The Smiths – The Sound Of The Smiths (Deluxe) (2 disc edition) is the definitive career-spanning compilation from one of the most important guitar bands to emerge from Manchester, available here on CD through Warner.
The Smiths and Why They Still Matter
Formed in Manchester in the early 1980s, The Smiths built their reputation on a specific and unlikely chemistry: Morrissey’s literate, often sardonic vocals set against Johnny Marr’s richly layered, melodically inventive guitar work, anchored by bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. That combination produced a body of work released primarily on Rough Trade Records that continues to resonate with successive generations of listeners. The band never diluted their approach for commercial convenience, and the catalogue reflects that. This compilation draws a straight line from their debut Rough Trade 7 inch, “Hand In Glove”, through to the posthumous single “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”, covering the full arc of a relatively short but remarkably focused career.
What The Sound Of The Smiths (Deluxe) (2 Disc Edition) Contains
Originally released on 10 November 2008, this collection was a considered project from the start. Morrissey is credited with coining the title, and Johnny Marr was directly involved in the mastering. Disc one presents 23 tracks built around the singles run, including genuine radio hits like “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”, “How Soon Is Now”, “Panic” and “Girlfriend In A Coma”. It also reinstates tracks scheduled but never officially released as singles, including “Still Ill” and “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby”, alongside European-only releases such as “Barbarism Begins At Home” and “The Headmaster Ritual”. Disc two is where the serious collectors lean in. The additional 22 tracks pull from rare B-sides, material exclusive to 12 inch releases, and selected live recordings. Highlights include the Troy Tate produced version of “Pretty Girls Make Graves”, a live cover of “What’s The World” by fellow Manchester band James, recorded at Barrowlands in Glasgow and originally issued only on a cassette single, and the live “Meat Is Murder” taken from the vinyl 12 inch of “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”.
Who Should Pick This Up
If you already own the studio albums, disc two is the real reason this set earns its place. The Troy Tate produced material represents an alternate early sound that never made the final cut for the debut LP, and the Barrowlands live recording carries the kind of specific context that compilations rarely bother to preserve. This is a Warner pressing with proper involvement from the band’s core members in its production, which matters. For anyone building a thorough Smiths collection or looking for a single physical object that covers the breadth of what the band released, this double disc edition does the job without shortcuts.
