The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs [2 LP, 180g Black Vinyl]

Louder Than Bombs stands as a comprehensive compilation from The Smiths, originally assembled for the American market as the counterpart to their British compilation The World Won't Listen. This 180-gram black vinyl double LP reissue in a gatefold configuration brings together 24 tracks spanning singles, B-sides, album cuts, and BBC sessions recorded between April 1983 and November 1986. The album was intended to substitute for both The World Won't Listen and their 1984 compilation Hatful of Hollow, which had not been released in the United States. Upon its UK release in May 1987, it reached number 38 on the British charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1990.

The collection includes hits such as "Ask," "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," "Panic," and "Hand in Glove," alongside "Shoplifters of the World Unite" and "Sheila Take a Bow." Lesser-known tracks like the piano-driven instrumental "Oscillate Wildly," the dark "Rubber Ring," and the weary "Half a Person" stand strongly alongside the hits. Production credits include John Porter, Johnny Marr, Morrissey, and The Smiths themselves across various tracks. The compilation captures the essence of what made The Smiths revolutionary: Morrissey's literate, emotionally direct lyrics paired with Johnny Marr's jangly guitar work, creating songs that were simultaneously accessible and thought-provoking.

This 180-gram audiophile vinyl pressing comes in a gatefold sleeve, remastered for optimal sound quality. The cover art, designed by Morrissey, features British playwright Shelagh Delaney of Salford, Greater Manchester, from a photograph originally published in the Saturday Evening Post. In 2012, Louder Than Bombs was ranked number 369 on Rolling Stone's revised list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, cementing its status as an essential document of 1980s alternative rock.

• Format: 180g Black Vinyl 2LP
• Standout tracks: "Ask," "Panic," "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
• Pressing details: 180-gram audiophile vinyl, remastered, gatefold jacket
• Genre/style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post-Punk
• UPC: 825646658770

This remastered pressing offers an ideal entry point into The Smiths' catalog while serving as a comprehensive overview of the band's extraordinary B-sides and rarities.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Is It Really So Strange?
2. Sheila Take A Bow
3. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
4. Sweet And Tender Hooligan
5. Half A Person
6. London

Side B:

1. Panic
2. Girl Afraid
3. Shakespeare's Sister
4. William, It Was Really Nothing
5. You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby
6. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

Side C:

1. Ask
2. Golden Lights
3. Oscillate Wildly
4. These Things Take Time
5. Rubber Ring
6. Back To The Old House

Side D:

1. Hand In Glove
2. Stretch Out And Wait
3. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
4. This Night Has Opened My Eyes
5. Unloveable
6. Asleep