Needle Time

  The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? [RTT 176 UK 1985 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I last ripped this original Rough Trade 1985 release (pressed at CBS) back in December 2016 and was especially keen to see how good it sounded on a much better rig & set-up. Oh my word......! I've always marveled that an obscure extra track, running at a shade under seven minutes, from the b-side of a 1984 12" single could be resuscitated to become one of the greatest singles ever to come out of Manchester.  Oscillate wildly! A1 How Soon Is Now? B1 Well I Wonder B2 Oscillate Wildly

  The Smiths - The Smiths [ROUGH 61 NLD 1984 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I still recall buying the UK pressing of the debut album from The Smiths at HMV in Manchester on the day of release back in February 1984. Having spent many years in the city, I was wrapped up in the anticipation for this release, having already seen the band several times live and owning all of the first few singles. I was a little underwhelmed, and despite numerous attempts to get into this record, it was only the two singles (including the new mix of Hand In Glove ), Reel Around The Fountain and Suffer Little Children   which stood out to me. You may be (un)surprised to know that I never bought another Smiths album and only a smattering of singles since. I foolishly sold my first pressing a few years later, A1/B1s with the orange text on the labels fetch a tidy sums these days. Late last year, I was about to pull the trigger on a £60 Japanese pressing (complete with flexi) when in the same trade's box of d...

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again [RTT 192 UK 1986 24-Bit FLAC] I've always felt that Steven Patrick Morrissey wrote this song about himself, I'm sure that if he looks back at his career there may be a few things he would have done differently - especially in the past few years. The b-side, Money Changes Everything remains one of my personal favourites - and it is an instrumental! On the other hand, Unloveable represents one of Morrissey's finest lyrics. Message received loud and clear. A1 Bigmouth Strikes Again B1 Money Changes Everything B2 Unloveable

The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? [RTT 146 UK 1984 24-Bit FLAC] Well shake my gladiola, it's Terence Stamp! The first rule of sleeve design is that if you are going to use a well known British actor's image, then bloody well get his permission first. What on earth were Rough Trade thinking? This sleeve was quickly replaced one featuring a youthful Steven Patrick in a similar pose. Both editions of the single feature one of the finest Morrissey/Marr compositions ever to adorn a b-side. You know the rest.... A1 What Difference Does It Make? B1 Back To The Old House B2 These Things Take Time

The Smiths - This Charming Man [RTT 136 UK 1983 24-Bit FLAC] New rips for 2019 ....I thought I would see how good these two Smiths singles sound on the new set-up. According to the detail on the relevant Discogs page, my copy is a first pressing with the Capitol Records parody logo. I do recall buying it at the old Virgin Records store in Manchester during the week of release so it does show its age and wear in places with a few pops as the result of a scratch. This will be hardly noticeable unless listening with headphones. I have never understood why we needed a Manchester version and a London version, it's Manchester all the way is it not? Don't even get me started on the New York Mix . Actually, while we are on the subject, is it me or has Steven Patrick Morrissey lost the plot (again) with his recent declaration of political allegiance. A1 This Charming Man (Manchester) A2 This Charming Man (London) B1 Accept Yourself B2 Wonderful Woman The S...