Description
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 is now sold out. Meanwhile, newly discovered segments 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’s no better recording of Oasis’ greatest live performance in history, and this self-improvement of the definitive album has been realized! Whether you already own the previous release or don’t usually listen to Oasis, this is a must-have! Not only is it a representative recording of Oasis’ “BE HERE NOW” tour, but it’s also a rare performance they produced, so famous that the venue, G-MEX, is now known by its name. The release two years ago, “DEFINITIVE G-MEX 1997: 2024 REMASTER & REMIX” (hereafter referred to as the “2024 edition”), which became a huge bestseller as the definitive version, has already sold out. Looking back at the contents of that release, the production and content were truly otherworldly. The source material used is extremely detailed, incorporating a mix of MTV live stereo, BBC radio, DTV highlights (a previously trader-exclusive source officially released on the 2024 edition), the official promo CD, the B-side of the Japanese “DON’T GO AWAY” single, and the performance soundtrack from the Creation Records compilation CD “ROCK THE DOCK.” Additionally, a dropout in the BBC radio version of “Some Might Say” has been carefully filled in with the MTV live stereo source. Next, “Don’t Look Back In Anger” is replaced with the high-quality take from “ROCK THE DOCK,” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol” is similarly replaced with the B-side take from “DON’T GO AWAY,” improving the sound quality of both songs. Furthermore, since part of Noel’s MC after “Fade In-Out” is only included in the highlights version, the entire “Champagne Supernova,” which dropped out in the live broadcast, has been supplemented with the DTV highlights version. Furthermore, the feedback noise after “Acquiesce”? The exit sound effect of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” was supplemented from the promo CD take. Of course, each of the supplements listed above was meticulously edited to remove any trace of it. Furthermore, to further enhance the quality, the album underwent expert-level remastering and remixing. First, Liam’s vocals were made more vivid, and the bass of Alan’s drums was properly shifted to the center channel. The clarity and texture of Noel’s guitar were also adjusted, achieving a natural band sound without the smearing waveforms that characterize the loud sound of the Be Here Now era. If that had been the case, even a straight reissue of this 2024 edition might have been well-received. In particular, the sound quality was guaranteed thanks to the original broadcast stereo soundboard recording, but the entire album was remastered and remixed to official standards, setting it apart from previous releases. While the 2024 release feels like a masterpiece in terms of sound quality, I discovered that there was still room for improvement in terms of content. The 2024 release and the 20-year-old label release “BAGLIM” are both based on the real-time label release “BACK WHERE WE BELONG.” This is because, unlike the numerous subsequent releases and trader versions, it captured the 1997 broadcast with fresh, clear sound quality. However, even though the label release was based on the same G-MEX broadcast audio, it was based on MTV television audio, which resulted in cuts due to TV commercials. All previous releases, including “BAGLIM,” have had incomplete cuts in this area, even our 2024 edition, which boasted unrivaled sound quality. So, this time, while maintaining the superb sound quality of the 2024 edition, we’ve restored the previously cut sections, achieving 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 “BAGLIM” addressed this, it also introduced a loud popping noise during the following MC segment. So, this time, we seamlessly patched in the BBC radio broadcast audio to recreate the actual scene. Naturally, due to careful editing, there’s no noise like in “BAGLIM.” Another issue is the scene after “Cigarettes & Alcohol.” This time, a commercial break cuts in just as Liam says “cheers.” Liam’s subsequent MC segment on “BACK WHERE WE BELONG” is completely missing. This was also left untouched in “BAGLIM.” While the 2024 version made significant improvements, it missed the segment after “cheers,” resulting in a hectic edit in which Liam immediately begins speaking. This time, however, even the missing segment has been completely restored! However, these are parts unrelated to the performance. In fact, the biggest problem with the MTV version was the ending of “It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!).” Noel’s guitar continued playing even after the performance ended, but MTV inserted a commercial there instead. The Kobra disc seemingly gave up on this issue, creating a fake edit by copying and pasting the final scene of “Roll With It,” where Noel ended the performance with a thumping guitar glissando, into the end of “It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!).” While “BAGLIM” somehow 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 when splicing the sources. Furthermore, the 2024 disc included the fake edited ending exactly as it was, leaving room for further issues. Therefore, taking advantage of this reissue, they naturally restored the original ending using the BBC radio broadcast audio, resulting in a meticulous edit that is unmatched by any other and completely seamless, making it a more enjoyable experience. By utilizing various existing G-MEX sources, we have achieved not only the “highest sound quality” of the 2024 release, but also the “longest recording”! While it’s been talked about extensively, it’s no secret that the December 14, 1997 G-MEX performance was a 120-point performance, not only in terms of the sound quality of the soundboard recordings described so far, but also in terms of the content of the live performance itself. Even during Oasis’ reunion world tour “Live ’25” last year, which continued to garner attention from the global rock scene, we saw firsthand how the songs from “BE HERE NOW” can be transformed into something truly special in live performances. With eight songs from the album featured at the 1997 G-MEX performance, 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” features a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Liam (who was in top form, and who would not be able to hear it the following year). The latter half of the show, “All Around the World,” features a UK-exclusive 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 G-MEX shows are evident in the performances of the tracks from “Be Here Now.” The Manchester G-MEX performance on December 14, 1997, has been given various titles due to its historic merit. Two years ago, “DEFINITIVE G-MEX 1997: 2024 REMASTER & REMIX” finally established their dominance, but this album is the pinnacle of their self-innovation. G-MEX Centre, Manchester, UK 14th December 1997 Remaster & Remix of Stereo Soundboard Recording UPGRADE!!! 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 Liam Gallagher – lead vocals, tambourine Noel Gallagher – lead guitar, vocals Paul Arthurs – rhythm guitar Paul McGuigan – bass Alan White – drums Mike Rowe – keyboards (support) Paul Stacey – keyboards (support)
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