Shoplifters Of The World Unite (single)

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Shoplifters Of The World Unite
Release	26 January 1987
Total Length	2:56 2:58 (Instrumental outtake) 3:03 (Instrumental demo)
Recorded	November 1986
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	Johnny Marr Engineer: Alan Moulder
Art work	Cover star: Elvis Presley first press picture, taken by James R. Reid in 1955. Layout: Caryn Gough
Vinyl Etching	ALF RAMSEY'S REVENGE
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl
Chart position	UK #12
Single chronology
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out ← Shoplifters Of The World Unite → Sheila Take A Bow

Information

The single is dedicated to Ruth Polsky.
An instrumental demo of this song appears on The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals bootleg LP.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 195]

Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
Half A Person – 3:35 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 195]

Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
London – 2:06 (Morrissey/Marr)
Half A Person – 3:35 (Morrissey/Marr)

Lyrics

Learn to love me
Assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow and always
My only weakness is a list of crime
My only weakness is well, never mind, never mind

Oh, shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over

Learn to love me
And assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow, and always
My only weakness is a listed crime
But last night the plans of a future war
Was all I saw on Channel Four

Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over

A heartless hand on my shoulder
A push and it's over
Alabaster crashes down
(Six months is a long time)
Tried living in the real world
Instead of a shell
But before I began
I was bored before I even began

Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Take over

Music Video

Directed by Tamra Davis

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 1

The Smiths live history:

London, England 1986-12-12 (The Smiths concert)

Play count (Morrissey concert): 243

Morrissey live history:

... further results

Appears On

Appears On Covers Compilation

Cover Versions

Mentioned In

Discogs Information

Credits

Art Direction [Art Co-ordination] - Jo Slee
Bass [The Bass Guitar] - Andy Rourke
Drums [The Drums] - Mike Joyce
Guitar [Guitars] - Johnny Marr
Lacquer Cut By - Tim Young
Layout - Caryn Gough
Lyrics By - Morrissey
Mastered By - Tim Young
Model [Cover Star] - Elvis Presley
Music By - Johnny Marr
Photography By [©] - James R. Reid
Sleeve - Morrissey
Voice, Words By - Morrissey

Notes

The information in the runouts is stamped apart from 'ALF RAMSEY`S REVENGE' & 'Timtom' which are etched.

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/21113
Shoplifters Of The World Unite (7" Single 45 RPM Solid Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/4400294-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Similar to [r=11648753] which has labels with just one small inner pressing ring and the rest of the label perfectly flat.

Runouts: Side A is etched except for the last A which is a stamped broken A. Side B is stamped except for TimTom which is etched.

A [url=http://www.discogs.com/release/2335438]mispress of this 12"[/url] also exists with "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" on the A-side.

Custom pink inner sleeve with cat. no (RTT 195) written in white at top right-hand corner.

Early UK copies were sold in a plastic carrier bag with "Shoplifter" printed on one side, and the cover art printed on the other side.

[From back cover:] All songs recorded at Mayfair, London Mastered by Tim Young at CBS Music published by Warner Brothers Distributed by The Cartel Cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid This record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/385496-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

From back cover: All songs recorded at Mayfair, London Mastered by Tim Young at CBS Music published by Warner Brothers Distributed by The Cartel Cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid This record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Line Records, a division of Line Music GmbH. Pressed and printed in Western Germany. P.1987 Rough Trade Records Ltd. C.1987 Line Music GmbH.

On labels: Licensed by Rough Trade Ltd., London

Runouts are stamped except for the etched 'BN'.

Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Stephen Street credited for producing all the tracks on the labels but track A only credited for Johnny Marr on the sleeve.

Tim Young and CBS credited for mastering on the sleeve but the runouts indicate that this release was mastered by Sönke Bahns (indicated by 'BN'). The Cartel credited for distribution on the sleeve but this release was distributed by Line Music GmbH (as printed on the labels).

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Stereo Green/White Marbled) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2486378-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Pink/White Marbled vinyl. Includes a hype sticker on the shrink wrap.

From back cover: All songs recorded at Mayfair, London Mastered by Tim Young at CBS Music published by Warner Brothers Distributed by The Cartel Cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid This record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Line Records, a division of Line Music GmbH. Pressed and printed in Western Germany. P.1987 Rough Trade Records Ltd. C.1987 Line Music GmbH.

On labels: Licensed by Rough Trade Ltd., London

Runouts are stamped except for 'BN', which is hand-etched.

Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Stephen Street credited for producing all the tracks on the labels but track A only credited for Johnny Marr on the sleeve.

Tim Young and CBS credited for mastering on the sleeve but the runouts indicate that this release was mastered by Sönke Bahns (indicated by 'BN'). The Cartel credited for distribution on the sleeve but this release was distributed by Line Music GmbH (as printed on the labels).

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Limited Edition Stereo Pink/White Marbled) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1843343-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Pressed on clear blue vinyl in thin, top-opening paper sleeves. Sleeve is without barcode (in difference to the black vinyl Line Records release). Printings on sleeve back are silver (instead of the usual grey).

On both labels: Morrissey is everywhere misspelled as "Morrisey". On A-side label: Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Stephen Street incorrectly credited together as Producers (correct: only Johnny Marr – as stated on the sleeve).

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (7" 45 RPM Single Blue Transparent) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/3262332-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

From The Smiths' album Louder Than Bombs on Sire Records (1-25569) Promotional Copy. Not For Sale.

This single was released as a promo for the US version of Louder Than Bombs. One of the only Smiths releases to have a picture of the band on the cover. The back of the sleeve is blank.

There is a rised "A" near the centre of both labels, which also indicates pressed by Allied Record Company.

Images

Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 33 ⅓ RPM Promo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2108956-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Wikipedia Information

"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Morrissey's lyrics, which endorsed shoplifting and referenced Karl Marx, were controversial at the time of the song's release. Musically, the song continues the glam rock styling of other Smiths singles during the period and includes a short guitar solo from Marr. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" was first released as a non-album single in January 1987, after the band decided to scrap the single release of their original A-side, "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby". The song was a commercial success, reaching number twelve in the UK, and has been included on compilation albums such as The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs. It has since seen critical acclaim and Morrissey has named the song as a personal favourite.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoplifters_of_the_World_Unite

Related Forum Threads

The Smiths A-Z: "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" - Morrissey-solo (Sep 12, 2022)