At this point I could care less about the box set if it's the same old stuff rehashed. On top of that I was really turned off by Mike's comments on the board. I don't want him getting anymore money. At least he won't get any of mine.

I think they could make this nice for the fans. If they all (including Moz) put their diff. aside, and digged thru all their old stuff, covers, alt sleeves, demo sessions etc maybe included a good size book to go with it, maybe some alt lyrics perhaps. If theres 1-3 NEVER BEFORE HEARD/UNreleased trax, then it'll be an awesome treat. Maybe a dvd of backstage antics. Now if they realllllly wanna make some hard cash, they'll include a tacky badge or something of the like.

We've got all the good stuff. There is no point in a box set giving us 10 versions of a song we've all owned the best version of for twenty years. There's a reason why that stuff wasn't released. I think all members of the band should let it be instead of bringing it up every time they want a bit of attention.

It all comes down to the demands of Prince Morrissey and his toddler-like logic. The man harbors such a stereotypically "teapot" attitude. It's embarrassing.

Joyce is easily seizing the moral high-ground in all of this, and the more Morrissey goes on about it, the more he comes across as a man who doesn't have any real concerns in life.

It's not surprising that someone with such a selfish, and loathsome character would be destined to live alone for the rest of their life.

Morrissey makes Gore Vidal look like an adult.

This is about as exciting as something I left in the toilet earlier today. It's not like the Smiths were the Beatles or The Who. Who really gives a damn about some old songs that probably sound like crap. Anyone who has an interest should get a life.

How many different ways can you bundle 4 studio albums' worth of songs (5, if you count "Louder Than...")?

Buy both and feel deceived.

Even if you don't care about any unreleased 'bonus material' - it really is a travesty that the albums haven't been remastered.

Many lesser bands have already done it.

I can't wait to discover new layers in the old songs.

How about more live material--

How about "Headmaster" w/Pete Burns, or more sessions with Sandy Shaw et al.-- ?

I find inspiration in listening to The Smiths' live material, or re-interpretations of their work. Other artists have released a GREAT deal of official bootlegs-- Why can't Morrissey and Co.?

If you twist my arm, I'll reference Tori, The Hip, PJ, and DMB (even though I can't stand most of DMB).

Let's use our best thoughts, not our sardonic worst.

Peace.
Ken

This box set story is testimony that he has no regard for anyone's wishes, feelings, or interests other than his own. A human enough flaw, sure, and common, but in this case his selfishness and stubborness is absolutely without merit.

Hearing these songs would be of immense interest, and would bring great pleasure to, his long-suffering fans, not to mention that it would be probably the last opportunity for him to indulge in a substantial, official, potentially brilliant Smiths retrospective. But instead of indulge his followers, he declines, because he won't make any money off of it in England, and to prove a point to Joyce (and the world) that he is Above the Law.

I think the ruling was wrong too, but it wasn't like it was a total abortion of justice. Joyce's unpaid earnings case was at best arguable...but it CAN be argued. And it was. And he won.

The point is, Joyce won the case. I'm sure Marr wasn't thrilled, but he payed up. Morrissey didn't because he's a selfish arrogant prick...a genius, a beautiful, enigmatic genius...but still a first-class prick. His subsequent song-tirades about evil legal eagles, and crooked judges, and blah blah blah...make for some great songs but he (Morrissey) would look like much more of the poor, persecuted underdog that he paints himself to be if he had just followed the judge's ruling. Maybe then he could have avoided the seven year exodus to LA (to avoid legal enforcement, instead of the bullshit reason he gave "I love its false cosmetic glamour") and, in the process, he could have stayed English....but instead, he Americanized himself, Americanized his band, Mexicanized his fanbase (no offense, Latinos, I'm just saying...)and basically turned into someone he is not.

But that's fine, I still love his records...it's just that here, with this box set, is a chance for him to re-visit, unearth, dust off, etc...that old Smiths aeshtetic...it could be BRILLIANT if he did it right...he writes GORGEOUS liner notes (see "Morrissey: Under The Influence") and in short, it would be a FAR better way to honor his legacy than what we have been given instead, which is Jesse Tobias murdering Ask and What She Said.

He's turned down millions of dollars to re-unite The Smiths...has self-imposed UK exile to avoid legal hassles...and has written constant ballads (including a death threat set to music) all in the name of his hatred for Joyce. Well, OK, we get it. But now, the fact is, the fans -the true ones, who would buy this box set- are being slighted BY MORRISSEY, all in the name of hatred and arrogance.

He's a prick. Plain and simple. He is wealthy beyond comprehension, has plainly stood his ground on the subject of Joyce for 12 years, has made his point, carved it in stone...and allowing the box set to go forth would not be a slap in the face to that stance. But because of his immense ego, and his unfathomable, bottomless self-centeredness, this collection will never see the light of day.

Thanks, Morrissey. I can't wait for Years of Redundance to come out. It will be so much more exciting than a box set of unreleased and alternate-take Smiths songs.

Maybe Jesse can butcher "Asleep" on a xylophone for future encores on the upcoming tour...because your credibility has totally, irrevocably committed suicide.

The right decision. Joyce lives for his Smiths legacy. That's all he has in his life. Writing books about it. Playing their records as a (frankly gormless) DJ. He wants to milk and milk it.
He's got so little to do with his time and the vast amounts of money that he deceitfully conned out of Johnny Marr and Morrrissey that he hangs around the Morrissey website.
What a totally and utterly talentless loser.

Andy's comments will finally put a stop to all the pointless conjecture on these boards about a possible reunion.

There is absolutely no need for a Smiths box-set. It wouldn't add anything to what is already there, indeed it would dilute the Smiths' catalogue, especially if few of the tracks feature finished vocals. If they do anything at all they should simply remaster the existing albums with nice packaging, correct artwork and original tracklistings (e.g. instead of sticking 'How Soon Is Now?' in the middle of 'Meat Is Murder).

They are just designed for the casual 'fan' to buy in the sales (what a bargain!) and then be peed off that they're missing great tracks from the albums,b-sides and go and buy the entire back catalogue...oh that and the loyal fanbase who will buy everything with the word smiths on it.
Don't be duped!
You've got it all already...you've got as many bootlegs as your arms can carry and still you want more?
Just make your own box and paint or prit-stick a photo on it and chuck all your smiths stuff in!
Loverly...

If the unreleased material is only what is described in the Goddard book, who gives a shit?

I mean, I love The Smiths, but who really gives a shit?

If this is the level of "news stories" on this site then can I submit this?
----------------------

An anonymous person writes:

I asked my postie this morning what the latest news was on The Smiths box set.

He said "I don't know."
Then he said "Apparently there's some versions of songs that we've not heard."
Then he said "Apparently there was a court case some years ago which might put the mockers on it."
Then he said "Some of the ex-Smiths want to see it released and some of them don't."
Then he said "It might be out by Christmas."
Then he said "Then again, the Moon might fall out of the sky and kill us all before Tuesday."
Then he said "Anyway, why the hell are you asking me? I'm a bloody postie."
Then he said "The only person who could tell you or give you any information that would make this remotely newsworthy is Morrissey, or Johnny Marr. Otherwise..."
Then he gave me two bills and a postcard from me Nan who's on holiday in Eastbourne.
Then I shut the door. None the wiser...

There's no point in releasing a box set: EVERYBODY knows there just simply aren't many unreleased "proper" songs. I am not interested in "work in progress" demos. I think the people behind Marc Bolan & T.Rex should be ashamed for releasing countless of compilations of poor quality demos.

What we need is all the Smiths albums to be skillfully REMASTERED. Each Smiths album is a work of art and they deserve to be remastered and re-released.

Release the box-set but under a new contract and cut Joyce off completely. This man has milked and milked the Smiths legacy bone dry already and does not deserve any more money - for being "a part of a lawn mower that can be easily replaced"!

For Fucks sake: He was a dope-smoking bass player who didn't write ANY of the songs or lyrics!

Of course Rourke/Marr/Joyce want to release it. Given the chance, they'd release anything for a few bob towards their mortgage.

Word of wisdom: Do not release the box set.

I'm really beginning to hate The Smiths, when I think of how much hate, court proceedings and bitching that have come out of it, I couldn't give a fuck for them... Thank you Morrissey for the past 20 solo years, you have been amazing.. onwards and never look back xxx

He want all the money and fame only for himself.

The ACOUSTIC "Shelia takes a bow " that sounds like a best T-rex single ever

The ELECTRIC "Rusholme Ruffians"

Tha AWESOME first take of "Theres is a light .....
with Morrisseys finest vocal EVER.

But I Have.....

I've been greatly saddened with what I've read on this page.

You idiots - everyone connected to the Smiths reads this website, poring over discussions to gauge fans' feelings on issues.

If I were in the Smiths camp, I'd feel it was pretty plain that nobody wanted a Smiths box set to come out. Is that really what everyone wants? Or is everyone being contrary just because, well, that's what you "do" on fan forums?

Cop yourselves on. A SMITHS BOX SET WOULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC. I for one adore hearing different versions of Smiths songs - and every different version presents something new, having a totally unique energy and "hue".

I think of all the wonderful discoveries I've come across over the years:
The live 'Miserable Lie' with a new descending guitar intro;
The live 'Meat Is Murder', a total transformation of the song into savage Grand Guignol;
The live 'Some Girls...', with its "extra" verse and sparkling guitar line to the fore;
The Peel Session version of 'Rusholme Ruffians', a massive improvement on the original;
The Sandie Shaw version of 'Jeane', with Morrissey's haunting backing vocals (arguably his most affecting vocal display ever);
The Troy Tate 'Handsome Devil', which has an energy the released version just never had;
There are plenty of others...

And just think of those semi-mythical versions we've all heard about that would be denied us if the box set was knocked on the head -the 'Frankly Mr Shankly' with horns; the eight-minute 'Queen Is Dead'; the very first demo; the demos the rest of the band did post-Marr...

I think we're all agreed that the Smiths were the best band there's ever been. Surely they deserve the 'Anthology' treatment just as the Beatles did. It could be called 'I Keep Mine Hidden: A Secret History of The Smiths'.

Yes, I hope it comes out, and I hope they float 70ft-high statues of each band member down the Thames to mark the occasion.

I bought The Beatles' Anthology albms, which spanned 6 discs. They are of historical interest. If there was a similar Smiths project it would be of historical interest. Done properly, it would be a treasure. Lost song Holy Grails tend to be illusory - for many years people went on about the unreleased Beatles song, "What's the New, Mary Jane?" written in their 1967 heyday. At least we ended up knowing why it remained unreleased for 29 years. The Smiths' out-takes, spontaneous comments and suchlike would give us a glimpse into those magical years. (Well, they were magical for me.)
Rather than a box-set, we should have separate releases - properly supported by a decent marketting campaign they would undoubtedly get at least one more number 1 album, and maybe more. Perhaps that would convince Morrissey.

...from it so why don't they make the whole stuff downloadable for free!? I think this stuff should be a gift for the die-hard fans.

That "box sets" of previosuly released material were just a cash in...

untill i sat and listened to the box set remastered kraftwerk albums.. it was like hearing the albums again for the first time after 30 year old vinyl and dodgy cd version.

If the Smiths work was remastered nicely liek the kraftwerk has been, i would happily go and buy it.

If it had some nice extras etc, all the better!..