4 Forgotten Britpop Hits From Bands You Probably Can’t Name

Even those who didn’t spend the 1990s wearing fringe haircuts and desert boots know Oasis and Blur. Like any dominant music scene, Britpop had bands that were bigger than the movement and others who had hits but are relatively unknown outside the UK Let this list introduce you to a few forgotten Britpop hits from bands you probably can’t name.

“Wide Open Space” by Mansun

Like most Britpop groups, Mansun borrowed from 1960s psychedelic guitar bands. However, there are also echoes of Duran Duran and new wave. “Wide Open Space” reached the UK Top 20, and Mansun’s debut album, Attack Of The Grey Lantern, topped the UK Albums chart. It proved to be their commercial peak, and Mansun eventually faded in popularity against the big four: Oasis, Blur, Pulp, and Suede.

“Walkaway” by Cast

John Power left The La’s and formed Cast in 1991. Power’s former group and its hit “There She Goes” helped shape the future of British rock music. Cast released All Change in 1995, and Noel Gallagher once compared watching the Liverpool band live to a “religious experience.” Though Cast didn’t reach Oasis-level heights, they distilled as much as any other band the spirit and sound of Britpop. Gallagher will get another “religious experience” when Cast supports Oasis’ reunion shows this summer.

“Chasing Rainbows” by Shed Seven

Shed Seven formed in York and mixed the bluesy rock of The Rolling Stones with The Stone Roses’ Madchester grooves. “Chasing Rainbows” has similar orchestrated anthem vibes to “Champagne Supernova” or “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. Shed Seven’s wistful hit was perfect for an era that prioritized homeland nostalgia. It arrived in 1996, but Britpop only had another year or so left of cultural dominance.

“On And On” by Longpigs

Longpigs came from Sheffield, which also shares its home with Jarvis Cocker and his band Pulp. The band was led by singer Crispin Hunt and guitarist Richard Hawley. (Hawley briefly toured with Pulp before embarking on a Mercury Prize-nominated solo career.) On Longpigs’ debut, The Sun Is Often Out, the band sounds closer to the alt-rock of Radiohead’s The Bends than Pulp, Oasis, or Blur. But “On And On” is pure Britpop, a tender acoustic song with a chorus of voices paying homage to the 1960s in a soaring tune about heartbreak and loss.

Photo by Dean Chalkley, Courtesy of Vicious Kid PR