The Masterplan (album)

The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis. It was released on 2 November 1998 by Creation Records, the band's final release through the label. It comprises B-sides which never made it onto an album up to that point. Originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were previously only available on expensive European-import singles, The Masterplan reached number 2 in the UK, where it initially went platinum,[1] and number 51 in the United States. However, it did reach the Top 20 in various charts around the world, going on to sell 3 million copies.[2] It has since been certified triple platinum in the UK. Four songs from the album appear on the 2006 compilation album Stop the Clocks.

This article is about the Oasis album. For other albums, see Master Plan § Albums.

The Masterplan
Compilation album of B-sides by
Oasis
Released2 November 1998 (1998-11-02)
Recorded1994–1997
GenreBritpop
Length66:27
LabelCreation
Producer
Oasis chronology
Be Here Now
(1997)		 The Masterplan
(1998)		 Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
(2000)
Singles from The Masterplan
  1. "Acquiesce"
    Released: 24 April 1998

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Chicago Sun-Times[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
NME9/10[8]
Pitchfork3.7/10[9]
Q[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Spin[12]

The Masterplan received mixed reviews from music critics on release. Reviewing in Rolling Stone, Barney Hoskyns criticised the collection as containing unimaginative songs, save for "Half the World Away" and "Headshrinker".[11] Similarly, Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly considered the compilation "struttingly inconsistent", further criticising the band's consistent use of Beatles influences.[6] On the other hand, Robert Hilburn in the Los Angeles Times was more favourable, writing: "virtually all the tunes on The Masterplan are appealing enough to have deserved a spot on one of Oasis' regular albums, and the best rank with the group's finest moments."[7] James Oldham in NME expressed similar sentiments, finding that many of the collection's B-sides were better than the A-sides they were supporting. He continues that the collection further showcases the group's influences, overall considering it the band's "third best album".[8] Reviewing the compilation in 2000, Michael Sandlin of Pitchfork gave the album an unfavourable review. He found that while some tracks, naming "Fade Away" and "Headshrinker" were better than some of their studio album tracks, the collection overall contained outtakes that were overall forgettable, stating "some outtakes are initially scrapped for good reason".[9]

Retrospectively, The Masterplan has received positive reviews, with many considering it one of Oasis' finest. In 2008, Spin magazine's David Marchese praised The Masterplan as a "greatest hits" collection, featuring "swirling epics, pop-rock confections, [and] headbutt hard rockers".[12] Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave immense praise to The Masterplan, stating: "Apart from the sludgy instrumental "The Swamp Song", there isn't a weak track here, and the brilliant moments are essential not only for Oasis fans, but any casual follower of Britpop or post-grunge rock & roll."[3] On the eve of the collection's 20th anniversary in 2018, Ian King of Stereogum also praised The Masterplan. While he likewise found "The Swamp Song" the collection's weak point, he wrote that the collection features many of the band's best songs. As the band would feature personnel changes following its release, King considers the compilation "the last refuge of the band's dreaming, climbing past; Manchester, Britpop, and all".[13] In 2017, Henry Yates of NME ranked The Masterplan as Oasis' third best album, writing, "by the time this compilation arrived in '98, it came laced with forehead-slapping frustration that Noel didn't hold [these tracks] for a great third album."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Noel Gallagher, except where noted

The Masterplan track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)SingleLength
1."Acquiesce" "Some Might Say" (1995)4:25
2."Underneath the Sky" "Don't Look Back in Anger" (1996)3:21
3."Talk Tonight" "Some Might Say"4:21
4."Going Nowhere" "Stand by Me" (1997)4:39
5."Fade Away" "Cigarettes & Alcohol" (1994)4:13
6."The Swamp Song" "Wonderwall" (1995)4:19
7."I Am the Walrus" (live, edited by almost 2 minutes)John Lennon, Paul McCartney"Cigarettes & Alcohol"6:25
8."Listen Up" (edited by 18 seconds) "Cigarettes & Alcohol"6:21
9."Rockin' Chair"N. Gallagher, Chris Griffiths"Roll with It" (1995)4:35
10."Half the World Away" "Whatever" (1994)4:21
11."(It's Good) To Be Free" "Whatever"4:18
12."Stay Young" "D'You Know What I Mean?" (1997)5:05
13."Headshrinker" "Some Might Say"4:38
14."The Masterplan" "Wonderwall"5:23
Total length:66:23

Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Mike Rowe – keyboards (4, 12)
  • Paul Weller – harmonica, lead guitar (6)
  • Nick Ingman – strings and horn arrangements (4, 14)
  • Owen Morris - bass (10), production

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Certified Awards Search" (To access, enter the search parameter "Oasis"). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  2. "Oasis" (PDF). Warner Music Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Masterplan – Oasis". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  4. DeRogatis, Jim (10 January 1999). "Oasis, 'The Master Plan' (Epic)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Oasis". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  6. Diehl, Matt (9 November 1998). "The Masterplan". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. Hilburn, Robert (2 November 1998). "There's Some A-Material in Oasis' 'Masterplan' B-Sides". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  8. Oldham, James (27 October 1998). "Oasis – The Masterplan". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  9. Sandlin, Michael (13 November 2000). "Oasis: The Masterplan Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  10. "Oasis: The Masterplan". Q (169). October 2000.
  11. Hoskyns, Barney (17 November 1998). "The Masterplan". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  12. Marchese, David (October 2008). "Discography: Oasis". Spin. 24 (10): 76. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  13. King, Ian (2 November 2018). "Oasis' 'The Masterplan' Turns 20: B-Sides as Best Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  14. Yates, Henry (2 October 2017). "Oasis – every album ranked and rated". NME. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  15. "Track by Track: Noel Gallagher on the Masterplan | Oasis Recording Information". Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  16. "Australiancharts.com – Oasis – The Masterplan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  17. "Oasis Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Oasis – The Masterplan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  19. "Oasis: The Masterplan" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  20. "Lescharts.com – Oasis – The Masterplan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Oasis – The Masterplan" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  22. "Top National Sellers - Ireland" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 47. 21 November 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  23. "オアシスのCDアルバムランキング │オリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  24. "Norwegiancharts.com – Oasis – The Masterplan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  25. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – Oasis – The Masterplan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  27. "Swisscharts.com – Oasis – The Masterplan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  28. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  29. "Oasis Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  30. "Canadian album certifications – Oasis – The Masterplan". Music Canada. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  31. "Japanese album certifications – Oasis – The Masterplan" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 4 May 2020. Select 1999年1月 on the drop-down menu
  32. "British album certifications – Oasis – The Masterplan". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  33. "Tim Burgess talks Twitter Listening Party success". www.musicweek.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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