See Without Being Seen

[Unreleased, c.1978-1979]

track listing

Troops, Homa's Coma, Planetarium, Spaceship In My Barn, Insect Children, My Vymura, Windowledge

notes

This is apparently Matt's first solo demo tape. The track title information comes from the "Infected" book. As far as I can tell, nobody has ever seen a copy of this tape but they do exist. Matt talks about it briefly in this quote from an interview:

"There was an album called 'See Without Being Seen', which was even before 'Spirits', and it was when I was sixteen years old. ‘Cause at the age of fifteen I’d left school and I was working in a recording studio. When I was sixteen I made my first album, but I did it on cassette only. I used to sell it at shows. Bands like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, I’d go to their shows and I’d sell this little cassette album that I’d made. I had photocopied sleeves and everything. Out of that album an album called 'Spirits' grew." - Matt Johnson

graphics

None Available.

Spirits

[Unreleased, c.1979]

track listing

None available, but apparently "What Stanley Saw" originates from this album.

notes

Matt has often listed this 1979 unreleased album listed in discographies, printed in the liner notes of The The albums over the years, yet said very little about it. Matt has spoken briefly about it in interviews though. Here's a short quote where he speaks about it and his previous demo tapes:

"There was an album called 'See Without Being Seen', which was even before 'Spirits', and it was when I was sixteen years old. ‘Cause at the age of fifteen I’d left school and I was working in a recording studio. When I was sixteen I made my first album, but I did it on cassette only. I used to sell it at shows. Bands like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, I’d go to their shows and I’d sell this little cassette album that I’d made. I had photocopied sleeves and everything. Out of that album an album called 'Spirits' grew. At the time, of course, because I was training as an engineer in a recording studio and I got access to various studios, I put together a little home studio at my parents’ pub. So I was working all the time, a very fertile period for me. And the 'Spirits' album, one of the tracks did come out. There was a label in Britain called Cherry Red. They were a contemporary label of 4AD and Rough Trade. They were around in the late 70s and the 80s. There was a compilation album that came out called 'Perspectives And Distortion', and they took one of the tracks off of 'Spirits' which was a track called 'What Stanley Saw'. But the rest of the album...I couldn’t get a deal at the time. I got turned down by every independent and every major label. So that got shelved. ... Then I signed to 4AD and did 'Burning Blue Soul'." - Matt Johnson

graphics

None Available.

Burning Blue Soul

[4AD [CAD113], UK, Vinyl, August 1981]
[4AD [CAD113], UK, Vinyl, September 1983]
[4AD [HAD113CD], UK, CD, June 1993]
[4AD [product code unknown], UK, Cassette, June 1993]
[4AD [945266 4], US, Cassette, June 1993]
[Epic [9 45266-2], US, CD, June 1993]

track listing

Red Cinders In The Sand, Song Without An Ending, Time Again For The Golden Sunset, Icing Up, Like A Sun Risin Thru My Garden, Out Of Control, Bugle Boy, Delirious, The River Flows East In Spring, Another Boy Drowning

notes

This was Matt's first album released on a wide scale, closely followed up by "Soul Mining", which launched his to a much larger audience. It's a more experimental side of Matt than most of us are used to and is similar to some of the tracks Matt released as B sides during the early years. There are also separate colors to the lettering on the CD covers between the different pressings. UK CD and Cassette have the words "Burning Blue Soul" printed in green I think and in the US and Canada they appear in blue.

graphics

Front Cover [ 4AD First Pressing - 4AD Second Pressing - CD [US and Canada] ]
Back Cover [ 4AD Second Pressing - CD [US and Canada] ]
Inner Sleeve [ 4AD Second Pressing [ 1 - 2 ]
Labels [ 4AD Second Pressing - CD [US and Canada] ]
CD Booklet [US and Canada] [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ]

The Pornography Of Despair

[Essentially Unreleased, c.1982]

track listing 1

Red Cinders In The Sand, Song Without An Ending, Time Again For The Golden Sunset, Icing Up, Like A Sun Risin Thru My Garden, Out Of Control, Bugle Boy, Delirious, The River Flows East In Spring, Another Boy Drowning

track listing 2

The Nature Of Virtue, Leap Into The Wind, Dumb As Death's Head, Mental Healing Process [For A Mixed Up Kid], Absolute Liberation 1, Absolute Liberation 2, Uncertain Smile, Perfect, Three Orange Kisses From Kazan, Waiting For The Upturn, Fruit Of The Heart, Soup Of Mixed Emotions

notes

This initial The The album was never released on a wide scale. Matt wasn't very happy with it at the time but he's hoping to release it sometime in the future. Some of this album shifted into other The The releases. "Dumb As Death's Head", "Mental Healing Process", and "That Sinking Feeling" have surfaced on B sides and elsewhere. The version of "That Sinking Feeling" on this album may be different from the ones that showed up on "Soul Mining" and "Sweet Bird of Truth"; nobody knows for sure. This album was mainly passed out on cassette by Matt to close friends, but that's it. Very very few copies of it exist and finding one would be next to impossible. Steve Shill's discography of The The from 1995 lists this album as having two separate track listings [listed above] but the truth of the matter is that there is no correct track listing - to date Matt hasn't released it. For all we know, it was distributed in different formats with different track listings.

graphics

None available.

Soul Mining

[Epic [EPC 25525], UK, Vinyl with limited edition "Perfect" single [XPR 1250], October 1983]
[Epic [EPC 25525], UK, Vinyl with 7 tracks, October 1983]
[Epic [EPC 25525], Australia, CD, October 1983]
[Epic [EPC 40-25525], UK, Cassette with extra tracks, 1983]
[Epic [466337 4], UK, Cassette with extra tracks, 1983]
[Epic [466337 4], Holland, Cassette, October 1983]
[Epic [product code unknown], US, Vinyl, 1983]
[Epic [E 39266], US, Vinyl with 8 tracks, 1983]
[Epic [PET 39266], US, Cassette, 1983]
[Epic [PEC 90699], Canada, Vinyl with 7 tracks, 1983]
[Epic [PEC 90699], Canada, Vinyl with 8 tracks, 1983]
[Epic [product code unknown], Canada, Cassette, 1983]
[Epic [466337 2], UK, CD, June 1987]
[Epic [EK 39266], US, CD, June 1987]
[Epic [ESCA 5094], Japan, CD, June 1987]
[Epic [463319 2], UK, Austria, June 1987]
[Epic [EK 39266], US and Canada, CD, c.1993]
[Epic [WEK 90699], Canada, CD, c.2002]

track listing

I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow [All Of My Life], This Is The Day, The Sinking Feeling, Uncertain Smile, The Twilight Hour, Soul Mining, Giant

notes

This is, for the most part, the first The The album, best known for the singles "This Is The Day" and "Uncertain Smile". The first copies of this album came with a single for "Perfect [New Version]" that has an exclusive B side, "Soup Of Mixed Emotions". I don't know how many copies came with the single, but it has a separate cover than the regular singles for "Perfect". "Soup Of Mixed Emotions" is from the unreleased "Pornography Of Despair" album and appears nowhere else. The single also includes "Fruit Of The Heart" on it, which is also from Pornography but was later re-issued on other single B sides. Most vinyl copies of this album [the Canadian and UK versions for sure] also came with lyric sheets.

Cassette editions of the album also included extra tracks in some cases. The UK/Japan cassettes include six extra tracks: "Perfect" [not sure which version], "Three Orange Kisses From Kazan", "The Nature Of Virtue" [not sure which version], "Mental Healing Process", "Waiting For The Upturn", and "Fruit Of The Heart". The US cassette version included "I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow [All Of My Life] [Special Mix]", "Perfect" [not sure which version], and "This Is The Day [12" Version]".

Much later, the album was re-issued on CD with "Perfect [New Version]" added to the end of the album. This is the case for the UK, US, Australian, Austrian, Japanese, and Canadian CD releases at least.

Canadian editions of this album came in two versions, both with the same product code. The first came without "Perfect", the second, released later on, has "Perfect [7" Version]" tacked onto the end. Cassette versions from Canada did not come with any extra tracks.

graphics

Front Cover [ Screaming Face [US/CAN CD Pressings] - Smoking Woman [ EPC 25525 Vinyl - Canadian Vinyl/Australian CD - Austrian CD - WEK 90699 CD - Cassette ] - Perfect 12" ]
Back Cover [ EPC 25525 Vinyl [ 1 - 2 [Detail] ] - Vinyl [Canada] [ 1 - 2 ] - Austrian CD - CD [EK 39266] - Perfect 12" ]
Inner Sleeve [ Vinyl [EPC 25525] [ 1 - 2 ] - CD [EK 39266] ]
Lyric Sheet [ Vinyl [PEC 90699] [ 1 - 2 ] ]
Labels [ Vinyl [EPC 25525] [UK] - Vinyl [Canada] [ 1 - 2 ] - Austrian CD - CD [EK 39266] - Perfect 12" ]
EPC 25525 Vinyl Sticker Detail [ 1 ]

Infected

[Epic [EPC 26770], UK, Vinyl in limited edition "torture" sleeve with "Heartland" poster, November 1986]
[Epic [EPC 26770], UK, Vinyl in limited edition "torture" sleeve, November 1986]
[Epic [EPC 26770], UK, Vinyl, November 1986]
[Epic [40 26770], UK, Cassette in limited edition "torture" sleeve, November 1986]
[Epic [40 26770], UK, Cassette, November 1986]
[Epic [40 26770], Greece, Cassette, November 1986]
[Epic [ELPS 4527], Australia, Vinyl, November 1986]
[Epic [E 40471], US, Vinyl, November 1986]
[Epic [PET 40471], US, Cassette, November 1986]
[Epic [CD CBS 26770], UK, CD, 1987]
[Epic [488611 2], UK, CD with three extra extended versions, 1987]
[Epic [CBS 26770-1], Israel, CD, year unknown]
[Epic [CD EPC 26770], country unknown but probably Holland, CD, year unknown]
[Epic [ESCA 5095], Japan, CD with three extra extended versions, 1986]
[Epic [32.P-174], Japan, format unknown, year unknown]
[Epic [EK 40471], US and Canada, CD, c.1993]

track listing

Infected, Out Of The Blue, Heartland, Angels Of Deception, Sweet Bird Of Truth, Slow Train To Dawn, Twilight Of A Champion, The Mercy Beat

notes

This is the second The The album, best known for the singles "Infected", "Heartland", "Sweet Bird Of Truth", and "Slow Train To Dawn". It's also well known for Matt's memorable duet with Neneh Cherry of Rip Rig And Panic. The initial 25500 UK vinyl copies of this album came in a special "torture sleeve" that was later replaced with the cover we know and love today. Vinyl copies of the album also came with lyric sheets and in many cases, posters. The "torture" edition comes with a large folded "Heartland" poster. The "torture" photo is a still from one of the videos from the Infected movie with Andy Dog having scribbled wounds onto Matt's body.

However, if you're collecting, the one to go for is the UK CD edition. It comes with three extended versions tacked onto the end of the album: "Infected [12" Version]", "Sweet Bird Of Truth [12" Version]", and "Slow Train To Dawn [12" Version]". It's the only place you can get the extended versions of "Infected" and "Slow Train To Dawn" in a digital format, but "Sweet Bird Of Truth [12" Version]" was also issued on CD as a single. Another great thing about the UK CD editions is that they include a previously unreleased mix of "Sweet Bird of Truth" and the 7" version of "Infected". It's not credited anywhere on the album but they did not appear on the original UK vinyl editions. This previously unleased mix of "Sweet Bird of Truth" also appears in the "Infected" movie, which uses that mix instead of the one off the album.

A Japanese release of this album also exists, complete with binding belt, a booklet, and extra remix tracks. I don't know, however, what the tracks are, what the booklet is, if it was vinyl or CD, or even the year it was released.

graphics

Front Cover [ CD [US and Canada] - CD [UK] - Vinyl "Torture Sleeve" [UK] [ Cover - Sticker Detail ] ]
Back Cover [ CD [US and Canada] - CD [UK] - Vinyl "Torture Sleeve" [UK] - CD [Israel] Detail ]
Inner Sleeve [ Vinyl "Torture Sleeve" [UK] [ 1 - 2 ] ]
Labels [ CD [US and Canada] - CD [UK] - Vinyl "Torture Sleeve" [UK] ]
CD Booklet [ US and Canada [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 ] - UK [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ] ]

Mind Bomb

[Epic [463319 1], UK, Vinyl with Limited Edition poster, May 1989]
[Epic [463319 1], UK, Vinyl, May 1989]
[Epic [463319 2], UK, CD, May 1989]
[Epic [463319 4], UK, Cassette, May 1989]
[Epic [E 45241], US and Canada, Vinyl, May 1989]
[Epic [EK 45241], US and Canada, CD, May 1989]
[Epic [25-8P-5286], Japan, CD, May 1989]
[Epic [product code unknown], country unknown, Promo CD in 1:1 plastic brain casing, 1989]

track listing

Good Morning Beautiful, Armageddon Days Are Here [Again], The Violence Of Truth, Kingdom Of Rain, The Beat[en] Generation, August And September, Beyond Love

notes

This album is best known for the singles "Armageddon Days Are Here [Again]", "Gravitate To Me", and "The Beat[en] Generation". It's also well known for Matt's memorable duet with Sinead O'Connor on "Kingdom Of Rain". Johnny Marr of The Smiths also joined the band for this album. Initial UK vinyl copies of this album came with a fold-out poster.

There also exists a very rare edition of this album in a plastic casing in the shape of a human brain. Bizarre but apparently true. My guess is this was a promotional edition, in a very limited edition. According to the Shill discography, the brain is a 1:1 scale model of the human brain. I guess accuracy is imporant when you're promoting a rock album; go figure.

graphics

Front Cover [ CD - Vinyl [Canada] - Cassette ]
Back Cover [ CD - Vinyl [Canada] ]
Inner Sleeve [ Vinyl [Canada] [ 1 - 2 - Detail ] ]
Stickers [ Vinyl [Canada] [ 1 - 2 - 3 ] ]
Labels [ CD - Vinyl [Canada] ]
CD Booklet [ 1 - 2 - 3 ]

Dusk

[Epic [472468 1], UK, Vinyl, February 1993]
[Epic [472468 2], UK, CD, February 1993]
[Epic [472468 3], UK, MiniDisc, February 1993]
[Epic [472468 4], UK, Cassette, February 1993]
[Epic [EK 53164], US and Canada, CD, February 1993]
[Epic [ESCA 5661], Japan, CD, February 1993]
[Epic [product code unknown], US, CD in limited edition pink casing of 500 copies, 1993]

track listing

True Happiness This Way Lies, Love Is Stronger Than Death, Dogs Of Lust, This Is The Night, Slow Emotion Replay, Helpline Operator, Sodium Light Baby, Lung Shadows, Bluer Than Midnight, Lonely Planet

notes

This album is best known for the singles "Dogs Of Lust", "Slow Emotion Replay", and "Love Is Stronger Than Death". Some US copies of the CD would later come with the cassette "Live In New York, Yeah, It's A Bootleg", the cassette edition of The The's 1991 New York concert to promote "Mind Bomb" which was also released on CD. There also exists a very rare edition of the album on CD that comes in a pink plastic jewel casing limited to 500 copies. It also comes with a pink slip cover, a black stencil, and some other items, but I'm not exactly sure what. Last time I saw it sell on eBay, it went for roughly $100 US. A second promotional version was released in a slimline case with different cover art as pre-promotion for the album, but is not as rare.

graphics

Front Cover [ CD - MiniDisc ]
Back Cover [ CD - MiniDisc ]
Labels [ CD [US/CAN] - CD [UK] - MiniDisc ]
CD Booklets [ US/CAN [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 ] - MiniDisc [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 ] ]
Additional Promo Cassette [ 1 - 2 - 3 ]
Various Components of Limited Edition CD
Slimline Promo Version [ 1 - 2 ]

Solitude

[Epic [EPK 66125], US and Canada, CD, 1993]

track listing

Jealous Of Youth, Another Boy Drowning [Live], Solitude, Dolphins, That Was The Day, Dis-Infected, Helpline Operator [Sick Boy Mix], Dogs Of Lust [Germicide Mix], The Violence Of Truth [Remix]

notes

This album was an attempt to compile to European The The EPs for US release that came out in conjunction with "Dusk". The first four tracks are the "Shades Of Blue" EP. The next four tracks are the "Dis-Infected" EP. The last track appears as the B side to various singles from the "Mind Bomb" and "Dusk" periods.

graphics

Front Cover
Back Cover
Label
Booklet [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ]

Hanky Panky

[Epic [478139 0], UK, 2 X 10" Vinyl, February 1995]
[Epic [478139 2], UK, CD, February 1995]
[Epic [478139 3], UK, MiniDisc, February 1995]
[Epic [478139 4], UK, Cassette, February 1995]
[Epic [ESCA 6162], Japan, CD, February 1995]
[Epic [BK 66908], US and Canada, CD, February 1995]
[Epic [BK 66908], US, 2 X CD in branded wood box, 1995]

track listing

Honky Tonkin', Six More Miles, My Heart Would Know, If You'll Be A Baby To Me, I'm A Long Gone Daddy, Weary Blues From Waitin', I Saw The Light, Your Cheatin' Heart, I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind, There's A Tear In My Beer, I Can't Escape From You

notes

This album is best known for the single "I Saw The Light". Every song on this album is a cover version of a Hank Williams tune. It's Matt's tribute to Hank; his first in a series of tribute albums to great composers. He has made promises to carry on with more tributes to other artists, but don't hold yer breath. He hasn't mentioned anything [to my knowledge] in recent times. It is one of the finest moments though in Matt's history and pretty much broke him in the southern states with the Nashville crowd. It has some of the most interesting interpretations of Hank Williams songs ever - really nice stuff.

There's also a limited edition of this album out there that comes in a nice wooden box with the band logo branded into the wood. Inside the box you get the album, as well as the single for "I Saw The Light" in a dual CD case. It does not come with a separate CD case for "I Saw The Light".

There's also a vinyl edition of the album released as two 10" segments which is a wonderful addition to any The The collection. It's an homage of sorts to the country and western 78 RPMs of yesteryear. The labels are quite small, much like those you'd find on the old 78s and the quality of the vinyl is noticably higher than usual. The cover is a beautiful, almost thin cardboard-like sleeve that opens up with the lyrics printed inside. The vinyl is then removed from the spine once the cover is opened.

graphics

Front Cover [ 10" - CD - Branded Wood Box ]
Back Cover [ 10" - CD ]
Inner Sleeve [ 10" ]
Inset [ CD ]
Labels [ 10" [ A - B - C - D ] - CD ]
CD Booklet [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 ]

Gun Sluts

[Unreleased, c.1998-1999]

track listing

None available, but apparently this is where "Diesel Breeze" and "Gun Sluts" originated. Rumors also speak of a length track called "Psychic Sauna", but it hasn't been heard.

notes

This is another in a seemingly unlucky stream of The The albums that have yet to be pressed. Originally Matt went after a more experimental direction for The The, but when Sony heard the results and found the album to be void of any single material, they said no and Matt walked out of his contract with Sony, album in hand for another day. Eventually he switched to Trent Reznor's Nothing label. Matt has still pledged to release this album in the future on his own label, Lazarus. One instrumental song off this album were also later released on a short promo CD available to fans during The The's 2000 World Tour Of Tiny Spaces and later on their official web site. "Diesel Breeze" also made it off this album, finding a home on Naked Self. There's no official cover for this album, but I'm assuming the photos used for the "Gun Sluts" single may have originally been the proposed covers for this album.

graphics

Possible Covers [ Front - Back ]

Naked Self

[Nothing/Motor [ADV490510-2], German, Advanced Promo CD, c.December 1999-January 2000]
[Nothing [CD490510-2], UK, CD, February 2000]
[Nothing [490510-2 (04)], UK, CD in Limited Edition slipcase, February 2000]
[Nothing [0694905102], US and Canada, CD, February 2000]
[Nothing [0694905102], US and Canada, CD in Limited Edition slipcase, February 2000]
[Nothing [MVCT-24058], Japan, CD, February 2000]
[Nothing [product code unknown], China, CD, February 2000]

track listing

Boiling Point, Shrunken Man, The Whisperers, Soul Catcher, Global Eyes, December Sunlight, Swine Fever, Diesel Breeze, Wheather Belle, Voidy Numbness, Phantom Walls, Salt Water

notes

Matt's millenium album signalled a raw studio sound, as Matt teamed up with Trent Reznor's Nothing label. Matt seemed extremely happy with this album being released. However, it was marred months later by a lack of promotion or interest, not through any fault of Reznor or Nothing Records, but the powers that be that control Nothing, such as Interscope, Seagrams, etc. This made Matt furious enough to post a tirade against the corporate machine that seemed to be beating him down once again, which was available for reading on The The's official web site. He also took a brave step in publishing each of the tracks from this album on his web site in MP3 format in order to take promotional matters into his own hands, considering the corporate solution has all but failed to address the promotional needs of the album, The The's incredible tour for this album, and a fantastic comeback. This is a brave step for Matt, considering he isn't an artist that supports the "Napster" ideology. He's been ripped off several times in the past by large record companies and now by MP3 traders who could be putting the money in Matt's pocket where it belongs.

The slipcase cover edition of this CD is quite nice. It comes with a booklet full of photos much like the ones that appear in the regular edition.

I can't tell you much about the Chinese edition, but I've heard it was made in Germany for shipping to China for release there. I assume the track listing is the same.

There's also a german advanced promotional version of the album, which is described in greater detail in the Promotional section of this web site.

graphics

Front Cover [ Limited Edition CD [ Slip Casing - Cover ] - Canadian CD - Chinese CD ]
Back Cover [ Limited Edition CD [ Slip Casing - Cover ] - Canadian CD ]
Inset [ Limited Edition CD - Canadian CD ]
Labels [ Limited Edition CD - Canadian CD ]
Canadian CD Booklet [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ]
Limited Edition CD Booklet [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ]
Limited Edition Booklet [ Cover - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 ]
German Advanced Promo CD

45 RPM: The Singles of The The

See individual track listings for product codes.

track listing 1

Uncertain Smile [Extended 7 Inch Version], Perfect [45 RPM Version], Sweet Bird Of Truth [45 RPM Version], Infected [7 Inch Version], Heartland [Album Version Edit], Armageddon Days Are Here [Again], The Beat[en] Generation, Dogs Of Lust, Love Is Stronger Than Death [Edit], Slow Emotion Replay, That Was The Day, I Saw The Light, December Sunlight [Cried Out], Pillar Box Red, Deep Down Truth, Uncertain Smile [12 Inch Version], Perfect [12 Inch Version], Sweet Bird Of Truth [12 Inch Version], Infected [12 Inch Version], Armageddon Days Are Here [Again] [DNA Remix], The Violence Of Truth [Remix], Gravitate To Me [Dance Mix], Dogs Of Lust [Spermicide Mix]
[Epic [5044699], UK, CD Limited Edition, May 2002]
[Epic [86611], US, CD Limited Edition, May 2002]
[Epic [86611], Canada, CD Limited Edition, May 2002]

track listing 2

Uncertain Smile [Extended 7 Inch Version], Perfect [45 RPM Version], Sweet Bird Of Truth [45 RPM Version], Infected [7 Inch Version], Heartland [Album Version Edit], Armageddon Days Are Here [Again], The Beat[en] Generation, Dogs Of Lust, Love Is Stronger Than Death [Edit], Slow Emotion Replay, That Was The Day, I Saw The Light, December Sunlight [Cried Out], Pillar Box Red, Deep Down Truth
[Epic [5044692], UK, CD, June 2002]
[Epic [product code unknown], US, CD, June 2002]
[Epic [product code unknown], Canada, CD, June 2002]

notes

Matt's latest album is a collection of singles, some rare, some not. It also includes two new songs, which is a nice treat for the fans, who were probably weren't expecting new material for another few years. The limited edition includes a second disc containing 12" remixes. All tracks have been remastered and sound much louder and powerful than ever before - the sound difference is quite noticable.

In typical The The fashion, the crediting for the tracks doesn't actually match what they are on the disc. "Uncertain Smile" and "Perfect" are both noted as "Original Version" and the rest of the tracks are not noted as special mixes at all. In fact, there are lots of surprises in store. Firstly, some Canadian and US editions of the limited edition have a pressing error and have "Love Is Stronger Than Death" and "Slow Emotion Replay" reversed in order on the discs. This error is apparently not present on any of the UK pressings of the limited edition. The "original" version of "Uncertain Smile" is actually the 7" version, marking it's first appearance on CD, but it's also slightly longer than the original 7" version we've come to know. The "original" version of "Perfect" is familiar - it sounds very similar to the 7" mix, but Matt's messed the beginning of the song up to a point where I have to give it credit as an exclusive mix to this release. "Sweet Bird of Truth" is also a new mix, very similar to the album, but slightly edited and with a new opening. "Infected" is actually the 7" version and "Heartland" is not from a single at all, but from the album [it ends in the lock groove sound] but with the factory sounds chopped off the beginning of it. "Love Is Stronger Than Death" is pretty much the same as it's always been, but the opening harmonica introduction has been chopped out, making it an exclusive mix. "That Was The Day" is credited as "This Is The Day [Dis-Infected Version]" and every 12" mix from the second CD is simply credited as "12 inch remix"; somewhat puzzling as there are several different 12" remixes for some of these tracks.

Puzzling fans even more was the inclusion of a strange new cover for "Armageddon Days Are Here [Again]" in the liner notes. Apparently Andrew drew up a cover for the single, but it was never used. People have e-mailed me about this cover, but there are no singles, promos, or rarities from smaller countries that have used this cover. It's simply an alternative cover, which is a shame, 'cause it was a much better cover choice.

The limited edition album is out now and the single CD edition album is soon to follow, probably in June.

graphics

Front Cover [ Canada Limited Edition ]
Back Cover [ Canada Limited Edition [ Cover - Detail ] ]
Inset [ Canada Limited Edition ]
Labels [ Canada Limited Edition ]
Sticker [ Canada Limited Edition ]
CD Booklet [ Canada Limited Edition [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 ] ]

London Town Boxed Set

See individual track listings for product codes.

track listing

[This 4 CD boxed set will include remastered versions of "Soul Mining", "Infected", "Mind Bomb", and "Dusk", as well as a 5th bonus CD of The The remixed music by DJ Ian Peel and a video interview with Matt Johnson done by Johnny Marr.]
[Epic [product code unknown], UK, CD boxed set, coming in July 2002]
[Epic [product code unknown], US, CD boxed set, coming in July 2002]

notes

Due out in early July [probably July 2nd] is the 4 CD boxed set, "London Town", which will include the first four major albums in remastered editions with new covers. If "45 RPM" is anything to go by, the remastered editions will sound fantastic. They'll also be available separately if you don't wish to buy the boxed set and will be released separately in remastered editions on July 2nd. A shot of the new covers exists in the liner notes to "45 RPM", but rumors are flying about whether these remastered discs will include extra [hopefully rare] tracks.

There's apparently going to be a bonus CD with it as well including a 30 minute late night mix of The The's musical history by Ian Peel called "In The A.M." The bonus CD also includes a video interview of Matt done by Johnny Marr. I have to assume the interview is the same one that's popped up recently on promo videos for "Pillar Box Red" and "45 RPM". I know next to nothing about the Ian Peel DJ mix CD. The bonus CD may only be available in a limited edition of the boxed set. Either that or the boxed sets as a whole are limited edition, I'm not sure yet.

graphics

Advertisement from "45 RPM" Liner Notes

Silent Tongue

[label unknown [product code unknown], country unknown, CD, coming in fall of 2002]

track listing

[No track listing as of yet, but this album will largely be a collection of The The's film music, as well as many previously unreleased instrumental pieces from the past 20 years.]

notes

Between preparing for a Fall 2002 tour, remastering old albums, releasing unreleased albums, and putting out boxed sets and single collections, and working on a new album, Matt is putting out this project. This Is The The Day described it as "an album of The The's film music, plus many previously unreleased instrumental pieces from the past 20 years."

graphics

None available.

Bedsitland Boxed Set

[Epic [product code unknown], UK, CD Boxed Set, coming in 2003]

track listing

[this boxed set will will include a couple of previously unreleased The The albums that fans have been wanting for years. Among those will undoubtedly be "The Pornography of Despair" and "Spirits", although all the details of this set are not known yet.]

notes

Due out sometime in 2003, this boxed set, "Bedsitland", will include a series of unreleased The The albums from years past that fans have been after Matt to release. Amongst those to be included in the set are "The Pornography of Despair" and "Spirits", but further details about the set are unknown at this time.

graphics

None available.

Untitled New Album

[label unknown [product code unknown], country unknown, CD, release date unknown]

track listing

[Matt is currently working on a new album, which simultaneously remastering albums, putting out boxed sets, and preparing for a fall 2002 tour - no idea what will be on it or how it will sound.]

notes

Between preparing for a Fall 2002 tour, remastering old albums, releasing unreleased albums, and putting out boxed sets and single collections, Matt is apparently preparing work on a new album, but he has said very very little about it. He's given no clues as to what it'll be like or when it's due to come out.

graphics

None available.