"Roll With It" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. It was released on 14 August 1995 as the second single (the lead single) from their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, reaching #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
'Battle' with Blur
"Roll with It" received a great deal of attention when Food Records, the label of Britpop rivals Blur, moved the original release date of the single "Country House" to clash with it, sparking what came to be known as "The Battle of Britpop". The British media had already reported an intense rivalry between the two bands and this clash of releases was seen as a battle for the number one spot. The media sensation was spurred on by verbal attacks from the respective camps (in particular Noel and Liam Gallagher, Damon Albarn and Alex James), that extended beyond the music industry to the point where the two bands were regularly mentioned on the evening news. In particular, public imagination was sparked by the contrast between the gritty, working class Oasis and the artsy, middle class Blur. In the end, Blur's "Country House" single sold 274,000 copies to Oasis' 216,000 copies of "Roll with It". The singles charted at number 1 and number 2 respectively.
Top of the Pops performance
When Oasis played "Roll with It" on British chart show Top of the Pops they were required to mime the song, and in doing so the Gallagher brothers switched roles with Liam pretending to play guitar and Noel pretending to sing (equipped with Liam's tambourine).
Marketing
The single artwork features a photograph of the band on the beach at Weston-super-Mare. Many potential locations were examined along the Somerset and Avon coastline (Oasis were playing Glastonbury that weekend, so a beach within striking distance of the festival site had to be found). In the background is the Grand Pier which burnt down in July 2008. This has made the original vinyl artwork (particularly the 12" single) highly collectable.
Oasis had been following in the footsteps of their idols The Beatles, who were photographed on the beach wearing Victorian bathing costumes in 1963.
Track listing
CD CRESCD 212
"Roll with It" - 4:00
"It's Better People" - 3:59
"Rockin' Chair" - 4:36
"Live Forever" (Live at Glastonbury '95) - 4:40
"Live Forever" was recorded live at the Glastonbury Festival on 23 June 1995.
Australian CD HES 662325-5
"Roll with It"
"Talk Tonight"
"Acquiesce"
"Headshrinker"
"Headshrinker" was a B-side of the band's previous UK single "Some Might Say" and was one of the last tracks to feature original Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll.
Liam Gallagher has a fiery reputation. When he introduces himself, he wears his forever dark sunglasses and a long Stone Island coat that he just bought the morning of our interview.
He does not like wearing shirts when on stage and prefers “comfortable” clothing. This is, however, perhaps the only visibly comfortable aspect of the founding member of the rock band Oasis. No longer in the band, the singer is known for his mood swings and battles with Noel, his older brother and former bandmate.
We caught up with the 44 year old in Montreal to know more about his relationship with Noel Gallagher, future plans and life.
According to reports, the former Oasis frontman has said he won't release a second album if his debut isn't successful.
Liam Gallagher has said he won't release a second solo effort if his first album "bombs".
The Oasis legend is preparing to release his As You Were LP on 6 October, and has told the Daily Star there's "no real point" releasing another LP if his debut
As reported by the Evening Standard, the outspoken rocker told the outlet: “If the album comes out and it bombs, there is no real point doing another one".
“There is no point going through the rigmarole of interviews and touring if no-one wants it.”
Then, referring to some rock acts who crossed over into dance music, Gallagher added: "I won’t change genre. I won’t do an EDM track to jump on that bandwagon and just to stay in the limelight as they say".
Meanwhile, last week saw Gallagher unveil another cut from his new album in For What It's Worth.
On August 11th 1996, Oasis played the second of two nights at Knebworth. Support for the two days included The Prodigy, Ocean Colour Scene, Charlatans, Manic Street Preachers, Kula Shaker and Dreadzone.