"The Masterplan" is a compilation album by the English rock band Oasis, released on November 2, 1998, by Creation Records. It served as the band's final release through the label and consists of B-sides that had not appeared on previous albums. Originally intended for release in regions like the United States and Japan, where these tracks were available only on costly European-import singles, The Masterplan reached number 2 in the UK and number 51 in the United States. It quickly went platinum in the UK and eventually sold 3 million copies, earning triple platinum certification. Four songs from this album later appeared on the 2006 compilation Stop the Clocks.
Upon its release, The Masterplan received mixed reviews from critics. While Barney Hoskyns of Rolling Stone criticized the collection for its unimaginative songs, with exceptions like "Half the World Away" and "Headshrinker," Matt Diehl from Entertainment Weekly called it "struttingly inconsistent" and noted the band's ongoing Beatles influences. In contrast, Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times praised the album, arguing that most tracks deserved a spot on the band's regular albums, and many were among the group's finest moments. James Oldham from NME echoed this sentiment, stating that some B-sides were superior to the A-sides they supported and considered the album Oasis' "third best."
In later years, The Masterplan has been viewed more favorably, with many regarding it as one of Oasis' best works. In 2008, Spin magazine's David Marchese described it as a "greatest hits" collection. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised it for having no weak tracks, except for the instrumental "The Swamp Song." On the album's 20th anniversary in 2018, Ian King from Stereogum highlighted its many strong songs and its significance as a reflection of the band's past. In 2017, NME ranked it as Oasis' third best album, lamenting that Noel Gallagher didn't reserve these tracks for a new studio album.
In 2023, The Masterplan celebrated its 25th anniversary with a reissue, reaching #2 on the UK Albums Chart. That same year, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds re-recorded two songs from the album, "The Masterplan" and "Going Nowhere," at Abbey Road Studios.
