Maps of Music

Heathen Chemistry (2002)

Where the lyrics of Heathen Chemistry take you, and where it was really made.

The album's title came from a T-shirt logo Noel Gallagher bought in Ibiza, reading 'The Society of Heathen Chemists'.

Key places

Recording at Wheeler End Studios (2002)

Recording site Wheeler End Studios — Heathen Chemistry was recorded at Wheeler End Studios, one of the two studios named for the album's sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Olympic Studios (2002)

Recording site Olympic Studios — Heathen Chemistry was also recorded at Olympic Studios, the second studio used for the album's sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover photo at Gare de Lyon Métro station (2002)

Album cover Pathé Marconi studios — The cover photo shows band members waiting for a train at the Gare de Lyon Métro station in Paris on 13 February 2002. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Heathen Chemistry: fifth studio album by English rock band Oasis
• Released 1 July 2002 by Big Brother Recordings
• First Oasis studio album recorded with guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell, who joined after the previous album was completed
• Last Oasis album to feature drummer Alan White, who left in early 2004
• White's departure was attributed by Noel Gallagher to White's lack of commitment to the band
• First Oasis album where members other than Noel Gallagher made a significant songwriting contribution

Background

• Sound moved away from the psychedelic Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
• Also moved away from the grand production and massive sound of Be Here Now
• Returned to the back-to-basics rock sound of the band's first two studio albums

Recording

• Recorded between 2001 and early 2002 at Wheeler End Studios and Olympic Studios in London
• Most instrumentation was complete by mid-to-late 2001
• Liam Gallagher contributed three songs; Andy Bell and Gem Archer each contributed one
• Noel Gallagher blamed delays on Liam's reluctance to record vocal parts
• Noel said the album was the group's second-best to date, behind Definitely Maybe
• Title came from a T-shirt bought in Ibiza
• Name of 'The Hindu Times' came from a similar T-shirt logo seen during a GQ photo shoot

Cover

• Photographer Andrew Macpherson was commissioned by Simon Halfon
• Spent a week in Paris with the band in February 2002
• Photo shows the band waiting for a subway train at the Gare de Lyon Métro station on 13 February 2002

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Oasis are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991.
• The original line-up was Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll; Noel Gallagher joined a few months later as the fifth member.
• Noel became the de facto leader and wrote the songs for the band's first four albums.

Members

• Current members are Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Bonehead, Gem Archer and Andy Bell.
• Former members include McGuigan, McCarroll and Alan "Whitey" White.

Career

• The band signed to Creation Records in 1993 and debuted with Definitely Maybe (1994), which topped the UK Albums Chart.
• (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) became the UK's best-selling album of the 1990s.
• Be Here Now (1997) became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history.
• The band disbanded in 2009 after Noel left, and reformed in 2024.
• They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Received mixed reviews upon release
• Seen by critics as a return to form after the two previous albums
• Metacritic: 55 out of 100, based on 22 critics
• Some reviewers said it was better than Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
• Blender wrote that Oasis was 'a band back on track'
• NME gave it 8/10
• Rolling Stone gave it three out of five stars
• Drowned in Sound, Pitchfork and Stylus Magazine offered scathing assessments

Reappraisal

• In 2017, Liam Gallagher ranked Heathen Chemistry as his least favourite Oasis album

Records

• Went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart
• Reached the top 10 in a dozen other countries
• Entered the US chart only at number 23
• Certified 4× platinum by the BPI for sales of 1.2 million units in the UK
• Sold 154,000 copies in the US
• Four singles all reached the UK chart top ranks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• An internet leak of all 11 songs came almost three months before release, and fans knew the words to new songs at a Las Vegas show.
• After 'Better Man' there is 30 minutes of silence before the hidden track 'The Cage'.
• Japanese and digital versions removed the 30-minute silence and added an extra track.
• 'Songbird' was the first Oasis single written by Liam Gallagher.
• 'Little By Little' and 'She Is Love' formed the band's only double A-side single.
• This was the last Oasis studio album to include four singles released in the UK.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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