Legend has it that back in 1996, Noel Gallagher decamped to the private Caribbean island of Mustique with producer Owen Morris to record demos for what would become Oasis’ third LP, Be Here Now. Though nearly all of the songs the pair wrote would find their way onto the final album, the Mustique tapes were seemingly lost to history. That was until Big Brother Records recently discovered all 14 demos within their own archive; now, the tracks will be made available for the first time as part of the Chasing the Sun edition reissue of Be Here Now.
As a first listen to what those mythical demos sound like, Rolling Stone has premiered “Don’t Go Away (Mustique Demo)”. Opening with Gallagher’s whistling, this version lacks the horns and strings found on the final album track, keeping things to just a few simple instruments and a shaker. The solo hadn’t been developed yet, either, leaving the bridge as a few repeated notes from an electric guitar. Take a listen above.
Due October 7th, the Chasing the Sun edition of Be Here Now is available for pre-order now. You can snag it on vinyl, CD, or digitally, or as a super deluxe version that includes both the LP and CD, a hardcover book containing new liner notes, a 12-inch white-label vinyl of demos, and fresh Oasis merch. Find the complete tracklist below,
Oasis: Be Here Now Chasing the Sun Edition Tracklist:
Disc 1 – Be Here Now
01. D’You Know What I Mean?
02. My Big Mouth
03. Magic Pie
04. Stand By Me
05. I Hope, I Think, I Know
06. The Girl In The Dirty Shirt
07. Fade In-Out
08. Don’t Go Away
09. Be Here Now
10. All Around The World
11. It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!)
12. All Around The World (Reprise)
Disc 2 – B -sides & Extra Tracks
01. Stay Young
02. The Fame
03. Flashbax
04. (I Got) The Fever
05. My Sister Lover
06. Going Nowhere
07. Stand By Me (Live At Bonehead’s Outtake)
08. Untitled (Demo)
09. Help! (Live In LA)
10. Setting Sun (Live Radio Broadcast)
11. If We Shadows (Demo)
12. Don’t Go Away (Demo)
13. My Big Mouth (Live At Knebworth Park)
14. D’You Know What I Mean? (NG’s 2016 Rethink)
Disc 3 – Mustique Demos
01. D’You Know What I Mean? (Mustique Demo)
02. My Big Mouth (Mustique Demo)
03. My Sister Lover (Mustique Demo)
04. Stand By Me (Mustique Demo)
05. I Hope, I Think, I Know (Mustique Demo)
06. The Girl In The Dirty Shirt (Mustique Demo)
07. Don’t Go Away (Mustique Demo)
08. Trip Inside (Be Here Now) (Mustique Demo)
09. Fade In-Out (Mustique Demo)
10. Stay Young (Mustique Demo)
11. Angel Child (Mustique Demo)
12. The Fame (Mustique Demo)
13. All Around The World (Mustique Demo)
14. It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!) (Mustique Demo)