More about: The Smiths
A 5LP vinyl box set is included among a slew of new editions of The Smiths' much-lauded third album
The Smiths’ 1986 classic The Queen Is Dead is getting the deluxe reissue treatment, with a newly mastered and expanded edition of the album to be released on October 20.
The record is frequently cited as the legendary group’s finest hour, and as one of the best albums of all time, but has never had such extensive reissuing treatment. The release does, however, follow two one off releases of singles drawn from the era – a demo mix of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, released for Record Store Day, and a single version of the album’s title track.
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A number of b-sides are included alongside a 2017 remaster of the album, as well as demo versions of a number of songs. A deluxe 3CD and DVD boxset will also include a Live In Boston album and a film about The Queen Is Dead by Derek Jarman.
The news has drawn quotes from both Morrissey and Johnny Marr, despite a famously fractious relationship. Says Moz: "You cannot continue to record and simply hope that your audience will approve, or that average critics will approve, or that radio will approve. You progress only when you wonder if an abnormally scientific genius would approve – and this is the leap The Smiths took with The Queen Is Dead."
Marr, ever the less wordy of the two, said simply: “The Queen Is Dead was epic to make and epic to live.” As for whether the two might ever take to the stage together once more, Morrisey quashed any rumours last summer, saying: “the issue is now so remote that the question doesn’t make sense any more.” The frontman’s early years are the subject of a controversial and unauthorised new biopic, England Is Mine, which was slammed by childhood friend James Maker as “disingenuous”, “insulting” and “historical fiction”.
Here's the tracklist:
CD1 – Original album: 2017 master
1. ‘The Queen Is Dead’
2. ‘Frankly, Mr. Shankly’
3. ‘I Know It’s Over’
4. ‘Never Had No One Ever’
5. ‘Cemetry Gates’
6. ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’
7. ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’
8. ‘Vicar In A Tutu’
9. ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’
10. ‘Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others’
CD2 – Additional recordings
1. ‘The Queen Is Dead’ (full version)
2. ‘Frankly, Mr. Shankly’ (demo)
3. ‘I Know It’s Over’ (demo)
4. ‘Never Had No One Ever’ (demo)
5. ‘Cemetry Gates’ (demo)
6. ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ (demo)
7. ‘Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others’ (demo)
8. ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ (demo mix)
9. ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ (take 1)
10. ‘Rubber Ring’ (b-side)
11. ‘Asleep’ (b-side)
12. ‘Money Changes Everything’ (b-side)
13. ‘Unloveable’ (b-side)
Tracks 1-7 and 9 are previously unreleased.
Track 8 was released on 7” for Record Store Day.
Tracks 10 and 11 are 2017 masters of b-sides from ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’.
Tracks 12 and 13 are 2017 masters of b-sides from ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’.
CD3 – ‘Live in Boston’ – previously unreleased
1. ‘How Soon Is Now?’ (5.25)
2. ‘Hand In Glove’ (2.58)
3. ‘I Want The One I Can’t Have’ (3.24)
4. ‘Never Had No One Ever’ (3.29)
5. ‘Stretch Out And Wait’ (3.09)
6. ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ (3.34)
7. ‘Cemetry Gates’ (3.01)
8. ‘Rubber Ring/What She Said/Rubber Ring’ (4.17)
9. ‘Is It Really So Strange?’ (3.23)
10. ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ (4.09)
11. ‘That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore’ (4.51)
12. ‘The Queen Is Dead’ (5.08)
13. ‘I Know It's Over’ (7.39)
More about: The Smiths
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