BBC: In the past you’ve talked about a song called ‘Stop The Clocks’, saying it’s one of the best songs you’ve ever written. Now that you’ve released a ‘Best Of’ album under the same name, will the song ever see the light of day?

Noel: I wrote that one nearly 5 years ago during the Heathen Chemistry sessions. It was originally going to be a b-side on the ‘Songbird’ single, but it was too long, and we weren’t quite happy with the final mix.

When we were in America doing Don’t Believe The Truth we recorded about four more different versions of it. There’s an acoustic version and a psychedelic version – both of which I sing. Then we recorded a heavier version with Liam singing, and that was the version that was going to go on Don’t Believe The Truth, but we pulled it right at the last moment. In fact, I think that a very few of the first promos pressed for the album still had ‘Stop The Clocks’ on it.

At the end of the day, I thought that it would make a brilliant title for the ‘Best of’ album. As for the song itself, I reckon that we will release all 17 versions of it one day as part of our ‘Anthology’ box set.


BBC: Speaking of which, how much material do you have in the vaults for such a collection?

Noel: We have box loads of demos, alternate versions, and unreleased songs dating back from the Definitely Maybe and (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? sessions.

When we were compiling material for the ‘Best of’, we came across a lot of old stuff I’d forgotten about. An acoustic version of ‘Champagne Supernova’ with me singing, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and ‘Little By Little’ demos with Liam singing, and a few unreleased songs like ‘Second Chances’, ‘Don’t Be Down’, and ‘Slow’.

We probably have enough for a 10-disc set. But when the time is right, I’ll probably whittle it down to the best 5 or 6 discs, and we’ll charge everyone ₤100 for it.