Oasis — B-sides

The "story" of Oasis B-sides is arguably more central to their legend than the albums themselves. During the mid-90s, Noel Gallagher was writing songs at such a prolific rate that tracks now considered all-time classics were "hidden" as secondary tracks on CD singles The Peak of the "Hidden" Era (1994–1996)

In this period, Oasis released B-sides that most bands would have built entire careers around. This gave the band an aura of being "unstoppable". Key moments from this era include:

: Originally a B-side to "Some Might Say," it became a definitive anthem because it features both brothers sharing lead vocals—a rarity that fans saw as a symbol of their bond. Talk Tonight

: Written by Noel after he briefly quit the band in San Francisco following a disastrous 1994 gig. It is a raw, acoustic track about a woman who talked him out of walking away for good. The Masterplan

: Often cited as Noel’s greatest songwriting achievement, he famously lamented later that he should have saved it for an album instead of "wasting" it as a B-side to "Wonderwall". The "Lost" Third Album

Many fans and critics argue that if Oasis had held back their best B-sides from the Definitely Maybe (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? oasis b-sides

eras, they could have created a third album superior to the bloated, cocaine-fueled Be Here Now . Common "lost album" playlists often include:

The phrase "on paper" is often used to describe Oasis b-sides

because their quality was so high that they were famously "better than most bands' A-sides"

. Many of these tracks, originally released as secondary songs on singles, eventually formed the 1998 compilation album The Masterplan

, which is widely considered one of the best b-side collections in music history. Key Oasis B-Sides The "story" of Oasis B-sides is arguably more

: Often cited as the definitive Oasis b-side, featuring both Liam and Noel on vocals. The Masterplan

: The title track of their compilation, noted for its orchestral arrangement. Talk Tonight

: An intimate acoustic track written by Noel Gallagher after he briefly left the band during a 1994 tour. Half the World Away : Famous as the theme tune for the UK sitcom The Royle Family

: A fast-paced punk-inspired track that "shouldn't have worked on paper" due to its mix of influences like Wham! and The Sex Pistols. Stay Young : Recorded during the Be Here Now sessions and considered a "lost" classic by many fans. Mojo Magazine The Masterplan Compilation Every Oasis B-Side Ranked! - Mojo Magazine

4. Later Era B-sides (2000–2009)

After the departure of founding members (Bonehead, Guigsy) and the diminishing critical returns of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000), the B-sides became less consistent but still contained highlights: "Let’s All Make Believe" (from Go Let It

  • "Let’s All Make Believe" (from Go Let It Out, 2000) – A dark, orchestral track about public failure. Many fans consider it the best song from the Giants sessions.
  • "Shout It Out Loud" (from The Hindu Times, 2002) – A raw, glam-rock stomp.
  • "Pass Me Down the Wine" (from Lyla, 2005) – A melancholy, string-laden rarity sung by Noel.
  • "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" (from Lyla, 2005) – Driving, psychedelic rock. Later became the title track of a 2007 tour DVD.

By the 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul, B-sides had largely been replaced by "bonus tracks" or demos, as CD singles declined.

"The Masterplan" (1995)

The title track is the emotional counterweight to all the swagger. A piano-led, psychedelic waltz that finds Noel Gallagher sounding like a disillusioned mystic. "All the dreams we had / And I wonder why I still don't dream of them at all." It’s a meditation on fate, disappointment, and the random chaos of getting older. If "Live Forever" is the pep talk, "The Masterplan" is the quiet, 3 AM realization that the pep talk might have been a lie. It is, without question, one of the three greatest songs Noel has ever written.

The "A-Side" Mentality

Noel Gallagher, the band’s primary songwriter, has often joked about his prolificacy during the mid-90s. He was in a "purple patch" of writing where the songs arrived faster than the band could record albums. Rather than hoard these tracks for the next record, he believed that if you paid £3.99 for a CD single, you deserved your money’s worth.

"The great thing about Oasis," Noel once said, "is that we never saw the B-side as a place to put the rubbish. If I wrote a song, it was going to be heard."

This philosophy created a unique bond with the fans. You could buy the latest single for the radio hit, but the real treasure was often the deep cut on Track 2 or Track 3. It wasn't uncommon for fans to debate whether the B-side was actually better than the A-side.

Part 4: The Dark & Weird Era (2000-2002) – Standing on the Shoulder of Giants & Heathen Chemistry

Vibe: Post-Prs, Liam starts writing, band is fracturing. Experimentation (sitars, electronic beats).

  • "Let's All Make Believe" (B-side to Go Let It Out)
    • One of Noel’s most bitter, beautiful, and dark lyrics. "Cos we took a fucking vow / And we're never gonna break it." A scathing indictment of the band’s own broken promises. Astoundingly, it was left off the album.
  • "Cigarettes in Hell" (B-side to Go Let It Out)
    • A short, strange, acoustic country-blues song. "They don't have cigarettes in hell." Surreal and brilliant.
  • "Full On" – A straight-ahead rocker that sounds like a leftover from Morning Glory. Relentless.
  • "Shout It Out Loud" (B-side to The Hindu Times)
    • Pure, dumb, glorious rock and roll. The bassline is a rip-off of T. Rex's "Get It On," and nobody cares.
  • Liam’s First B-Sides: "Better Man" and "Soldier On" (both from this era’s tail end) are lyrically clumsy but melodically interesting. You hear Liam trying to find his voice as a writer.

The Ultimate Top 10 Oasis B-Sides (Ranked):

  1. The Masterplan – It’s untouchable.
  2. Acquiesce – The sound of two brothers who hate each other singing perfectly together.
  3. Listen Up – The definitive "lost classic."
  4. Half the World Away – Pure melancholy perfection.
  5. Let's All Make Believe – Their most underrated, bitter masterpiece.
  6. Rockin' Chair – Beautiful despair.
  7. Talk Tonight – Intimate and raw.
  8. Fade Away – Punk rock fury.
  9. Stay Young – The last innocent song.
  10. Cigarettes in Hell – Weird, short, and brilliant.

Honorable Mentions from this era:

  • "Half the World Away" (B-side to Whatever – used as the theme to The Royle Family TV show). A gorgeous, lonely piano ballad.
  • "Talk Tonight" (B-side to Some Might Say). Noel’s acoustic tale of being talked down from quitting the band in LA.
  • "Round Are Way" (B-side to Wonderwall). A rollicking, fun, "la-la-la" singalong.
  • "Morning Glory (Acoustic)" – Not a song, but a vibe.