A Catholic high school near Boston in 1985. A time of suicides, gymnasium humiliations, smoking for beginners, asthma attacks, and incendiary teenage infatuations. Infatuations with a girl (Allison), with a band (The Smiths) and with an album, Meat is Murder, that was so raw, so vivid and so melodic that you could cling to it like a lifeboat in a storm.

In this brilliant novella Joe Pernice tells the story of an asthmatic kid's discovery of Meat is Murder. Here is a short exceropt: One morning as I was jogging my way past the bronze plaque commemorating the deaths of one student and one motorcyclist, my necktie flapping like a windsock, Ray floored the brake pedal of his Dodge as he closed in on me. Fifty mile an hour traffic came to a screeching, nearly murderous halt behind him.

He leaned over and rolled down the passenger side window in one fluid motion. He dispensed with formalities while I marveled at the audacity of his driving and, tossing something at me, winked and said, "Here. I'm going to kill myself." He pegged the gas, leaving a surprisingly good patch of rubber for such a shitty car.

In the gutter, sugared with sand put down during the winter's last snow, I saw written in red felt ink on masking tape stuck to a smoky-clear cassette: "Smiths: Meat."

To this day, they were, their fans believe, the best band in the world. Critics and sales figures told a similar story. Yet for all their brilliance and adoration – their famously energetic live shows routinely interrupted by stage invasions – The Smiths were continually plagued by their reticence to play the game, and by the time of 1987’s Strangeways Here We Come, they had split.

Tony Fletcher's A Light That Never Goes Out - part celebration, part paean – moves from Manchester in the nineteenth-century to the present day to tell the complete story of The Smiths. The product of extensive research and unprecedented access, it will serve to confirm The Smiths as one of the most important and influential rock groups of all time.

Widely considered to be both The Smiths’ finest work and one of the greatest albums ever made, ‘The Queen Is Dead’ has cast a significant influence over subsequent generations since it was first released in the summer of 1986.

This reissue represents the first time that The Smiths’ back catalogue has been revisited in such a way. The album features several of the band’s finest moments including the title track and ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’, as well as the iconic singles ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ and ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’.

‘The Queen Is Dead’ will be released on digital and streaming formats as well as the following physical formats – all of which feature the 2017 master of the original album:

5LP box – featuring the 2017 master of the album, additional recordings and the ‘Live In Boston’ recording. Housed in lift-off box with 2 double gatefolds and 1 single sleeve pressed on 180g heavy weight vinyl.

Deluxe 3CD / 1 DVD box set – features the 2017 master of the album; additional recordings featuring demos, b-sides and alternative versions; the ‘Live In Boston’ album recorded at the Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts on 5th August 1986; and a DVD featuring the 2017 master of album in 96kHz / 24-bit PCM stereo and ‘The Queen Is Dead – A Film By Derek Jarman’.

2CD – features the 2017 master of the album; additional recordings featuring demos, b-sides and alternative versions.

TRACK LISTING

VINYL BOX SET TRACKLISTING:
LP 1 – Original Album: 2017 Master
Side A:
1. ‘The Queen Is Dead’
2. ‘Frankly, Mr. Shankly’
3. ‘I Know It’s Over’
4. ‘Never Had No One Ever’
5. ‘Cemetry Gates’

Side B:
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’

LP 2 & 3 – Additional Recordings
Side A:
1. ‘The Queen Is Dead’ (full Version)
2. ‘Frankly, Mr. Shankly’ (demo)
3. ‘I Know It’s Over’ (demo)

Side B:
4. ‘Never Had No One Ever’ (demo)
5. ‘Cemetry Gates’ (demo)
6. ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ (demo)

Side C:
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)

Side D:
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’.

LP 4 & 5 – ‘Live In Boston’ – Previously Unreleased
Side A:
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)

Side B:
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)

Side C:
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)

Side D:
12. ‘The Queen Is Dead’ (5.08)
13. ‘I Know It's Over’ (7.39)

Recorded At The Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts On 5th August 1986.

DELUXE 3CD / 1 DVD BOX SET TRACKLISTING: 
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)

Recorded At The Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts On 5th August 1986.

DVD:
‘The Queen Is Dead’ On 96kHz / 24-bit PCM Stereo.
‘The Queen Is Dead – A Film By Derek Jarman’.

2CD TRACKLISTING:
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’.

American Laundromat Records has enlisted a herd of indie-rock luminaries - including The Wedding Present, Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch, Throwing Muses co-founder Tanya Donelly, Telekinesis and William Fitzsimmons to contribute covers of 20 classic songs by The Smiths for this new tribute CD.

In a fitting touch, the label - which previously has released the compilations Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure and Dig for Fire: A Tribute to the Pixies - was able to secure a photo of ’60s U.K. pop star Sandie Shaw for the cover art; Shaw, of course, was a favourite of both Morrissey and Johnny Marr who, in 1984, covered The Smiths’ "Hand in Glove." It's an outstanding tribute to The Smiths and highly recommended.

This is 1987's sibling to 84's "Hatful Of Hollow" with 14 tracks from non-album singles compiled with one brand new song. "You just Haven't Earnt It Yet, Baby" was another sparkling jangler that was pressed as a single then pulled, whilst the other 2 curios are a new and superior version of "Stretch Out And Wait" and the original, foggier mix of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" which has much more charm (recorded in Chorlton!) than the "Queen Is Dead" version. Album singles are still featured on this comp. though, and that diluted its impact somewhat rendering "TWWL" not quite as pure an artistic statement as its sister record. Hey: still superb though!

You'll know that The Smiths were prolific: all 4 of their proper albums were released in successive calendar years. But one thing that might have got lost with time is just how many non-album singles (with brand new b-sides too) they released. A mere month after each of their first 3 albums came out, there was a one-off single already heralding the new! With "Hatful Of Hollow" (Autumn 1984) there had been 2 twelve-inches (5 brand new tracks) since the debut album in March and the idea was to put these and the much loved BBC Sessions songs on one cheaply priced record. As some fans (and Morrissey too) had misgivings about the production of the debut, this was a good way to let people hear what many consider to be better versions. One of these songs was the incredible "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" which was never properly recorded by the band and is only available on this disc.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: The dream has gone but the music is real!!

Whilst nearly all of The Smiths themselves cite this as their favourite album, in reality it couldn't quite match the splendour and indeed songs, of "The Queen Is Dead". It has a subdued, more mysterious and rock-classicist flavour and again introduces song types not to be found elsewhere: they seldom repeated themselves The Smiths. The enormo anthem here is the heartrending, absolutely beautiful "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", but the whole record flows in an utterly compelling way. There's only one weakish track ("Death At One's Elbow" is intentionally daft and trashy) and when that's followed by the gorgeous "I Won't Share You" well you'd be a fool to complain. This was their final album together. The spell was broken. The dream was over!

Only a year after their debut, 1985's follow-up was a huge leap forward for The Smiths. Soundwise, definitely: tighter, louder, clearer, more rocking, and in opener "The Headmaster Ritual", and weepie "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" they had two more top draw classics to add to their canon. There were different types of song on display here, whether it's the Elvis-cribbing, super atmospheric, cyclical scene setter of "Rusholme Ruffians", the rock overloaded hurtle of "What She Said" or the churning, jarring horror of the title track, here was a completely unique band expanding their template.

One of the greatest albums of all time, but then you don't need me to tell you that! Again there were surprises: the sprawling power of the title track, the vaudevillian jokiness and throwaway lightness of "Frankly Mr. Shankly" and "Vicar In a Tutu" respectively, the swaying poise and drama of "I Know It's Over" and the murky psychedelia of "Never Had No-one Never". These tunes rung the changes but the remaining 5 were world classics: "Bigmouth Strikes Again", "Cemetry Gates", "The Boy with the Thorn in his Side", "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" and, of course "There is a Light That Never Goes Out". The whole thing was perfectly sequenced to take you on a proper musical journey. A truly beautiful record.

This was initially an America-only release, combining all the non-album singles The Smiths had released up until that point. It's "Hatful Of Hollow" (without the BBC stuff) and "The World Won't Listen" combined and beautifully sequenced onto what was originally a lovely double album. There was one new 3 track twelve-inch released after "World" in England though: "Sheila Take A Bow" and its superior b-sides "Is It Really So Strange?" and "Sweet And Tender Hooligan" are on "Louder Than Bombs", as is an ever so slightly different mix of "You Just Haven't Earnt It Yet, Baby". U.K fans didn't need this record, but we all bought it anyway, for the sleeve and the sequencing. Sad but true!

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: The sun shines out of their behinds!

This was a live album recorded in London on "The Queen Is Dead" tour, around the time that the "Ask" single was released in the autumn of 1986. The rockier version of that song here makes amends for the jangle-lite softness of the original. Elsewhere, Elvis's "His Latest Flame" segues into "Rusholme Ruffians" and "What She Said" spills into the outro of "Rubber Ring". Oddities aside, this album captures The Smiths during the 6 months when Craig Gannon was in the band as an extra guitarist. This allowed Johnny Marr to rock out and relax: something you wouldn't really associate The Smiths with. But here's the proof. Live, they were an explosion, a raucous celebration, and certainly (whisper it: FUN!) There was very little time for navel-gazing at a Smiths gig. This album captures that. With some aplomb. Rock on!

There was so much excitement and expectation around The Smiths' debut in early 1984. They were only two singles in but had already made a massive media splash with Morrissey's hilariously arrogant interviews. There'd been BBC Sessions and fans already knew all the words, riotously passionate gigs and much talk of the band coming to SAVE POP MUSIC from plastic, vacuous Eighties glitz; an Us and Them climate where you were either a disciple or not! In the midst of all this the actual record got lost somewhat, but three quarters of it is still outstanding. Nowhere else will you find "Miserable Lie", "I Don't Owe You Anything", "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" or "Suffer Little Children", but in "Reel Around the Fountain", "Hand in Glove", "Still Ill" and "What Difference does it Make" the band crafted classics that would last forever.

One of a pair of postcards featuring classic Smiths photographs by Stephen Wright, produced to coincide with the mini exhibition of his Smiths photos on show in the shop right now.

One of a pair of postcards featuring classic Smiths photographs by Stephen Wright, produced to coincide with the mini exhibition of his Smiths photos on show in the shop right now.

Visit Stephen's website to see more of his iconic Smiths photos.