“The Masterplan” (1995)
The ultimate proof of Noel’s embarrassment of riches. Rumor has it he wrote this one and thought, “Nah, not good enough for (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” Are you mad? With its psychedelic piano, cosmic lyrics (“Dance if you wanna dance… because we think that life is a journey”), and a chorus that soars higher than a 747, The Masterplan became the unofficial anthem of B-side obsessives. It’s so beloved that Oasis later named a compilation after it.
“Acquiesce” (1995)
The holy grail of Liam-and-Noel duets. “We need each other, we believe in one another” – sung separately by the battling brothers. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to a truce. The riff is pure electricity, and the “Because we need each other” bridge still gives chills. How this was left off Morning Glory is rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest mystery.
“Talk Tonight” (1995)
Noel’s most vulnerable moment, recorded alone in a hotel room in San Francisco after a near-band-breakup. A quiet, acoustic gem about a mysterious woman (Melissa Lim) who talked him off the ledge. “I’m not supposed to be here, but it’s okay.” Proof that under the bravado, Noel could break your heart. oasis b-sides
“Fade Away” (1994)
Before it got a second life on the Help charity album, this was a Definitely Maybe–era B-side. A punk-rock cry of frustration (“We don’t see as we think we should, and we don’t say as we know we could”) that barrels along like a train with no brakes. It’s Some Might Say’s angrier cousin.
In 1998, after the mixed reception of Be Here Now, Noel compiled the best B-sides from 1994-1998 into a single album titled The Masterplan. The tracklist (14 songs) has since been re-evaluated as a de facto fourth studio album. “The Masterplan” (1995) The ultimate proof of Noel’s
Critical Consensus: The Masterplan compilation holds a Metacritic-style user score of ~85/100, often rated higher than Be Here Now and even Definitely Maybe in some fan polls. It demonstrates Noel’s depth as a songwriter.
“Pass Me Down the Wine” (2005)
From the Lyla single. A swaggering, piano-led waltz where Liam sounds genuinely intoxicated (in a good way). “Pass me down the wine, and we’ll drink to the good times.” Loose, fun, and completely unbothered. With its psychedelic piano, cosmic lyrics (“Dance if
“Boy with the Blues” (2008)
Technically a bonus track on Dig Out Your Soul deluxe, but originally a B-side. A mid-tempo growler with a hypnotic riff and Liam snarling about feeling “like a boy with the blues.” It should’ve made the main album.