As the reputation of Oasis grew and the expectation increased, they did something that not many bands choose to do. They released an album of B-sides recorded during the process of making the first 3 albums. The result was viewed by many sections of the media as a way for the bad to make a ... Read review
It's often the way of rock&roll--the accidental stuff you don't sweat over often turns out ... more
to be better than the supposedly generation-defining monolith you rupture your life to expel. So it was with Oasis and their third album,Be Here Now--soaked with...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
It's often the way of rock & roll--the accidental stuff you don't sweat over often turns ... more
out to be better than the supposedly generation-defining monolith you rupture your life to expel. So it was with Oasis and their third album, Be Here Now--soaked with sweat, it left Noel and Liam purple-faced with effort and stank like old egg sandwiches in a sock. Meanwhile The Masterplan--b-sides and live tracks--came out a year later and effortlessly reminded everyone why they'd liked the hairy brothers in the first place. "Acquiesce"--don't worry, they admitted they didn't know what the word meant, they just liked the sound of it--was the greatest single they never released: a huge, affirmative sibling bellow-fest that makes "D'You Know What I Mean?" sound like a polite old grandma coughing in comparison. The mournful "Rockin' Chair"--another "lost" Oasis classic, makes it onto here, along with a truly execrable live version of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus", which actually sounds like they got a walrus to sing it, but no matter. The magic, so latterly absent in Oasis's career, is here in spades. --Caitlin Moran
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
It's often the way of rock & roll--the accidental stuff you don't sweat over often turns ... more
out to be better than the supposedly generation-defining monolith you rupture your life to expel. So it was with Oasis and their third album, Be Here Now--soaked with sweat, it left Noel and Liam purple-faced with effort and stank like old egg sandwiches in a sock. Meanwhile The Masterplan--b-sides and live tracks--came out a year later and effortlessly reminded everyone why they'd liked the hairy brothers in the first place. "Acquiesce"--don't worry, they admitted they didn't know what the word meant, they just liked the sound of it--was the greatest single they never released: a huge, affirmative sibling bellow-fest that makes "D'You Know What I Mean?" sound like a polite old grandma coughing in comparison. The mournful "Rockin' Chair"--another "lost" Oasis classic, makes it onto here, along with a truly execrable live version of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus", which actually sounds like they got a walrus to sing it, but no matter. The magic, so latterly absent in Oasis's career, is here in spades. --Caitlin Moran
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
It's often the way of rock&roll--the accidental stuff you don't sweat over often turns out ... more
to be better than the supposedly generation-defining monolith you rupture your life to expel. So it was with Oasis and their third album,Be Here Now--soaked with sweat, it left Noel and Liam purple-faced with effort and stank like old egg sandwiches in a sock. MeanwhileThe Masterplan--b-sides and live tracks--came out a year later and effortlessly reminded everyone why they'd liked the hairy brothers in the first place. "Acquiesce"--don't worry, they admitted they didn't know what the word meant, they just liked the sound of it--was the greatest single they never released: a huge, affirmative sibling bellow-fest that makes "D'You Know What I Mean?" sound like a polite old grandma coughing in comparison. The mournful "Rockin'Chair"--another "lost" Oasis classic, makes it onto here, along with a truly execrable live version of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus", which actually sounds like they got a walrus to sing it, but no matter. The magic, so latterly absent in Oasis's career, is here in spades.--Caitlin Moran
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Excellent collection of B sides and unreleased tracks Disadvantages: Not for anyone who doesnt like Oasis
As the reputation of Oasis grew and the expectation increased, they did something that not many bands choose to do. They released an album of B-sides recorded during the process of making the first 3 albums. The result was viewed by many sections of the media as a way for the bad to make a bit of extra money and rip the fans off. That maybe but the end result was far from disappointing and it turned out to be an excellent idea. Of course a few of ... ...chance for people who don't normally buy singles.
There are a couple of tracks on here that were quite common place before the albums release. With The Royle Families theme tune, "Half The World Away" and the excellent "Acquiesce" and album title track "The Masterplan". The rest of the album was a bit of an unknown, but they were starting to develop a reputation for writing excellent B sides. I'd only ... more
As the reputation of Oasis grew and the expectation increased, they did something that not many bands choose to do. They released an album of B-sides recorded during the process of making the first 3 albums. The result was viewed by many sections of the media as a way for the bad to make a bit of extra money and rip the fans off. That maybe but the end result was far from disappointing and it turned out to be an excellent idea. Of course a few of the tracks had been heard before, but it was a chance for people who don't normally buy singles.
There are a couple of tracks on here that were quite common place before the albums release. With The Royle Families theme tune, "Half The World Away" and the excellent "Acquiesce" and album title track "The Masterplan". The rest of the album was a bit of an unknown, but they were starting to develop a reputation for writing excellent B sides. I'd only ever bought one Oasis single, as I don't ordinarily buy singles, but the B side on that had actually been better than the single. So I didn't mind taking a gamble on the boys from Manchester, knowing it wouldn't disappoint.
The album was recorded over the previous 6 years, with each track featured taken directly from the B side it was recorded for. Again it sounds like another way for Oasis to cash in on their success and to be honest that's what it was, but it was done in a very clever way. Each track has its own identity and it means the quality throughout this album sounds a little different depending on the original recording date. That doesn't take anything away from the feel of the album and in fact if anything it turns it into a showcase for the first 3 releases.
Of course the difference in recording dates means that The Masterplan pulls together all the best parts of all three albums to create one. This also means that there is a nice blend of up tempo tracks and more relaxed numbers. Throw in a cover of I am The Walrus live and you really get an idea of what this album is really all about. A few of the tracks could easily have made it onto one of the official album releases and with tracks like "Fade Away", I'm actually surprised it didn't.
From a musical point of view it is pure Oasis, there is no way you could mistake it for anything else. The production that has steadily improved from one album to the next is evident in just about every track. You can pretty much tell which album each B side was intended for. It is from a musical point of view an excellent album. Like most of Oasis's material the guitars play the major part in everything, backed nicely by a solid drumbeat and strong bass line. It is unmistakably an Oasis album and there is no way any of the tracks could be mistaken for anything else.
The vocals for the most part are pretty good. The live version of "I Am The Walrus" works well with Liam's style of vocals. It doesn't really sound like The Beatles version and I think that's what makes it so good. In fact Liam's vocals throughout the album are pretty good, improving again with the time period the B side would have been recorded. It's plain to see that his vocals have gradually been getting better the longer the band go on. The one thing this album again reinforces is my believe that Noel is the better singer out of the two.
From a personal point of view this album again shows just how talented Noel Gallagher really is. He is certainly one of the best song writers of recent times. Both lyrically and musically this is an excellent album and that's an emphasis Noel seems to portray in every B side as well as the A-sides. My favourite track on the album has to be "Stay Young", the B-side to "D'You Know What I Mean". It has a fast pace that really makes it feel quite lively. It's a joy to listen to over and over again and a track I've loved since 1997. The energy produced from the guitars and vocals make it a real feel good track.
Overall this is an excellent collection for Oasis fans. It is all the B sides in one place, something I'd much rather buy than all the singles that go with them. I'm not a fan of singles or more the price of them, so the chance to get the B sides was a must. It's a good example that Noel doesn't believe in just filing the singles with any old crap. This is more an album for the Oasis fans but if you did enjoy any of the first three albums then it's pretty much a certainty you'll like this.
Advantages: Some great tracks. Disadvantages: None.
If any other band decided to release an album of B sides then the sceptics in all of us would think it was just another way to extract money from the fans and record buying public. When you think B sides you tend to think tired lack lustre tracks or infernal instrumentals shoved on to fill space. B sides for me just weren't worth the hassle and as for an album full of them well please what agent dreamt that one up to buy a new Merc eh? Noel Gallagher rightly or wrongly if you look at things stuffed early Oasis singles with B sides that could give the A side a fair run for it's money at times or should have been on an album. Yes the cynics might think The Masterplan released in 1998 was a way to screw the fans for a few more bob, maybe it was But I would say to them go listen to the album and just maybe they might err on the side that it ...
Advantages: Excellent quality throughout, must for any fan Disadvantages: I'm trying but can't think of any - really.
The Masterplan is a collection of B-sides from the world-renowned Oasis. Released in 1998, the album was, in my opinion, one of the stronger releases from the group. The songs were recorded in the mid-90s, the band's heyday, when they still retained their swagger and exuberance which, to an extent, they have lost nowadays.
The album is 14 tracks long, and runs around 70minutes, very good value considering you can find the album for less than 'paper money.' It's under £4.00 on Ciao.
The Album
[Track 1 - Acquiesce]
The album starts with 'What's The Story... Morning Glory' echoing in the background when it is awoken by a rocking riff and characteristic Oasis styling in Liam's vocals. The chorus is decent and is sung by Noel in this case. Liam takes over the verses and the song seems like it would go well with a beer in ...
Advantages: A chance to hear all of those B sides Disadvantages: A couple of tracks which are not up to the standard of the rest
When Oasis first came onto the music scene, I was a huge fan, and bought not just their albums, but also each and every CD single...I was devoted to the cause. I started to notice a pattern, the 'B' sides were as good as and sometimes better from the track that had been released, and unless you bought the single, you would never known about them. I must not have been the only one who felt like this, and especially for the benefit of people like me, and also the American market in 1998, Oasis released 'The Masterplan', a collection of these 'B' side tracks.
There was never any doubt that The Brothers Gallagher (mostly Noel) could write cracking songs, and all this album does is strengthen that belief. They have not gone for the easy option, and only included the crowd pleasers, there are some lesser fancied tracks on the listing ...
Product Information for "Masterplan, The - Oasis" »
Product details
Title
Masterplan, The
Performer
Oasis
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Brit Pop
Release Date
02/11/1998
Original Release Year
1998
Label / Distributor
Creation / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Producer
Owen Morris; Noel Gallagher
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Mixed
Format
Performer
EAN
5017556602416
Additional notes
Album Notes
THE MASTERPLAN is a collection of Oasis B-sides of UK singles and EPs. Oasis: Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Bonehead, Alan White. Additional personnel: Paul Weller. Includes liner notes by Paul Du Noyer. After proving their staying power with 1997's BE HERE NOW, Oasis culls together b-sides and tracks which were previously available only as imports in the US on THE MASTERPLAN. This aptly titled collection fleshes out the legend, going back to older b-sides like "Fade Away" and "(It's Good) To Be Free" and newer flip-sides like "Stay Young." Opening with explosive live favorite "Acquiesce," THE MASTERPLAN will satiate the rabid completist but, with tracks as powerful as the slow-building anthem "Half the World Away," it's also sure to convert any newcomers. The ambitious (though, truth be told, not surprising) live cover choice of "I Am The Walrus" rounds out this energetic, often unexpected chapter in the story of this modern pop phenomenon.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Acquiesce
2.
Underneath The Sky
3.
Talk Tonight
4.
Going Nowhere
5.
Fade Away
6.
Swamp Song
7.
I Am The Walrus (live)
8.
Listen Up
9.
Rockin' Chair
10.
Half The World Away
11.
It's Good To Be Free
12.
Stay Young
13.
Headshrinker
14.
Masterplan
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
06/06/2005
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