Why Oasis released their best songs as B-sides instead of studio albums
In short: The Masterplan was never intended to be a career-defining record. Originally a collection of B-sides for international markets where imports were too expensive, it has since become a critical darling. Noel Gallagher famously regrets squandering these tracks, yet their release cemented the band's legacy as the definitive sound of Britpop.
Released on 2 November 1998, The Masterplan served as the final project Oasis completed for Creation Records. The compilation was initially conceived as a practical solution for fans in the United States and Japan, who otherwise had to pay for costly European-import singles to access the band's non-album tracks. Despite its humble origins as a repository for leftovers, the album found significant commercial success, reaching number 2 on the UK charts and selling 3 million copies worldwide.
The critical reception of the album has shifted dramatically over time. Upon its 1998 debut, reviewers were divided; some, like Entertainment Weekly’s Matt Diehl, dismissed it as inconsistent and derivative. Others, such as Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times, argued that the songs were strong enough to anchor any standard studio album. By the 20th anniversary in 2018, the consensus had solidified, with many critics viewing it as one of the band's finest works. Retrospective praise from outlets like Spin and AllMusic highlighted the collection’s depth, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine noting that it contained few weak moments.
The primary architect of this frustration was Noel Gallagher himself. In 2016, he admitted that his stubbornness during the band's peak led him to treat tracks like 'Half the World Away' and 'Acquiesce' as mere B-sides rather than saving them for a potential third studio album. This sentiment was echoed by critics like Henry Yates, who noted the 'forehead-slapping frustration' that these songs were not curated more carefully. The album's enduring appeal was confirmed again in 2023, when a 25th-anniversary reissue returned the record to the number 2 spot on the UK Albums Chart, proving that these 'scrapped' tracks ultimately defined the band's artistic identity.
The album features a rotating cast of contributors, including original members like Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs and Tony McCarroll, alongside later additions like Alan 'Whitey' White. The production, largely handled by Noel Gallagher and Owen Morris, helped maintain a cohesive sound despite the disparate origins of the tracks. Even decades later, the material remains relevant; in 2023, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds re-recorded two of the album's tracks at Abbey Road Studios.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Masterplan (album)
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