Don't Believe the Truth
Encyclopedia
Don't Believe the Truth is the sixth studio album by English rock band Oasis
, released on 30 May 2005. It reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart
with first week sales of just under 238,000, and is the 32nd fastest selling album ever in the UK. The album entered the U.S. charts at number 12, with 65,000 copies sold in the first week, the highest any Oasis album had reached there since 1997's Be Here Now, although its chart stay was brief. Don't Believe the Truth went triple platinum in the UK in the first week of 2006 (900,000+ sales), and in the U.S. has sold more than 200,000 copies.
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 band members. On some of the tracks regular bass player Andy Bell
handled guitar, while Gem Archer
and Noel Gallagher
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 drummer Alan White
.
Liam Gallagher
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 from a typically Noel-written Oasis album.
The band embarked on a massive worldwide tour that started off at the London Astoria for their Don't Believe the Truth Tour
, visiting 26 countries and playing to 3.2 million people at a total of 113 concerts. This resulted in the making of Lord Don't Slow Me Down
, a film later released on DVD. To date the album has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.
. The recording finally began after Alan White's departure in January 2004 at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, though the group wasn't satisfied with the results, as Noel
said "Unfortunately, after the recording process we decided we didn't like anything we had played/recorded during those three weeks, and because of commitments with Death In Vegas, Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes couldn't find any more time to give to the project."
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 ten songs were worked on with Death In Vegas of which, according to Noel, six 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 did not 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.
, "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. Hot 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 3 May 2005 instead of 30 May , 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 the dates confused.
: a special People's Choice Award and Best Album. Critics praised the new sound and the straightforwardness of the drumming of Zak Starkey after a decade of the drumming presence of Alan White.
During interviews, the band has commented very positively on the album about the creation of it, have complimented Archer and Bell on their creativity and contribution of their multiple tracks making the record sound, described by Noel as "Fresh and a Breath Of New Life for Us all." Noel Gallagher said to NME: "The finished album is my favourite one of the last four. Because we're all contributing to the songwriting there's a different feel to it. In fact, the only songs that sound like Oasis are Andy Bell's funnily enough." On 'Rock Profiles' Interviews, both Gallagher and Bell had commented that during their hiatus in 2004, that they had to make a record for their fans and to inspire the people who had become interested in them in the first place. Stating that they had nothing to lose since most of their fans and critics had been displeased since the release of Be Here Now, they could make a new and defining record.
It was the 13th biggest selling album in the UK in 2005 with sales of 848,000.
In March 2011, NME retrospectively reviewed the album with a highly positive tone, stating the album "introduced a sharper, crisper and occasionally experimental band", and praising the tracks "The Importance Of Being Idle" and "Part Of The Queue" in particular.
Band members were not credited for performer or instrument credits.
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, released on 30 May 2005. It reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
with first week sales of just under 238,000, and is the 32nd fastest selling album ever in the UK. The album entered the U.S. charts at number 12, with 65,000 copies sold in the first week, the highest any Oasis album had reached there since 1997's Be Here Now, although its chart stay was brief. Don't Believe the Truth went triple platinum in the UK in the first week of 2006 (900,000+ sales), and in the U.S. has sold more than 200,000 copies.
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 band members. On some of the tracks regular bass player Andy Bell
Andy Bell (musician)
Andrew Piran "Andy" Bell is a Welsh musician, currently playing guitar in the band Beady Eye. He is a songwriter, singer, producer, DJ and former member of the early 1990s shoegazing band, Ride, and later, Hurricane #1...
handled guitar, while Gem Archer
Gem Archer
Colin Murray "Gem" Archer is a member of the English rock band Beady Eye. He is, however, best known for his work with Heavy Stereo and Oasis. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitarist in November 1999, and handled lead guitarist for acoustics as well. He also contributed towards the writing of some of...
and Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
contributed bass to other songs. Don't Believe the Truth is the first Oasis record to feature the drumming of Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
, who replaced Oasis' longtime drummer Alan White
Alan White (Oasis drummer)
Alan White is an English drummer, best known as being the drummer of the English rock group Oasis between 1995 and 2004, performing on four studio albums, two compilation albums and one live album. He joined the band in May 1995 after the band's original drummer Tony McCarroll was removed from...
.
Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
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 from a typically Noel-written Oasis album.
The band embarked on a massive worldwide tour that started off at the London Astoria for their Don't Believe the Truth Tour
Don't Believe the Truth tour
The Don't Believe the Truth World Tour was a concert tour by English rock band Oasis, which took place in 2005 and 2006, in Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, some parts of Asia, South America and Mexico. The tour was in promotion of their album Don't Believe the Truth and they had booked...
, visiting 26 countries and playing to 3.2 million people at a total of 113 concerts. This resulted in the making of Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Lord Don't Slow Me Down is a rockumentary film, looking back on British rock band Oasis' Don't Believe the Truth world tour which took place from May 2005 to March 2006. The film is directed by Baillie Walsh...
, a film later released on DVD. To date the album has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.
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 VegasDeath in Vegas
Death in Vegas are a psychedelic rock and electronic rock band from the United Kingdom, comprising two permanent members: Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes...
. The recording finally began after Alan White's departure in January 2004 at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, though the group wasn't satisfied with the results, as Noel
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
said "Unfortunately, after the recording process we decided we didn't like anything we had played/recorded during those three weeks, and because of commitments with Death In Vegas, Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes couldn't find any more time to give to the project."
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 ten songs were worked on with Death In Vegas of which, according to Noel, six 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
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's drummer Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
. In June 2004, Oasis debuted two new songs from these sessions, the Liam
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
-written "The Meaning of Soul" and the Gem
Gem Archer
Colin Murray "Gem" Archer is a member of the English rock band Beady Eye. He is, however, best known for his work with Heavy Stereo and Oasis. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitarist in November 1999, and handled lead guitarist for acoustics as well. He also contributed towards the writing of some of...
-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
Dave Sardy
David Sardy is a Brooklyn born-and-raised composer, musician, songwriter, and record producer- Biography :...
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 did not 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 lead-off singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "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
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number nineteen on the U.S. Hot 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 3 May 2005 instead of 30 May , 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 the dates confused.
Reception
Considered a rebirth for the band, Don't Believe the Truth received positive reviews. The album won two Q AwardsQ Awards
The Q Awards are the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine Q. Since they began in 1990, the Q Awards have become one of Britain's biggest and best publicised music awards, helped in no small part by the often boisterous behavior of the celebrities who attend the event...
: a special People's Choice Award and Best Album. Critics praised the new sound and the straightforwardness of the drumming of Zak Starkey after a decade of the drumming presence of Alan White.
During interviews, the band has commented very positively on the album about the creation of it, have complimented Archer and Bell on their creativity and contribution of their multiple tracks making the record sound, described by Noel as "Fresh and a Breath Of New Life for Us all." Noel Gallagher said to NME: "The finished album is my favourite one of the last four. Because we're all contributing to the songwriting there's a different feel to it. In fact, the only songs that sound like Oasis are Andy Bell's funnily enough." On 'Rock Profiles' Interviews, both Gallagher and Bell had commented that during their hiatus in 2004, that they had to make a record for their fans and to inspire the people who had become interested in them in the first place. Stating that they had nothing to lose since most of their fans and critics had been displeased since the release of Be Here Now, they could make a new and defining record.
It was the 13th biggest selling album in the UK in 2005 with sales of 848,000.
Legacy
The album has been placed on several ranking lists since it's release, particularly from British rock and indie music magazines.- In 2005 it was placed #4 in Q Magazines "Recordings of the Year".
- Also in 2005 it was placed #25 in Mojo Magazines "Recordings of the Year".
- In 2008, Don't Believe the Truth was voted the 14th best British album of all time by a poll conducted by Q Magazine and HMV.
- In 2010, the album was placed as #41 on "Top 100 Album's of the 21st Century" list by Q Magazine.
- In February 2011 it was voted #86 in "The 250 Best Album's of Q's Lifetime" featuring albums between 1986 and 2011.
In March 2011, NME retrospectively reviewed the album with a highly positive tone, stating the album "introduced a sharper, crisper and occasionally experimental band", and praising the tracks "The Importance Of Being Idle" and "Part Of The Queue" in particular.
Track listing
Special editions- A limited edition version of the album was released in the UK and Australia which included a 30 minute DVD featuring interviews with the band and other staff who worked on the album, the promo video for "Lyla" and additional cover artwork. These features were released in the U.S. on the DualDiscDualDiscDualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
edition of the album.
- As part of a promotional spot for Don't Believe the Truth, Best BuyBest BuyBest Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
stores released an exclusive, limited edition, free live 5-song CD enclosed in copies of the album. This features music from their Metro Club Show in Chicago, recorded on 15 October 1994. The track listing is as follows: 1. "Rock 'n' Roll StarRock 'N' Roll Star"Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It is the opening track from their record breaking debut album, Definitely Maybe. Like the majority of the band's songs from this era, it was written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. Noel said that "Rock 'n' Roll Star" was one of only...
", 2. "Columbia", 3. "Live ForeverLive Forever"Live Forever" is a song by English rock band Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher, the song was released as the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe on 8 August 1994, just prior to that album's release....
", 4. "Cigarettes & AlcoholCigarettes & Alcohol"Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. It was released as the fourth single from their debut album Definitely Maybe, and their second to enter the UK top ten in the United Kingdom, peaking at #7 , eventually spending 35 weeks on the charts,...
", 5. "Supersonic".
Oasis
- Liam GallagherLiam GallagherWilliam John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
– lead vocals, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all.... - Noel GallagherNoel GallagherNoel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
– lead guitar, lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, producer (tracks 2, 3, 5, 8 & 11) - Andy BellAndy Bell (musician)Andrew Piran "Andy" Bell is a Welsh musician, currently playing guitar in the band Beady Eye. He is a songwriter, singer, producer, DJ and former member of the early 1990s shoegazing band, Ride, and later, Hurricane #1...
– bass guitar, lead guitar - Colin "Gem" Murray ArcherGem ArcherColin Murray "Gem" Archer is a member of the English rock band Beady Eye. He is, however, best known for his work with Heavy Stereo and Oasis. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitarist in November 1999, and handled lead guitarist for acoustics as well. He also contributed towards the writing of some of...
– rhythm guitar, bass guitar, lead guitar, keyboards, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
Band members were not credited for performer or instrument credits.
Additional personnel
- Zak StarkeyZak StarkeyZak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
– drums (except on track 2), was not included in band photos for the album even though he appeared on all but one track. - Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
– percussion (track 8) - Martin DuffyMartin Duffy (musician)Martin Duffy is an English keyboardist who originally played in Felt and currently plays with Primal Scream.-Career:Duffy was born in Birmingham and grew up in Rednal in the south of the city, attending St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in King's Norton, and growing up listening to Two Tone, punk,...
– piano (track 4) - Terry KirkbrideTerry KirkbrideTerry Kirkbride is an English drummer. He is known for being a former member of Proud Mary and for playing in the Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher's live band...
– drums (track 2) - Henry Phillpotts – mixing assistant (track 2)
- Paul 'Strangeboy' StaceyPaul StaceyPaul Stacey is a British guitarist and producer, best known for his work with Oasis and The Black Crowes.Paul Stacey's early work included the 1990s band, The Lemon Trees and Denzil....
- mixing (track 2), piano and mellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
(track 11)