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Depending on your count, The Sound of the Smiths is the third or fourth posthumous Smiths compilation -- a number that may be a bit excessive considering the group's rather concise catalog, containing just four studio albums and singles rounded up on three singles compilations (and two of those covered the same essential territory, too). That's a lot of repetition but whether it's taken in either its single-disc or double-disc deluxe editions, The Sound of the Smiths is the best of these posthumous overviews. The single-disc -- which is the first disc of the deluxe set -- is the hits disc, containing every cut from the 18-track 1995 compilation Singles and expanding it with five cuts all dating from the mid-'80s: "Still Ill," "Nowhere Fast," "Barbarism Begins at Home," "The Headmaster Ritual," and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby." As a Smiths-basics goes, it's first-rate, an introduction and summary that's compulsively listenable. The second disc on the deluxe The Sound of the Smiths splits the difference between a rarities compilation and a "more of the best" collection of album tracks, rounding up non-LP singles and B-sides like "Jeane," "Wonderful Woman," "Money Changes Everything," and the New York Vocal version of "This Charming Man," live versions of "Handsome Devil," "Meat Is Murder," "What's the World?" and "London," the Troy Tate demo of "Pretty Girls Make Graves," and a bunch of great Smiths songs including a hefty chunk of The Queen Is Dead. It falls short of being the long-awaited collection of Smiths rarities, the absence of which remains a mystery, but it's the best stab at one to date and a pretty entertaining listen in its own right.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Neil King, Engineer - Phil Bush, Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - Engineered by Phil Bush & Neil King, Engineer - Produced by John Porter from the original single version, Producer - MORRISSEY, Writer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983 BBC Enterprises Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Neil King, Engineer - Phil Bush, Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Bob Potter, Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Mandolin, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Engineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Cello, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Engineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Engineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Tim Young, Masterer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Piano, Writer, Remastering Engineer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - The Hated Salford Ensemble, Orchestra
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - Ann Coates, Backing Vocals
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Slide Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Craig Gannon, Rhythm Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Steve Lillywhite, Mixer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Additional Vocals - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Craig Gannon, Rhythm Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Slide Guitar - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer, Strings Arranger - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Strings Arranger - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums, Percussion
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Drum Programmer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums, Percussion
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer, Sound Effects (SFX) - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Geoff Travis, ExecutiveProducer - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - Troy Tate, Producer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Roger Pusey, Producer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Tim Young, Masterer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - FRANCOIS KEVORKIAN, Remix - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Engineer - Geoff Travis, ExecutiveProducer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - Billy Inglot, Remastering Engineer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1983, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Mandolin, Writer - Bill Inglot, Remastering Engineer, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1984, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums, Tambourine
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - Andy Rourke, Cello, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Piano, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - STEPHEN STREET, Engineer - The Smiths, Producer, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985 British Broadcasting Company, Licensed Courtesy of BBC Studios
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - Johnny Marr , Producer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1985, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - Bill Inglot, Remastering Engineer, MasteringEngineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Dave Schultz, MasteringEngineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986, 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar - STEPHEN STREET, Engineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Bennett Scott, Writer - Allan James Mills, Writer - Fred Godfrey, Writer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1986 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Frank Arkwright, Remastering Engineer - Craig Gannon, Rhythm Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Writer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 BBC Enterprises Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals, Writer - JOHN PORTER, Producer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Neil King, Engineer - Phil Bush, Engineer - Mike Joyce, Drums - Troy Tate, Producer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Producer, Guitar, Writer, Remastering Engineer - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Mike Joyce, Drums, Percussion
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Guitar - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Vocals - Jim Glennie, Writer - Andy Rourke, Bass Guitar - Grant Showbiz, Producer - Tim Booth, Writer - Paul Gilbertson, Writer - Gavan Whelan, Writer - Mike Joyce, Drums
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1987 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Johnny Marr, Writer - The Smiths, MainArtist - MORRISSEY, Writer
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 1988 BBC Enterprises Ltd.
Album review
Depending on your count, The Sound of the Smiths is the third or fourth posthumous Smiths compilation -- a number that may be a bit excessive considering the group's rather concise catalog, containing just four studio albums and singles rounded up on three singles compilations (and two of those covered the same essential territory, too). That's a lot of repetition but whether it's taken in either its single-disc or double-disc deluxe editions, The Sound of the Smiths is the best of these posthumous overviews. The single-disc -- which is the first disc of the deluxe set -- is the hits disc, containing every cut from the 18-track 1995 compilation Singles and expanding it with five cuts all dating from the mid-'80s: "Still Ill," "Nowhere Fast," "Barbarism Begins at Home," "The Headmaster Ritual," and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby." As a Smiths-basics goes, it's first-rate, an introduction and summary that's compulsively listenable. The second disc on the deluxe The Sound of the Smiths splits the difference between a rarities compilation and a "more of the best" collection of album tracks, rounding up non-LP singles and B-sides like "Jeane," "Wonderful Woman," "Money Changes Everything," and the New York Vocal version of "This Charming Man," live versions of "Handsome Devil," "Meat Is Murder," "What's the World?" and "London," the Troy Tate demo of "Pretty Girls Make Graves," and a bunch of great Smiths songs including a hefty chunk of The Queen Is Dead. It falls short of being the long-awaited collection of Smiths rarities, the absence of which remains a mystery, but it's the best stab at one to date and a pretty entertaining listen in its own right.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 45 track(s)
- Total length: 02:33:31
- Main artists: The Smiths
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. ℗ 2008 Warner Music UK Ltd. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
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