The World Won't Listen

Infobox Album | Name = The World Won't Listen
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Smiths


Released = February 23, 1987
Recorded = 1984–1986
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 52:38
Producer = Various (see main text)
Label = Rough Trade Records
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rnj9kezt7q7z link]
Last album = "The Queen Is Dead"
(1986)
This album = "The World Won't Listen"
(1987)
Next album = "Louder Than Bombs"
(1987)

"The World Won't Listen" is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in February 1987 by their record company, Rough Trade Records, and reached #2 on the British charts.

About the album

The album was conceived as a collection of the singles and their B-sides from 1985 and 1986. Additionally, the scrapped single "You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby" (which was passed over for "Shoplifters of the World Unite") and the near-single "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (a single candidate from "The Queen is Dead" that was passed over in favour of "Bigmouth Strikes Again") were included.

The title reflects Morrissey's frustration with the fact that mainstream radio and record buyers still weren't paying attention to the band. As the album included many non-album cuts and single versions, it remains a fan favourite. The music press was critical, however, labelling the album "inessential."

The compilation was rendered largely superfluous only three months after its release when Rough Trade decided to release the similar but extended US-intended compilation "Louder Than Bombs" domestically. This was primarily done to save the consumer from paying ridiculous import prices. "The World Won't Listen" remains a must-have for Smiths fans because of the versions of "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side," "Stretch Out and Wait," "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby," which are all otherwise unavailable on an album.

After WEA acquired the Smiths back catalogue in 1992, all Smiths albums were re-released at mid price, including "The World Won't Listen", which was expanded to include a cover of "Golden Lights" and the original Rough Trade cassette edition bonus track "Money Changes Everything" (another track exclusive to this compilation).

Cover

The CD sleeve for "The World Won't Listen" is based on the cassette version of the sleeve layout; the original album featured a larger picture of a Fifties fairground scene, of which this is a crop. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey, using a photo by Jurgen Vollmer from the book "Rock 'N' Roll Times: The Style and Spirit of the Early Beatles and Their First Fans."

Track listing

#"Panic"
#"Ask"
#"London"
#"Bigmouth Strikes Again"
#"Shakespeare's Sister"
#"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"
#"Shoplifters of the World Unite"
#"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" "(single version)"
#"Asleep"
#"Unloveable"
#"Half a Person"
#"Stretch Out and Wait" "(alternate vocal)" *
#"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" "(single version)" *
#"Oscillate Wildly"
#"You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" "(UK mix)" *
#"Rubber Ring"

* Tracks marked "*" are exclusive to this compilation.

* All tracks written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr (including "Money Changes Everything" [Broadcast Music Incorporated database [http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=1004634&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID] , retrieved February 27, 2006] ), except "Golden Lights," written by Twinkle.

* "Money Changes Everything" was used by Marr while playing guitar for Bryan Ferry on his "Bête Noire" album. The track is almost an identical blueprint for the song "The Right Stuff," which is credited to Bryan Ferry and Johnny Marr.

* The alternate vocal take of "Stretch Out and Wait" is slightly different from the one that was first released in March of 1985 and widely available on the American "Louder than Bombs" compilation. It has a re-recorded vocal with some melodic variations throughout and lyrical variations in the first verse. It also has an extended ending.

* This alternate mix of "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" is approximately nine seconds longer than the mix that appears on "Louder Than Bombs" and features some other minor mixing differences.

Musicassette

Same as LP plus "Money Changes Everything"* slotted in as track #9

Compact disc

Rough Trade original issue: same as LP. WEA re-issue: same as musicassette plus "Golden Lights" at the end as track #18.

Personnel

Band

* Morrissey – vocals
* Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, bass guitar on "Golden Lights"
* Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"
* Mike Joyce – drums
* Craig Gannon – guitar on "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights"

Additional musicians

* Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "Ask" and "Golden Lights"
* John Porter – drum machine on "Golden Lights"
* Stephen Street – additional drum machine programming on "London"

Technical staff

* Johnny Marr – producer (A7)
* Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street – producers (A3, B3)
* Morrissey and Marr – producers (A4, A6, B1-2, B8)
* John Porter – producer (A1-2, A9, B7, B9)
* The Smiths – producers (A5, A8, B4-6)

References