Stop The Clocks

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Lore & Background

The album came about due to the end of Oasis' recording contract with Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Noel Gallagher had previously said the band wouldn't release a greatest hits album unless they were about to split up. In December 2005 he hinted Sony were planning to release one anyway, and that despite his misgivings, he would have to get involved. In December 2006 he told The Guardian that when he made it clear to Sony the band were not going to re-sign, the label decided to release a greatest hits album. Gallagher insisted it had to be a 'best-of' because he felt a compilation of the best singles, album tracks and B-sides would produce a stronger album than a compilation of singles. The press release confirmed the band were taking 'a well earned sabbatical prior to starting work on new material', stating 'this is not a full stop, but merely a time out'. Gallagher stated in an episode of MTV's Gonzo that the album would be more for future generations, as he himself became interested in artists like the Beatles through compilation albums. To celebrate the release, the band unveiled their first full-length film – Lord Don't Slow Me Down, shot during the Don't Believe the Truth world tour from May 2005 to March 2006. In Japan, a box set of all their singles was released to coincide with the album.

In Their Own Story

When the release was first announced in July 2006, speculation was rife that the unreleased song 'Stop the Clocks' would be included as a bonus track. However, Noel Gallagher told fans at a Q&A session that the song was considered but they weren't happy with any of the many versions recorded. It would later be released on Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' 2011 debut album. Gallagher confirmed the title was chosen to sum up what was described as 'merely a time out; a chance for the world to review the immense contribution that Oasis have made and continue to make to rock 'n' roll.' He revealed in an interview in April 2005 that 'Stop the Clocks' was the original title for the band's early recorded material in early 2004, which turned into Don't Believe the Truth. Gallagher told Billboard he was approached about including new songs but opted not to 'because it takes the focus away from what you're actually trying to say with a retrospective.' He told NME in September 2006 that he picked the tracks, and there were about eight songs that 'should be on there, but aren't'. His original vision was for a 12-track album on one CD, but after whittling down from an initial 30+ tracks, the track listing was finalised. Liam Gallagher claimed he was happy with the tracks Noel selected, though he would have liked 'Rockin' Chair' and 'D'You Know What I Mean?' included. Noel admitted 'D'You Know What I Mean?' was to be included up until mastering, explaining the length 'upset the flow of the album'.

Reader's Guide

Stop the Clocks focuses heavily on the band's first two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, with each contributing five tracks, plus four B-sides from this era. Only two tracks appear from Don't Believe the Truth, and one track each from Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and Heathen Chemistry. The album does not feature any material from Be Here Now. The cover was designed by Sir Peter Blake, best known for his design of the sleeve for the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album debuted at number two in the UK charts selling over 50,000 copies in its first day and 216,000 in its first week, not selling enough to knock The Love Album by Westlife off the top spot. By the end of the year Stop the Clocks had sold 898,000 copies in the UK making it the 7th biggest selling album of the year. It debuted at number 89 on the US Billboard 200, starting with 18,000 units sold. It entered the Japanese Oricon album charts at number one, selling 87,462 copies in its first week. A limited edition set with a bonus DVD was released, including a 32-page booklet, the 40-minute EPK 'Lock the Box', the full-length trailer for Lord Don't Slow Me Down, 'Champagne Supernova' featuring John Squire live at Knebworth in August 1996, and 'Fade Away' live at the Chicago Metro in October 1994. An HMV exclusive bonus DVD featured two live songs: 'Half the World Away (Live at Glasgow Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland, 2001)' and 'Morning Glory (Live from V2005)'. At Best Buy stores, the regular two-disc version was packaged with the Stop the Clocks EP as a bonus disc.

Did You Know?

• The album was certified 5× Platinum in the United Kingdom.
• Noel Gallagher originally envisioned a 12-track single CD album, but the final version is an 18-track double album.
• The unreleased song 'Stop the Clocks' was considered for inclusion but the band weren't happy with any of the many versions recorded; it later appeared on Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' 2011 debut album.
• The cover was designed by Sir Peter Blake, who also designed the sleeve for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
• The album debuted at number two in the UK charts, selling 216,000 copies in its first week, but was kept off the top spot by Westlife's The Love Album.