1001 Albums Summary

What’s the Story (Morning Glory) is a loud, brash, and unapologetically confident album from a band at the height of its ambition. From the first crashing chords of “Hello” to the soaring climax of “Champagne Supernova,” Oasis delivers a record that is both anthemic and deeply emotive. It’s a melodic album, packed with catchy hooks and sing-along choruses that feel both massive and intimate. Tracks like “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Wonderwall” strike a balance between sentimental reflection and uplifting optimism, while “Some Might Say” and “Morning Glory” swagger and strut confidently. There’s a surprising amount of heart beneath the noise and bluster—the album is often affectionate and even dreamy, touching on themes of love, loss, and hope with a melancholic undertone that adds depth to its stadium-sized sound. It’s this mix of emotional honesty and rock-and-roll bravado that makes the album so enduring. Ultimately, What’s the Story (Morning Glory) is more than just a product of its time—it’s a triumphant, era-defining record that still resonates, just ask the folks that are seeing them on their "Oasis Live 2025" tour. In a word: great. Five stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1 – "Hello" A storming opener. Straight out the gate, it sets the swagger and energy of the album perfectly. A real statement of intent. – 5 2 – "Roll with It" Pure rock ’n’ roll. Big chorus, driving rhythm, and attitude to spare. Classic Oasis confidence. – 5 3 – "Wonderwall" Iconic. One of the defining songs of the ’90s and beyond. Simple, emotional, unforgettable. – 5 4 – "Don’t Look Back in Anger" Another anthem. Hearing 90,000 people sing this together is spine-tingling. The Lennon-inspired intro is a lovely nod, and Noel’s guitar solo is spot on. – 5 5 – "Hey Now!" Often overlooked, but it’s a gem. The verses have a hook that sticks in your head for days. – 5 6 – Untitled ("The Swamp Song" Pt. 1) Just a teaser, but what a riff. The full live version (on The Masterplan) is immense. – 5 7 – "Some Might Say" One of Oasis’s finest. The lyrics might not matter, but the sound, the swagger, and Liam’s vocal delivery are all huge. – 5 8 – "Cast No Shadow" Beautiful and understated. Thoughtful lyrics, tender delivery—one of Noel’s most heartfelt moments. – 5 9 – "She’s Electric" Playful, witty, and irresistibly sing-along. Liam nails it with a cheeky, characterful vocal. – 5 10 – "Morning Glory" Explosive. The title track kicks hard, with massive guitars and a chorus that soars. Live, it’s even more powerful. – 5 11 – Untitled ("The Swamp Song" Pt. 2) Another snippet. Frustratingly short—you just want the full version here. – 5 12 – "Champagne Supernova" The perfect closer. Epic, dreamy, and soaring, with Paul Weller’s guitar work adding magic. The lyrics might be abstract, but the vibe is everything. A monumental ending. – 5 Total - 60 Average - 5.00

Despite their distinctive sound and an excellent name, Echo and The Bunnymen never secured a place in my early 1980s collection. My listening habits were then dominated by rivals like The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths, Simple Minds and early U2. "Ocean Rain" is an undeniable four-star effort. Its strength lies in its cohesion: the song writing, arrangement, and performances, across the record, are largely excellent. Furthermore, the album production is timeless, successfully sidestepping the decade's pervasive sonic trends. Yet, for me, it falls short of a five-star rating. The album’s grandiose ambition to be a haunting, epic work is only partially realized. The opening tracks, "Silver" and "Nocturnal Me," immediately establish the new sonic palette, the former with its bright orchestral clarity, the latter with a dark, martial mood. However, the quality dips dramatically mid-album. While "Crystal Days" and "The Yo Yo Man" are fine enough tracks, "Thorn of Crowns" is the primary flaw. Even for a listener like myself, who prioritizes sound over lyrical content, the track's absurd and nearly risible lyrics severely undermine the album’s mood and very nearly achieved a 2/5 rating. Only on "The Killing Moon" does the Bunnymen’s vision achieve flawless execution. This five-star track fuses mysterious lyrics, a magnificent arrangement, superb dynamics, Ian McCulloch’s towering vocal, and Will Sergeant’s signature guitar flourishes into a perfect whole. It is echoed closely in quality by the single "Seven Seas" and the equally powerful title track. 1. "Silver" (5/5) 2. "Nocturnal Me" (4/5) 3. "Crystal Days" (3/5) 4. "The Yo Yo Man" (3/5) 5. "Thorn of Crowns" (3/5) 6. "The Killing Moon" (5/5) 7. "Seven Seas" (5/5) 8. "My Kingdom" (4/5) 9. "Ocean Rain" (5/5) Total - 37 Average - 4.11 149/1001 79/149 albums reviewed were new to me.

For me, this is the first Beatles related album to crop up in this exercise. . I've never been made keen on the production of this album, and the mix now sounds somewhat dated. That said, it's an excellent album with a number of truly great songs on it. The other songs are at worst 3 star songs but being a fan of The Beatles and their solo work I rate them a little higher (see ratings definition below). This is a 5 ⭐ album. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1. "Imagine" - An iconic song. It's just a lovely, mournful, ballad with a beautiful sentiment. - 5 ⭐ 2. "Crippled Inside" - A Country, Rock a Billy sounding number, that has a jauntiness that cleverly disguises the lyrical meaning. - 5 ⭐ 3. "Jealous Guy" - Arguably the best song on the album. - 5 ⭐ 4. "It's So Hard" - 4 ⭐ 5. "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier[nb 4]" - This still sounds fantastic. - 5 ⭐ 6. "Gimme Some Truth" - Visceral. - 5 ⭐ 7. "Oh My Love" - 4 ⭐ 8. "How Do You Sleep?" - Was he glad that he got this off his chest? This is a fantastic song. Great slide guitar solo by George Harrison. - 5 ⭐ 9. "How?" - 4 ⭐ 10. "Oh Yoko!" - 4 ⭐ Total - 46 Average - 4.6 1-2 stars: These ratings typically indicate dislike or indifference towards the music. The listener might find the music uninteresting or even unpleasant. 3 stars: A 3-star rating often suggests that the music is "okay" or "decent." The listener might find it enjoyable, but it's not something they would actively seek out. 4 stars: A 4-star rating indicates that the music is well-liked and enjoyed. The listener would probably listen to it again and would consider it to be a good listen. 5 stars: A 5-star rating represents the highest level of appreciation. The music is considered exceptional and often holds a special place in the listener's heart.

What a delight. We have Ella Fitzgerald's beautiful voice and vocal phrasing. Then we have the genius that was Nelson Riddle, for his orchestrations, and his wonderful Orchestra. Lastly, the wonderful songs of George and Ira Gershwin. 5 stars. Originally released as a 5 album Long Player (LP) box-set in 1959. The albums were also released separately, so you could choose to buy them separately, one at a time, as your budget allowed. The orchestration is by the great Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. For those daunted by listening to all 54 tracks I suggest just reviewing one of the volumes, as there's a lot here to take in. There's a high level of quality across the whole collection but the third volume just shades it for me. Would I listen to this album again? Oh yes! Would I buy this album? Yes. I bought it immediately after listening to it. Vol. 1 1 Sam And Delilah - Wonderful. - 5 Stars 2 But Not For Me - Great lyrics. Oh that voice. - 4 Stars 3 My One And Only - 4 Stars 4 Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Excellent. - 5 Stars 5 Beginner's Luck - 4 Stars 6 Oh, Lady Be Good! - 5 Stars 7 Nice Work If You Can Get It - 5 Stars 8 Things Are Looking Up - Swing baby! - 5 Stars 9 Just Another Rhumba - 4 Stars 10 How Long Has This Been Going On? - Beautiful. - 5 Stars 46/50 Average 4.6 Vol. 2 1 S Wonderful - Fantastic. - 5 Stars 2 The Man I Love - Just wonderful. What a voice. - 5 Stars 3 That Certain Feeling - Super. - 5 Stars 4 By Strauss - 4 Stars 5 Someone To Watch Over Me - Just beautiful. Romantic. - 5 Stars 6 The Real American Folk Song - Rag time. - 5 Stars 7 Who Cares? - 4 Stars 8 Looking For A Boy - Lyrically brilliant. Nice, gentle swing. - 5 Stars 9 They All Laughed - Like a lot of these songs, instantly recognisable. Brilliant. - 5 Stars 10 My Cousin In Milwaukee - 4 Stars 11 Somebody From Somewhere - Achingly beautiful. - 5 Stars 52/55. Average 4.73 Vol. 3 1 A Foggy Day - The orchestration on this is brilliant. - 5 Stars 2 Clap Yo' Hands - A little more uptempo. Swings. - 5 Stars 3 For You, For Me, For Everymore - Luscious. - 5 Stars 4 Stiff Upper Lip - Delightful. - 5 Stars 5 Boy Wanted - I'm running out of adjectives! - 5 Stars 6 Strike Up The Band - 5 Stars 7 Soon - 4 Stars 8 I've Got A Crush On You - Sultry, romantic and quite brilliant. - 5 Stars 9 Bidin' My Time - Playful. - 4 Stars 10 Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did? - Blissful. Naughty. Frisky 😉. Goose bumps when the orchestra kicks in, in full swing. - 5 Stars 11 Of Thee I Sing (Baby) - Goose bumps again. Nelson Riddle was a genius. - 5 Stars 53/55. Average 4.82 Vol. 4 1 The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues Bluesy. Ella Fitzgerald's call and response with the Orchestra is brilliant. Oh those horns. So mournful. - 4 Stars 2 I Was Doing All Right Swing baby! Wonderfully sung - 5 Stars 3 He Loves And She Loves I'm running out of things to say….. - 5 Stars 4 Love Is Sweeping The Country - This is so romantic. I wish love was sweeping my country, and indeed the World. - 5 Stars 5 Treat Me Rough Oh my! Naughty and wonderful. - 5 Stars 6 Love Is Here To Stay Such a famous song. Brilliantly sung. - 5 Stars 7 Slap That Bass Indeed. They way the orchestra comes in is superbly done. Jaunty. "zoom, zoom, zoom" - 5 Stars 8 Isn't It A Pity? "let's forget the past, let's both agree, that I'm for you, and you're for me and it's such a pity we never, never met before". What a brilliant song. - 5 Stars 9 Shall We Dance? - 4 Stars 10 Love Walked In - The love songs on this album are fantastic. Ella Fitzgerald's vocals are brilliant but equally the star of the show is Nelson Riddle. - 5 Stars 11 You've Got What Gets Me - It's up tempo again. A little bit of swing. - 4 Stars 52/55. Average 4.73 Vol. 5 1 They Can't Take That Away From Me - A very different interpretation, and arrangement, from Frank Sinatra's. 5 Stars 2 Embraceable You Sultry. - 5 Stars 3 I Can't Be Bothered Now - 4 Stars 4 Boy! What Love Has Done To Me! - The humour in these lyrics are delightful. - 4 Stars 5 Fascinating Rhythm Dramatic opening. - 4 Stars 6 Funny Face - 4 Stars 7 Lorelei Smooth. Wonderful melodies. Lovely clarinet. Beautiful vocals. - 5 Stars 8 Oh, So Nice - Drift along, on a lovely cloud of music with that beautiful voice. Jazzy piano solo. - 5 Stars 9 Let's Kiss And Make Up Frisky. - 5 Stars 10 I Got Rhythm There's a sprinkling of scat Jazz throughout this album, and there's a sprinkle here. A great way to close out the collection. - 5 Stars. 46/50. Average 4.60 Total /265 - 249 Average for whole album - 4.70

Oh, what a delight this album is. The Small Faces— often unsung, when the great British rock acts of the 60s are mentioned. In "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" the Small Faces created an album that is unmistakably a product of its era. This is both its greatest asset and, perhaps, its slight flaw. Frequently hailed as a “psychedelic tour de force,” the record, in my view, is just as deeply rooted in the whimsical humour of British music halls and theatrical variety—a tradition that later found a home on BBC Radio and influenced the Small Faces and many of the other British acts of the time. In every sense, this is a wonderfully and unapologetically British collection of songs. The album’s first side demonstrates the Small Faces’ considerable abilities as songwriters and arrangers, revealing their pop and rock sensibilities, the peak of which is probably "Lazy Sunday". The second side of the album embarks on a more adventurous path, built around the fanciful tale of Happiness Stan. Here, narrative and theatrical flair take centre stage, the story stitched together by the surreal narration of Stanley Unwin. "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" radiates a charm, showcasing the exceptional talents of Steve Marriott, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones, and Ronnie Lane. Marriott has two distinct voices on this album, - the Cockney on "Rene" and "Lazy Sunday," and the soul singer on "Afterglow (Of Your Love)" and "Song of a Baker". Notably, "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" stands as their final album before the band dissolved, soon to be reborn as "The Faces" with Steve Marriott forming Humble Pie with Peter Frampton. What a way to go out! This is an album meant to be listened to with care, picking out the intricate arrangements and stellar production. It is, quite simply, a milestone in British rock—nearly flawless in its execution. For me, it easily earns five stars. Note: From side two, starting with track seven, the songs are introduced and interspersed with snippets by Professor Stanley Unwin, a British comic actor of the 1960s who invented the nonsensical language “Unwinese.” The effect is eccentrically British and very surreal. Look him up on YouTube. Would I listen to this album again? Yes! I played it again straight after listening to it... twice more 😊. Would I buy this album again? Yes, I did. The deluxe CD version has the original Mono mix. It's interesting to compare the mono mix with the stereo mix. Side one 1- "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" - A fabulous instrumental introduction. The throbbing bass line and excellent drum fills really shine. - 5.00 2- "Afterglow" - A soaring vocal from Steve Marriott, “Afterglow (Of Your Love)” . This shows its British R&B roots. - 5.00 3- "Long Agos and Worlds Apart" - A whimsical transition, highlighting Ian McLagan’s keyboards. - 5.00 4- "Rene" - Oh this is just wonderful. “Rene” introduces the album’s famed concept—the story of Happiness Stan, beginning with a slice of London life set in a music hall atmosphere. Marriott is singing in two other voices to previous tracks. Very much London accents. - 5.00 5- "Song of a Baker" - What a great song. “Song of a Baker” is a bluesy, hard-edged song, set against muscular guitar riffs and pounding drums. Kenney Jones’s percussion is particularly ferocious, driving the song forward with a great energy. - 5.00 6- "Lazy Sunday" This is how songs should be written. Probably, the most famous song on the record, “Lazy Sunday” is a cockney knees-up. Joyous. An irreverent celebration of everyday life. Marriott’s exaggerated vocal inflections and the band’s singalong choruses evoke a pub full of boozed up revellers. The production is brilliant containing birdsong, laughter, and odd sound effects that mesh with the rhythm and piano. It's a classic. - 5.00 Side two (titled "Happiness Stan") 1- "Happiness Stan" - Ah the introduction of Professor Stanley Unwin. - 5.00 2- "Rollin' Over" - One of the album’s rockier numbers. - 5.00 3- "The Hungry Intruder" - A gentle tune that introduces a cast of fantastical characters encountered by Stan. It’s a moment of respite, with acoustic guitar and delicate harmonies painting a scene of rural tranquility. It's a song that is whimsical and childlike, yet tinged with a subtle melancholy. - 5.00 4- "The Journey" - 3.00 5- "Mad John" - 4.00 6- "HappyDaysToyTown" - A romp that wraps up Stan’s journey in exuberant fashion. Absurdly wonderful. - 5.00 Total - 57.00 Average - 4.75