Slide Away (Oasis song)

Noel Gallagher claims he wrote it on a Les Paul guitar that Johnny Marr sent to him, since he had few guitars available to him at the time. On the Definitely Maybe DVD, he also notes that he took Marr's guitar out of the case, sat down, and "the song wrote itself". Gallagher wrote it about his girlfriend at the time – Louise Jones and the song was written about their stormy relationship.{{cite book|last=Randall|first=Lucian|title=Noel Gallagher: The Biography|year=2013|publisher=John Blake Publishing Ltd|location=London|isbn=978-1-78219-424-8|page=78|edition=Paperback}} He described them as "soulmates" and when they finally split up in June 1994, Noel said 'I don't think I'll ever get over it.'

During the recording of Definitely Maybe, there was an argument between Noel Gallagher and rhythm guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. Gallagher was taken to the pub by bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan where he calmed down, had a few drinks, went back to the studios and recorded "Slide Away". While McGuigan originally participated in the recording, his bass part was re-recorded by Gallagher.{{Cite web | url=http://www.oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk/?page_id=1850 |title = More from Anjali Dutt on the making of Definitely Maybe (2014) | Oasis Recording Information}}

The song was recorded during the initial Monnow Valley Studio sessions, and produced by Dave Batchelor. During recording, Batchelor stood in front of drummer Tony McCarroll and pointed at each of his two crash cymbals in turn, to make sure that McCarroll alternated the cymbals across the stereo image.{{cite web|url=http://www.oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk/?page_id=588|title=Oasis at The Pink Museum and Monnow Valley|accessdate=29 September 2014}}

Batchelor and the band had an argument about the song's tempo, which was ultimately ended by the suggestion of engineer Dave Scott. The band completed the final take afterwards, but Batchelor was angered and fired Scott over the incident. Scott was later informed by Mark Coyle that "Slide Away" was the only song kept from the Monnow Valley sessions, after being remixed by Owen Morris.{{cite web|url=http://www.oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk/?page_id=588|title=Oasis at The Pink Museum and Monnow Valley|accessdate=29 September 2014}}

Recalling the style of "Slide Away", Alex Niven wrote that the song "adopts the classic grunge technique" by combining a "heavy rock base with a melody that alludes to Neil Young and the Beatles".{{cite book |last1=Niven |first1=Alex |title=Oasis' Definitely Maybe |date=8 May 2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=9781623568832 |page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7yw_AwAAQBAJ}}

In an interview on the bonus DVD of Stop the Clocks, Gallagher comments that the track contains his brother Liam's best ever singing.

It is featured on their debut album Definitely Maybe,{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Keith |date=31 August 2004 |title=NME Album Reviews – Oasis : Definitely Maybe |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/7500 |accessdate=5 August 2013 |work=NME}} on the "Whatever" single,{{cite book|last=Krugman|first=Michael|title=Oasis: Supersonic Supernova|year=1997|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|location=New York|isbn=9780312153762|edition=1st St. Martin's Griffin|page=143}} and on the "Champagne Supernova" US single. Also in the Stop the Clocks interview, Noel claimed that he was told to release it as a fifth single from Definitely Maybe, but Gallagher refused, arguing, "You can't have five [singles] off a debut album.""Lock the Box". Stop the Clocks [bonus DVD]. Columbia, 2006. Furthermore, it is claimed to be Paul McCartney's favourite song by Oasis in the same interview. A limited edition UK promotional CD was pressed to celebrate the band's success at the 1995 Brit Awards. The song is included on Oasis' best-of album Stop the Clocks{{cite web|last=Jam |first=James |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/8077 |title=NME Album Reviews – Oasis: Stop The Clocks |work=NME|date=17 November 2006 |accessdate=5 August 2013}} in a slightly different mix; Noel's backing vocals during the bridge have been removed, and it's this version that has been included in reissues of Definitely Maybe since.

Both of the Gallagher brothers claimed that the song should have been played more often at concerts, and although it was rarely played, it remains a fan favourite. However, it was included on the set list of the band's Dig Out Your Soul Tour. It was described by guitarist Gem Archer as "the one for the fans".

A live version recorded on 17 April 1995 at the Southend Cliffs Pavilion was included on the video album, Live by the Sea.{{cite journal|last=Murthi|first=R. S.|title=True nature of Oasis on show|journal=New Straits Times|date=22 July 1997|page=25}}

A live version of the song was released in 2007 on the live album The Dreams We Have As Children by Noel Gallagher.

Liam Gallagher has performed the song at his solo performances, most notably at the Glastonbury Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2017 and 2024.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

While reviewing the Definitely Maybe album, NME writer Keith Cameron described "Slide Away" as "a completely heart-rending love song" that showed the band possessing "both the sweetness and tenderness to complement their well-proven hooligan qualities."{{Cite web |date=2008-03-06 |title=Oasis - Oasis : Definitely Maybe - Album Reviews - NME.COM |website=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/7500 |access-date=2024-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306225358/https://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/7500 |archive-date=6 March 2008 }} Gibson Guitar.com listed the song as one of a ten of Noel's best guitar tracks.{{cite web |last=Leonard |first=Michael |url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/noel-gallagher-1013-2011.aspx |title=Noel Gallagher: His Top 10 Guitar Tracks |publisher=.gibson.com |date=13 October 2011 |accessdate=5 August 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530224823/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/noel-gallagher-1013-2011.aspx |url-status=dead }} In the 11 May 2013 edition of NME, the song was listed at number 57 in the magazine's "The 100 Greatest Britpop Songs" list,{{cite journal|title=The 100 Greatest Britpop Songs|journal=NME|date=11 May 2013|page=26}} and in 2019, it was ranked number 1 in a list of greatest Oasis songs by the same magazine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/every-oasis-song-ranked-greatness-best-worst-2488711|title=The Masterlist – every song Oasis ever recorded ranked in order of greatness | NME|website=NME |date=20 May 2019}} In 2024, Paste and Rolling Stone ranked "Slide Away" number one and number eleven, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Oasis songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/oasis/the-15-greatest-oasis-songs-ranked|title=The 15 Greatest Oasis Songs Ranked|first=Matt|last=Mitchell|work=Paste|date=August 25, 2024|accessdate=October 24, 2024}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-oasis-songs-1235088688/|title=The 40 Best Oasis Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 31, 2024|accessdate=October 24, 2024}}

Oasis

• Liam Gallagher – lead vocals, tambourine
• Noel Gallagher – lead guitars, backing vocals, bass{{Cite web | url=http://www.oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk/?page_id=1850 |title = More from Anjali Dutt on the making of Definitely Maybe (2014) | Oasis Recording Information}}
• Paul Arthurs – rhythm guitar
• Tony McCarroll – drums

Additional personnel

• David Batchelor – production
• Owen Morris – additional production, mixing
• Barry Grint – mastering at Abbey Road Studios, London
• Anjali Dutt – engineering
• Dave Scott – engineering, mixing
• Roy Spong – engineering

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Oasis|title=Slide Away|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=15886-1114-1|access-date=6 September 2022}}

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{{reflist}}

• [https://www.allmusic.com/song/slide-away-mt0000482735 "Slide Away" song review] at AllMusic

{{Oasis}}

Category:Oasis (band) songs

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Songs written by Noel Gallagher

Category:1994 songs

Category:Creation Records singles

Category:1990s ballads