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The Great Escape

by Blur

Released: September 11, 1995

Britpop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"The Great Escape" is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Blur, released on September 11, 1995, through Food and Virgin Records. With their 1997 self-titled album, Blur shifted away from Britpop to embrace a lo-fi and alternative rock sound.

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Blur - The Great Escape

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Then

Reception

It achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and securing top 10 positions in over ten countries. The album was certified triple platinum in the UK less than a year after its release and received widespread acclaim. The album continued Blur's success with hit singles including "Country House," "The Universal," "Stereotypes," and "Charmless Man," all of which reached the UK Singles Chart's top 10.

Now

Legacy

"Country House" notably became Blur's first UK number one hit, famously competing with Oasis' "Roll with It" in the much-publicized "Battle of Britpop." "The Great Escape" is often regarded as the final part of a Britpop trilogy by Blur, following their earlier albums "Modern Life Is Rubbish" (1993) and "Parklife" (1994).

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"The Great Escape" is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Blur, released on September 11, 1995, through Food and Virgin Records. It achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and securing top 10 positions in over ten countries. The album was certified triple platinum in the UK less than a year after its release and received widespread acclaim.

The album continued Blur's success with hit singles including "Country House," "The Universal," "Stereotypes," and "Charmless Man," all of which reached the UK Singles Chart's top 10. "Country House" notably became Blur's first UK number one hit, famously competing with Oasis' "Roll with It" in the much-publicized "Battle of Britpop."

"The Great Escape" is often regarded as the final part of a Britpop trilogy by Blur, following their earlier albums "Modern Life Is Rubbish" (1993) and "Parklife" (1994). With their 1997 self-titled album, Blur shifted away from Britpop to embrace a lo-fi and alternative rock sound.