to the Definitely Maybe sound
You're officially becoming the fifth Oasis member.
Lol I'll look forwards to my first royalties cheque!!!!
Top video james! Would love to see you do an interview with Owen morris, and ask him about the geeky stuff, like what mics were used and how they placed them to record the acoustic guitar that the whole album is based on. X
Cheers Jack!
Mate, check out Episode 57 of the Oasis Podcast, it's an absolute bloody gold mine. It's a full interview with Owen Morris going into mega detail.
I’m actually planning to undertake a remake of be here now. Taking out bits and instruments and adding what I think would make it sound heavier and raw. And shortening some of songs of course. Would be cool to see what your interpretation of a be here now remake would look like tho. Thoroughly enjoyed this video btw :) I actually never knew the monnow version of bring it down was out there it definitely does sound hollow and airy
Let it be
Nice! I would love to have a chance to remix Be Here Now haha. One day maybe
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar one day hopefully... If we ever have the chance to listen to the original multitracks. Or on sacd version
Excellent video! I’ve often wondered if Owen Morris saw the band live prior to mixing Definitely Maybe and knew the band’s sound...
Yeah he did know the band already, and had heard them 👍👍
Thank you James, for this comprehensive and fascinating look at the often forgotten missing ingredient of Oasis that is Owen Morris. No matter how great the ship, you need a decent Captain to steer the thing on course. 👍🏻
You are very welcome 👍👍
Owen Morris described Tony’s drumming as basic but the timing was fine. Him and Bonehead were the driving force on Definitely Maybe. All my favourite Oasis songs are the ones that Tony plays on like Headshrinker, Fade Away, Bring it on Down.
Yep, Owen was the man! He made Def Maybe a whole lot better and was obviously a talented producer along w Noel producing, of course.
Yeah I think it needed both Owen and Noel to get the sound of those first two albums
I've only just realised that WTSMG is actually very average, it's just full of ballads, DM is one of the greatest albums of all time.
Great video. When I first got Definitely Maybe I thought there was something wrong with my tape, Id never heard a mix like it. Soon got into it tho
Yeah it really was different at the time!
As a massive Oasis fan, this was really interesting. Thank you! I'm not a sound engineer nor expert but I felt that Mark "spike" Stent did a very good job on Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. I like the sound and the mixing on the album but the next two albums sound between very average and garbage. Owen Morris should have returned at least for Heathen Chemistry.
Would have been cool to see what Morris would have done with later albums, definitely
Great video James. One small point, I have always been led to believe that Slide Away was kept from the Monnow Valley sessions as Liam's vocal was so good on it. Dave Batchelor even gets credited as producer of this on Definitely Maybe. Obviously Mr Morris sprinkled his magic dust on it as well. Enjoying your videos mate 👍
Hi snzero, Yes some tracks came from there, but the Monnow Valley mix of Slide Away was never released. Thanks for watching 👍👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸🎸
I was always under the impression that Slide Away was recorded at Monnow Valley and released as it was. The Dave Batchelor produced version. I’ve heard that said on quite a few Oasis documentaries.
George was on holiday during white album… he was present during let it be.
Thanks James. Couldn’t agree more re the pivotal role that Owen Morris played. If you listen to the original demos, I don’t think it’s an over exaggeration to say that Oasis wouldn’t have had half of their success without him. The Morris sound on the first two albums IS Oasis. Huge credit should also go to Noel Gallagher for not accepting second best with the original recordings and Alan McGee for funding the new sessions with Morris. Great work by yourself as always.
Couldn't agree more mate re the first two albums.
I'm gonna try and work with Owen in future. Fingers crossed
Very comprehensive video. I'm a sound engineer and I love how you explained certain technical aspects in such a very simplified way. Great info overall for any Oasis fan. Cheers man!
Cheer RS, thanks for watching 👍👍
Most important thing he did was turning Bonehead up on Definitely Maybe. Listen to the Chicago 1994 gig and you’ll realize just how vital Bonehead was to their massive sound.
Yeah agreed. I think his sound was never quite replaceable even though Gem was a good guitarist
They were amazing live, god I miss that band. My first gig was Loch Lomond and that's a hard one to beat ♥️
Nice! I never got to see them, was too skint growing up!
Man it was my first gig and a hard one to beat I'm too skint now to live the way I did back then, 90s where great but very messy if you know what I mean 😎
That was my first gig, Me and my sister went on the Sunday.
The brick wall box ensured that Definitely Maybe was the loudest thing on jukeboxes for about a year according to Owen Morris!! Definitely Maybe is their finest moment in my opinion though, not Morning Glory. That’s just me though.
I feel bonehead was a major part of that early wall of sound
Well said James totally agree with you on everything in this video. I do think Noel and Mark Coyle were learner drivers in a F1 car before Owen Morris came along. What The Beatles redone with the Let It Be album into Let It Be Naked. I do think this is what Noel should do with the Be Here Now album. Oasis were never the same again after 1997. I think The Verve's Urban Hymns album was one of the reasons people lost that buzz for Oasis. They just became more known for brotherly love busts up than classic albums or singles. As well the route Noel has gone down now for releasing a double Greatest Hits album this year. Sure he might be light in the pocket for the last year or two. Greatest Hits album to me is someone who taxes their fans twice. Anyway have a great week too.
Hey TC
Yeah I totally agree re Be Here Now. Would be ace to hear that album done properly
James cheers like. You just know there's greatness in this album if it was done in the right manner. I do think the song I Hope, I Think, I Know was like the last real feeling of a Oasis song on that album. It just has that speed and edge about it. If it was a single from the Be Here Album that song would be seen as a classic. Just another hidden away beast of a song by Oasis. I just have a feeling Noel wouldn't redo this album. I'd sooner see this album done again than any Oasis reunion.
the production on defo maybe and morning glory sounds completely different to me and now i understand why.. morris was directing from the start of morning glory, where as he was shaping and editing the left overs on defo maybe. very interesting video.. i really wish they'd have fixed be here now.. there are some gems on that album but they are buried.. so sad.
I actually like SOTSOG.. i think its a more mature album, but an EP not LP. there were some great outtakes/bsides.. which would have lifted it to an LP status (in my mind) had they been included.
i disliked the album cover too of both BHN and SOTSOG. they'd abandoned any sense of design.. the BHN cover in particular was nonsense. reminds me of one of those drunken convo's people have 'I know why dont we sink a roller in the swimming pool? - thats very rock n roll innit?' er.. no lads.. it's ridiculous.. then SOTSOG with a skyline. its like we're getting further and further away from the band. started off in their living room, then in the street, then in their mansion, then flying above some seemingly random american skyline.. which is actually what was happening musically.. we were getting further and further away from the rawness and immediacy of the first album to a slick production of the SOTSOG..
That is a VERY interesting insight about the covers
Brilliant video and analysis, thank you - since you mention it at the end, could you do a video on the changes in Liam's voice over the years please? tah
Coming up soon mate
James I’ve never thought of it like that before. Your spot on if you actually think deep about it. Being an Oasis fan I like all the albums etc, but Owen Morris was perfect for them, and they’re music changed a lot after those first two albums. Thanks for this video.
More than welcome mate
Dave Scott was the pink museum's in house engineer, he had a rottweiler called ELSA. he used to do live sound for Dr phibes. Brilliant engineer.
Spot on mate. There’s an unauthorised documentary about Oasis on UA-cam and there’s an interview with Dave Scott on there. Very interesting.
Oasis already had 5 members. So he'd be the 6th?
hahah yeah
You could say he put the O in Oasis.
Love your videos, man! The best analyses of the best music in history. Thanks for trying to use such a standard accent so that people all over the world can understand you so easily. Regards from Spain.
Cheers Pedro, thanks for your kind comments. Yeah I'm a guitar teacher and I teach people all over the world, so I can't talk in too much of a Yorkshire accent hahahaha
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I fell in love with the English language when I began to listen to all the great British guitar bands when I was hardly 11 or 12. Oasis will always be special to me. So many years later, it's a pleasure to still listen to this music and improve my English by watching videos like yours. For what it's worth, you've got one more subscriber.
@@Nothingman758 Thanks so much, and welcome!
Owen Morris is an absolute genius.
He produced Scottish band
The View's 2nd album called
'Which Bitch' & apparently he super glued a witch's hat to his head during the sessions & had it on for a while. He played quite a bit on the album too. He produced another all-time
favourite of mine, The Verve's
'Northern Soul' album. Love the guy.
As above, Bonehead deserves credit for their wall of sound, but Noel has said Mark Coyle was the true 5th member of the band.
George Martin was on another level. Great video James
Cheers CP - yeah George Martin was a bloody legend
Everyone knows about the poor drumming of Tony, but is it true that Guigsy didn't play bass for a single song in Definitely Maybe?
Yes I think so! I think Noel did all the bass on DM, half the bass on WTSMG, and Guigsy played everything on BHN
According to Owen Morris, Tony’s drumming was basic but his timing was perfect. He’s said that in quite a few interviews. Tony stood up to Noel and Noel didn’t like it. I agree he wasn’t the most technical drummer but he gave Oasis their punky and hard edged sound ( along with Bonehead ).
Hope ur still a nutter Owen? Still putting chairs through studio window's Big❤
I wonder what distortion they used on most songs as it's really thick and has so much feedback. I could go on about it all day but it's brilliant
Cranked amps and a tube screamer. That’s it.
I’m not 100%, but I know back in the day their live sound was just 1. plug in and 2. turn it up to full. I’m pretty sure there’s an oasis gear webpage out there detailing what was used on what tracks actually
The most commercially successful iteration of Rollins Band had five members, one of them being Theo van Rock on Sound.
"he would annoyingly turn up Bonehead's guitar and turn down the volume on Noel's". Right. And you know why? Because Bonehead was/is an absolute force on rhythm guitar. Elegant but powerful. To be sure, Noel could play. But Bonehead was a real power which Owen used to create the "Brick Wall" thing. Like his predecessors, G. Martin, Tom Dowd, John Leckie and others...the great ones know: all that counts is the sound.
NOEL literally did say that OASIS mark 2 was like a new band that was not Oasis but they just kept the same name for marketing reasons., it was like if LIAM named Beady Eye "Oasis", but he couldn´t for marketing reasons., the real oasis to me is the first album and the singles., those songs and that sound is the real deal, the contribution of Oasis, from the second album onwards Noel was just trying to cash in commercial stuff., like., ok so they said we look like the beatles? guess what?., we are going to for real look like 60s and the beatles., there are still good songs., but Noel did on purpose looked for the most commercial sound appeal ever., like he always said., he wanted to be rich and so what...
Production is the biggest thing behind all rock n´roll history., and yes even Punk Rock is nothing but marketing and show., the ones who believed in rock n´roll are the casualties., i highly doubt on the "lennon-mccartney" thing., it was all marketing., is not all about just talent
100% to everything you say. Owen doesnt get the respect he deserves (although I'm sure he really doesnt give a shit about that...)
I guess you're damn right...
Bonehead's rhythm parts are raw and give a special touch to the first three albums
Yes, but because he popularised 'brickwalled' mastering, Owen has got a lot to answer for.
I think as well as noel, Liam and Owen, I think also Bonehead contributed a lot to the sound of oasis. He added a heaviness and sludge to the sound and after he left I think the sound of the band sounded a lot thinner live. Otherwise great video!!
I agree - Bonehead was massively important to their sound, especially in the Definitely Maybe era
So true ...never same without bonehead....hated that thin sound during gem and andy era
Well actually I don’t think that was down to his playing with them. Think it was just due to him being someone they all loved and had a sound that was like the Beatles. I’m not sure what I’m trying to say but do you know what I mean🤪
Fab channel James keep it up. Much appreciated
Cheers D&G and welcome
No argument here regarding the importance of Owen Morris, however I think I prefer the Whitfield St. version of Up In The Sky. Wish Owen hadn’t cut out the backwards guitar.
Yeah a few people have said that about Up In The Sky
Do you like the 2000’s albums though? I still think Don’t believe the truth is awesome as well as most of the material on the others.
Do you pronounce 'walrus' like 'walarus' or did I mishear that?
There is a reason in the business producers get 51% of recording and performance royalties..
You should do a video on the possible occult help that oasis Got in connection with Alan mcghee...
It's there is you look in to it
Say Alan McGee was shitting a brick seeing as Kevin Shields nearly bankrupted creation making Loveless a few years previous.
Yeah I bet he was having flashbacks
"let it be naked" contains a ton of spectors edits and overdubs. so you are incorrect about what macca did.
agreed. Owen was second after Noel..literally the sound of Oasis.
Great video.. knew it was a rough double recording initially but this really gives detail. Thank you. Be Here Now... now that's a potential monster to delve into 😃. Thank you
Cheers RWI1 - yeah I'd love to do more on BHN, wish there was better resources available to dig into it
4th Boneheads bombastic rhythm guitar.
You missed out Harry Nilsson for the other 5th Beatle👍
has anyone else noticed that the bass in be here now is mixed seriously low?
Owen Morris is indeed the 5th Rutle of Oasis.
High praise indeed...
It is. The music of The Rutles still resonates through space & time..
You did it Again!! Thank you James
3:40 I thought the album version of slide away was recorded at Monnow Valley
Yes some tracks came from there, but the Monnow Valley mix was never released
Thanks for the inside knowledge, fascinating stuff about a band I love. I'll definitely be listening to the rough mix
Cheers Stewart, you’re welcome 👍👍
Billy shears u mean was the 5th beatle or whatever hid real name is!
Fuckin Top Video James.
That's one for all the Music Nerds🎶
Cheers WJS! too right haha
Wonderful and so informative video. So interesting to hear these stories so many years later after buying definitely maybe on release day. Thanks for the time taken to make these videos.
My pleasure mate 👍👍👍
I have it on very good authority, from someone who was very successful in the music industry, that the whole "Alan McGee stumbled across Oasis" is just nonsense. I was told that McGee was well aware of them before the King Tut's gig.
Interesting. Did this person happen to say how McGee had heard of them so early on?
Cocaine is a hell of a drug..
R.J
Totally agree with you regarding Owen Morris, James. Oasis couldn't have gotten where they did without him as he rescued Definitely Maybe and did great work on Morning Glory. Be Here Now's production was a real mess of course and to this day not even Morris likes the mix he did on it, which I get because even listening to the original and remix versions of D'you know what I mean, the difference is stark with the remix so much better as you can hear the strings, acoustic guitar and bass so much better unlike the original where its all muffled. Anyway great video, James, keep them coming. :-)
Cheers Kenny
Yeah it would be amazing to hear Be Here Now mixed and fixed by Noel and Owen 👍👍
Ironically, had it not been for Owen's intervention, Definitely Maybe would have sounded exactly like Be Here Now did
0:29 Is that meant to be Paul McCartney?
Love this insight into these recording sessions! I remember vaguely there being an early leak of SOTSOG which sounded great. However, the band either re-recorded or remixed the album and came up with the version we all known today. Im convinced if oasis would have carried on working on the leaked version they would have made up for all that happened in the Be here now era
Yeah James C from the Oasis Pod talked about those. I've not heard them actually, but they're meant to be good
Good shit this …… a bet Noel doesn’t think so haha
If they ever reform they should get Owen to produce it.
Yeah I agree
Are you saying they were a bit shiiiiiteeee
There were hundreds of Beatles lol!
Owen Morris was basically Oasis's George Martin
Truth
Very informative video! Great job.
Good title mate nice one
I'm gonna hire that geezer one day. What a talent Mr Morris is
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar unbelievable mate when you hear the last mix of definitely maybe on supersonic before he got his hands on it, it just shows you how important he was to that band! As soon as the guitars start on rock n roll star you're like jeezo what a bloody difference it is!
For me, only Brian Wilson has been more important a producer. I'd call Spector Martin's equal. But yes, Sir George Martin is a giant of pop music production!
Thank you for another great video James!
My pleasure!
yes mate !!!! you have my like !!!!! again !!!!!
Thanks so much DLS 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸
Great vid, this channel and Microdot are my fave go to Oasis online archives, one small complaint here as a mad Man Utd supporter though, George Best was another 5th Beatle, for no good reason other than his haircut, i've only recently got back into Oasis searches etc, one thing I've noticed is barely any Guigsy interviews etc, he's a bit of a dark horse/recluse.
Don’t forget Mark Coyle when it comes to the 6th member . . Ya we have heard about the problems with the first album , but Coyle was very much part of the gang . Morris did Ash too ?
I always said that everything changed when Bonehead left and Morris parted company, but nothing lasts forever. I always listen to Definitely Maybe far more than what’s the story. I just love the rough edge of their first album. I love your videos man as well, very interesting and insightful 👍🏻🎸
Ha ha ha!!! The 5th Beatle....then mentioning loads of people! Hilarious! I understood what he meant but still it was amusing!
8:43 Big up Cardiff
Good eye
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I'd recognise it anywhere!
Oh wow, I've always thought the Whitfield versions were the Dave Bachelor recordings!
I greatly appreciate their live versions of all their music much more that any of the recordings. I never listen to the recorded songs - it just doesn't make sense.
Excellent analysis and great parallel between Owen Morris and George Martin. Really interesting observation about how a limiter can (in the right hands) help emulate what the human ear does in live performances. Really great insights - thanks for doing such a brilliant job with this!
Great work, again, James. I have been trying to gather more information about Mark Coyle but it seems slim on the ground, I for one believe he had more influence on Oasis than he is given credit for, especially as he was there from the basically the time Noel joined and has been a long standing friend of Noel's for many years.
Cigarettes and alcohol monnow valley version came out on an ep in 2006.
Slide away on the album is also from them sessions.
Morning Glory is a probably the best example of that brickwalling. What a tune and sound.
I consider myself an Oasis freak and feel like a poser next to this guy. He knows Oasis and Noel better than I know myself.
Enjoyed this! Thanks
Great 👍👍 ur welcome
Geoff Emerick was also a major contributor to the creative process within The Beatles recording environment, as sound engineer.