"Greatest Hits" by HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - Twenty-One Tracks for 1982 to 2000 featuring Single and Albums Tracks from "Picture This" (January 1982), "Sports" (September 1983), "We Are The World (April 1985 Charity Compilation LP), "Back To The Future - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (July 1985), "Fore!" (August 1986), "Small World" (June 1988) and more (May 2006 UK Capitol Records 'CD Compilation' of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Doing It All For My Baby..."

For such a hugely popular and successful American band (especially in the Eighties) - when you try to find 'affordable' remasters of their core albums ("Sports" September 1983, "Fore!" August 1986 and "Small World" (June 1988) - joy is not the word that jumps to mind. 

 

There are Mobile Fidelity Ultradisc versions of "Sports" (which you can't afford) and various Hits Compilations that don't boast decent sound (you don't want them either) - which is where this wildly unassuming and imaginatively titled "Greatest Hits" set comes Flux Capacitor shimming in. 

 

Originally issued Stateside in two variants - the CD and DVD together - the single CD boasts 21 Remastered Tracks from the original tapes, 17 Top Ten Hits, 6 US Number 1's and those all important one off stragglers on the "Back To The Future" soundtrack and the "We Are The World" charity album. It even throws in his year 2000 duet with Gwyneth Paltrow in the very cool "Duets" movie about Karoke Singers working the circuit as a way to make a living (also stars Paul Giamatti in a star-making role). But the big news is the audio that's available to you often for under three quid on auction sites. To the Power Of Love...

 

UK released May 2006 - "Greatest Hits" by HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS on Capitol 362 9962 - 09463-62996-2-4 (Barcode 094636299624) is a 21-Track CD Compilation of Remasters covering 1982 to 2000 that plays out as follows (79:17 minutes):

1. The Heart Of Rock & Roll (Single Edit, 4:05 minutes) 

2. I Want A New Drug (Single Edit, 3:32 minutes)

3. The Power Of Love (Single Edit, 3:55 minutes)

4. Jacob's Ladder (Single Remix, 3:29 minutes)

5. Stuck With You (Single Edit, 4:27 minutes)

6. Doing it All For My Baby (3:40 minutes)

7. If This Is It (3:52 minutes)

8. Do You Believe In Love (3:28 minutes)

9. Heart And Soul (4:11 minutes)

10. Back in Time (4:19 minutes)

11. Perfect World (Single Edit, 4:07 minutes)

12. I Know What I Like (Single Edit, 3:52 minutes)

13. Trouble In Paradise (4:39 minutes)

14. It's Alright (3:00 minutes)

15. Cruisin' (Edit) 

16. Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do (3:45 minutes)

17. Small World (Single Edit, 4:39 minutes)

18. Small World (Single Edit, 4:39 minutes)

19. But It's Alright (2:53 minutes)

20. Couple Days Off (Single Edit, 3:17 minutes)

21. Workin' For A Livin' (2:38 minutes)

NOTES:

Tracks 8, 16 and 21 from the their second studio album "Picture This", January 1982 on Chrysalis Records

Tracks1, 2, 7 and 9 original versions on their third studio album "Sports", September 1983 on Chrysalis Records

Track 13 from the April 1985 Various Artists All-Star Charity Album "We Are The World", April 1985 on Columbia Records

Tracks 3 and 10 from the July 1985 Soundtrack Album to "Back To The Future" on MCA Records

Tracks 4, 5, 6, 12 and 19 from their fourth studio album "Fore!", August 1986 on Chrysalis Records

Tracks 11 and 17 from their fifth studio album "Small World", June 1988 on Chrysalis 

Track 20 from their sixth studio album "Hard At Play", May 1991 on EMI Records

Track 14 from the album "People Get Ready: A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield", March 1993 on Shanachie Records 

Track 18 from their seventh studio album "Four Chords & Several Years Ago", a compilation of cover versions issued May 1994 on Elektra Records

Track 15 from the 2000 Soundtrack Album to "Duets" on Hollywood Records

 

The 16-page colour booklet is surprisingly comprehensive when it comes to track-by-track details, each song given all their Billboard chart-placings (Adult Contemporary, Rock, Pop etc) while PAUL LIBERATORE of Marin Independent Journal (March 2006 liner notes) does a fairly bang-up job of explaining the band's huge popularity in the Eighties - the fun they exuded - the way that radio embraced their bopping Rock & Roll. And of course his appearance in the "Back To The Future" movie and their anthem "The Power Of Love" that had everyone tripping out of cinemas with a big old cheesy grin on their faces in 1985 after seeing that truly brilliant little film - the kind of movie some say is the greatest ever made. There's tribute notes from chat show host and fan Jimmy Kimble and some words from the guttural singer himself Huey Lewis talking about his 25 years with the band. There's a collage page of picture sleeves and period memorabilia and it's all you need. 

 

The Remasters were done in-house by Capitol (no names provided), but every track is HUGE - full of life and muscle. You have only to hear "Hip To Be Square" or "The Heart Of Rock & Roll" to be impressed with the kick-ass clarity. For sure stuff like the overly rocky "Couple Days Off" from 1991 and the cover version "But It's Alright" from 1994's album of oldies revisited feel like the band has run out of ideas and is treading water. But you cannot deny the great nostalgia rush of songs like "The Power Of Love" and the fun of "I Want A New Drug" and the lovely possibly even sappy pop behind "Doing It All For My Baby" and "Stuck With You". 

You will notice from the track list above that 11 of the 21 are the 'Single' versions people would have heard on FM radio, and their truncated playing times allow the compilation to sneak in just under the 80-minute threshold. The rest are LP cuts, two from the fantastic "Back To The Future" movie soundtrack of 1985 and one live track ("Trouble In Paradise") from the wildly successful all-star charity album "We Are The World" (also 1985). Their entirely Acapella cover version of The Impressions 60ts classic "It's Alright" was featured on the all-star tribute album to Curtis Mayfield in 1993. There is also the surprise No.1 smash in September 2000 from the 'Duets' film where actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis covered the Smokey Robinson 70ts smoocher "Cruisin'" - a very cool winner and her singing shockingly good.  

 

Maybe the future holds a Clamshell Box Set with Mini LP Sleeves of their seven or eight albums, but until then this Huey Lewis & The News "Greatest Hits" is a very cool little reminder of why their tunes worked their way into so many hearts...

"Faith" by GEORGE MICHAEL – October 1987 Solo Album (after WHAM!) on Epic Records featuring Hugh Burns, Robert Anwai, Lord Monty, J.J. Belle and Lee Fothergill (Guitars), Chris Cameron, Betsy Cook and George Michael (Keyboards), Deon Estus (Bass) and Ian Thomas (Drums) and more (January 2011 UK Epic/Sony/Legacy 2CD Remastered Edition with Nine Bonus Tracks and Matt Cotton Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"…Love's In Need Of Love Today…"

 

When I first heard the long-awaited Remastered version of "Faith" over a decade ago – I have to admit that I hated it. And 20-million LP sales plus three album Number 1 singles or no – parts of the album had not dated at all well for me either. But - here in the hindsight oasis and loving existential glow of 2023 – I gave it a re-listen and was not repulsed.I just had to get used to it.

 

For sure the Bass on "Hard Day" threatens to burst your speaker cones, the lyrics to "I Want Your Sex" is hard to love nowadays and repeated too much and the pseudo Funk of "Monkey" is just too damn busy (the Remaster has only amplified that). But GM was always going to be true to himself and if you had a problem with his words and sound - millions of others didn't. 

 

The album was a monster - a huge global success - No. 1 on both sides of the pond - it seemed like Epic tried every track on the LP as a bloody single and fans just kept buying them. However, in the cold harsh light of 35-years - "Faith" is a 4-star solo starter now. But then I hear his five-star ballad-orientated stuff like "Father Figure", "One More Time", "Hand To Mouth" and "Kissing A Fool" and his genius for an affecting melody comes screaming through. "Father Figure" in particular is simply gorgeous and given the muscle it's always needed on this 2011 do over. To the details…

 

UK released Monday 31 January 2011 - "Faith" BY GEORGE MICHAEL On Epic/Sony/Legacy 888697753192 (Barcode 886977531927) is the '2CD Remastered Editio'n with Nine Bonus Tracks on CD2 that breaks down as follows:

 

CD1 (51:34 minutes):

1. Faith [Side 1]

2. Father Figure

3. I Want Your Sex (Pt 1 & 2)

4. One More Try

5. Hard Day [Side 2]

6. Hand To Mouth

7. Look At Your Hands  

8. Monkey

9. Kissing A Fool 

10. A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Pt 3)

Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut solo album (after WHAM!) - released 30 October 1987 in the UK on Epic 460000 1 (LP) and Epic EPC 460000 2 (CD) and in the USA on Columbia C 40867 (LP) and Columbia CK 40687 (CD). Written, Produced and Arranged by GEORGE MICHAEL - it peaked at No. 1 in both countries

NOTE:

"I Want Your Sex" is split into two parts on the original LP where it was credited as - 'Rhythm 1 Lust' and 'Rhythm 2 Brass In Lust'. The rear artwork of this new 2011 CD doesn't advise this, but the inner booklet with lyrics does. The original American LP differently referred to "I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 and 2)" as a 'Monogamy Mix' - both versions running to 9:13 minutes. 

 

CD2 (54:14 minutes):

1. Faith (Instrumental) - 3:07 minutes

2. Fantasy - 5:02 minutes

3. Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Mix) - 9:05 minutes  

4. I Believe When I Fall In Love (Live) - 7:05 minutes 

5. Kissing A Fool (Instrumental) - 4:37 minutes

6. Love's In Need Of Love Today (Live) - 4:46 minutes

7. Monkey (7" Edit Version) - 4:52 minutes

8. Monkey (A Capella & Beats) - 7:30 minutes

9. Monkey (Jam & Lewis Remix)

The booklet is a barely functionary 16-page affair with lyrics, a few photo collages from the time and a brief history of the album and its 5 singles (3 number ones in the USA alone) on one page (his original dedication to family and friends is the last page). There is more info online about the B-sides on CD2 than there is on this lazy presentation (what they could get away with). For those who want to go further, "Faith" also comes in a 2CD+1DVD Issue and a Deluxe Box Set version – but I'll settle for Door No. 1.

 

The Remaster has been done by MATT COTTON with supervision by David Austin and Nial Flynn. Some tracks fare better than others - the ballads especially - lovely feel to them. And for damn sure, the punch off the boppers is in-your-face. To the music...

 

You are immediately hit by the almost clinical clarity of "Faith" (the second single from the album released October 1987, weeks before the LP's release on the last day of that month) - the acoustics clean and pinging. "I Want Your Sex" was issued August 1987 as the forthcoming album's first salvo and typically it picked up controversy in the USA for its title and fruity content - the evidence of which is abundant now on this grab-you-by-the-crotch remaster than seems determined to want to kick your stereo in. But far better is the gorgeous swirling synths of "Father Figure" - surely one of his most affecting tunes - it's a genuine wow. And on it goes to album sleepers like "Hand To Mouth".

 

CD2: The outtake "Fantasy" first showed as the Non-LP B-side to the October 1990 British 45-single to "Waiting For That Day" on Epic GEO 1 and October 1990 in the USA on the flipside of "Freedom" on Columbia 38-73559. It was also included on his November 1998 2-disc set "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael". The nine-minute-plus Shep Pettibone Remix of "Hard Day" is insufferable even if it has huge remastered sound. Far better is the Stevie Wonder cover version of "I Believe When I Fall In Love" (originally on Stevie's "Talking Book" album on Motown in June 1973). It's a stunning live performance that was originally included as the B-side to the single for his duet with Elton John on "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" - George clearly enjoying himself as he gets the crowd in on the chorus towards the end. 

"Kissing A Fool (Instrumental)" is one of those B-sides you think will be a throwaway - its shuffling rhythms like some ballroom dance band warming up for the early evening crowd sauntering onto the shining wooden floor in their finest duds. But I like it - you get to hear the brass and the piano - and the audio is huge. Once again George returns to his main Soul inspiration Stevie Wonder and the track SW used to open the magnificent 1976 double-album "Songs In The Key Of Life" (again on Motown). Accompanied by his lady backing singers and a keyboard - is live version is an end of evening finisher - but it stills feels great and suits his Soulful persona. The same cannot be said for three too-noisy overly-busy versions of "Monkey" that finish the Bonuses on an overdone Soulless downer. 

 

He would make an astonishing leap in songwriting excellence with his August 1990 second album "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" where sexual orientation detractions could no longer write him off as an overblown Pop Star.

 

George Michael was a world-class artist and songwriter who had a way with a tune, wore his longing and heart on his sleeve and ultimately it seems couldn’t live without it in his life. And I think in 2023 - like Prince, Tom Petty, David Bowie and yes Tom Verlaine – will we ever hear the like of such inspirers ever again...

"Gaucho" by STEELY DAN – November 1980 Seventh Studio Album on MCA Records featuring Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan with Guests Mark Knopfler, Jay Graydon, Steve Khan, Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker, Michael McDonald, Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Valerie Simpson, Patti Austen and many more (August 2003 UK/EUROPE Universal/MCA Records SACD/Hybrid Reissue – Features Super Audio Tracks in both DSD Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound and a Standard 2000 CD Remaster Layer – Plays On Standard CD Players Also – Andy McKaie SACD and Elliott Scheiner 5.1 Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...All Aboard The Carib Cannibal..."

 

In the late Seventies (and as we waited for 1980 to start a new decade) - old fart Rawk Music geezers like me were going through serious musical changes. For those of us that loved the intricacies of Prog Rock, the exploratory playing in Jazz Fusion and on into Blue Note Jazz Funk, UK Punk and Indie and Two Tone and Topic Folk and Blue Sky Blues and every other good musical point in-between - there were few of us who didn't worship at the Soul-Rock sophisticated feet of Steely Dan's masterclass "Aja" in 1977. Everything about the "Aja" album oozed innovation and event. And coming as it did after the sensation of 1976's "The Royal Scam" - for many of us major dudes, Becker and Fagen's Steely Dan had created a perfect catalogue run to date. In fact after three solo albums, it would not be until February 2000's underwhelming "Two Against Nature" that Becker and Fagen would return as 'Steely Dan'.

 

So - the three year wait until November 1980's sixth Steely Dan album "Gaucho" on MCA Records was tortuous - but man did they deliver. The session-musician list to make your eyes bleed in admiration - the sideways caustic lyrics - the pitch-perfect vocals and gorgeous soloing - the tunes that revealed every time you revisited. In truth, I play "Gaucho" more now in 2023 than I do "Aja" (and I own seven different vinyl variants of that beast). And when I do my Jolly Rogers, I reach for this round-cornered American Super Audio CD brute in all its Direct Stream Digital master tape precious archive pure simplicity (blah blah blah) brilliance. And that's just the Sisters from Babylon baby. Much to discuss - music to fuss...

 

UK/EUROPE released August 2003 - "Gaucho" by STEELY DAN on Universal/MCA Records 0602498605103 (Barcode 602498605103) is a SACD Reissue and Remaster (Super Audio CD). It features Super Audio Tracks in both DSD Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound and a Standard 2000 CD Remaster Layer. 

 

This disc plays on Standard CD Players, but to get SACD and Surround Sound, you need encoded equipment with those elements built it. This disc also boasts an ANDY McKAIE SACD Remaster with ELLIOTT SCHEINER handling the 5.1 Remastered Surround Sound. Its total playing time is 38:12 minutes: 

 

1. Babylon Sisters [Side 1]

2. Hey Nineteen

3. Glamour Profession 

4. Gaucho [Side 2]

5. Time Out Of Mind

6. My Rival

7. Third World Man

 

The album was released November 1980 in the USA on MCA Records MCA-6102 and November 1980 in the UK on MCA Records MCF 3090 - Produced by GARY KATZ and Engineered by ROGER NICHOLS - it peaked at No.9 in the USA on the Billboard Rock LP charts (No. 27 in the UK). All songs written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

 

STEELY DAN was:

Donald Fagen - Keyboards, All Lead Vocals

Walter Becker - Bass (Guitar Solo on Track 4)

 

Guest musicians included:

Steve Khan on Electric and Acoustic Guitars (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6 (Solo) and 7)

Walter Becker and Hugh McCracken on Guitars (Tracks 2 and 5)

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits on Guitar (Track 5) 

Hiram Bullock on Guitar (Track 6)

Rick Derringer on Guitar (Track 6)

Larry Carlton on Guitar (Solo on Track 7)

Rob Mounsey on Keyboards (Tracks 3, 4 & 5), Horn Arrangements (Track 5), Synth (Track 7)

Patrick Rebillot on Electric Piano (Track 6)

Joe Sample of The Crusaders on Electric Piano (Track 7)

Tom Scott on Tenor and Alto Sax and Clarinet (Track 1), Tenor Sax, Lyricon and Horn Arrangements (Track 3), Tenor Sax (Track 4), Horn Arrangements (Track 4), Tenor Sax and Lyricon (Track 6)

Randy Brecker on Trumpet and Flugelhorn (Track 1), Trumpet (Tracks 4 and 5), Flugelhorn (Track 6)

Michael Brecker on Tenox Sax (Tracks 3, 5 and 6)

Dave Tofani on Tenor Sax (Track 5)

David Sanborn on Alto Sax (Track 5)

Ronny Cuber on Baritone Sax (Track 5) 

Wayne Andre on Trombone (Track 6)

Chuck Rainey on Bass (Tracks 1 and 7)

Anthony Jackson on Bass (Tracks 3 and 6)

Bernard Purdie on Drums (Track 1)

Rick Marotta on Drums (Tracks 2 and 4)

Steve Gadd on Percussion (Track 2), Drums (Track 3, 6 and 7)

Jeff Porcaro of Toto on Drums (Track 4)

Crusher Bennett on Percussion (Tracks 1 and 4)

Victor Feldman on Percussion (Track 2)

Ralph McDonald on Percussion (Tracks 3 and 6)

Nicholas Marrero on Timbales (Track 6)

 

Backing Vocals: 

Leslie Miller, Patti Austen, Toni Wine, Lani Groves, Diva Gray and Gordon Grovy (Track 1)

Frank Floyd and Zack Sanders (Track 2) 

Leslie Miller, Valerie Simpson, Frank Lloyd and Zack Sanders (Track 3) 

Leslie Miller, Valerie Simpson and Patti Austin (Track 4)

Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin & Valerie Simpson (Track 5)

Valerie Simpson, Frank Floyd and Zack Sanders (Track 6)

The foldout inlay keeps to the Becker and Fagen 2000 Remaster liner notes on one side while the lyrics and myriad musician credits are on the other (the LP artwork too). There is a separate foldout inlay explaining how you should 'prepare yourself for an overwhelming experience...' and on the evidence hammering my ears with almost clinical clarity - the buggers would be right. This is an astonishing audio listen - the kind of player, songs, production, engineering fandango that doesn't come along in the Rock World that often. 

There are so many highlights - the double-whammy of having Michael 'Golden Throat' McDonald of The Doobie Brothers and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits backing and soloing on "Time Out Of Mind" is a combo that never gets old for me. The astonishing togetherness and delivery of the five-strong vocal posse on "Babylon Sisters" as they 'shake it baby' towards the fade out. Both Donald Fagen and Rob Mounsey put in brilliant keyboard Funk and trip the light fantastic ping notes throughout "Glamour Profession" (local boys spend a quarter) while Larry Carlton practically steels the show with yet another groundbreaking and deeply gorgeous guitar solo on "Third World Man" - the closest Steely Dan has ever gotten to what you might call a traditional ballad. Not to be outdone on axes, both virtuoso Steve Khan and Walter Becker show serious chops on the title track "Gaucho" which for me is one of their richest melodic experiences - Randy Brecker and Tom Scott with those fabulous horn parts. Seven tracks - seven gems - seven constant rediscoveries. I know this SACD is now deleted and I've seen the sucker upwards of seventy quid - but there's a reason for such a luxurious tag - the damn thing delivers.

Jive Miguel is in from Bogota, Hoops McCann is reeking of Brut and charisma and there's bodacious cowboys high in the Custer Dome - you know it make sense my peeps (and it's illegal fun too). Own this version of "Gaucho" and Rest In Peace Walter Becker and Joe Sample - two of my Seventies heroes in a better place giddily discussing Jazz charts like it's all new again...

"The Sound Of The Smiths" by THE SMITHS – Compilation Covering Thirty-Eight UK and European 7" and 12" Single A&B-side Rarities Alongside Seven LP Tracks released between May 1983 to November 1988 on Rough Trade Records (UK) and Sire Records (USA) - featuring Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce (November 2008 UK Rhino 2CD 45-Track Compilation with Johnny Marr Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

Available on AMAZON 

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...A Light That Never Goes Out..."

 

I'm likely to get swamped just doing the track list on this rather cool little compilation brute, but here's looking at the Charming Manchester Men - flowers on stage boyo's with their hands in gloves, thorns in their sides, girlfriends in comas, ritualistic headmasters and vicars in tutus - off we go then (whose miserable now Mozza). 

 

"The Sound Of The Smiths" 2CD 45-Track compilation offers you 7 album cuts and 38 seven and twelve-inch single sides that include some Promo-only goodies too (most are UK issues, but there are Italian and Dutch rarities as well). CD1 features the A's and CD2 the B's. Here are the heavenly/miserable details...

 

UK released 10 November 2008 - "The Sound Of The Smiths" by THE SMITHS on Rhino Records 2564-69371-2 (Barcode 825646937172) is a 2CD 45-Track compilation with Johnny Marr Remasters (Sire/Rhino R2 516016 - Barcode 081227988890 in the USA) that plays out as follows: 

 

CD1 (77:14 minutes):

1. Hand In Glove - May 1983, Rough Trade RT 131, A-side 45-single

2. This Charming Man - October 1983, Rough Trade RT 136, A-side 45-single

3. What Difference Does It Make? - Peel Sessions Version, originally released on the November 1984 compilation LP "Hatful Of Sorrow" on Rough Trade 76

4. Still Ill - Scheduled as the fourth UK 45-single, released February 1984 as a Promo-only 7" single on Rough Trade R 61 DJ, A-side ("You've Got Everything Now" is the B-side)

5. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - May 1984, Rough Trade RT 156, A-side 45-single

6. William, It Was Really Nothing - August 1984, Rough Trade RT 166, A-side 45-single

7. How Soon Is Now? (12" Version, 6:45 minutes) - February 1985, Rough Trade RTT 176, A-side of 12" Single

8. Nowhere Fast - From the February 1985 UK LP "Meat Is Murder", Rough Trade 81

9. Shakespeare's Sister - March 1985, Rough Trade RT 181, A-side 45-single

10. Barbarism Begins At Home - 1985 Italian 7" Single Mix Version on Virgin/Rough Trade  45148, A-side (no UK single)

11. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - July 1985, Rough Trade RT 186, A-side 45-single

12. The Headmaster Ritual - 1985 Dutch/Netherlands 7" Single on Megadisc MD 5290, A-side

13. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side - September 1985, Rough Trade RT 191, A-side 45

14. Bigmouth Strikes Again - May 1986, Rough Trade RT 192, A-side 45-single

15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - From the June 1986 UK LP "The Queen Is Dead" on Rough Trade 86

16. Panic - July 1986, Rough Trade RT 193, A-side 45-single

17. Ask - October 1986, Rough Trade RT 194, A-side 45-single 

18. You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby - Withdrawn UK 45-single on RT 195 but released on the February 1987 UK LP compilation "The World Won't Listen" on Rough Trade ROUGH 101

19. Shoplifters Of The World Unite - January 1987, Rough Trade RT 195, A-side 45-single

20. Sheila Take A Bow - April 1987, Rough Trade RT 196, A-side 45-single

21. Girlfriend In A Coma - August 1987, Rough Trade RT 197, A-side 45-single

22. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish - October 1987, Rough Trade RT 198, A-side 45

23. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - December 1987, Rough Trade RT 200, A

CD2 (76:18 minutes):

1. Jeane - B-side of "This Charming Man" 45-single RT 136

2. Handsome Devil - B-side of "Hand In Glove" 45-single RT 131

3. This Charming Man (New York Vocal) - B-side of "This Charming Man" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 136 (NY)

4. Wonderful Woman - B-side of "This Charming Man" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 136

5. Back To The Old House - B-side of "What Difference Does It Make?" 45-single RT 146

6. These Things Take Time - B-side of "What A Difference Does It Make?" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 146

7. Girl Afraid - B-side of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 156

8. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - B-side of "William, It Was Really Nothing" 45-single RT 166

9. Stretch Out And Wait - Incorrectly listed as the B-side to the "Shakespeare's Sister" UK 12" Single, but is the Alternate Lyrics Version that turned up on the
February 1987 UK LP compilation "The World Won't Listen" on Rough Trade ROUGH 101

10. Oscillate Wildly - B-side to the "How Soon Is Now?" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 176 

11. Meat Is Murder (Live) - B-side of "This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" 45-single on RT 186

12. Asleep - B-side of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" 45-single on RT 191

13. Money Changes Everything - B-side of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" 45-single RT 192

14. The Queen Is Dead/Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty (Medley) - From the June 1986 UK LP "The Queen Is Dead" on Rough Trade 86

15. Vicar In A Tutu - B-side of "Panic" 45-single RT 193

16. Cemetry Gates - B-side of "Ask" 45-single RT 194

17. Half A Person - B-side of "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" 45-single RT 195

18. Sweet And Tender Hooligan - B-side of "Sheila Take A Bow" 12"-single RTT 196

19. Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) - B-side of "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" 45-single RT 198

20. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before - From the September 1987 UK LP "Strangeways, Here We Come" on Rough Trade ROUGH 106

21. What's The World? (Live) - B-side of "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" Cassette-Single RTT 198C

22. London (Live) - From the August 1988 Live LP "Rank" on Rough Trade ROUGH 126

The four-way foldout card Digipak sleeve offers photos of the boys in varying live and studio poses with a collage-photo beneath the CD trays of all those distinctive single sleeves with photos of actors, actresses, musicians and writers they liked - Terence Stamp, June Whitfield, Yootha Joyce, Pat Phoenix, Candy Darling, Alain Delon, Joe Dallesandro, Elvis Presley, Truman Capote and more. But the booklet is a strange thing of beauty and lacking - across its 28-pages you first get nearly 24-glossy pages of colour/black and white pictures with no text? Then there's 4-pages of detailed track-by-track discography info (few mistakes in there that are noted above), but there's no history, no liner notes, no new interviews. At least old champions of the band are mentioned - John Peel and his Producer John Walters - Walters being a gent I once had the privilege of being able to buy his fantastic record collection (took me three days to pack). Tom Sheehan took the cool photo for the front sleeve - and of course there's the JOHNNY MARR approved Remasters. To the tunes...   

 

Clever choices include replacing the more commonly available seven-inch single mix of "What Difference Does It Make?" with the Peel Sessions Version that showed up on the 1984 "Hatful Of Sorrow" compilation LP and that stunning guitar magic of "How Soon Is Now?" extended to 6:45 minutes for the 12" Single Version - a tune fans adore and Rock guys admire.  I must admit I went to CD2 thereafter to get access to those lesser-heard B-side gems like the whack guitar of "Jeane" (tired of walking these streets), the Francis Kervorkian remix of "This Charming Man" that extends that famous melody to 5:33 minutes and the surprisingly pretty "Back To The Old House" (too many bad memories). There can't be too many Smiths fans who wouldn't groove to the disused railway line stunner that is "These Things Take Times" - a B-side I think should have been on an album. 

 

Good old Morrissey makes a good man turn bad in the acoustic strum of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" and again you're taken by the prettiness of the Eskimo running in its sexy veins "Stretch Out And Wait" (ly down puny body). Great audio on the piano of "Oscillate Wildly" - a twelve-inch single instrumental B-side you feel would have been a smash with some biting Morrissey words to give it Indie chart potential. Recorded live 18 March 1985 at The Oxford Apollo - the strained moo's of the live version of "Meat Is Murder" is an eerie one - Morrissey singing dead for no reason with a venom. Loving those faded in guitar treatments for "Money Changes Everything" - the flipside to "Bigmouth Strikes Again" - another John Porter produced instrumental groove that many Eighties bands would have killed for (you can hear how close it was to "How Soon Is Now?"). And on it goes...

 

For sure England's The Smiths were and still are an acquired taste (I know ho can't abide them or Morrissey or any of the politics surrounding the band) - but their Indie uniqueness, sound and cult endures. And on the strength of this chockers-twofer, you can absolutely so hear why...