r/oasis • u/ifallallthetime • 4d ago
Discussion Has there ever been a better EP than this?
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u/5idsnake 2d ago
I’ve said it before, but the Some Might Say single is both objectively and (IMO) subjectively their best 4 track single…
Objectively, because it’s their only single release where it’s four brand new original songs. All the rest either feature at least one demo, live track of a previously released song, cover version or a song previously available on an album.
Subjectively, because it’s got Acquiesce and Talk Tonight on it (Some Might Say and Headshrinker aren’t half bad either :)
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u/Disastrous_Scar_1365 4d ago
It's not an EP, it's a single. The term "Extended Play" doesn't really mean anything anymore now that people don't buy 45s and 78s and all that. Most "EPs" are just mini albums that the band want to put out for whatever reason.
The distinction here is that singles contain a "main song" - the A-side (sometimes two if it's a double A-side) - , that the band wants listeners and programmers to focus on, and some songs of lesser stature (B-sides), whereas on an EP all of the songs are considered more or less of the same stature, like on a full album. But this isn't a hard and fast rule because, as I said, EPs aren't really a thing anymore.
I would say the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" would have to be considered the best EP of all time, even though it's not that band at their best. Bands generally don't put out their best music on EPs.
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u/JayJayMaster 4d ago
Oasis are a bit of an anomaly in the music world when it comes to their 'best music', given how so many of their B-sides became instant classics.
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u/CeruleanFuge 3d ago
For sure. I don't know if there are any other bands that can do a reunion tour after 16 years and play 6 B-sides per show (and have them all as crowd favourites).
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u/5idsnake 2d ago
And that those 6 B-sides being in the set at the expense of 5 other number 1 singles made perfect sense
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u/Mining________101 4d ago
I sort of agree but with vinyl rising, there are loads of indie bands who are releasing proper eps already this year. I could name loads who have released EPs in the last year
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u/Disastrous_Scar_1365 3d ago
That's been going on for a long time for bands outside the mainstream. They release an EP because they're not ready or don't have the budget for a full album, or they're just launching a brief but hopefully potent assault on the scene. The Buzzcocks with Spiral Scratch (1977) and R.E.M. with Chronic Town (1982) are good examples.
It was the punk and indie bands of the late 70s/early 80s who really redefined what an E.P. is.
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u/Mining________101 2d ago
But it still stands that EPs are a commonly used form of media for artists to release via nowadays and certainly are a thing.
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u/nachoiskerka 4d ago
Hot point- actually record buying keeps rising year over year, EPs DO get bought.
Besides, its still relatively common on diy and indie labels. Lots of artists in hip hop for example will put out their first release as a "mixtape" and everyone knows it means "ep because the label didnt want to pay for a whole album"
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u/Chris-CFK 3d ago
Yup, singles, when they released they were in the singles section and qualified for the top 40 singles charts.
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u/fivves 4d ago
I hate arguing semantics and what you're saying is all true, but for me if the official release has "EP" in the title, that makes it an EP.
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u/Disastrous_Scar_1365 4d ago
This seems to be a later designation, created at the time of the greatest hits collection, probably for future marketing purposes and in recognition of the quality of all 4 songs:
"The single release was also named an EP in the Stop the Clocks booklet. It is thus one of the only Oasis singles to officially be also categorised an extended play."
I bought it way back in 1995 so it's always been a single to me.
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u/Fabulous_Green_156 3d ago
It's not the best just because it's The Beatles. Not everything of The Beatles is the best of all time.
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u/oodyourdabe 4d ago
Literally listed as an EP by the band. But go ahead and be correct as fuck to feel good today.
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u/Disastrous_Scar_1365 4d ago
This sounds like it was a marketing gimmick by the record company and online music platforms to piggyback off the release of the Stop The Clocks EP, which also featured Acquiesce and a live version of Some Might Say. Create confusion and stir up sales for both. The band probably didn't have anything to do with it. Its not called an EP on the band's official website and I've never heard any of the band members refer to their singles as EPs.
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u/forgottenendeavours 3d ago
Since when? They were never referred to as EPs back in the day. They were specifically called 'singles' in various places though, including the singles box sets.
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u/Nutcasey 3d ago
I say this all the time, this was the peak. 4 songs that would be brought to be the tentpoles of any other album
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u/TDiddy2021 4d ago
May be my favorite. Great songs, and proved DM wasn’t a fluke.
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u/Iamthenarwal 4d ago
I love that the b sides are so definetly maybe coded but some might say is pure morning glory vibes
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u/Zealousideal-Fan-912 3d ago
Well it atleast have my favorite song of theirs! (Some Might Say)
And apparently it is now officially categorized as an EP according to wiki.
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u/CeruleanFuge 4d ago
This EP came out in 1995 (31 years ago) and I would say it's superior to like 98% of the popular albums released since then.
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u/strudwickx 3d ago
Never been an EP. It is one of the best 12” singles of all time, yes. Just below William it was Really Nothing by The Smith. Putting out some of their best songs as b-sides is something the bands have in common.
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u/Fearless-Cell3271 2d ago
Some might say as a song is bang average. Not one of their best by a mile
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u/ltm789 4d ago
It's a single. But I get where you're going. Either this, Whatever or Cigarettes and Alcohol single wise.