No. 047 · Britpop

Where to start with Britpop

Britpop is a music scene from United Kingdom, 1992–1997. Its principal artists include Blur, Oasis, Suede and Pulp. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 16 dated events.

Start here

  1. 1

    Suede

    Suede · 1993
    Original release: Nude Records · NUDE 1CD · CD · UK 1993

    It went in at number one with the biggest first-week sales for a debut in a decade, won the Mercury Prize and is often cited as one of the first Britpop records.

  2. 2

    Parklife

    Blur · 1994

    A chart-topping, 90-week-charting record regarded as one of Britpop's defining albums.

  3. 3

    (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

    Oasis · 1995

    Became the UK's best-selling album of the 1990s and broke Oasis in the US.

Go deeper

  1. 4

    Modern Life Is Rubbish

    Blur · 1993
    Original release: Parlophone · 0777 7 89442 2 5 · CD · UK 1993

    Made under threat of being dropped by Food Records, this was Blur's turn toward British guitar pop in the line of the Kinks and the Small Faces, with brass, woodwind and backing vocalists.

  2. 5

    Definitely Maybe

    Oasis · 1994
    Original release: Creation Records · CRE CD 169 · CD · UK 1994

    Oasis's debut went straight to number one in September 1994 and was, at the time, the fastest-selling debut album in British history.

  3. 6

    The Great Escape

    Blur · 1995
    Original release: Food · FOODCD 14 · CD · UK 1995

    Released in September 1995, a month after "Country House" beat "Roll with It" to number one, The Great Escape entered the chart at number one and sold over a million copies in the UK.

  4. 7

    Different Class

    Pulp · 1995
    Original release: Island · 524165-2 · CD · UK 1995

    Different Class entered the UK chart at number one in November 1995 and won the 1996 Mercury Prize.

For the obsessed

  1. 8

    Dog Man Star

    Suede · 1994
    Original release: Nude Records · NUDE 3CD · CD · UK 1994

    Bernard Butler left Suede before Dog Man Star was finished, and some tracks were completed with session musicians.

  2. 9

    Elastica

    Elastica · 1995
    Original release: Deceptive Records · BLUFF 014 CD · CD · UK 1995

    Released on Deceptive Records in March 1995, Elastica entered the chart at number one and became the fastest-selling debut since Definitely Maybe, a record it held until Arctic Monkeys in 2006.

  3. 10

    I Should Coco

    Supergrass · 1995
    Original release: Parlophone · 7243 8 33350 2 2 · CD · UK 1995

    Supergrass's debut was recorded in Cornwall with producer Sam Williams and released by Parlophone in May 1995.

The stories behind every record are in Britpop.

Notes: original release details come from MusicBrainz. Each line is from the issue.