[July 20: This post has been updated now that the release has officially been confirmed.]
There’s just a handful of iconic bands that broke up decades ago and have never reunited, even though all the original members survive. And there’s a small handful of bands that we can be fairly certain wouldn’t reunite until hell freezes over (h/t to the Eagles, I suppose).
The Smiths occupy a prominent spot on both of those lists.
Knowing Morrissey’s notoriously bitter and typically unsentimental outlook, I was actually surprised to see him complaining last year the record company allegedly refusing to issue a 30th anniversary edition of The Queen Is Dead, the classic 1986 LP by The Smiths. Morrissey always complains, of course, but his interest in his former band’s back catalog was unexpected. After all, when I saw him in concert last year, he all but avoided Smiths songs in his setlist.
Regardless, the 30th anniversary came and went. Now, a year later, it appears a special edition may actually become a reality. Although not Now officially confirmed, a Morrissey fan site uncovered an Amazon listing (later removed) for a special edition of The Queen Is Dead. If the release is legitimate, You can expect to see the 3 CD set on October 20th, as well as a version that adds a DVD.
The Queen Is Dead- Disc 1 (Remastered Album):
01. The Queen Is Dead
02. Frankly, Mr. Shankly
03. I Know It’s Over
04. Never Had No One Ever
05. Cemetery Gates
06. Bigmouth Strikes Again
07. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side
08. Vicar in a Tutu
09. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
The Queen Is Dead- Disc 2 (Demos and B-Sides):
01. The Queen Is Dead (Full Version)
02. Frankly, Mr. Shankly (Demo)
03. I Know It’s Over (Demo)
04. Never Had No One Ever (Demo)
05. Cemetery Gates (Demo)
06. Bigmouth Strikes Again (Demo)
07. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (Demo)
08. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (Demo Mix)
09. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (Take 1)
10. Rubber Ring (Single B-Side)
11. Asleep (Single B-Side)
12. Money Changes Everything (Single B-Side)
13. Unloveable (Single B-Side)
The Queen Is Dead- Disc 3 (Live In Boston):
01. How Soon Is Now?
02. Hand In Glove
03. I Want The One I Cant Have
04. Never Had No One Ever
05. Stretch Out And Wait
06. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
07. Cemetry Gates
08. Rubber Ring/What She Said/Rubber Ring
09. Is It Really So Strange?
10. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
11. That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
12. The Queen Is Dead
13. I Know It’s Over
The DVD includes a hi-res audio version of the album as well as The Queen Is Dead film by acclaimed filmmaker Derek Jarman.
