Oasis 'nailed it' when recording first album

In 1997, Definitely Maybe was named the 14th greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll

As fans look forward to Oasis reuniting on tour next year, staff at a studio in Cornwall have shared their memories of the band recording their first LP there 30 years ago.

Sawmills Studio has hosted and recorded artists including Muse, The Verve, Robert Plant, The Stone Roses and Supergrass.

And it was at the same studio in Golant, near Fowey, that most of the tracks on Definitely Maybe, Oasis’s debut album, were captured.

"They basically nailed it live, which is the way I like to record," said John Cornfield, a producer, sound engineer and co-owner of the studio.

John Cornfield said there was no messing about when it came to the recordings

He said Oasis had been focused when it came to recording the tracks.

"You could tell they had played them a load of times as there was no messing about," he said.

"They just went in there and bang, bang, bang - three takes or so and nailed it.

"I had no idea that it would turn into the monster it did."

When it was released in 1994, Definitely Maybe became the fastest-selling debut album in UK history.

As well as marking 30 years since Oasis released their highly successful first album, it is also the studio's 50th anniversary.

Ruth Taylor said Liam Gallagher played her the single Supersonic and said the band was going to be massive

The band - then Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll - stayed at the studio, which is only accessible by a trek on foot or by boat twice a day when the tides are right.

"The boys used to play pool in the lounge, which also had a turntable," said Ruth Taylor, who was the studio manager at the time.

She said: "They had sent a copy of their first single from the record company, which hadn’t been recorded here, and Liam put it on and said: 'Ruth, listen to this. We are going to be massive.'"

The studio is tucked away next to woods up a small creek off the river Fowey

That version of Supersonic, recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in south Wales, appeared on their first album.

Other previously unheard cuts of anthems such as Live Forever, Cigarettes & Alcohol and Rock 'n' Roll Star recorded at Monnow Valley were released last month.

Dennis Smith said the band were desperate to record again

Dennis Smith, co-owner of Sawmills Studio, said when the band had arrived "they were desperate to have another go, and they had 10 days to do it, and it was a question of getting it right this time".

He said the recordings had worked and he liked the mix they came out with.

"It may have been technically against all the rules, but it sounded great," he said.