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Clocks Stop For Oasis















If you have listened to the radio, picked up a newspaper or magazine, or flicked on the TV in the last week you may think you have stepped back in time to 1995. Oasis-mania is sweeping the country once again and their classic songs are ringing in the ears of music lovers everywhere.
This week Oasis released their best of album 'Stop The Clocks', which comprises of 18 tracks that unofficial band leader Noel Gallagher considers their finest work.

With the globe still buzzing from last year's Oasis assault - critically acclaimed sixth studio album 'Don't Believe The Truth' was a worldwide hit, spawning two UK number one singles, 'Lyla' and 'The Importance of Being Idle', while their world tour covered 26 countries and featured a sell out show at New York's Madison Square Garden - it seems everyone is 'mad fer' the Manchester band.

It is no secret that brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher - the very essence of what Oasis is - never wanted the record to come out.

Noel said: "This is from the horse's mouth. We will only do a best of when we split up. I never understood the Manic Street Preachers and Blur putting out best ofs. It's kind of saying that whatever you're gonna do from there on is not gonna be your best. We'll put one out when we stop."

However, the band were told by their record company Sony - who they are under contract with until the end of the year - that a greatest hits record was going to be released whether they had anything to do with it or not.

Determined the compilation would not be a soulless money-making exercise the rockers - Noel, Liam, guitarist Gem Archer and bass player Andy Bell - decided to get on board and make sure the LP was something they could be proud of.

Every track on 'Stop The Clocks' has been handpicked by Noel, every piece of artwork approved and the cover given the seal of approval by the foursome.

What it makes for is a near perfect record.

Opening with the visceral 'Rock 'n' Roll' star - a raw, raucous rock track that sums up what it means to be young and struggling in a dead-end job in a dead-end town but still being full of hope and still feeling like a star - the record takes the listener on an audio journey made up of songs which for many have become the soundtrack to their lives.

'Some Might Say' - which Noel describes as the archetypical Oasis track - 'Acquiese' 'Supersonic' 'Lyla' 'Champagne Supernova', 'Live Forever', 'Don't Look Back In Anger', 'The Importance of Being Idle', 'Cigarettes and Alcohol', 'Go Let It Out' and 'Morning Glory' all feature.

These are songs that have inspired countless drunken sing-a-longs at pub closing times, been blasted out at parties, provided the background for late night drinking sessions and united thousands of people - most of who were strangers to each other - in one voice at sell-out concerts across the world.

The album's more tender moments 'Talk Tonight', 'Wonderwall', 'Slide Away', 'Half The World Away' and 'Songbird' have given people in love or struggling with life the words to express their feelings that they might not have been able to summon themselves.

While 'The Masterplan' is one of the greatest B-sides ever written.

The final song on the 'Wonderwall' single, the track features Noel at his most philosophical.
When he sings the lines, "we'll dance if they wanna dance, please brother take a chance, you know they're gonna go which way they wanna go, all we know is that we don't know how it's gonna be, please brother let it be, life on the other hand won't make you understand we're all part of the masterplan", it seems as though Noel has the answers. That he knows how everyone feels, no we don't know what's going to happen to us but enjoy the ride because "we're all part of the masterplan".

That's the skill of Gallagher senior as a songwriter, he has the ability to tap into the mass consciousness. He admits he was fascinated by terrace chants when he went to football matches to watch his beloved Manchester City as a child and he has managed to transfer this collective mentality to his music.

Oasis are one of the few bands whose songs sound better when experienced with thousands of other people at a colossal stadium show, with everyone singing every word to every song and at that time it means everything to them.

As fate would have it the release date of Oasis' first best of coincided in the UK with the release of Beatles compilation 'Love'.

The record is a collection of classic tracks reworked by legendary producer and 'fifth Beatle' Sir George Martin, and his son Giles, to accompany the critically acclaimed Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas stage show of the same name.

Despite their unwavering adoration and respect for the Fab Four - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - the record has not escaped a verbal attack from the Gallaghers' razor-sharp tongues.

Noel said: "It's a pointless exercise. I turned it off after five songs."

Liam added: "It's rubbish! If you haven't got The Beatles by now you're not going to get it. I'm all Beatled-up!"

Still fuelled by the competitive streak they have had throughout their career - Noel once said he had never heard Liam have a good word to say about anyone "except his kids" - the brothers were not about to enter into the chart battle they possibly always dreamed about without firing off a few warning shots.

However, it is not a two-horse race. Super-group U2 and Irish boy band Westlife, who released singles compilation '18 Songs' and the 'Love Album' respectively this week, are also in the reckoning. Who wins is yet to be decided but if Oasis' loyal fan base get behind 'Stop The Clocks' they have a great chance.

Of course Oasis are no strangers to an epic chart battle.

In August 1995 they went toe-to-toe with the other Britpop heavyweight Blur when 'Roll With It' was released the same week as 'Country House'.

The nation was completely gripped by the epic race - the story famously made the 'News At Ten' as a news item of "cultural significance".

Although Liam and Noel lost the battle - 'Roll With It' entered the singles chart at number two behind 'Country House' - they went onto win the war with second album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' selling almost 30 million copies worldwide and becoming the third biggest-selling LP in UK history.

Its success landed the group a trio of prizes at the 1996 BRIT Awards, Best British Album, Best British Group and Best British Video for 'Wonderwall', and it is at the same awards ceremony where Oasis will cement their status as rock 'n' roll royalty.

The band are to be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize and have agreed to perform a selection of their classic hits.

Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry Peter Jamieson said: "Oasis set the standard for many of the young rock bands who are currently enjoying success in the UK charts. As the BRIT Awards go live for the first time in nearly two decades, it is appropriate that we should honour one of the most exciting live acts the UK has ever produced."

Although they snubbed last year's ceremony, despite being up for two accolades, Best Rock Act and Best Live Act, the Gallaghers seem genuinely excited to be receiving the prize and the prospect of causing mayhem as they have done at so many BRITs in the past.

In 1996, a drunken Liam famously insulted the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence on stage as he collected a statuette, saying: "has beens shouldn't be given out awards to gonna bes!"
Noel has even invited his former bandmates Bonehead and Guigsy to join the current line-up on stage for the first time since they both quit the band in 1999 during the recording of the band's fourth studio album 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants'.

He said: "I bear them no malice. With the thing coming up at the BRITs it'd be nice if they came along and get up with us. It'd actually be nice to sit down with them."

The award is generally associated with artists whose careers are coming to an end or are losing their cultural significance, so it seems strange that an act still clearly as important and vibrant as Oasis should be getting it.

They are a band who never went away, whose songs never lost their appeal. Indeed you can put on a copy of debut album 'Definitely Maybe' -unquestionably one of the greatest records of all time - and it still sounds as relevant and fresh as it did way back in 1994.

Although Liam, now 34, and Noel, 39, may never have matched the creative achievements of The Beatles they have mirrored their idols in one significant way - they have become part of the fabric of Britain.

Their songs are loved by the nation and have become interwoven into people's lives. The Oasis story is one of struggle and triumph and love and hate - themes that most individuals can instantly relate to.

John Lennon once sang the lyric "a working class hero is something to be". Liam and Noel are those heroes.

By Philip Hamilton.

Source: www.femalefirst.co.uk

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