The Masterplan (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Masterplan" is a song by English rock
band Oasis
. It was written by lead guitar
ist, Noel Gallagher
.
The song was first released as a B-side
to the CD version of their hit single
"Wonderwall
" in October 1995. "The Masterplan" was also released with the Stop the Clocks
EP in November 2006. It also shares the name with the 1998 B-side compilation album, The Masterplan
, on which it is featured as the last track.
Noel Gallagher has regularly declared "The Masterplan" as one of the best songs he has ever written. However, he regrets the fact that it was first released as a mere B-side, admitting he was "young and stupid", when he made that decision. He also claims that Creation Records
boss, Alan McGee
, upon hearing the song, told Noel it was "too good" to be a B-side. Noel reportedly replied, "Well, I don't write shit songs!".
"The Masterplan" is sung by Noel, and features all band members except lead vocalist, Liam Gallagher
, in addition to an orchestra. The song also features a backwards guitar solo after the first chorus. Approximately 30 seconds from the end of the song, Noel can be heard (distortedly) singing the chorus from "Octopus's Garden
" by The Beatles
.
"The Masterplan" was generally well received on iTunes
with around 700-800 downloads on the release date of Stop the Clocks
.
The song is included in Oasis' compilation
album, Stop the Clocks. A special L. S. Lowry
-inspired animated promotional video, complete with a swaggering Liam, was created to promote the album.
In the video, the band walk past Johnny Roadhouse music, a music shop from which the Gallagher brothers regularly bought equipment from at the beginning of their career.
It also features on the soundtrack to the Spanish film La Mujer Más Fea del Mundo as well as appearing in an episode of CSI: Miami
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
. It was written by lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
.
The song was first released as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to the CD version of their hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Wonderwall
Wonderwall (song)
"Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by the band's guitarist and main songwriter Noel Gallagher. The song was produced by Owen Morris and Gallagher for their second album, Morning Glory?...
" in October 1995. "The Masterplan" was also released with the Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks (EP)
Stop the Clocks is an EP by English rock band Oasis. The EP is a "preview" of the band's compilation collection, also called Stop the Clocks. The EP is led by "Acquiesce", and book-ended by "The Masterplan", one of the B-sides to the "Wonderwall" single released in October 1995...
EP in November 2006. It also shares the name with the 1998 B-side compilation album, The Masterplan
The Masterplan
The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. The album was originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were only available on expensive European import singles. It was...
, on which it is featured as the last track.
Noel Gallagher has regularly declared "The Masterplan" as one of the best songs he has ever written. However, he regrets the fact that it was first released as a mere B-side, admitting he was "young and stupid", when he made that decision. He also claims that Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
boss, Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
, upon hearing the song, told Noel it was "too good" to be a B-side. Noel reportedly replied, "Well, I don't write shit songs!".
"The Masterplan" is sung by Noel, and features all band members except lead vocalist, Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
, in addition to an orchestra. The song also features a backwards guitar solo after the first chorus. Approximately 30 seconds from the end of the song, Noel can be heard (distortedly) singing the chorus from "Octopus's Garden
Octopus's Garden
"Octopus's Garden" is a song by The Beatles written by Ringo Starr from their 1969 album Abbey Road....
" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
"The Masterplan" was generally well received on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
with around 700-800 downloads on the release date of Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, released on 20 November 2006. The "retrospective collection" is an 18-track double album with the featured songs chosen by Noel Gallagher; however, it does not actually include their song "Stop the Clocks" after which the album is...
.
The song is included in Oasis' compilation
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, Stop the Clocks. A special L. S. Lowry
L. S. Lowry
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist born in Barrett Street, Stretford, Lancashire. Many of his drawings and paintings depict nearby Salford and surrounding areas, including Pendlebury, where he lived and worked for over 40 years at 117 Station Road , opposite St...
-inspired animated promotional video, complete with a swaggering Liam, was created to promote the album.
In the video, the band walk past Johnny Roadhouse music, a music shop from which the Gallagher brothers regularly bought equipment from at the beginning of their career.
It also features on the soundtrack to the Spanish film La Mujer Más Fea del Mundo as well as appearing in an episode of CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
.
Track listing
A promotional CD was given away with the The Masterplan compilation:- CD (Promo)HES 4897
Germany
- "The Masterplan" (Radio Edit) - 3:39
- "The Masterplan" (Album Version) - 5:22