Don't Believe The Truth is the sixth studio album by Oasis, released on May 30, 2005. It reached #1 in the UK Albums Chart with first week sales of just under 238,000. The album entered the U.S. charts at #12, the highest any Oasis album has reached there since 1997 with Be Here Now, although its chart stay was brief. The album went triple platinum in the UK in the first week of 2006, and is the ninth fastest selling album there. As of August 2006, Don't Believe the Truth has sold approximately 2.5 million copies worldwide.
Every member of the band contributed to the writing of tracks for the album, and the album is the first where all duties were divided between the bandmembers. On some of the tracks regular bass player Andy Bell handled guitar, while Gem and Noel contributed bass to other songs. Don't Believe the Truth is the first Oasis record to feature the drumming of Zak Starkey, who replaced Oasis' longtime member Alan White.
Liam also had a larger impact on the album by his developing songwriting. Noel has said that this album is his favourite of Oasis' last four, because all members have contributed to it. This, he claims, has given it a different feel to a typically Noel-written Oasis album.
The band embarked on a massive world-wide tour and started off at the London Astoria for their Don't Believe the Truth Tour.
Recording
The recording process for Don't Believe the Truth was prolonged. The album was originally supposed to be released around summer/autumn 2004, with an initial 3-4 week session produced by Death in Vegas. The recording finally began after Alan White's departure in January 2004 at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, the same place where Oasis had recorded their debut album Definitely Maybe. These sessions were completed but the band weren't happy with the results.
Noel has commented since on numerous occasions that there was no problem with the work done by Death In Vegas, but he felt the songs they were working on were simply not good enough to form a record, and felt a break was needed in which new material would have to be written. In Noel's words: "we were trying to polish a turd". Around 10 tracks were worked on with Death In Vegas of which, according to Noel, 6 were "not even good enough to make the b-sides". Four of the tracks which eventually appeared on the album were worked on with Death In Vegas, those songs being: "Turn Up The Sun", "Mucky Fingers", "A Bell Will Ring" and "The Meaning of Soul", although all of these had extra work done to them or were re-recorded before being released.
After a short break in which many new songs, including "Let There Be Love", "Lyla" and "Part Of The Queue" were written, the band reconvened at their Wheeler End Studios with Noel as producer. The band were joined on these sessions by The Who's drummer Zak Starkey. In June 2004, Oasis debuted two new songs from these sessions, the Liam-written "The Meaning of Soul" and the Gem-written "A Bell Will Ring" at two live shows in Poole and at the Glastonbury Festival.
After hearing of the band's production problems from Oasis manager Marcus Russell, American producer Dave Sardy expressed interest in taking over production duties. Sardy was given tapes of existing recording sessions to mix, and after his work was praised by the band, he arrived in the UK to oversee new recording sessions at Olympic Studios in London. These sessions didn't last long before he asked the band to travel to Los Angeles and re-record most of the album there, as he felt more comfortable working in a studio closer to home. With the band eventually agreeing to this, recording sessions began at Capitol Studios in October 2004 with the band spending around 9 weeks there.
Release
The decision to have the leadoff single, "Lyla", on the album was a controversial one, prompted by the label's feeling that there wasn't a suitable lead single among the tracks originally presented. As a result, the decision was taken to record "Lyla", a song which Noel had written and demoed a year previously, but which wasn't recorded by the band during the previous recording sessions. It was decided that Dave Sardy would remix Noel's original demo with Liam recording a set of lead vocals and Zak adding a fresh drum track. "Lyla" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number nineteen on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart. After having initial reservations about the choice of the first single being taken out of the hands of the band, Noel, who initially wanted "Mucky Fingers" to be the first single, has now reluctantly conceded that the song has indeed "done the business".
In April 2005, four tracks from a promo disc leaked: "The Meaning of Soul", "Mucky Fingers", "Keep the Dream Alive", and "Let There Be Love". The full album found its way onto the Internet on May 3, 2005, when Apple Inc. accidentally put the album up early for sale on their iTunes Music Store service in Germany. While there was no official comment by Apple or by Oasis management, it was speculated that Apple simply got "May 30" confused with "May 03" or "May 3".
Watch the promo video for Lyla HERE Watch the promo video for The Importance Of Being Idle HERE Watch the promo video for Let There Be Love HERE
From Noel Gallagher's 'Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere' tour diary.
Yes comrades.
Spent the last few days in Korea. In the great city of Seoul. Love this place. It’s like the Scotland of Asia. The shows (which there were 2 of) were fucking bloody awesome.
Thanks for all the birthday presents. A special thanks to the kids what made the birthday cakes that ended up in the dressing room. Works of art they were!!
Someone actually passed a birthday cake onto the stage during the last song!!
I'm feeling a bit worse for wear this morning.
I'm about to start some kind of epic journey home.
Organisers have now added Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds to the roll of A-listers who will strut their considerable star power at the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will perform at the Padang stage (Zone 4) on 22 September and at the Village Stage at Gate 1 (Zone 1) before the Formula One race on 23 September 2012.
For more information on tickets and on the race, visit www.singaporegp.sg
UK radio station XFM has compiled a poll to find XFM's Best British Songs Of All Time.
Ten Oasis songs feature in the list of 100 with 'Wonderwall' at number 3, 'Don't Look Back In Anger' at number 2 and 'Live Forever' at number 1.
The list was voted for by the public and XFM DJ's, Oasis songs in the list are below...
89: Rock 'N' Roll Star 62: The Masterplan 57: Whatever 52: Supersonic 49: Slide Away 43: Cigarettes And Alcohol 10: Champagne Supernova 03: Wonderwall 02: Don't Look Back In Anger 01: Live Forever
The Stone Roses played their first gig in over 17 years last Wednesday (May 23) and this week's new issue of NME offers you the complete story from that night.
The issue, which is on newsstands tomorrow (May 30) or available digitally, features all the gossip from backstage at Warrington Parr Hall, including an interview with the Stone Roses' number one fan Liam Gallagher and an exclusive chat with the 'fifth Stone Rose' Cressa.
Below is the setlist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds concert at the AX Hall in Seoul, South Korea earlier today.
(It’s Good) To Be Free Mucky Fingers Everybody’s On The Run Dream On If I Had A Gun The Good Rebal The Death Of You And Me Freaky Teeth Supersonic (I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine AKA... What A Life! Talk Tonight Solder Boys And Jesus Freaks AKA... Broken Arrow Half The World Away A Simple Game Of Genius (Stranded On) The Wrong Beach Let The Lord Shine A Light Whatever Little By Little Don’t Look Back In Anger
Below is the setlist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds concert at the AX Hall in Seoul, South Korea earlier today.
(It’s Good) To Be Free Mucky Fingers Everybody’s On The Run Dream On If I Had A Gun The Good Rebal The Death Of You And Me Freaky Teeth Supersonic (I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine AKA... What A Life! Talk Tonight Solder Boys And Jesus Freaks AKA... Broken Arrow Half The World Away (Stranded On) The Wrong Beach Let The Lord Shine A Light Whatever Little By Little Don’t Look Back In Anger
From Noel Gallagher's 'Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere' tour diary.
Yes comrades. So where were we? What day is it today? Sunday? It is here anyway.
So . . . back to Friday was it? Or Saturday? Fucked if I know anymore . . . I've had about 16 hours kip in a week!! So spaced out now it's getting psychedelic (I used to pay £20 to feel like this back in the 80's!!). Right well . . . I remember waking up in Tokyo whenever it was. Beautiful day. Caught the bullet train to Osaka was it? Got man handled at the station by an increasingly hysterical crowd of well wishers. They don't half like to scream questions at you over here. It can be quite an experience. Like a medium level bad trip. I mean what are you supposed to say when crazy birds are SCREAMING into your face . . .
"I LIKE YOUR SHOES . . . WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR SHOES!?!?!?!?!?"
Eventually got prized into the train, shades all wonky . . . dying for a piss.
Lovely journey though. Through what looks like beautifully manicured countryside. None of your unkempt foliage here mate! It looks like that kids toy gear, that Playmobil stuff? Like little Lego toy towns! I'm not even joking, it was like being on a giant train set in fact. I'm sure the Mighty I has got half the towns we passed through!!! A couple of hours staring out the window is my idea of a top day out. Arrived in Osaka. Chaos ensued. Running, shouting. More fucking screaming questions . . .
"WHY DID YOU NOT ANSWER MY LETTER!?”
“HOW IS YOUR WIFE!!? WHO IS YOUR CAT!?"
Or was it the other way round (who is your wife and how is your cat??).
All very strange. A good laugh all the same though. The gig was great. The best one of the tour I reckon. Now, you know the girl what made the sign that says "NOEL OR DIE!!"? Well, she must have read the last post and bless her she'd only gone and sewn on two White arrows on the sign pointing to the "OR"!! She also had made for me a couple of t-shirts to celebrate Man City winning the league. She'd substituted the eagle on the City badge for a Simpsons caricature of my face . . . thanks very much etc . . . but on closer inspection in big bold championship style lettering it said . . . (and this is so fucking true it hurts):
“MANCHESTER CITY PREMIER REAGUE CHAMPIONS 2012"!!!!!!!
Liam Gallagher wants to tattoo his lyrics to Ian McCulloch's forehead, because the Echo And The Bunnymen singer slated the Beady Eye frontman's songwriting ability.
Liam, who has recently re-joined the social networking site Twitter, used his page to hit out at the 'The Killing Moon' singer, who has previously slagged off Beady Eye lyrics.
Liam Gallagher Tweeted: Ian McCulloch you wanna watch what your saying about my lyrics or I will come and tattoo them on your forehead ! LG
It is currently unclear what McCulloch has recently said to upset Liam, but it is likely that Gallagher may have read an interview the Echo And The Bunnyman frontman gave to the Irish Independent in September 2011.
In the interview, McCulloch said: "I like Liam, but, to be honest, Beady Eye are crap. He looks like a fish out of water. He should have bided his time and thought a little more about the lyrics that might be worth writing."
He added:"I feel for him. He's never been the greatest frontman in the world. That's bollocks because there's so much of me in him."
Earlier this year, Liam Gallagher was voted as the greatest frontman of all time in a poll voted for by the listeners of XFM, with Queen singer Freddie Mercury in second place.
The former Oasis man is among those who've made the last eight in NME's search for the Ultimate Musical Icon of the last 60 years.
Below is the setlist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds concert at the Municipal Central Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan yesterday.
(It’s Good) To Be Free Mucky Fingers Everybody’s On The Run Dream On If I Had A Gun The Good Rebal The Death Of You And Me Freaky Teeth Supersonic (I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine AKA... What A Life! Talk Tonight Solder Boys And Jesus Freaks AKA... Broken Arrow Half The World Away (Stranded On) The Wrong Beach Let The Lord Shine A Light Whatever Little By Little Don’t Look Back In Anger