Complete | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Box set by | ||||
Released | 26 September 2011 | |||
Recorded | 1983–1987 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, indie pop | |||
Length | 404:38 | |||
Label | Rhino Entertainment | |||
Producer | Various | |||
The Smiths chronology | ||||
|
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 89/100 [1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Filter | 96% [3] |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10 [4] |
The Independent | [5] |
Mojo | 80/100 [6] |
PopMatters | 8/10 [7] |
Spectrum Culture | [8] |
Complete is a box set compilation by English rock band the Smiths, released by Rhino Records on 26 September 2011. The standard CD and LP versions contain the band's four studio albums The Smiths (with "This Charming Man" added as per the original US release), Meat Is Murder , The Queen Is Dead and Strangeways, Here We Come , their only live album Rank and the three compilation albums released while the band were still active– Hatful of Hollow , The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs –on eight CDs or eight LPs. A deluxe version contains those eight albums on both CD and LP formats, as well as 25 seven-inch vinyl singles and a DVD.
The box's liner notes state that "each album has been taken back to original tape sources and remastered by master-engineer Frank Arkwright, assisted by Johnny Marr at the Metropolis Studios in London". The discs in the CD version are presented in miniature vinyl replica sleeves, including the restored The World Won't Listen artwork. The project was managed by Gary Lancaster, who also worked on Total: From Joy Division to New Order and several other Warner Music Group releases.
Of the reissued albums, which were also released separately on both CD and vinyl, Marr said, "I'm very happy that the remastered versions of the Smiths albums are finally coming out. I wanted to get them sounding right and remove any processing so that they now sound as they did when they were originally made. I'm pleased with the results." [9]
The cover art features an image of four unknown women at a fairground, taken by German photographer Jürgen Vollmer in the early 1960s. The band first used the photograph on the back cover of The World Won't Listen, singer Morrissey feeling the girls looked like the band members themselves. [10]
Despite its name, this remastered compilation is not a truly complete source of Smiths recordings, as several officially released songs are missing on both the standard CDs and LPs. These include:
The "deluxe version" of the box set contains several of these tracks as part of the 7-inch vinyl set, but is still missing several studio and live tracks.[ citation needed ]
All songs written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr, except:
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Reel Around the Fountain" | 5:58 |
2. | "You've Got Everything Now" | 3:59 |
3. | "Miserable Lie" | 4:29 |
4. | "Pretty Girls Make Graves" | 3:24 |
5. | "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" | 4:38 |
6. | "This Charming Man" | 2:52 |
7. | "Still Ill" | 3:23 |
8. | "Hand in Glove" | 3:25 |
9. | "What Difference Does It Make?" | 3:51 |
10. | "I Don't Owe You Anything" | 4:05 |
11. | "Suffer Little Children" | 5:28 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Headmaster Ritual" | 4:52 |
2. | "Rusholme Ruffians" | 4:20 |
3. | "I Want the One I Can't Have" | 3:14 |
4. | "What She Said" | 2:42 |
5. | "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" | 4:59 |
6. | "Nowhere Fast" | 2:37 |
7. | "Well I Wonder" | 4:00 |
8. | "Barbarism Begins at Home" | 6:57 |
9. | "Meat Is Murder" | 6:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Queen Is Dead" | 6:24 |
2. | "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" | 2:17 |
3. | "I Know It's Over" | 5:48 |
4. | "Never Had No One Ever" | 3:36 |
5. | "Cemetry Gates" | 2:39 |
6. | "Bigmouth Strikes Again" | 3:12 |
7. | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" | 3:15 |
8. | "Vicar in a Tutu" | 2:21 |
9. | "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" | 4:02 |
10. | "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" | 3:14 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" | 3:00 |
2. | "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" | 3:47 |
3. | "Death of a Disco Dancer" | 5:26 |
4. | "Girlfriend in a Coma" | 2:03 |
5. | "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" | 3:32 |
6. | "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" | 5:03 |
7. | "Unhappy Birthday" | 2:46 |
8. | "Paint a Vulgar Picture" | 5:35 |
9. | "Death at One's Elbow" | 2:01 |
10. | "I Won't Share You" | 2:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Queen Is Dead" | 4:11 |
2. | "Panic" | 3:07 |
3. | "Vicar in a Tutu" | 2:40 |
4. | "Ask" | 3:12 |
5. | "His Latest Flame / Rusholme Ruffians (Medley)" | 3:55 |
6. | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" | 3:47 |
7. | "Rubber Ring / What She Said (Medley)" | 3:41 |
8. | "Is It Really So Strange?" | 3:45 |
9. | "Cemetry Gates" | 2:50 |
10. | "London" | 2:38 |
11. | "I Know It's Over" | 7:49 |
12. | "The Draize Train" | 4:23 |
13. | "Still Ill" | 4:09 |
14. | "Bigmouth Strikes Again" | 5:51 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | 2:09 |
2. | "What Difference Does It Make? (John Peel session, 18 May 1983)" | 3:11 |
3. | "These Things Take Time (David Jensen session, 26 June 1983)" | 2:32 |
4. | "This Charming Man (John Peel session, 14 September 1983)" | 2:42 |
5. | "How Soon Is Now?" | 6:44 |
6. | "Handsome Devil (John Peel session, 18 May 1983)" | 2:47 |
7. | "Hand in Glove (single version)" | 3:13 |
8. | "Still Ill (John Peel session, 14 September 1983)" | 3:32 |
9. | "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" | 3:33 |
10. | "This Night Has Opened My Eyes (John Peel session, 14 September 1983)" | 3:39 |
11. | "You've Got Everything Now (David Jensen session, 26 June 1983)" | 4:18 |
12. | "Accept Yourself (David Jensen session, 25 August 1983)" | 4:01 |
13. | "Girl Afraid" | 2:48 |
14. | "Back to the Old House (John Peel session, 14 September 1983)" | 3:02 |
15. | "Reel Around the Fountain (John Peel session, 18 May 1983)" | 5:51 |
16. | "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" | 1:50 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Panic" | 2:21 |
2. | "Ask" | 3:15 |
3. | "London" | 2:07 |
4. | "Bigmouth Strikes Again" | 3:13 |
5. | "Shakespeare's Sister" | 2:08 |
6. | "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" | 4:05 |
7. | "Shoplifters of the World Unite" | 2:58 |
8. | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (Album version; original release included the single version) | 3:16 |
9. | "Money Changes Everything" | 4:43 |
10. | "Asleep" | 4:10 |
11. | "Unloveable" | 3:56 |
12. | "Half a Person" | 3:36 |
13. | "Stretch Out and Wait (alternate vocal)" | 2:45 |
14. | "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore (single version)" | 3:49 |
15. | "Oscillate Wildly" | 3:26 |
16. | "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby (UK mix)" | 3:32 |
17. | "Rubber Ring" | 3:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Is It Really So Strange? (John Peel session, 12/2/86)" | 3:04 |
2. | "Sheila Take a Bow" | 2:41 |
3. | "Shoplifters of the World Unite" | 2:57 |
4. | "Sweet and Tender Hooligan (John Peel session, 12/2/86)" | 3:35 |
5. | "Half a Person" | 3:36 |
6. | "London" | 2:07 |
7. | "Panic" | 2:20 |
8. | "Girl Afraid" | 2:48 |
9. | "Shakespeare's Sister" | 2:09 |
10. | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | 2:11 |
11. | "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (Original UK mix; original release included an alternate US mix) | 3:34 |
12. | "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" | 3:34 |
13. | "Ask" | 3:18 |
14. | "Golden Lights" | 2:39 |
15. | "Oscillate Wildly" | 3:27 |
16. | "These Things Take Time" | 2:23 |
17. | "Rubber Ring" | 3:48 |
18. | "Back to the Old House" | 3:05 |
19. | "Hand in Glove (Single Version)" | 3:13 |
20. | "Stretch Out and Wait (Original Version)" | 2:38 |
21. | "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" | 1:52 |
22. | "This Night Has Opened My Eyes (John Peel Session, 9/14/83)" | 3:40 |
23. | "Unlovable" | 3:55 |
24. | "Asleep" | 4:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Hand in Glove / Handsome Devil (Live at the Hacienda, Manchester 1983)" | |
2. | "Reel Around the Fountain (Troy Tate Reel) / Jeane" | |
3. | "This Charming Man / Jeane" | |
4. | "What Difference Does It Make? / Back to the Old House" | |
5. | "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now / Suffer Little Children" | |
6. | "William, It Was Really Nothing / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" | |
7. | "How Soon Is Now? / Well I Wonder" | |
8. | "Shakespeare's Sister / What She Said" | |
9. | "Barbarism Begins at Home / Shakespeare's Sister" | |
10. | "The Headmaster Ritual / Oscillate Wildly" | |
11. | "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore / Meat Is Murder (Live)" | |
12. | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side / Asleep" | |
13. | "Bigmouth Strikes Again / Money Changes Everything" | |
14. | "Panic / Vicar in a Tutu" | |
15. | "Ask / Cemetry Gates" | |
16. | "Shoplifters of the World Unite / Half a Person" | |
17. | "Sheila Take a Bow / Is It Really So Strange?" | |
18. | "Girlfriend in a Coma / Work Is a Four-Letter Word" | |
19. | "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish / Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Version)" | |
20. | "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me / Rusholme Ruffians (John Peel Version)" | |
21. | "Sweet and Tender Hooligan / I Keep Mine Hidden" (Previously unreleased version [11] ) | |
22. | "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out / Half a Person" | |
23. | "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others / The Draize Train" | |
24. | "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before / Girlfriend in a Coma" | |
25. | "William, It Was Really Nothing / How Soon Is Now?" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "This Charming Man" | |
2. | "What Difference Does It Make?" | |
3. | "Panic" | |
4. | "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" | |
5. | "Ask" | |
6. | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" | |
7. | "How Soon Is Now?" | |
8. | "Shoplifters of the World Unite" | |
9. | "Girlfriend in a Coma" | |
10. | "Sheila Take a Bow" | |
11. | "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" |
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [13] | 81 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [14] | 91 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [15] | 75 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [16] | 64 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [17] | 79 |
UK Albums (OCC) [18] | 63 |
The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, composed of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). Morrissey and Marr formed the band’s songwriting partnership. The Smiths are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British independent music.
The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 16 June 1986, by Rough Trade Records. The album was produced by the band's singer, Morrissey, and their guitarist, Johnny Marr, working predominantly with engineer Stephen Street who engineered the Smiths' previous album, Meat Is Murder (1985). Marr wrote several songs while the Smiths toured Britain in early 1985, working out arrangements with bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce during soundchecks. The album title is taken from American writer Hubert Selby Jr.'s 1964 novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn. The cover art features the French actor Alain Delon in the 1964 film L'Insoumis.
Hatful of Hollow is a compilation album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 12 November 1984 by Rough Trade Records. The album features tracks from BBC Radio 1 sessions, their first single "Hand in Glove" and two new singles and their B-sides. It was eventually released in the United States on 9 November 1993 by Sire Records, who had initially declined to release the album in the US. Sire instead released Louder Than Bombs in the US in 1987—which is effectively a hybrid of Hatful of Hollow and a subsequent UK compilation album The World Won't Listen plus some tracks which do not appear on either.
The Smiths is the debut studio album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 20 February 1984 by Rough Trade Records. After the original production by Troy Tate was felt to be inadequate, John Porter re-recorded the album in London, Manchester and Stockport during breaks in the band's UK tour during September 1983.
Rank is the only official live album by English band The Smiths. It was released a year after the band’s breakup, in September 1988, through Rough Trade Records, and reached No. 2 in the British charts. In the United States, the album was released on Sire Records and made No. 77.
The World Won't Listen is a compilation album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 23 February 1987 by Rough Trade Records. The album is the second of three compilation albums—the others being Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs—released by the Smiths while they were still an active band. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the charts for 15 weeks. In the United States Louder Than Bombs was released in place of The World Won't Listen.
Louder Than Bombs is a compilation album by English rock band the Smiths, released as a double album in March 1987 by their American record company, Sire Records. It peaked at number 62 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. Popular demand prompted their British record company, Rough Trade, to issue the album domestically as well. Upon its release in the UK in May 1987, it reached No. 38 on the British charts. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 365 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and ranked No. 369 on a 2012 revised list. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1990.
Best... I is a compilation album by the Smiths. It was released in August 1992 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart; it reached No. 139 on the US Billboard 200. Warner UK used a photograph taken by actor Dennis Hopper titled "Biker Couple, 1961" for the artwork of the two 1992 "best of" compilations by The Smiths.
...Best II is a compilation album by the Smiths. It was released on November 2, 1992, by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. Its highest British chart position was #29; it did not chart in the U.S.
Singles is the seventh compilation album by the English rock band the Smiths, pitched as a compilation of previously issued singles. It was released in February 1995 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. Its highest British chart position was #5; it did not chart in the United States. Blender magazine listed the album among the "500 CDs You Must Own" on their website.
The Very Best of The Smiths is a compilation album by English rock band The Smiths. It was released in June 2001 by WEA in Europe, without consent or input from the band. It reached number 30 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was not released in the United States.
"Panic" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, released in 1986 and written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. The first recording to feature new member Craig Gannon, "Panic" bemoans the state of contemporary pop music, exhorting listeners to "burn down the disco" and "hang the DJ" in retaliation. The song was released by Rough Trade as a single and reached No. 7 on the Irish Singles Chart and No. 11 in the UK Chart. Morrissey considered the song's appearance on daytime British radio a "tiny revolution" in its own way, as it aired amongst the very music it criticised.
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and lead vocalist Morrissey. Featured on the band's third studio album The Queen Is Dead (1986), it was not released as a single in the United Kingdom until 1992, five years after their split, to promote the compilation album ...Best II. It peaked at No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 22 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song has received considerable critical acclaim; in 2014, NME listed it as the 12th-greatest song of all time. In 2021, it was ranked at No. 226 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
"This Charming Man" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Released as the group's second single in October 1983 on the independent record label Rough Trade, it is defined by Marr's jangle pop guitar riff and Morrissey's characteristically morose lyrics, which revolve around the recurrent Smiths themes of sexual ambiguity and lust. A different version, from the John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1, was included on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow in 1984.
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is a 1989 song by British vocalist Morrissey.
"Hand in Glove" is the debut single by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was released in May 1983 on independent record label Rough Trade. It peaked at No. 3 on the UK Indie Chart but did not make the top 75 of the UK Singles Chart, settling outside at No. 124.
"Sheila Take a Bow" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Featuring a glam rock-style beat and guitar riff, the song was originally planned to feature Sandie Shaw on backing vocals, but Shaw's distaste for the song and Morrissey's illness during her session resulted in the vocals not being used.
The Sound of The Smiths is a Smiths compilation released on 10 November 2008. It is available as both single and double disc editions. Morrissey is credited with having coined the compilation's title, while Johnny Marr was involved in the project's mastering. Early promotional material for the album originally saw it titled Hang the DJ: The Very Best of the Smiths, but this was changed for the final release.
The Beatles in Mono is a boxed set compilation comprising the remastered monaural recordings by the Beatles. The set was released on compact disc on 9 September 2009, the same day the remastered stereo recordings and companion The Beatles were also released, along with The Beatles: Rock Band video game. The remastering project for both mono and stereo versions was led by EMI senior studio engineers Allan Rouse and Guy Massey.
"How Soon Is Now?" is a song by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Originally a B-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing", "How Soon Is Now?" was subsequently featured on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow and on US, Canadian, Australian, and Warner UK editions of Meat Is Murder. Belatedly released as a single in the UK in 1985, it reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 1992, it reached No. 16.