The Smiths

This will appeal to the oddity collectors:

As part of National Album Day 2020 (October 10, 2020), TIALTNGO features on one of the vinyl releases that day:

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Smash Hits 80s: Limited Edition Red Vinyl:

Side A:
1 New Order – Blue Monday
2 A-ha – Take On Me
3 Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
4 The B-52’s – Love Shack
5 Bananarama - Venus
Side B:
1 Tina Turner – The Best
2 Simply Red – Holding Back The Years
3 The Cars – Drive
4 Pretenders – Don’t Get Me Wrong
5 Aztec Camera – Somewhere In My Heart
Side C:
1 The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
2 Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
3 Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
4 The Stranglers – Golden Brown
5 Talk Talk – It’s My Life
Side D:
1 Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
2 Diana Ross – Chain Reaction
3 Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere
4 Spandau Ballet – True
5 Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try

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Interesting interview with Paolo Bedini, the promoter who organised The Smiths' only ever concert in Italy on May 14, 1985 at the Tendastrisce in Rome. Sounds like it certainly wasn't an easy task to negotiate in the age of telex. And from Sarzana of all places...

Highlight from the article (translated via Google because my Italian is far too rusty and unreliable):

"I read that they came to Rome at the behest of Morrissey who, having seen a postcard of the city, specifically asked to play there: is it true?
This is what their agent confided to me, but I don't know if it was true or not. What is certain is that the concert was really special: they weren't on tour, they weren't around, so it was a unique event. And it is also difficult today to explain how peculiar it was. Today the concerts are scheduled a year earlier: I found myself putting up a Smiths live [ show ] in a week."

They also accidentally mixed up The Smiths' technical sheet with New Order's due to a...

I did hear correctly - there was more being auctioned off after the successful event that's already taken place. Some more nice items - interesting ones highlighted below, but do search out the entire list on their site:


"MORRISSEY SIGNED LETTER.
A typed letter bearing signature and notes by Morrissey. The letter was sent from Morrissey to John Muir, a publisher at 'Babylon Books', with whom Morrissey was in conversation RE publishing a book on The Smiths. Measures 20 x 25.5cm. Very good condition. Provenance: presented to the vendor by John Muir."

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THE GEOFF TRAVIS ARCHIVE - MORRISSEY - INTERESTING DRUG PROOF ARTWORK



MORRISSEY - INTERESTING DRUG PROOF ARTWORK.
Two printed proof designs with artwork for Morrissey - Interesting Drug. Measures approx 15 x 25". Excellent condition. Provenance: from Geoff Travis' Rough Trade...

Guitar World, August 12, 2020.

The Smiths’ How Soon Is Now? guitar secrets: producer John Porter reveals the exhaustive tonal sculpting behind the alt-rock anthem


Porter gives some interesting (very technical) details about the song's creation.
Regards,
FWD.

The Smiths - The Best British Band Of All Time? - God Is In The TV
By Loz Etheridge

Excerpt:

Morrissey cuts a more controversial figure than ever these days, now well past the point where anyone could feasibly even attempt to defend his offensive comments or totally unacceptable views. He has been reported as having said some truly shocking things in recent years, which none of us in our right minds would ever condone. To that end, for the sake of this article, I would like you to imagine, difficult as it may be, that after The Smiths split up there was nothing but an eerie silence, at least from one quarter of Manchester’s favourite sons.

Instead, let’s go back to a happier time – a simpler time when we found ourselves punching the air in delight at the lyrical genius of ‘Mozzer’, marvelling at the seemingly very intelligent, eloquent but shy, gangly...

Links to:


Links to:



"Follow The Smiths and the 'The Smiths Best Of' playlist on Spotify and be entered for a chance to win a set of LPs, ‘Rank’, ‘Hatful Of Hollow’, ‘Louder Than Bombs’ and ‘The World Won't Listen’."

Links to:

Via promotional email.
Regards,
FWD.

Well, the grapevine was right.
Omega have some wonderful stuff from the Travis archive. (search Geoff Travis, 60 items)

Here's some goodies (more posted in the Geoff Travis Rough Trade archive media album):

THE SMITHS 1986 TOUR POSTER CELLULOID. An original celluloid used in the creation of the poster for The Smiths dates at Glasgow, Newcastle and Salford in July 1986. Measures 16 x 21.5". Provenance: from Geoff Travis' Rough Trade archive.


THE SMITHS BARCELONA POSTER. An original poster for The Smiths at Studio 54, Barcelona. Measures 16 x 24". NM condition. Provenance: from Geoff Travis' Rough Trade archive.

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Another old Smiths video upgraded, as posted on the official Facebook page. Total speculation, but I wonder if we might get a 'Complete Picture' reissue on blu ray at some point?

Comparison video here:


Full video here: