Editing Heathen Chemistry (section)

==Recording==
''Heathen Chemistry'' was recorded between 2001 and early 2002 and is the first Oasis album to have significant writing contributions from members other than chief songwriter [[Noel Gallagher]]. Front man [[Liam Gallagher]] contributed three songs, and new bassist [[Andy Bell (Welsh musician)|Andy Bell]] and rhythm guitarist [[Gem Archer]] contributed one song each as well.<ref>Wiederhorn, Jon. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453242/20020403/oasis.jhtml "Oasis Turn to Heathens, Hedonism for Inspiration on New LP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012141809/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453242/20020403/oasis.jhtml |date=12 October 2008 }}. MTV. 3 April 2002.</ref>

Although most of the song's instrumentation was complete by mid-to-late 2001, Noel indicated that the release date of the album was being needlessly delayed by Liam's apparent reluctance to lay down his vocal parts at recording sessions, and went on to state that he was "livid" at the lack of work being done:

::I was really happy with (the album) until recently, but I'm fucking livid now. I finished my bits three-and-a-half months ago, and then we handed it over to Liam, and in three-and-a-half months he's done nothing. Just concentrated on his drinking habit again. It's just drifting at the moment.

::All the backing tracks are done and it's a fantastic album of instrumentals. Hand it over to the singer and it just slows down and becomes this one really long, drawn-out, painful process. So, to be honest with you, I don't know when it'll come out now. It's down to him.<ref>"Noel 'livid' as Liam delays new Oasis album", ''[[NME]]'' Online, 11 October 2001</ref>

Despite the setbacks during the recording process, when the album was finally complete Noel was confident that it was the group's second best album to date, behind their debut ''[[Definitely Maybe]]''.<ref>Downey, Ryan J. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453989/20020515/oasis.jhtml?headlines=true "Oasis Set Up U.S. Tour Whether Liam Likes It Or Not"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804231129/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.f88235f49a156f8b4cab34c7bc1a0acc.html?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv.com |date=4 August 2021 }}. MTV News. 16 May 2002.</ref>

The title of the album, according to Noel, came from a T-shirt he bought in [[Ibiza]] which featured a logo reading, "The Society of Heathen Chemists". Similarly, the name of the first single, "The Hindu Times", originated from a logo on a T-shirt that read the same thing, which Noel saw during a photo shoot for GQ's 100 Greatest Guitarists edition. The name was given to the track when it was just an instrumental and the name stuck once the track was finished.