Oasis Shakermaker Song Guide: The 1994 Number 11 Hit

Shakermaker reached number 11 in the UK in June 1994, and it gave Oasis a first appearance on Top of the Pops. The single followed Supersonic, and it kept the band moving toward a debut album that fans already wanted.

For context, our Definitely Maybe album guide covers the record that Shakermaker helped to launch. The single arrived two months after Supersonic, and it showed a band growing bolder with each release.

A second single with a clear job

First, Noel Gallagher wrote Shakermaker, and Creation Records released it as the second Oasis single. The song carried a loose guitar groove, and it sounded confident without trying to repeat Supersonic note for note.

Next, the single gave Oasis a chart story that radio and television could follow. A number 11 peak fell just short of the top 10, yet it still put the band in front of a much wider audience.

Meanwhile, the Top of the Pops appearance marked a real step up for the band. Television exposure took Oasis beyond the music press, and it introduced Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher to viewers at home.

Our Oasis members guide covers the early lineup behind that breakthrough. The 1994 band sounded hungry, direct, and ready for a bigger stage.

The B-sides that built the legend

Then the Shakermaker single carried strong B-sides, and fans still praise that package today. D’Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman? offered a softer side, and it showed Noel Gallagher writing with warmth as well as swagger.

In addition, the single included an eight track demo of Alive and a live version of Bring It On Down. Those extra tracks rewarded early buyers, and they showed how much strong material the band already held.

Our Oasis B-sides guide tracks how those extra tracks became a core part of the Oasis story. Collectors still seek out the Shakermaker single, and new fans often start their B-side journey with it.

The B-side package also mattered because Oasis treated B-sides as real songs, not filler. That habit built loyalty, and it gave fans a reason to buy every single on release week.

Shakermaker on Definitely Maybe

Next, Shakermaker took its place on Definitely Maybe, and the album reached shops on 29 August 1994. The album went straight to number one in the UK, and it became the fastest selling debut album in British history at that time.

Meanwhile, Shakermaker sat among a run of singles that shaped the album campaign. Supersonic opened the story, Shakermaker kept it moving, and Live Forever then reached the UK top 10.

Our Oasis albums guide places Definitely Maybe at the start of a remarkable album run. The debut set the standard, and later records had to match its energy and confidence.

In addition, Shakermaker works as a bridge between the debut single and the album itself. It sounds like a band finding its stride, and it still fits the album sequence without breaking its pace.

Why Shakermaker still matters

For fans, Shakermaker marks the moment Oasis moved from a promising new band to a chart act. The number 11 peak showed real progress, and the Top of the Pops slot showed that the wider public had noticed.

Still, Shakermaker lacks the chart peak of the singles that followed it, and that fact shapes its reputation. Fans value it as an early statement, and they judge it on energy rather than on chart position alone.

In short, Shakermaker deserves its place in the early Oasis story, and its B-sides strengthen the case. Our Oasis setlist guide tracks early songs in later sets, and our Oasis lineup page covers the band today.

Only Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher are confirmed by name for Live ‘27, and that fact has not changed. The Live ‘27 shows sold out in the September 2026 ballot, and no general sale took place.

Noel Gallagher on stage. Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.