Oasis B-sides May 2026

Imagine writing "Wonderwall" and thinking, I’ve got another one that’s too sad for the album. That’s "The Masterplan." A piano-driven ballad that questions destiny, life, and the lies we tell ourselves. "All we know is that we don't know / How to run off the evil we bring."

These songs represent the myth of the 90s: that you could have so much talent that you literally had to throw away anthems because your album was too full. In a world of curated, minimal content, the excess of Oasis—the sheer volume of quality—is almost obscene.

To understand Oasis, you must ignore the stadium anthems and dive into the deep cuts. Here is the definitive guide to the songs that built a empire from the B-side up. Why were the B-sides so vital? Necessity. In the early 90s, before streaming, the single was the lifeblood of a band. To chart high, you needed multiple formats (CD1, CD2, 7” vinyl, 12” vinyl), each requiring exclusive tracks. Noel Gallagher, a man who claimed he wrote songs while watching Stars in Their Eyes , took this as a personal challenge. oasis b-sides

Between 1994 and 1998—the band’s myth-making golden era—Oasis released a torrent of non-album tracks that weren't just good; they were often better than the A-sides. In the crowded pubs of mid-90s Britain, you weren't a true fan if you only owned (What's the Story) Morning Glory? . No, the real believers were the ones clutching the “Some Might Say” single, skipping the title track to blast the ferocious “Acquiesce.”

These B-sides are arguably better than half of the parent album. They are shorter, more focused, and lyrically honest. In 1998, despite barely promoting it, Oasis released (What's the Story) Morning Glory? — wait, no. They released The Masterplan . A full LP consisting entirely of B-sides. In a world of curated, minimal content, the

No other major rock band has dared to do this so early in their career. Usually, a B-side comp is a cash-grab for the grave (see: Bob Dylan, The Beatles). For Oasis, it was a victory lap.

And the masterplan, as it turns out, was hiding on the flip side. Why were the B-sides so vital

While "Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a swaggering, T.Rex-inspired stomp, "Fade Away" is the hangover. It’s fast, distorted, and desperate. "While we're living in the shadows of the lie / We're fading away."