As fans anticipate the Oasis reunion tour next year, staff at Sawmills Studio in Cornwall are reflecting on the iconic band’s early days. Thirty years ago, Oasis recorded much of their legendary debut album, Definitely Maybe, at the studio near Golant, Fowey, which has also hosted artists like Muse, The Verve, Robert Plant, The Stone Roses, and Supergrass.
John Cornfield, a producer, sound engineer, and co-owner of Sawmills Studio, remembers how focused Oasis were during the sessions. “They basically nailed it live, which is the way I like to record,” he said, noting that the band completed most tracks in just three takes. “You could tell they had played them a load of times—no messing about. They just went in there and bang, bang, bang.”
At the time, no one anticipated the massive impact the album would have. Released in 1994, Definitely Maybe became the fastest-selling debut album in UK history.
Ruth Taylor, the studio manager back then, recalls how confident the band was about their future. “They used to play pool in the lounge, which had a turntable,” she said. One day, Liam Gallagher put on a copy of their first single, Supersonic, and told her: “Ruth, listen to this. We are going to be massive.”
The band—comprising Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll—stayed at the studio, which is only accessible by foot or boat depending on the tide. They spent 10 days refining tracks that would become anthems, including Live Forever, Cigarettes & Alcohol, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.
Dennis Smith, Sawmills’ co-owner, noted that the band arrived eager to improve upon earlier recordings. Despite going against the technical “rules” in the mixing process, Smith said, “It sounded great.” That spirit of raw energy and authenticity helped define the sound of Definitely Maybe, marking the beginning of Oasis’s rise to legendary status.
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