Smash the System: Singles and More

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Smash the System: Singles and More
Smashthesystem.jpg
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedSeptember 2001 (2xCD)
May 2005 (CD)
Recorded1990-1999
Genre Indie pop
Length146:06 (Singles and More)
63:08 (Singles 1990-99)
Label Heavenly - HVNLP32CD
Producer Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne chronology
Interlude
(2001)
Smash the System: Singles and More
(2001)
Asleep at the Wheels of Steel
(2002)
Alternative cover
STS2005.jpg
Cover of Smash the System: Singles 1990-99.
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg (re-release) [2]

Smash the System: Singles and More (2001) is a double-CD greatest hits album by Saint Etienne. The compilation samples music from most of their releases spanning the years from 1990 to 1999. Most tracks are featured in their single or edit versions with the exception of 'Join Our Club' which is a new mix as the original sounded too 'muddy'. Smash The System was also going to be the CD debut of 'Lover Plays The Bass', but the band 'forgot' to include it.

Contents

In 2005 the album was re-released as Smash the System: Singles 1990-99 containing only the singles. The newer version is only a single disc and uses a green version of the same artwork. This edition of the album replicates 13 of the 14 tracks that appear on the group's first singles album 1995's Too Young to Die – The Singles . Notable differences include the first appearance of the radio edit of "Avenue" on a Saint Etienne album, the 2001 remix of "Join Our Club", the inclusion of the US version of "Kiss and Make Up", and the omission of "I Was Born on Christmas Day". The compilation also has different shorter edits of "Sylvie" and "The Bad Photographer" that do not appear on Smash the System: Singles and More. The version of "Kiss and Make Up" also differs on both compilations, as the version featured on the 2005 edition is slightly shorter than the one included on the 2001 edition.

Track listing

2CD: Heavenly / HVNLP32CD (UK)

All tracks are written by Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated.

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Featuring Moira Lambert) Young Foxbase Alpha , 19904:29
2."Kiss and Make Up" (US Version)Wratten, HiscockFoxbase Alpha (US edition), 19915:15
3."Nothing Can Stop Us" Foxbase Alpha, 19914:20
4."Spring" Foxbase Alpha, 19913:44
5."Carnt Sleep" Foxbase Alpha, 19914:44
6."Filthy" (Featuring Q-Tee) Stanley, Wiggs, Mais You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone , 19915:33
7."Join Our Club" (2001 Remix) You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone, 19923:16
8."People Get Real" You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone, 19924:43
9."Paper" Cracknell, DeebankYou Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone, 19924:09
10."Avenue" Catt, Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs So Tough , 19927:34
11."Mario's Cafe" So Tough, 19934:38
12."You're in a Bad Way" (Single Version) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs So Tough, 19933:02
13."Archway People" You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone, 19933:26
14."Who Do You Think You Are"Dyer, Scott You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone, 19933:27
15."Hobart Paving" (Single Version) So Tough, 19934:51
16."Pale Movie" Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Tiger Bay , 19943:46
17."Hug My Soul" (Radio Edit)Batson, Cracknell, MaleTiger Bay, 19943:53
Total length:75:05
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Taken fromLength
1."Like a Motorway" (Radio Edit) Tiger Bay, 19943:41
2."Cool Kids of Death" Tiger Bay, 19945:39
3."The Process"  Continental , 19953:11
4."He's on the Phone" (Featuring Etienne Daho) (Radio Edit) Cracknell, Daho, Stanley, Wiggs Continental, 19954:07
5."Angel" (Way Out West radio edit) "Angel / Burnt Out Car" promo release, 19964:09
6."Burnt Out Car" (Balearico mix) Continental, 19964:19
7."Shad Thames" Continental, 19973:33
8."Wood Cabin" Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Good Humor , 19984:07
9."Sylvie" (Radio Edit) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Good Humor, 19984:01
10."Lose That Girl" Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Good Humor, 19984:03
11."The Bad Photographer" (Radio Mix) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Good Humor, 19983:59
12."Goodnight Jack" (Edit) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Good Humor, 19984:37
13."Madeleine" Cracknell, Wiggs "The Bad Photographer" single, 19983:59
14."4.35 in the Morning" (Kid Loco Mix) Cracknell, Waterfield"The Bad Photographer" single, 19984:37
15."Jack Lemmon"  The Misadventures of Saint Etienne , 19994:20
16."Saturday" (Fugu Mix) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs The Misadventures of Saint Etienne, 19993:21
17."52 Pilot" Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs Places to Visit , 19995:38
Total length:71:01

CD: Heavenly / HVNLP 52CD (UK) - Smash the System: Singles 1990-99

All tracks are written by Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Featuring Moira Lambert) Young 4:29
2."Kiss and Make Up" (US Version Edit)Wratten, Hiscock4:47
3."Nothing Can Stop Us" 4:20
4."Join Our Club" (2001 Remix) 3:16
5."People Get Real" 4:43
6."Avenue" (Radio Edit) Catt, Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs 3:49
7."You're in a Bad Way" (Single Version) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs 3:02
8."Who Do You Think You Are"Dyer, Scott 3:27
9."Hobart Paving" (Single Version) 4:51
10."Pale Movie" Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs 3:46
11."Like a Motorway" (Radio Edit) 3:41
12."Hug My Soul" (Radio Edit)Batson, Cracknell, Male3:53
13."He's on the Phone" (Featuring Etienne Daho) (Radio Edit) Cracknell, Daho, Stanley, Wiggs 4:07
14."Burnt Out Car" (Balearico mix) 4:19
15."Sylvie" (Radio Edit) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs 3:32
16."The Bad Photographer" (Radio Edit) Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs 3:19
Total length:63:08

Personnel

Saint Etienne are:

Charts

Chart performance for Smash the System: Singles and More
Chart (2001)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [3] 99
UK Albums (OCC) [4] 84
Chart performance for Smash the System: Singles 1990–99
Chart (2007)Peak
position
UK Budget Albums (OCC) [5] 41

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References

  1. Kellman, Andy. Smash the System: Singles and More at AllMusic
  2. Kellman, Andy. Smash the System: Singles and More at AllMusic
  3. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 17 March 2012.