This just proves that record company execs are the dumbest breed of them all. They'd rather continue releasing "best of" compilations one after another than sign the man to record new material.

morrissey or marr have nothing to do with this "very best of" swindle? that makes a little more sense and puts my faith back in the duo.that cover art just never rang true to me -- it just looked like some poor sap in the hmv art department who was doing thier best to recreate morrissey's smiths-era record sleeves. as for rhino records, how in the hell are they getting involved with this? of course, rhino might have a better go at it -- they're known for their inventive packaging and bonuses when in comes to compilations and collections. oh well, one step back for the completist. (note to rhino records: include new liner notes, unreleased demos and live tracks, and it wouldn't hurt to unearth an unreleased track -- i recall mike joyce has a few outtakes that i bet he'd be happy to sell you for a few thousand pounds.)

Oh yes. Something should be done.
They could shoot the bastards who came up with the "original" idea.
That would even be environment-friendly.

And this year's first intelligent move of the music industry geeks.

I knew it. He loves money, but not that much.

... and sue the scoundrels from Reprise...
This "release" is an outrage...

AFKA Bean

Why don't we all get together as a collective, possibly with an appointed spokesperson, to let WEA know what we think of their 'Very Best Of' compilation. While we're @ it we could also ask for a new compilation of any unreleased demos/sessions, or maybe another live album.

I really can't see anyone buying this crap, the cover art for a start will put most fans, especially casual fans off. I think we're all agreed that we're sick to the back teeth of these re-issues. Why not tell WEA what WE, the ones who are most likely to buy any new Smiths release, want.

Lets take the criticisms that have appeared ten-fold on this site and bloody use them for a change. The're wasted here!

There shouldn't be any argument I think. If it's done, it's done. And also this album is nearly the same as "Singles" album. 4-5 songs are added. And can anyone tell what "remastered" means? I need it. Is it so big difference?
My email: xsailor@email.com

There are three variables which make me choose whether or not to buy this CD....

One - What Morrissey and Marr said. This is obviously a release by a record company ripping off one of their own bands, yeah yeah, but the fact that M&M's hate the cover etc., shows that their expression has been choked - Moz should have his own right to express what he wants with what pictures accompanying what songs. I agree with the outrage posts in this aspect.

Two - What do I and my friends own? Hey, this isn't all evil if you'd have a nice friend that needs to get into the Smiths but doesn't want to buy all of the albums with all of those great great non-single songs(yet!) then - What a gift! As for me, I already have all of the songs in all of the albums and in the Best of I & II comp too.

Three - How much you have in your pocket? Is this all in one CD? I mean, if so, then WELL worth it for the above mentioned gift purpose. But otherwise if it is overpriced or a double then just buy them "The Queen is Dead" or "Meat is Murder", both great introductory Smiths albums that can lead 'em into Moz too.
Or buy them "The Singles" with that beautiful woman in the barred bed on the cover.

But shame on those execs for disobeying their own contracted artists! Pek!

I know this will be a very unpopular opinion but...

If they really did a 24bit remastering on the songs (if it's not a scam, in other words) then I'll still be first in line to but that disk--Morrissey's approval or not.

Ok, let's be fair.

First: We all agree that there is no need for another compilation and that it's title "The Very Best Of" makes it even worser because it looks cheap.

Second: Wea / Warner have the rights on the Smiths Recordings and they don't have to ask neither Morrissey nor Marr to compile songs if they want to.

Third: We all agree that, although they don't have to, they should have asked Morrissey or Marr to co-operate on that compilqation

Fourth: The Cover doesn't look cheap but like the ones styled by Moz himself.

Five: Moz always wanted Kenneth Williams and/or Charles Hawtrey to be on a cover.

Six: 'Digital Remastered' sounds good but: What Difference Will It Make? More important: WHO did the remaster? I hope anyone which was involved in thge original production

Seventh: Yes, I'll Buy it. But i bought 'World Of Morrissey', too and that seems to be the bigger rip-off to me...

Stefan

it just didn't have the 'whores in retirement' feel to it.

Shhhhhhhhhh........God, this is going to make Morrissey even more dubious about signing a record deal.

Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot here.

Let's support the Smiths and Morrissey by not purchasing this album.
I'll keep it simple and not go on but let's not support the powers that be.

Listen to me....I've got each song 3 times already. I guess the execs think that if Moz himself said "jump", we'd say "how high?". DO NOT PURCHASE THIS. Fortunately, we're clever swines and, unlike the old Vinyl days where some records weren't quite explicit as to the track list, we will not be fooled again. Bastards.

Look at it this way...both Morrissey and Marr will be paid royalties. I'm in the U.S. and I never heard the Smiths or Morrissey until a few years ago. So for people like me, they are "new" in a way. Which means, that I'll probably buy it.

not i© i wont buy the record, but am not shocked its here, or comming rather© its all quite foolish, why dont they just remaster the albums? its certainly is time© oh, well© as for rhino, i say yea! i mean the bunneymen bopx set looks as though it might just work© while i love the bunnies, i must say the the smiths deserve the box set treatment SOOOOOO much more, as their contribution to alt© rock was that much greater© so bring on rhino and wonderfuly rendered remastered music© all the while boycoting foolish industry vultures and their even more foolisg ideas© gy the way, none has metioned the fact that moz was ALWAYS! one to sy that "when i don't feel i haveanything important to sya, i expect i would hang it up" ¥not a direct quote of course¤ so maybe all this no album mubo jumbo is him saying enough is enough, which i would greatly respect© i mean, just listen to the last album, does this not sound l;ike a man summing up his life and work? it might just be his swan song, let him go i say, i mean id rather respect him and his convictions, and would also rather him not feel the need to write horrid and trite little lyrics© just cause some of his so called fans see only their happiness and needs, above his creativeness©
if this is it, we should all be glad he even was and leave it at that©
yours, brain

I've seen the track listing for the bunnymen box set, and if Rihno can unearth as much rarities as that for Morrissey then I'll be very satisfied. Will they be doing a Smiths box set though? as they surely have as much rarities as Morrissey.

I have nearly everything put out by The Smiths
and Morrissey, but I shall never purchase thise
compilation. How dare they try and simulate
Morrissey's cover art and dup fans. It didn't
work for this fan, WEA. I hope you all die.

morrissey and marr relinquished all rights to how their songs were presented when they cashed in and sold them on to WEA. they didn't care then about presentation; all they wanted was money. you can't dress it up any other way. i'm upset that the smiths' memory is being repeatedly abused by these tawdry cash-ins, but the only people who are to blame for it are morrissey and marr.

Hola, espero que 'alguien' entienda algo de español, pero estoy segura que habemos personas de habla hispana quienes estamos profundamente enamorados de Morrissey y de todo lo que el implica, a ver si alguien que haya entendido algo de esto no empieza a escribir tambien en Español, asi esto se vuelve un poco mas diversificado, no? Me encanta y sigue asombrando la fidelidad y el respeto que tenemos los 'fans' por asi llamarnos, creo que tenemos diferentes razones de porque nos gusta pero lo que si tenemos en comun es la fidelidad y la fuerza con que estamos unidos a este sentimiento que es Morrissey! Somos pocos todavia, como diria Oscar Wilde, pero nuestra fuerza es potentisima!
Martissey

that sounds accurate but finally marr and morrissey can agree on something maybe i'm just being hypothetical but wouldn't it be cool if this brought those two together i'll end up buying the album though and so will most of you fans out there.

No, I won't buy this. I've got all of these songs already...I don't need them again...Now, the different live versions, those are cool to have and collect, but if I really want to listen to these (studio recorded) songs - I'll just pop in Louder Than Bombs or The World Won't Listen. Honestly...

And, that cover - I don't know. It's not romantic at all. With the old Smiths covers you could sense the tragedy, originality, sorrow, ambiguity. Well, that's what they spark in me, anyway. With this cover I just see a man with a clown like look...

That best of morrissey compilation may sound very exciting now, but if it does ever see the light of day it will most probably be a collection of his biggest hits. Oooh, suedehead, the last of the famous.., the more you ignore me and so forth. Which in my opinion doesn't really include his best work at all.
  As for the cover art on this particular album, in my humble opinion there's really nothing wrong with it. Morrissey actually quotes a carry on film in some girls are bigger than others, i think it was carry on cleo.
  It shouldn't really suprise anyone that morrissey is moaning about the release of this album. He should just be grateful that they actually want to release something if his, i'm assuming he will get royalties, so what's the problem? morrissey would probably complain if he had a single at number one for six months and released an album that went triple platinum in under a week.

So where does this info come from: "And, it looks like Rhino Records has their sights set on releasing a Best of Morrissey compilation in the very near future."

That cover is bloody ugly, it has nothing to do with "the art of The Smiths" and it should never take place in any Smiths records collection.

altho we know that big steve is a fan of the carry on films, the cover doesn't quite seem right. despite his ambiguous sexuality, he has generally chosen heterosexual images for the record covers (world won't listen, boxers, the best of (Diana Doors and that fella), your arsenal (charles something or other) which contrast nicely with the sexual ambiguity that moz has always traded in. having an outwardly camp personality on the cover just don't seem right somehow...

john steed.

Morrissey, do you access this site? If you do then please respond, I want to know.

we know its over - still we cling - we have no new releases to cling too.

o mother i can feel the repeated track-listing falling over my head.

and when i lie down in my empty bed, oh well no new demo's, enough said.

the new re-issue wants to take me, the old vinyls want to save me , do think u can help me?

sad veiled star, please be happy, releases something soon and give us a tune.

loud loutish WEA, treat us kinder, cos u need us more than u love us.........

its so easy to re-issue it takes strength to pack it all in , over, over, over, over.

i know its over, but it never really began, but in my heart u were so real.......................

"BBC Sessions"

(sorry, but the 'peel sessions' album just doesn't cut it.)

a number of groups have ' BBC sessions' albums. among them joy division, new order, the clash and cocteau twins. why not the smiths?

first off, i'm pretty sure it would sell - especially in southern california if nowhere else in the world. and i know for a fact that 'peel' versions of "william it was really nothing" (better than the original), "rusholme ruffians" (which is probably the best version) and "half a person" (just as impressive) exist and are in circulation. i wouldn't mind if they stick in the 'peel' material from "hatful"... just as long as they provide new stuff.

...but at the end of the day, the question I would want an answer to is who exactly is stopping a compilation of what the true fans want to hear from emerging?

We all know there's an absolute mine of rare and unreleased studio and live (officially recorded or otherwise) stuff that would be truly worthy of release, but who owns the rights to all of this? Warners? Moz & Marr?

At the end of the day, I find it hard to believe that such a compilation hasn't yet hit the shelves because at least one person doesn't want it to.

En español

Para toda la gente de habla hispana y portuguesa en general, o todo aquel que le interese ponerse en contacto con gente de estos idiomas, quiero contarles que pronto se re- inaugura el viejo Morrisseysiempre en forma de comunidad, con una NUEVA DIRECCIÓN.
Con chats programados y muchas cosas mas, todos los datos serán agregados por los visitantes.
Para mas información, mandar e-mail a morrisseysiempre@hotmail.com

Y sobre esta "nueva" recopilación... creo que el único balance positivo es que va a mantener el nombre de The Smiths encendido. Para la gente que aun los desconoce me parece que es una buena oportunidad para ponerse al tanto de que se trata, pienso que también esta orientado para es lado, y hay que destacar que es una de las pocas bandas que han quedado en una especie de paralelo con respecto al tiempo, para que me entiendan, cuando uno viaja en un automóvil las cosas pasan a gran velocidad, pero si miramos hacia el cielo, en la noche, las estrellas perduran sobre nosotros...

Por eso creo que no hay que hacer tantos planteamientos, si el material en esencia es perfecto, que nos importa para donde valla la plata. Si nos remontamos a principio de los 80´ Morrissey fue muy claro "somos la mejor banda del mundo y queremos que nos escuche la mayor cantidad de gente posible".

Saludos a todos, Diego.

      Does anyone know why Morrissey and Marr would object?

It's smashing album! YAY capitalism!!

Only kidding, but it's better then 'world of'

You have to Remember this comp isn't for us.Its for newer younger fans. if record companies don't do comps like this the Smiths will be forgotten in 5 years.....

I don't want a new compilation of Smiths songs. Not because of the fact that I aleady have these songs on several different albums but because of the fact that Morrissey didn't pick the cover photo! In the good old days Morrissey always took care of the covers and it's distasteful that a stupid record company thinks it's able to find a picture which will be in Moz's spirit! Well, listen up dummies: it's only in Moz's spirit if HE picked the photo and IF HE actually APPROVED of you releasing another compilation! So cut it out! Sheesh!

Does This sound familiar. The whole reissue, repackage. Remember songs like: -Paint a vulgar picture -Get off the stage -You just havent earned it yet baby Its come to pass. Paint a vulgar picture describes what happens to a dead star, and how he/she is treated when there career fails to recoupe. Get off the stage is about, well its just so on the money. Morrissey sings: You silly old man, your makeing a fool of yourself so get off the stage.... oh i know that you say how age has no meaning, o but here is your audience now, and there screaming, Get Off the stage And the song that you just sang, it sounds excactly like the last one, and the next one, oh i be you it will sound...like this one.... Get off the stage, cuz i've given you enough of my time and money that wasnt even mine. I dont know who that song was written about when morrissey wrote it, but it must have hurt somebody and as it the saying goes, "what went around, came around." You just havent earned it yet baby: if your wondering why, all the love that you long for eludes you, and people are rude and cruel you, i'll tell you why, YOU JUST HAVENT EARNED IT YET BABY, YOU MUST SUFFER AND CRY FOR SLIGHTLY LONGER. Now I Am A Was: Once I Was So Smuggly, Foremost In Your Thoughts, Me...with a talent for, making you cry, so now i am a was. It was like, when morrissey first made these songs, he was telling the future of his own career. I think it sucks mangina that this has happened to him. What can we do about it. Even if he were to have the oppurtunity to sign on for another album, what diffrence would that make. Do we really need another Malujusted album. The answer is no. VIVA HATE, BONA DRAG, YOUR ARSENAL, KILL UNCLE. Thats the Morrissey I fell for. Those were my first morrissey experiences, and I'm sure most of anyone elses. The lyrics have always been true, but the music....well, it changed on Vauxhall and I, and Malajusted. It was slower, and there was a lot of noise and less beat. It didnt flow like the old. One more thing. I have a song from morrissey called, "there speaks a true friend" (cough) it goes like this... Now there, there speaks a true friend, there speaks a friend for life, You told me all the things that people could not stand about me, I just wish you'd stayed around to help me put them rite, but never the less there there speaks a true friend there speaks a friend for life, you told me all the things that you could not stand about me, I just wish you'd hang around to help me put them rite, because i've tried, oh i really really tried. I love this song. So please, let somebody see this, and maybe give some good critiques or suggestions on his last albums....and what the people think he should or shouldnt do. It doesnt mean he will or has to do it, but suggestions and advice from loved ones dont hert, as long as its in good taste. It wont be cuz were not fans true blue through and through, it will be because... Here speaks a true friend.

Yes, Morrissey and Marr did'nt want this album released but why should lovers of The Smiths not buy this brilliant hits collection?
All of you who say its wrong to buy it because M+M don't condone its release are a bunch of arse lickers who should give up on trying to win their friendship.
At the end of the day they are still pocketing the royalties, and lets be honest, who would'nt?

Why would the most famouse men from indi pop music want to be assocciated with such aweak and fey cover star.I think capitalisam is good but when it tries to play down peoples talents it is wrong. told you so.

most of you fans are a bunch of hypocrits....ask yourself this....do i have any bootlegs?..most of you will say yes...come on the bootlegs most definitly..do dont have the approval of marr or moz..and to top it off are against the law..so before u go crying and saying "ohh marr and moz are mad" think about what your doing first..and hey at least there making royaltys off this album....unlike the bootlegs

I think we all should not buy the new release
and enjoy what we already have.

Este CD existe para que o nome dos Smiths se mantenha vivo, para que o som maravilhoso que eles produziram possa chegar ao maior número de pessoas possível.
Para que a criatividade daquela época nos alcance.
Para que saibamos, que sim, nesse planeta já houve um instante de genialidade,que poucos o compreenderam quando ele estava sendo produzido.
Infelizmente, esse CD também existe para perpetuar a briga entre Morrissey e Marr, o que é lamentável.
Enfim ele existe para que todos possam ter um breve e tão brilhante esboço do que eram os 80's.

Smiths Forever,

Faith

faith.sp@globo.com