Stop the Clocks focuses heavily on the band's first two albums,
Definitely Maybe and ''
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?'', with each contributing five tracks, plus four
B-sides (also included on the band's other compilation album
The Masterplan) from this era. Only two tracks appear from ''
Don't Believe the Truth, and one track each from Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and Heathen Chemistry. The album does not feature any material from Be Here Now''. When the release of
Stop the Clocks was first announced in July 2006, speculation was rife that the
unreleased song of the same name would be included on the record as a bonus track. However, Noel Gallagher told fans at a Q&A session that the song was considered for inclusion, but they weren't happy with any of the many versions they have recorded. It would later be released on
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds'
2011 debut album. Gallagher also confirmed that the title was chosen to sum up what was described in the initial press release as being "merely a time out; a chance for the world to review the immense contribution that Oasis have made and continue to make to rock 'n' roll."
Noel Gallagher revealed in an interview in April 2005 that 'Stop the Clocks' was the original title for the band's early recorded material in early 2004, which turned eventually into ''Don't Believe the Truth''. Gallagher revealed to
Billboard that he was approached about including some new songs on the album as well, but that he opted not to "because it takes the focus away from what you're actually trying to say with a retrospective." Gallagher told
NME in September 2006 that he picked the tracks on the album, and there were about eight songs that "should be on there, but aren't". He explained that his original vision was for a 12-track album on one CD, but, after whittling down from an initial 30+ tracks, the track listing was finalised. He admitted that he had had arguments with people about the track listing but that "someone has to pick the track listing, and I've picked it and that's the end of it. But that must mean we're pretty good, if people are arguing about what's not on it, it's brilliant!" During an interview on
Radio 1 in October 2006, and later during a question and answer session with
The Sun,
Liam Gallagher, who got a songwriting credit with his "
Songbird", claimed that he was happy with the tracks Noel had selected for the album, although he said that he would have liked "Rockin' Chair" and "
D'You Know What I Mean?" to be included. Noel, however, admitted that "D'You Know What I Mean?" was to be included on the album up until the moment it was being mastered, explaining that the length of the song "upset the flow of the album". Songs that the band also wanted to be on the track listing were "Cast No Shadow", "
Don't Go Away", "Gas Panic!", "
Whatever" and "
Little by Little", although they could not fit them in since they felt the record would "drag on" and make it too long, being over the some 18-track idea Noel had planned out. Noel has also said he would have liked to have found a place for "Fade Away", "(It's Good) To Be Free", "
Let There Be Love" and "Listen Up". In the special boxed edition of
Stop the Clocks, at the end of the 'Lock the Box' interview, when Liam was told "Whatever" was not included in the track listing, he exclaimed, "Thank fuck for that." ==Cover==