how long before some knob quotes Paint a Vulgar Picture.

all we need now is the tacky badge.

broken

This is pretty funny...

"Meanwhile, a Smiths boxed-set due out next year through Warner is expected to be accompanied by a new best of album, the first since 2001’s The Very Best Of The Smiths."

Amazing it took so long to release another "best of". I'm already waiting in line at Tower Records for the midnight release.

Fuck you Harry Potter! You've got nothing on Little Stevie.

 

unless mike joyce gives up some of those rarities he's mention in the past, i won't hold my breath. i'm predicting remastered versions of each lp along with a "bonus" disc full of b-sides.

at all?

Maybe one track? I would only buy this if it had a significant amount of new material....

Ohmygosh! This is like totally the most exciting news in ages!! I hope they include lots of rarities, maybe even early studio incarnations of out favorite tracks! What if they included the complete Troy Tate version of "The Smiths?" Maybe they'll have a disc devoted to just B-Sides. The possibilities are endless! I just hope that Morrissey and Marr are involved in every aspect of the production, especially the packaging. Viva The Smiths. It is about time that the best band of all time has their very own box set!

it would be brilliant if the box set was all of the old 12" singles were to be released as cds. imagine owning "hand in glove" on a cd single...with that brilliant blue and silver nude cover. ah...

Knowing the power of this site, I think we should all get together get a poll and make some suggestions to the people at Warner, so that we don't end up with re-issued and repackaged versions.

* If not all albums at least the Queen Is Dead should be re-mixed in 5.1 DTS and released as DVD Audio.
* Mike Joyce's closet must be ransacked and his tapes brought in for remixing, special attention to the songs Morrissey never put lyrics to; more instrumentals. This along with rare tracks and B-sides.
* Some live and rare document of a concert
* Perhaps a re-design of the Strangeways cover sans Richard Davalos and with Harvey Keitel instead...
Basically all the things the Smiths never did or never happened to the Smiths should be fixed.

As long as it doesn't into a Nirvana box-set, we'll be happy.

It would make me much happier if they released another Smiths dvd or two. Why not a live concert? Why not some of the videos they decided to leave off 'The (in)Complete Picture', i.e. Boy with the Thorn in His Side, Shoplifters of the World Unite. Why don't they give us the rest of the Top of the Pops appearances?!?! I can't believe they left out William It Was Really Nothing and their historical TOPT debut 'This Charming Man' Blasphemy!

Long story short. There's a lot more material to release on DVD instead of a different greatest hits cd or a box set full of all the songs we already have. and only die hards will pay $100 or more for a 6 disc box set, and we'll have everything already...

of course if it comes with a cool poster or really nice artwork or a tacky badge i'll probably end up getting it anyways... typical me...

I wish those studio versions of tracks like This Night Has Opened My Eyes that Simon Goddard has heard, which have never seen the light of day, were released. Outside of those, there's not much else on offer to us is there? Perhaps a bootleg series could be approved like Columbia did with Dylan, taking in all those studio out-takes, demos, alternate versions etc.

I really think this release could potentially be very good. While I already have a bootlegged copy of the Troy Tate Sessions, I still have not heard A Matter of Opinion (early unreleased track) that is mentioned in The Songs That Saved Your Life (the Goddard book). If that is released through this boxset, then it will be more than well worth the trouble.

I'd be very happy with a complete studio B-side CD in chronological order... Would this be good enough for everyone ?

Remastered sound would be excellent as well ... Compare the "Very Best Of" with a regular release and see what I mean.

I also have a live concert of them in 1984 at Rockpalast which is very high quality, aside from the occasional video warble. That's VHS for ya. Still I think every fan should have this concert.

Could be beautiful ... Could be what we've come to expect ... a half assed reissue.

- Man of Vision

I don't know why some are complaining - although I get the complaint about the "Best of". For this to be beneficial to anyone I would have to say that all of the CDs must be digitally remastered. It just has to be done that way. It would be pointless to box the CDs without a digital remaster. Second I would like a DVD with hard to find footage or even the Hacienda gig. I have seen some interesting clips of Moz in a documentary like form where he visits the area of Manchester he grew up in. Stuff like this would be awesome on DVD - dare to dream. Third a chronological B sides CD remastered would also be awesome. Thank you for listening.

"A MATTER OF OPINION". 2006! Also, more rare stuff.

could this be a reformation? Morrissey and Marr get together to record a NEW track to release with the box set???????????????????????

It's not impossible.............

Oh God. I hope. I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope...

A 6CD set that included just all their RELEASED tracks, as long as these were remastered to a high standard, would be worth more than the inevitable asking price (not so bothered about unreleased trakcs). When I say 'all released tracks' that should include all the B-sides, including the live ones that appeared on some of the singles (e.g. the Meat Is Murder 12 inch I think, someone help me out here...) and all the different versions that were released on singles, and all the album tracks. That should fill up about six CDs I should think. Throw in nice packaging and a comprehensive booklet, and it'd be an amazing item for any fan.

did that include a new singer?

A Matter of Opinion would be NICE!
As would I want a boy for my birthday!
A bonus DVD disc would be nice as well!
MOST of the Smiths' bsides aren't really that "rare" anymore, so I don't see the point of that!
The tate version of "the smiths" would be nice, though, i think!
I want a poster too!

But really, even if it's just all of their cds in a fancy box, I'm still going to buy it!

But do you think Morrissey got a say in this?
He probably gave his blessing if it's just Marr involved, but I don't think we should hold our breath for anything revelatory if Rourke or Joyce have any unreleased material.
However, plebs like me have been known to be wrong.

It would be well worth it to add some of their early interviews. I came across a vhs a while back that had many excerpts from television variety shows that many people outside of England during the mid-80's have never seen. An example of what could be included is footage of the recording of Nowhere Fast. They must have filmed the rest of the recording of Meat Is Murder, and any additional filmings of their studio time would be greatly appreciated.

Give the fans something new. A different perspective on some of the tracks we already know of and maybe some that are still in the basement. Then i'll spend whatever it costs. For all you 'yobless' clones, it's time to hit the recycle bin.

When the job only pays bills, it's time to work a little harder. As for me, there's a fortune to be made in the receptacle!

saving a little to have a lot for 2006!

OUT

Based on rarities research, there actually seems to be a decent amount of unreleased recordings that could be unearthed for a box set. Following is the start of a list of documented unreleased rarities. If anyone knows of any other recordings that have a high probabilty of still being in existence, please add them to the list. Who knows, maybe someone involved in the production of the upcoming box set will read these posts and work towards preserving these recordings for the fans. It would be great if these bits of Smiths (and music) history could be saved before they are lost to time or deteriorate in a record vault or dusty basement somewhere. Anyway, here's to hoping we all get to hear some of these tracks someday!

1) I Want A Boy For My Birthday
2) A Fool Such As I (even if it is missing the first few bars)
3) Heavy Track (Instrumental)
4) Bengali In Platforms (The pre-moz-solo Smiths take on the track - although I think Ivor Perry is on guitar and not Marr...so Marr probably wouldn't want it on a box set.)
5) Fast One (Instrumental)
6) I Misses You (Instrumental)
7) A Matter Of Opinion
8) The 6 different "Untitled Instrumentals" that Goddard uncovered
9) Shoplifters (Instrumental)
10)Frankly Mr. Shankly (Horn Version)
11) Never Had No One Ever (Horn Version)
12) Queen Is Dead (w/ extended intro)
13) What Do You See In Him? (Live early version of Wonderful Woman)
14) Original Smiths Demo Reels Including Suffer Little Children (w/ the sounds of children on a playgroup)
15) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Early vocal takes with slightly different Moz lyrics "There is a light IN YOUR EYES that never goes out"
16) Shoplifters (Instrumental version)
17) Troy Tates version of the first album
18) Girlfriend In A Coma (Alternate take with slightly different lyrics including "cheerfully strangle her" and "with tears in my eyes I ask of you".)

I'd only buy it if Morrissey did the sleeve.

I guess this means Morrissey is backtracking on his pledge to never allow a box set in order to punish Mike Joyce? **smile**

I don't think that 2001 best of counts, as the band said they had nothing to do with it, nothing to do with the remastering, nothing to do with the butt-ugly cover art, and advised all fans to avoid it.

A box set is going to be very interesting. I hope it contains more live recordings. And I hope it contains the Troy Tate sessions. Hell, I hope it contains everything, even pre-Smiths stuff by Morrissey, such as "Now I'm Ready for the Electric Chair," if that was ever recorded. :)

I suppose they could go the New Order route and make it just a few discs, but I think they should throw everything under the sun on it, make it huge like the Hank Williams box set, and of course have Morrissey do the cover art and packaging. I'd also like the band members, and others involved such as Jo Slee, to contribute notes to the booklet. Go all out and it'll help the Smiths secure their place in musical history.

I'll buy it for everyone I know for Christmas!!! :)

But I did not swear that I would not say the word "re-package"! Re-package. Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-pac kage.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.R e-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-pack age.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package. Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-pac kage.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.Re-package.R e-package. Bored yet? Re-package."Sing me to sleep"...

A previous poster mentioned how lame it would be to quote Paint a Vulgar Picture, but what else is one to do. Face it, most Greatest Hits collections suck. The best songs of the Smiths are not the hits, but the other album tracks where they aren't so concerned with a single type sound but in creating their special space in music.

A box set could be them most amazing thing they ever released. I have the Troy Tate sessions, as well as countless bootlegs and videos, and I love them. However, none of this will be included in this box set. It'll be another waste of money for anyone who has all the vinyl releases of earlier singles and is not searching for the B-Sides.

Remastering albums is all fair and good, but how many people really look forward to a remixed/remastered album. Lots of people are completely happy with the original sound. If you disagree, then why is vinyl still such a sought after commodity by audiophiles.

This is another example of a record company cashing in on the legacy of a great band by rereleasing their material, yet again, for the same 'completist' audience. I'd assume either Moz is very upset, as Mike Joyce will recieve yet another paycheck, at the re re re re re release of these same songs that saved our lives, or he is at this point just wanting to cash in.

Flame away.

Coyle

6 CDs? Hmmm, let me think...

Remastered versions of all of their original UK studio LPs/compilations:

The Smiths
Hatful of Hollow
Meat is Murder
The Queen is Dead
The World Won't Listen
Strangeways, Here We Come

I'm guessing, there'll be nothing unreleased included here.

Wish list;

-The boxset will contain all Smiths remaster lp song plus rarities, live, outake and never seen before photos.

-With full backup from all the Smiths members. They will also write the linear notes.

-After the boxset there will be reunion of Marr and Morrissey, probably the Smiths.

-Legacy edition of every album just like what The Cure did.

The moment we've all been waiting for. Marr did say there should be a boxset - but why is it on Warners? He was so disgusted at "The Very Best Of" that he said it had to go out on another label. And ANOTHER Greatest Hits? For fuck's sake! There should only ever have been one - Singles.

I suppose there is opportunity for other Smiths compilations though. How about a complete b-sides collection - that includes those songs never compiled on album before like "Jeane", "Wonderful Woman", "I Keep Mine Hidden" etc plus the live b-sides. And I wondered if the BBC would ever do a complete Smiths radio sessions album with all the missing sessions that weren't included on "Hatful". Why not? They release loads of sessions albums and did ones for Jesus & Mary Chain and The Pixies. I hope this boxset has all those saught after rarities, but being on the dreaded WARNERS I wouldn't hold my BREATH. Isn't the excellent Rhino a subsidiary of Warners? Maybe they could put it out on there.

Smiths
Hatful
Meat Is Murder
Queen Is Dead
World Won't Listen
Strangeways

Seeing as though it'll be released around the same time as a new Best Of..., I'm not going to hold my breath for anything we've not heard before. That said, it would be particularly shameful if a new single CD compilation retrod the same ground that the Best..., Singles and Very Best Of CDs already had. Maybe there's the odd rarity that Moz & Marr will consent to the release of?

For the box set, the very, very least that they could do is add B-sides to the albums. And even that would be disappointing. There is potentially an absolutely killer box set waiting to be compiled, and if only the powers that be could be arsed to even try and do it properly, we could put an end to this endless stream of half-baked compilations every five years or so and have a piece of work that will fly from the shelves initially, and that people will keep buying in drips and drabs for years to come.

I love the idea of a box sett but do we really NEED another greatest hits package....The onky way i would buy it if Marr & Mozz went into the studio and re-recorded all the singles again...ala the rumour of the new Guns'n roses band covering the whole Appitite album.

Since each album is less than 80 min, each cd for the 4 main albums shoud have everything else from the period. then another with unreleased and peel sessions and things of the sort. the 6th one should have rank, but with the 8 missing songs they played that evening... al remastered, of course

This will be the best music release of 2006, and by some way, but only if done properly. My ideal box set would be:

Disc 1 : Troy Tate album
Disc 2: All unreleased Jensen, Peel and Long sessions, some of which are fantastic
Disc 3: B-sided and instrumentals
Disc 4: Unreleased rarities
Disc 5: A 'new' live recording from one of the best Smiths live bootlegs - i.e. a superior version of 'Rank'
Disc 6 - DVD of live show plus interviews

Artwork by Morrissey.

Now THAT would be something.

I'm sure many of us don't really remember the $16.99 we spent on these albums 12 years ago, and since we still listen constantly, it would be worth it to purchase them again with remastered sound. After hearing the "Very best of..." quality, and knowing they can do even better, it's worth it. Even to put a Smiths song on a compilation is unfair to it, because the levels are much lower than an average album. Same as my Dead Kennedys and Doors CDs. Remastering is a good thing, now that they know how to do it well !
See Bowies "Man Who Sold The World" Remaster. Vunderfull.

-Man of Vision

The idea sounds interesting. A Smiths box set is long overdue. I hope there is a DVD with a live concert. I don't give a crap about interviews and videos. I nice, live Smiths concert on DVD would be enough for me to buy.
thetexasbloke

Dear Friends and Fans-

I am simply here to write my thoughts about this snippet of a song that many of you are obsessed with (*I am obsessed with it, too*).

I know that this song is reported to be a cover (allegedly by a girl group from the 50's or 60's-???)- but I can't help but ponder the aspect of sexuality/gender orientation with regard to this song.

Has anyone else seen the movie or read the play "The Boys in the Band"- this is a gay classic, and the first movie in America to feature all-gay characters. (The movie is not that good, by the way)- but the play is pretty astounding for it's time!!!

In the play/movie, a birthday party is being planned and attended before the audience- and one of the birthday presents for the guest of honour is... a boy!

Actually, this is quite shocking for it's time. One of the attendees had arranged for a very young male hustler (dressed as a cowboy- a midnight cowboy)- to knock on the door at 12 midnight as a gag-gift for the guest of honor.

Does anyone else see a remote connection here- please respond only with your honest remarks if you have read the play or have seen this movie.

Maybe I am really off my rocker, but the play is written very sadly and earnestly- and the male hustler (a boy for a birthday present)- is stunning and still a bit controversial.

Always-

Ken S.

I would only buy the box set if there is a tour to support.

Marr has said in Interviews that he wanted to leave The Smiths in the past.

...and this is what I came up with (never finished the tracklisting, nevermind the box itself, though...)

CD1: ALTERNATIVE MIXES

    2:59 Ask (single version)
    3:48 Barbarism begins at home (edit)
    3:17 The boy with the thorn in his side (single version)
    2:59 Hand in glove (with Sandie Shaw)
    3:45 The headmaster ritual (Phil Brown edit)
    7:06 How soon is now? (alternate take)
    3:53 How soon is now? (Phil Brown edit)
    3:09 Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me (edited)
    3:35 Pretty girls make graves (early cello version)
    3:01 Some girls are bigger than others (edit from German single)
    3:14 Some girls are bigger than others (no fade-in)
    3:32 Stop me if you think you've heard this one before (European single mix)
    2:44 Stretch out and wait (different take)
    3:49 That joke isn't funny anymore (edit)
    2:45 This charming man (London)
    5:33 This charming man (New York)
    4:17 This charming man (New York instrumental)
    3:10 What difference does it make? (single edit)
    2:09 Work is a four letter word (edited)

CD2: COMPLETE JOHN PEEL AND DAVID JENSEN SESSIONS + LIVE

    2:46 Handsome devil (John Peel 31/5/83)
    5:50 Reel around the fountain (John Peel 31/5/83)
    4:33 Miserable lie (John Peel 31/5/83)
    3:10 What difference does it make? (John Peel 31/5/83)
        Hand in glove (David Jensen 4/7/83)
    2:33 These things take time (David Jensen 4/7/83)
    4:18 You've got everything now (David Jensen 4/7/83)
        Wonderful woman (David Jensen 4/7/83)
    4:02 Accept Yourself (David Jensen 5/9/83)
    4:16 I don't owe you anything (David Jensen 5/9/83)
    3:35 Pretty girls make graves (David Jensen 5/9/83)
    6:09 Reel around the fountain (David Jensen 5/9/83)
    2:42 This charming man (John Peel 21/9/83)
    3:03 Back to the old house (John Peel 21/9/83)
    3:39 This night has opened my eyes (John Peel 21/9/83)
    3:36 Still ill (John Peel 21/9/83)
    2:04 William it was really nothing (John Peel 9/8/84)
    2:39 Nowhere fast (John Peel 9/8/84)
    4:04 Rusholme ruffians (John Peel 9/8/84)
        How soon is now? (John Peel 9/8/84)
    3:04 Is it really so strange? (John Peel 17/12/86)
    2:06 London (John Peel 17/12/86)
    3:28 Half a person (John Peel 17/12/86)
    3:34 Sweet and tender hooligan (John Peel 17/12/86)

CD3: B-SIDES

    3:03 Jeane
    1:57 I keep mine hidden
    4:40 Money changes everything
    3:26 Oscillate wildly
    2:45 Work is a four letter word
    3:07 Wonderful woman
    3:55 Accept yourself
        The draize train

CD4: LIVE

    2:54 Girl afraid (live in Glasgow 2/3/84)
    2:48 Hand in glove (live London 29/6/83)
    2:53 Handsome devil (live Manchester 4/2/83)
    5:54 Meat is murder (live Oxford 18/3/85)
    4:27 Miserable lie (live Oxford 18/3/85)
    2:31 Nowhere fast (live Oxford 18/3/85)
    2:12 Shakespeare's Sister (live Oxford 18/3/85)
    2:12 Shakespeare's Sister (live Hollywood Palladium 27/6/85)
    5:03 Some girls are bigger than others (live London 12/12/86

rather than another 'Best of' would be for The Smiths to take another crack at a live album, but get it right this time.

apologies to those who lov their copy of 'Rank', but it is about as bad a live album as The Smiths couldve produced. the production is hollow, the setlist is butchered and the performances are not theyre best.

iwould lov to see The Smiths go back through the tapes to pull together a 'Best of Live' so to speak in the way that Nirvana did with 'From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah' or Guns N Roses did with 'GNR Live Era'. find all of the best live takes from their recorded live performances over the years to compile something that is representative of their entire career span, including perhaps the performances of Smiths tracks from the Wolverhampton gig ["Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before", "Sweet And Tender Hooligan" and "Death At One's Elbow"].
a double album of this sort, well selected and produced would be something defintely worth having.

I think the addition of Marr's post-Smith's work should be just as relevant to Smith's fans as Moz's. Granted, not as wildly popular or as well received as Moz's, Marr's ventures into music has shown a determination to be more than a receiver of The Smith's catalog checks. Hope still flickers within me that the long awaited Marr/Morrissey project will materialize. If The Eagles could wait for hell to freeze over, and Page-Plant can perform again then a partial reunion is possible, if not probable. Cheers...

The best thing Morrissey ever did was to get back recording and touring so quickly after the demise of The Smiths. Marr really stiched him up with EMI in those days and it is to Morrissey's great credit - as a person and as a musician - that he worked so hard at EMI, to turn around what could have developed into a really shocking contractual situation (battle.)

I can say that I am really happy, thankful and grateful that Morrissey had the courage to go out on his own after Marr kicked him so hard. Morrissey now has a back-catalogue that is the envy of all his hero's. In addition, in 2005, he has a great band and he has Boz.

Marr is still a great guitarist, but I do wonder now whether he looks back on this with regret. Recently heading what could be classed at best as a sad and decrepid 4th division band (that were The Healers) and previously as a session musician with no control on the overall outcome of his performances - many of which have been at his best - but shielded behind unremarkable middle-of-the-road pop (or pap.)

In a quiet moment, many years ago, it was shuddering to think how successful The Smiths could have been, on and off the stage - even with the worst efforts of Sire to assist them in this task - but, of course, we were never able to consider this as the opportunities quickly disolved at the end, just as the band were getting stonger, the arrangements more polished and production comparable to the very best studio recordings.

It would be impossible to improve anything on the last two vinyl releases. If this publication is designed to keep Marr going, in his home studio, recording and playing music for the new few years, then I would be more than happy to support him with this, however, this release shall not be at the expense of The Smiths' legacy.

Excluding Rank which I think is an excellent live album I'd have to agree with your point. The entire Warner thing has been rubbish. What's the point in releasing singles packages etc when we all know the singles weren't The Smiths' best songs. Best ofs? The albums themselves are all best ofs and the compilations released while The Smiths were around are all perfect releases that won't be bettered.

You never know what's going to appear on a box set though, if they're just going to stick all the songs we already have in there and nothing else then there would be absolutely no point other than to keep The Smiths in the public eye. Every major band has a new compilation out at some time or other if only to keep a high profile.

I'd only buy the box set if it were on vinyl anyway, what are the odds on a vinyl box set being released?