OASIS – G-MEX 1997: FINEST & LONGEST (2 CD)

Description

G-MEX Centre, Manchester, UK 14th December 1997
Remaster & Remix of Stereo Soundboard Recording
★UPGRADE!!!

Considered by many fans to be the greatest Oasis performance of all time, the triumphant Manchester G-MEX homecoming concert on December 14, 1997, has finally been released in its ultimate form! Our release two years ago, “DEFINITIVE G-MEX 1997: 2024 REMASTER & REMIX,” was a quintessential G-MEX performance, far surpassing the sound quality and mix issues of previous releases on other labels. Thanks to overwhelming support, the album has already sold out. Meanwhile, newly discovered sections that were cut from the live broadcast reveal further improvements! While maintaining the superb sound quality and superb mix of the previous release, this release finally delivers the longest recording of a G-MEX live performance ever! There is no better title for listening to Oasis’ greatest live performance at G-MEX than this definitive release, and this self-improvement has been realized! Whether you already own the previous release or don’t usually listen to Oasis, this is a must-have!

This recording is not only representative of Oasis’ “BE HERE NOW” tour, but also represents a rare and remarkable performance, so much so that the venue, G-MEX, is now commonly referred to as such. The definitive release, “DEFINITIVE G-MEX 1997: 2024 REMASTER & REMIX” (hereafter referred to as the “2024 edition”), released two years ago, was a huge bestseller and has already sold out. Looking back at the original release, it was truly a truly otherworldly production and content. The source material used was meticulous, incorporating live MTV stereo sources, BBC radio broadcast sources, DTV highlights (previously a trader-exclusive source, officially released for the 2024 edition), the official promo CD, the B-side of the Japanese single “DON’T GO AWAY,” and the Creation Records compilation CD “ROCK THE DOCK.”

Additionally, the dropout in the BBC radio broadcast of “Some Might Say” was carefully replaced with the MTV live stereo source. Next, “Don’t Look Back In Anger” was replaced with the high-quality take from “Rock the Dock,” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol” was similarly replaced with the B-side take from “Don’t Go Away,” improving the sound quality of both songs. Since the highlights version only included a portion of Noel’s MC after “Fade In-Out,” the entire “Champagne Supernova” performance, which had a dropout in the live broadcast, was replaced with the DTV highlights version. Furthermore, the feedback noise after “Acquiesce” and the exit sound effect of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” were replaced with the promo CD take. Of course, each of these corrections was meticulously edited to ensure no trace of them was visible.
Furthermore, to further enhance the quality of the recording, expertly crafted remasters and remixes were also implemented. First, Liam’s vocals were made to sound more vivid, and then the low frequencies of Alan’s drums were properly placed in the center channel, and the clarity and texture of Noel’s guitar were also adjusted, resulting in a natural band sound that was successful in achieving the loud sound typical of the Be Here Now era without falling into the trap of a wave pattern.

If that were the case, even a straight reissue of this 2024 edition might have been welcomed. In particular, the sound quality was originally a broadcast stereo soundboard recording, which promised high sound quality, but the entire album, which stands out from past items, was remastered and remixed to an official level of quality.

Although the 2024 edition was a masterpiece that seemed to have reached the pinnacle of sound quality, I discovered that there was still room for improvement in terms of content. The 2024 edition and the Bayswater label “BAGLIM” from about 20 years ago are both based on the real-time Kobra label “BACK WHERE WE BELONG.” Unlike the many items and trader versions that have been produced since, the 1997 broadcast was captured with fresh, clear sound quality.

However, the Kobra label version, even though it was the same G-MEX broadcast sound source, was based on MTV television audio, which resulted in cuts due to the insertion of commercials, which is typical of television. Regarding these cuts, all of the previous releases, including “BAGLIM,” had areas that were not fully addressed, and even our 2024 version, which boasted unrivaled sound quality, was no exception.

So, while preserving the superb sound quality of the 2024 edition, this time we’ve restored previously cut sections, making for the longest recording ever! First, the interlude between “D’You Know What I Mean?” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” There’s a long, murmuring pause, as if to say, “Let’s put in a commercial,” and sure enough, MTV aired a commercial. As a result, even Noel’s “cheers” was cut. While this section was edited in “BAGLIM,” a loud crackling noise was introduced during the following MC segment. So, this time, we seamlessly patched in the BBC radio broadcast audio to recreate the actual scene. Naturally, the careful editing eliminates the noise found on “BAGLIM.”

The other is the scene after “Cigarettes & Alcohol.” This time, a commercial break cut in the exact moment Liam said “cheers,” and Liam’s subsequent MC segment on “BACK WHERE WE BELONG” was completely missing. This was also left untouched on “BAGLIM.” Our 2024 edition had made significant repairs to this section, but missed the segment after “cheers,” resulting in a hectic edit in which Liam immediately began speaking. However, this time, even the missing segment has been completely restored!

However, these were unrelated parts of the performance. The biggest problem with the MTV version was the ending of “It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!).” In reality, Noel’s guitar continued playing even after the performance ended, but MTV inserted a commercial at that exact moment. The Kobra disc seemingly gave up on this issue, instead creating a fake edit by copying and pasting the final scene of “Roll With It,” where Noel ended the performance with a glissandi guitar squeak, into the end of “It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!).” While “BAGLIM” managed to restore the original ending, perhaps due to the limitations of technology nearly 20 years old, the editing couldn’t be fully hidden, with audio misalignments and sudden volume changes during splicing of the sources. Worse yet, the 2024 version included the fake edited ending exactly as it was, leaving room for further issues. Therefore, taking this reissue as an excellent opportunity, we have completely restored the original true ending using the BBC radio broadcast sound source, and have compiled it into a finish that can be enjoyed with peace of mind through meticulous editing that is completely unmatched by others. In this way, by making full use of various existing G-MEX sources, we have been able to achieve not only the “best sound quality” of the 2024 version, but also the “longest recording”!

It’s been talked about extensively by now, but it’s no secret that the December 14, 1997 G-MEX performance was a 120-point performance, not just in terms of the sound quality of the soundboard recordings described above, but also in the content of the live performance itself. Last year, Oasis’ reunion world tour, “Live ’25,” which continued to garner attention from the global rock scene, also featured two songs from “BE HERE NOW,” which had been largely absent from the band’s mid-to-late career before their breakup, making a comeback in the setlist, and we just experienced firsthand how the songs from “BE HERE NOW” can be transformed into something truly spectacular in a live setting. With eight songs from the album featured at the 1997 G-MEX performance, there’s no way the setlist couldn’t have been worse.

The high-energy opening numbers “Be Here Now” and the following “Stay Young” have a majesty that surpasses even the most memorable shows like Main Road and Knebworth. The mid-show “Don’t Go Away” is a once-in-a-lifetime performance featuring Liam’s rare vocals (and in top-notch condition), which would not be heard the following year. The UK-exclusive “All Around The World” in the latter half of the show features a horn section, and its 10-minute length is filled with psychedelia and catharsis that makes you want to immerse yourself in it. It’s no exaggeration to say that the highlights of every G-MEX show were evident in the performances of the songs from “Be Here Now.”

The Manchester G-MEX performance on December 14, 1997, has been variously titled due to its historic stature. Two years ago, our “DEFINITIVE G-MEX 1997: 2024 REMASTER & REMIX” finally established its crown, but this release is the pinnacle of innovation. This album, which thoroughly focused not only on the overall sound quality but also on the post-show scenes, delivers the finishing touch missing from the 2024 release, making it the ultimate album! This is the finest and longest album ever. A must-have!

Disc:1 (62:45)
1. Reporter Introduction
2. Be Here Now
3. Stay Young
4. Stand By Me
5. Supersonic
6. Some Might Say
7. Roll With It
8. D’You Know What I Mean?
9. Don’t Look Back In Anger
10. Don’t Go Away
11. Wonderwall
12. Live Forever　

Disc:2 (47:42)
1. It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!)　
2. All Around The World
3. Fade In-Out
4. Champagne Supernova
5. Cigarettes & Alcohol
6. Acquiesce