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The World Won't Listen

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The World Won't Listen
Compilation album by
the Smiths
Released23 February 1987 (1987-02-23)
Recorded1984–1986
Genre
Length59:26
LabelRough Trade
ProducerVarious (see main text)
The Smiths chronology
The Queen Is Dead
(1986) 		The World Won't Listen
(1987) 		Louder Than Bombs
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blender[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Pitchfork7.1/10[4]
Select5/5[5]

The World Won't Listen is a compilation album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 23 February 1987 by Rough Trade Records. The album is the second of three compilation albums—the others being Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs—released by the Smiths while they were still an active band.[6] It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the charts for 15 weeks.[7][8] In the United States Louder Than Bombs was released in place of The World Won't Listen.

Background

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The album is a collection of the band's singles and select B-sides from 1985 to 1987. 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.[9]

The title reflects Smiths singer Morrissey's belief that mainstream radio and record buyers weren't paying attention to the band.[8][10] The compilation was succeeded three months later by Louder Than Bombs. Originally intended solely for US release, Rough Trade chose to also release Louder Than Bombs in the UK. It featured a similar, but extended track listing to The World Won't Listen.[11][12] The World Won't Listen contains two versions of songs that do not appear on Louder Than Bombs: the single version of "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" and the single edit of "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". Additionally, The World Won't Listen contains different versions of two songs that would appear on Louder Than Bombs: "Stretch Out and Wait" features an alternate vocal, and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" appears in a slightly different and longer mix.[10] In Australia and New Zealand, a double LP (and double cassette) second edition was released with an additional 12 tracks on the extra disc.[13] The 12 extra tracks are mostly sourced (in order) from Louder than Bombs as well as "Panic" B-side "The Draize Train", which doesn't otherwise appear on either. The 2011 reissue replaced the single version of "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" with the album version. Also of note is the fact that "Ask" appears on both The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs in a slightly different and longer mix than its single version.[6]

After WEA acquired the Smiths' back catalogue in 1992, all Smiths albums were re-released in the UK in 1993 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" (the "Bigmouth Strikes Again" B-side, also later released on the deluxe edition of The Sound of The Smiths).[14] In the US, the albums were also re-released in 1993, although The World Won't Listen was not included among them.

Artwork and packaging

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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 1960s fairground scene, of which this is a crop. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey, using a photo by Jürgen Vollmer from the book Rock 'N' Roll Times: The Style and Spirit of the Early Beatles and Their First Fans.

Release

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The album was released on 23 February 1987.[6] It first charted on 3 March 1987, remaining in the top 100 for 15 weeks and peaking at No. 2.[15] The World Won't Listen returned to the UK top 100 for two weeks in 1995, following its re-release by WEA.[16] In 2011, The World Won't Listen was included in the Smiths' compilation box set Complete.[12] This marked the first time the album was officially released in the US.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Morrissey/Marr, except "Money Changes Everything" and "Oscillate Wildly", written by Johnny Marr, and "Golden Lights", written by Twinkle

Side one
No.TitleSourceLength
1."Panic"Single A-side2:21
2."Ask"Remix of single A-side3:15
3."London"B-side of "Shoplifters of the World Unite"2:07
4."Bigmouth Strikes Again"From The Queen Is Dead3:13
5."Shakespeare's Sister"Single A-side2:08
6."There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"From The Queen Is Dead4:05
7."Shoplifters of the World Unite"Single A-side2:58
8."The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"Single A-side version3:16
9."Money Changes Everything"B-side of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" – only on original cassette and all CD re-releases since 19934:43
Side two
No.TitleSourceLength
10."Asleep"B-side of "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"4:10
11."Unloveable"B-side of "Bigmouth Strikes Again"3:56
12."Half a Person"B-side of "Shoplifters of the World Unite"3:36
13."Stretch Out and Wait"Alternate vocal version of B-side of "Shakespeare's Sister"2:45
14."That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore"Single A-side edit3:49
15."Oscillate Wildly"B-side of "How Soon Is Now?"3:26
16."You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby"UK mix of aborted single A-side3:31
17."Rubber Ring"B-side of "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"3:48
All CD re-releases since 1993
No.TitleSourceLength
18."Golden Lights"B-side of "Ask"2:40
Australia/New Zealand double LP – side three
No.TitleSourceLength
18."Is It Really So Strange?"B-side of "Sheila Take a Bow"; John Peel session, 2/12/863:04
19."Sheila Take a Bow"Single A-side2:41
20."Sweet and Tender Hooligan"B-side of "Sheila Take a Bow"; Peel session, 2/12/863:13
21."Girl Afraid"B-side of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"2:48
22."William, It Was Really Nothing"Single A-side2:11
23."Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"Single A-side3:34
Side four
No.TitleSourceLength
24."Golden Lights"B-side of "Ask"2:39
25."The Draize Train"B-side of "Panic" 12"3:27
26."Back to the Old House"B-side of "What Difference Does It Make?"3:05
27."Hand in Glove"Single A-side mix3:13
28."Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"B-side of "William, It Was Really Nothing"1:52
29."This Night Has Opened My Eyes"From Hatful of Hollow; Peel session, 14/9/833:40

Personnel

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  • Morrissey – vocals
  • Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, slide guitar on "Panic"[9] and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore",[17] harmonica on "Ask",[18] mandolin on "Golden Lights", marimba on "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"[19]
  • Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"
  • Mike Joyce – drums, tambourine on "Stretch Out and Wait"[20]
  • Craig Gannon – rhythm guitar on "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights", lead guitar on coda of "London",[21] mandolin on "Golden Lights"[22]

Additional musicians

[edit]

Production

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  • Johnny Marr – producer (track 7)
  • Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street – producers (track 3 and 12)
  • Morrissey and Marr – producers (tracks 4, 6, 10–11, 17)
  • John Porter – producer (tracks 1–2, 9, 16, 18)
  • The Smiths – producers (tracks 5, 8, 13–15)

Charts

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Chart performance for The World Won't Listen
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[27] 25
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 41
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[30] 16
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[31] 17
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 19
UK Albums Chart[33] 2

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for The World Won't Listen
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Tribute

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British artist Phil Collins produced an exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art that included a three-part video project titled The World Won't Listen, which was filmed in Turkey, Indonesia and Colombia. The video features young people performing karaoke versions of songs by The Smiths.[35]

References

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  1. ^ DiGravina, Tim. "The World Won't Listen – The Smiths". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. ^ Power, Tony (15 September 2004). "The Smiths: The World Won't Listen". Blender. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ Wolk, Douglas (18 November 2011). "The Smiths: The Smiths Complete". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  5. ^ Harrison, Andrew (May 1993). "The Smiths". Select (35): 104.
  6. ^ a b c "The Smiths". Discogs. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  7. ^ The World Won't Listen – The Smiths | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 24 April 2020
  8. ^ a b Wawzenek, Bryan (23 February 2017). "The Smiths Collect Singles, B-Sides on 'World Won't Listen'". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 217.
  10. ^ a b "This Day in 1987: The Smiths, The World Won't Listen | Rhino". rhino.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  11. ^ "The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs". Discogs. 5 October 1988. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  12. ^ a b "The Smiths: The Smiths Complete". Pitchfork. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  13. ^ "The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". Discogs. 27 February 1987. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  14. ^ "The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". Discogs. 15 November 1993. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  15. ^ "the world won't listen | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  16. ^ "The Smiths | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  17. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 356.
  18. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 224.
  19. ^ Fletcher, T, 2012. A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths. 1st ed. U.K: Random House.P. 453.
  20. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books.
  21. ^ Goddard, S, 2009. Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. 1st ed. India: Ebury Press. P. 227.
  22. ^ Fletcher, T, 2012. A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths. 1st ed. U.K: Random House. P. 520.
  23. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 222.
  24. ^ Goddard, S, 2009. Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. 1st ed. India: Ebury Press. P. 149.
  25. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 171.
  26. ^ Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 169.
  27. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 279. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Charts.nz – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Smiths | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  34. ^ "British album certifications – The Smiths – The World Won't Listen". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Phil Collins: the world won't listen | Dallas Museum of Art". dma.org. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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