This list is provided to help you make an educated decision when it comes to buying a bootleg CD. This list is by no means complete. I'll add new entries as I buy them or as people send me reviews.

Always, try to listen to a bootleg before you buy it.

Be sure to check other pages on the MozWeb especially The Arcane Old Wardrobe for more info on bootlegs.
Click on the cover thumbnails for a sometimes larger image.

Key Title / Label(CD number) Place(s) / Date(S) / Quality Notes:

Quality Ratings I tried to keep it simple. If I've heard it with my own ears I rated it as follows: SB+ good soundboard (a really nice job) SB  okay soundboard (nice but needs better mixing) SB- poor soundboard (listenable but something went wrong somewhere) AR+ good audience recording (not much crowd noise) AR   okay audience recording (bearable though distracting crowd noise) AR- poor audience recording (too much crowd noise) If I've got a review from someone else I use AR? reviewed elsewhere as audience recording SB? reviewed elsewhere as soundboard recording If I've never heard it I use ???

Asleep / Chelsea Records (CFC003) / various / various / SB+ and AR+

Notes: This CD's tracks are a little mislabelled. The correct listing is shown here. The first 5 tracks are good soundboard recordings. Track 4 is especially nice to have on CD. The last 14 tracks are good audience recordings. The instrumentals are very enjoyable. As with all the CFC boots, the packaging is quite nice. I'd recommend getting this one if you see it.

Wonderful Woman (Unreleased Kid Jensen session version) Girl Afraid (from the NME Department of Enjoyment cassette) Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (Different studio mix) How Soon Is Now? (Alternate version from Italian 12" of "William") William It Was Really Nothing (Peel Session on "Last Night...." single) The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (instrumental) ? Frankly Mr Shankly (instrumental) Bigmouth Strikes Again (instrumental) (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians (instrumental) Shakespeare's Sister (instrumental) Jeane What's The World The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (soundcheck) ? How Soon Is Now? (instrumental) Nowhere Fast (instrumental) Groovy Kind of Love (instrumental) Every Day (instrumental) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (instrumental) Asleep (soundcheck)

Before Love / Hand Made (HAM 019) / Oxford Apollo / April 18, 1985 / SB+
Notes: This was one of my first Smiths bootleg CDs. The often-booted Oxford show sounds excellent (BBC stereo recording). The last 4 tracks don't sound as great but are nice to have. The last 3 are a collector's treat. I'd highly recommend this CD or another with the Oxford show. Tracks: 1-14 Oxford, 15 unknown, 16-18 Soundchecks	William, It Was Really Nothing Hand In Glove How Soon Is Now That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore The Headmaster Ritual What She Said Still Ill Miserable Lie You've Got Everything Now Nowhere Fast Stretch Out And Wait Shakespeare's Sister Meat Is Murder Barbarism Begins At Home Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want Asleep Unloveable Purple Haze

Better Live than Dead / London / 1984 / SB+
Notes: This is probably a jumbled Oxford	William, It Was Really Nothing Nowhere Fast What She Said Hand In Glove How Soon Is Now? Stretch Out And Wait That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Shakespeare's Sister Meat Is Murder Miserable Lie Barbarism Begins At Home

The Butterfly Collector / Big Music (BIG 098) / Manchester, Amsterdam / 1983, 1984 / SB?

Notes:This has the Handsome Devils show plus another. I've seen this one around at record shows a lot. Tracks: 1-12 Amsterdam, 13-20 Europe

Hand In Glove Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Barbarism Begins At Home This Charming Man Miserable Lie I Don't Owe You Anything What Difference Does It Make? Girl Afraid This Night Has Opened My Eyes Still Ill These Things Take Time Handsome Devil These Things Take Time What Difference Does It Make? The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Handsome Devil Jeane What Do You See In Him? Hand In Glove Miserable Lie

The Cradle Snatchers / EAR 41CD / / SB-
Notes: This CD suffers from Smiths boot mislabelling as well. This CD features the Troy Tate sessions plus other live material. I listened to this one once in a music store an wasn't too impressed with the sound quality.	Is It Really So Strange? London Sweet And Tender Hooligan Reel Around The Fountain You've Got Everything Now Miserable Lie These Things Take Time Wonderful Woman Handsome Devil Hand In Glove What Difference Does It Make? I Don't Owe You Anything Suffer Little Children Pretty Girls Make Graves How Soon Is Now? Wonderful Woman Purple Haze

Dance with Octopuses / Primeof Rarities PRCD 1010 / Kilburn National, London / October 23, 1986 / SB?
	Queen is Dead Panic There is a light.. Ask Frankly Mr Shankly The boy with the Thorn... Is it Really So Strange London I Know Its over The Draize Train How Soon is Now BigMouth Strikes Again

Eldorado / (ABCD 2918) / Eldorado Club, Paris / May 9, 1984 / SB?
	Hand In Glove Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Girl Afraid This Charming Man Barbarism Begins At Home Pretty Girls Make Graves This Night Has Opened My Eyes Still Ill You've Got Everything Now Handsome Devil Misereble Lie These Things Take Time What Difference Does A Day Make? Barbarism Begins At Home

The Final Gig / (MR 003) / Brixton Academy and Peel Sessions / December 12, 1986 and December 17, 1986 / SB-

Notes: I had to get this one simply because it was the final gig! There's some fade-outs on the first 2 tracks. But otherwise it's an ok soundboard recording. The Peel Sessions sound very good here. I'd recommend this one if you're like me and just want to own that last recording. One note, The Queen Is Dead sounds exactly like the one on Rank - am I crazy? Tracks: 1-15 Brixton, 16-19 Peel Sessions

Ask Bigmouth Strikes Again London/Miserable Lie Some Girls Are Bigger The Boy With The Thorn Shoplifters Of The World There Is A Light Is It Really So Strange Cemetry Gates This Night Has Opened My Eyes Still Ill Panic The Queen Is Dead William It Was Really Nothing Hand in Glove Sweet & Tender Hooligan Half A Person Is It Really So Strange London

Flowers / Classical (CL008) / Apollo Theatre, Oxford and National Club, Kilburn and BBC / 1985, 1986, December 17 1987 / SB?
Notes: The ever-popular Oxford show again! 11 and 12 are unreleased Rank tracks. I've seen this one at a lot of record shows too. Tracks: 1-10 Oxford, 11-12 Kilburn, 13-14 BBC	William It Was Really Nothing Stretch Out That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Shakespeare's Sister Headmaster Ritual Still Ill Meat Is Murder Miserable Lie Barbarism Begins At Home You've Got Everything Now There Is A Light That Never Goes Out How Soon Is Now London Half A Person

Genius Steals / BIGMOUTH MUSIC (CD001) / The Brixton Academy, London / October 24, 1986 / SB? (-)

Notes: Some comments from Pete:"Genius Steals" bootleg was recorded the night after "Rank" was, recorded at the Brixton acadamy. The sound quality is pretty decent, even good. There is a lot of crowd noise during the first few songs but this sort of improves as the CD progresses. Most notable on this bootleg is a beautiful rendition of "Meat is Murder" and possibly the best version of "How Soon Is Now" I've heard,in which Mike Joyce is joined by a second drummer (who's name escapes me at the moment)and Johnny Marr, backed by Craig Gannon, does some amazing things on the guitar. Lacking on this bootleg are witty Morrissy comments, save one or two ("this song isn't bad- the boy with the thorn in his side," for example).

The Queen Is Dead Panic I Want The One I Can't Have Vicar In A Tutu There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Ask Rushulme Ruffians / Marie's the Name Shakespeare's Sister Frankly Mr Shankly The Boy With The Thorn In His Side What She Said / Rubber Ring Is It Really So Strange? London Meat Is Murder I Know It's Over The Draize Train How Soon Is Now Still Ill Bigmouth Strikes Again

Girl Afraid / Care For Your Ears / Markthalle Hamburg / June 4, 1984 / SB?
Notes: The total playing time is close to 63 minutes. It's quite an ordinary liveshow, but with good sound quality (a few flaws). The audience-noise is quite well balanced and it's touching to hear them chant "Morrissey, Morrissey". In the middle of the concert Morrissey asks the audience: "Does anybody have something really intelligent to say? ...no?"	Hand In Glove Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Girl Afraid This Charming Man Pretty Girls Make Graves Still Ill The Crack On The Head (Barbarism Begins At Home) This Night Has Opened My Eyes Miserable Lie You've Got Everything Now Handsome Devil What Difference Does It Make? These Things Take Time This Charming Man Hand In Glove The Crack On The Head (Barbarism Begins At Home)

the handsome devils / Rarites & Few (TKCD 1052) / Derby and Meerward Amsterdam / December 7, 1983 and 1984 / SB

Notes: This was one of my early CD boots. It claims to be limited to 1000 copies - somehow I doubt that. It has two concerts on one CD. The Derby show is also found on video and some of the Meerward tracks are on a 3" CD with the Italian lyric book. The Derby show doesn't sound very good but the Meerward show is alright. This is not one of my favorite bootleg CDs. Tracks: 1-11 Derby, 12-18 Meerward

Handsome Devil Still Ill This Charming Man Pretty Girls Make Graves Reel Around The Fountain What Difference Does It Make Miserable Lie This Night Has Opened My Eyes Hand In Glove These Things Take Time You've Got Everything Now Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Barbarism Begins At Home Miserable Lie I Don't Owe You Anything What Difference Does It Make Handsome Devil You've Got Everything Now

The hand that rocks the cradle / Nu Noize (NUN 005) / various / Autumn 1983 and others / SB

Notes: I got this CD to own the Troy Tate demos. They do sound different than the first album. The quality is rather good. It's been re-released by Strangled Records (STR003) under the same name and as "May We Have A record Contract, Please" by Top Eagle Records (BMH 340/2). It was also re-re-released as "The Troy Tate Demos" with just tracks 1-12. Tracks: 1-12 Demos, 13-19 The Beeb (TV?)

Reel Around The Fountain You've Got Everything Now Miserable Lie These Things Take Time Wonderful Woman Handsome Devil Suffer Little Children Pretty Girls Make Graves Hand In Glove What Difference Does It Make I Don't Owe You Anything Jeane Miserable Lie I Don't Owe You Anything Reel Around The Fountain Pretty Girls Make Graves William, It Was Really Nothing Rusholme Ruffians (labelled Shakespeare's Sister) Nowhere Fast

How Soon Is Now 85 / Manchester Palace / April 31, 1985 / AR
Notes: I can't say I ever take this one off the shelf. I don't seem to listen to audience recordings unless they're very good. It's nice that they're playing to a Manchester crowd. But this one is worth passing up.	What She Said Hand In Glove How Soon Is Now Stretch Out And Wait That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Shakespeare's Sister Rusholme Ruffians Headmaster Ritual Still Ill Meat Is Murder Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

I Suffer / Rock Calendar (RC 2116) / Beacon Theatre, New York / June 18, 1985 / AR?
Notes: Tony Edwards says "A reasonable quality recording of the 1985 American tour, interesting mainly for the fact that there's not many boots around from that period.As it was the bands first major tour of the States the set list is pretty varied including a seven minute version of Meat is Murder and a great version of Jeane. Not an essential Smiths boot but an interesting one."	Meat is Murder Headmaster ritual Reel Around the Fountain Shakespears sister Nowhere Fast I wan't the one I can't have This Charming Man That joke isn't funny anymore Stretch out and wait Heaven knows... Still ill How soon is now William it was really nothing Hand in glove Please ,please,please let me get what I want Rusholme Ruffians Miserable Lie Jeane

James Dean Is Dead / Oxford Apollo / March 18, 1985 / SB
Notes: A trimmed down Oxford show (11 tracks).

Last of the English Roses / Big Music (BIG043) / Europe / 1985 / AR+

Notes: I thought I had good ear for bootlegs. When I got this one I swore it was a soundboard. However, I have seen it referred to as an audience recording. This one is worth it because Sandie Shaw jumps on stage to sing "I Don't Owe You Anything." How often does that happen anymore?

Miserable Lie Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now This Charming Man Girl Afraid (labelled I'll Never Make That Mistake Again) Pretty Girls Make Graves Still Ill This Night Has Opened My Eyes Barbarism Begins At Home Back To The Old House What Difference Does It Make I Don't Owe You Anything (sung by Sandie Shaw) Reel Around The Fountain Hand In Glove You've Got Everything Now Handsome Devil These Things Take Time

Live In Madrid / The Swingin' Pig (TSP-CD-109) / Paseo de Camoeons, Madrid / May 5, 1985 / SB-
Notes: I regret getting this one. The mixing has the bass too low and the treble too high. If I had an equalizer I might be able to listen to it. But this one stays on the shelf.	William, It Was Really Nothing Nowhere Fast I Want The One I Can't Have What She Said How Soon Is Now Handsome Devil That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Shakespeare's Sister Rusholme Ruffians The Headmaster Ritual Hand In Glove Still Ill Meat Is Murder Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Miserable Lie Barbarism Begins At Home The Charming Man You've Got Everything Now

Live Panic / Punji 2086 / Manchester G-mex and London AlbertHall / / AR?
Notes: Tony Edwards says "The worst Smiths boot ever released. Terrible quality and packaging, avoid unless you're desperate!" I almost forgot about this bootleg. It was the first real bootleg I ever owned. It sucked so bad I took it back to the record show and demanded the merchant exchange it. I got Higher Education and was much happier!	Intro How Soon Is Now Nowhere Fast I want The One I can't have Bigmouth Strikes Again Panic Meat is Murder The Queen is Dead I Know It's Over Hand In glove Headmaster Ritual You've Got everything Now

Morrissey 1959-1986 / Hand Made / Manchester, London, BBC, TV / December 1982, October 1986, December 17, 1986, February 1987 / SB

Notes: Ah, this one is special to me. This was my first Smiths bootleg CD. I like the mix of material from different periods. The first 8 tracks are supposedly from their 3rd performance. 9-11 are unreleased from the Rank show. I wish these were included in Rank. The last 4 tracks don't sound very good, but think of the historical significance. Tracks: 1-8 Manchester, 9-11 Rank show, 12-13 BBC Session, 14-15 Last TV Appearance

These Things Take Time What Difference Does It Make The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Handsome Devil Jeane Wonderful Woman (labelled Beautiful Woman) Hand In Glove Miserable Lie There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Frankly Mr Shankly How Soon Is Now London Half A Person Sheila Take A Bow Shoplifters Of The World Unite

Never Had No-one Ever / Skeleton Songs ss07 / Brixton London / 1986 / SB?
Notes: Tony Edwards says " Claims to be recorded in Belgium 1986 but is actually the same as the Final Gig boot minus the last four Peel session Tracks."	Ask Bigmouth Strikes Again London/Miserable Lie Some Girls Are Bigger The Boy With The Thorn Shoplifters Of The World There Is A Light Is It Really So Strange Cemetry Gates This Night Has Opened My Eyes Still Ill Panic The Queen Is Dead William It Was Really Nothing Hand in Glove

Reel Around The Fountain / Chelsea Records (CFC 018) / Various / Various / SB?

Notes: Those CFC people really put together nice compilations of material. Maybe I'll have to pick this one up someday. Tracks: 6-14 are Mixing Desk cut of Concert from Birmingham Fighting Cocks, 3-6-83 - First Gig outside Manchester or London

How Soon Is Now? (Unreleased John Peel Session, Radio One, Broadcast 9-8-84) What Do You See in Him? (Early version of "Wonderful Woman", Live from Manchester Hacienda 4-2-83) Reel Around the Fountain (Troy Tate session) Miserable Lie (Troy Tate session) The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (Troy Tate session) You've Got Everything Now Handsome Devil Accept Yourself What Difference Does it Make? Reel Around the Fountain Wonderful Woman These Things Take Time I Don't Owe You Anything Hand in Glove I Don't Owe You Anything (Sandie Shaw and The Smiths (minus Morrissey) in session Radio One 14-4-84) Jeane (Sandie Shaw and The Smiths (minus Morrissey) in session, Radio One 14-4-84)

Royal Command Performance / / Brixton Academy, London and G-Mex Festival Manchester / 12/12/86 and 1986/ AR?

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others Shoplifters Of The World Unite Cemetry Gates This Night Has Opened My Eyes Still Ill Panic The Queen Is Dead William...It Was Nothing Hand In Glove BigMouth Strikes Again Vicar In A Tu-Tu Frankly Mr. Shankley There Is A Light Ask I Want The One I Can't Have Is It Really So Strange Shakespeare's Sister Jeanne Rusholme Ruffians London The Boy With The Thorn In His Side Girl Don't Come

Rusholme Ruffians Play at Home / RS Records RSCD14 / Manchester / March 31, 1985 / AR?
	What She Said Hand In Glove How Soon Is Now Stretch Out and Wait That Joke Isn't funny Anymore Shakespears Sister Rusholme Ruffians Headmaster Ritual Still Ill Meat Is Murder Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Handsome Devil Barbarism Begins At Home Miserable Lie/You've Got Everything Now.

Same Day Again / Big Music (BIG 061) / Europe / 1985 / SB+
Notes: Surprise! The Oxford show!	William it was really nothing Nowhere Fast What She Said Hand in Glove How Soon Is Now Strech Out And Wait That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Shakespear's Sister The Headmaster Ritual Still Ill Meat Is Murder Miserable Lie Barbarism Begins At Home You've Got Everything Now

Stealers / XSIZE Records(X SIZE 38) / Oxford Apollo / March 18, 1985 / SB?
Notes: Don't they ever stop making Oxford CDs?	William, it was really nothing Nowhere fast Hand in glove How soon is now? Stretch out and wait That joke isn't funny anymore Shakespears sister Headmasters ritual What she said Still ill Meat is murder Miserable lie Barbarism begins at home You've got everything now

Thank Your Lucky Stars / Big Music (BIG091) / Los Angeles / August 26, 1986 / SB+

Notes: This is the holy grail of Smiths bootlegs. This show sounds incredible! If you see this, buy it! Take note of the security troubles on the last track. Highly sought after in its original pressing. Most copies have one song trimmed because of the length of the show (too long for consumer bruners).

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want Still Ill I Want The One I Can't Have There Is A Light That Never Goes Out How Soon Is Now Frankly Mr Shankly Panic Stretch Out And Wait The Boy With The Thorn In His Side Is It Really So Strange Cemetery Gates Never Had No One Ever Rubber Ring/What She Said That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now The Queen Is Dead Money Changes Everything I Know It's Over

Unloveable / various / various /

Notes: I was unimpressed by the quality of many of these tracks. I have many of these appearances on video and this CD sounds no better.

Miserable Lie (Peel Session) What Difference Does It Make (TV session on Y.E.S.) This Night Has Opened My Eyes (TV session on Y.E.S.) Hand In Glove (Live on the Tube) Still Ill (Live on the Tube) Barbarism Begins At Home (Live on the Tube) Still Ill / This Charming Man (acoustic) / Hand In Glove (audio from Datarun show) Jeane (acoustic on Splat!) Bigmouth Strikes Again (Whistle Test) Vicar in a Tutu (Whistle Test) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Eurotube) Panic (Eurotube) Sheila Take A Bow (last performance on The Tube) Shoplifters Of The World Unite (last performance on The Tube) Hand In Glove (soundcheck) Rock 'n Roll part 2 (soundcheck) Unloveable (soundcheck) Unloveable (soundcheck) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (soundcheck)

Wonderful Woman / Chelsea Records(CFC 019) / Various / Various / SB+

Notes: What can I say? CFC does it again. Tracks: 2-5 from The final John Peel Session, Radio One, broadcast 17-12-86, 6-8 from the Troy Tate sessions, 9-17 from the Rockgarden, London 7-7-83

What's The World? (Glasgow Barrowlands, 25-9-85 from UK Cassette of "I Started Something.....") Half a Person Sweet and Tender Hooligan Is it Really So Strange? London What Difference Does it Make? Accept Yourself Wonderful Woman Reel Around the Fountain What Difference Does it Make? Wonderful Woman These Things Take Time I Don't Owe You Anything Hand in Glove Miserable Lie Accept Yourself Hand in Glove (Encore) You've got Everything Now (Amsterdam De Meervaart Hall, 21-4-84)

Updated: 11/11/04

Contents Copyright (c) Scott Krajewski, 1999