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:
Play count (Morrissey concert): 234
Morrissey live history:
- Glasgow, Scotland 1995-02-03 (Morrissey concert)
- Motherwell, Scotland 1995-02-04 (Morrissey concert)
- Edinburgh, Scotland 1995-02-05 (Morrissey concert)
- Sheffield, England 1995-02-07 (Morrissey concert)
- Blackpool, England 1995-02-08 (Morrissey concert)
- Cambridge, England 1995-02-09 (Morrissey concert)
- Birmingham, England 1995-02-11 (Morrissey concert)
- London, England 1995-02-12 (Morrissey concert)
- Portsmouth, England 1995-02-13 (Morrissey concert)
- Hull, England 1995-02-15 (Morrissey concert)
Appears On
- Ask (single)
- Shoplifters Of The World Unite (single)
- The World Won't Listen
- Louder Than Bombs
- Sheila Take A Bow (single)
- Best...I
- The Complete Picture
- Singles
- The Very Best Of The Smiths
- Who Put The 'M' In Manchester?
- Live At Earls Court
- The Sound Of The Smiths
- Complete
Appears On Covers Compilation
- The World Still Won't Listen (A Tribute To The Smiths)
- Godfathers Of Change Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Smiths
- How Soon Is Now? The Songs Of The Smiths By...
- Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of The Smiths & Morrissey
- Rockabye Baby! (Lullaby Renditions Of The Smiths)
Cover Versions
- Ben Lee
- Dare To Defy
- Dylan In The Movies
- Michael Shannon
- Quarantine
- Spiritual Front
- Steven Charles Boone
- Tanya Donelly
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star
- thisGIRL
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] (also pressed by EMI Records), which has labels with just one small inner pressing ring and the rest of the label perfectly flat.
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
[Labels:] © 1986 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. Made in England
Images
- Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Single EMI Pressing) - 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
℗ 1987 © 1987 cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid this record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky
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.
Related Forum Threads
- The Smiths A-Z: "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" - Morrissey-solo (Sep 12, 2022)