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Noel Gallagher Birthday 6-Pack: The Brit’s Best Beyond Oasis

By adam12
(Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Noel Gallagher is a legend. To mark this Noel Gallagher birthday on 29 May, we celebrate the man and his songwriting acumen.

I wasn’t aware of the scope of the elder Gallagher’s success as a songwriter. So I’ll assume the same for you. He’s written 8 UK number-one singles, co-written another, and is responsible for 10 UK number-one studio albums.

That’s a mind-boggling bit of success spread out over about three decades. And while Gallagher’s primary projects have been Oasis and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, he’s also collabed with big UK names like Paul Weller, Goldie, Gorillaz, and The Who.

Noel Gallagher Birthday: The Music

Like many music fans, my introduction to the Gallagher brothers was via Oasis. I copped Definitely Maybe on tape when it came out in ’94. I run hot and cold on Brit bands, but that debut album is undeniable, and the lead single, “Supersonic,” remains a ’90s fave of mine.

I loved the band’s drama as much as their music. I still do. The Gallagher brothers are to Gen X what the Davies brothers were to Boomers. Noel and Liam are still slagging one another off as I’m typing this, bickering over the latest Oasis reunion rumors.

Noel Gallagher Birthday: The Man

That’s the beauty of Noel: he doesn’t just save it for his brother. He slags EVERYONE off. And he has every right to. Go back to those stats up top. When you’re one of the most successful songwriters in the history of British music you can talk all the shit you want.

So let’s pour a few pints from this Noel Gallagher birthday 6-pack. Again, the focus here is post-Oasis. Because Noel’s done so much of note outside the scope of that band that deserves to be celebrated. And I’d be willing to bet there’s a few tunes below you’d forgotten.

  • The Smokin' Mojo Filters "Come Together"

    The Filters were a supergroup featuring Gallagher, Paul McCartney, Paul Weller and others. They recorded this version of “Come Together” in 1995 for The Help Album, a charity album benefiting War Child.

  • The Chemical Brothers "Setting Sun"

    The Chemical Brothers breakthrough 1997 album Dig Your Own Hole featured a few features. Gallagher’s vocal on “Setting Sun” helped catapult the single to No. 1, adding to the man’s legacy.

  • Goldie "Temper Temper"

    Gallagher had a nice little late ’90s run collaborating with UK electronic artists. Jungle great Goldie enlisted his guitar work on the second single from his 1998 album Saturnz Return.

  • "Freelove Freeway" from The Office

    One of the most legendary scenes in the UK version of The Office is when Ricky Gervais as David Brent performs “Freelove Freeway.” There’s a version from the show’s 2004 soundtrack that features Gervais and Gallagher and it’s a delight.

  • Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds "AKA...What a Life!"

    Noel released a one-off solo live album in 2009, but his post-Oasis career truly got underway with the debut of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2011. Russell Brand features in the video, unfortunately. But the song is a triumph.

  • The Black Keys "On The Game"

    For their 2024 album Ohio Players, The Black Keys enlisted Gallagher for three cuts. He co-wrote, sang backup, and played some guitar on this one.

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