My wife and I are pretty big fans of all things Morrissey and even more of The Smiths, so I was pretty excited to get wind of this new collection of music from the legendary band. Here is the official release from Rhino Records…

Rhino announces the release of THE SOUND OF THE SMITHS, a new collection of classic and rare recordings that will be available November 11. The compilation was completed with the full cooperation of Morrissey, who provided the title, and Johnny Marr, who personally supervised the mastering. They both assisted in the track selection, and their joint involvement ensures that this will be the most comprehensive look back at The Smiths’ extraordinary career to date.

THE SOUND OF THE SMITHS will be available as either a single-disc or two-disc collection. Each will be available at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for a list price of $18.98 for the single disc and $29.98 for the double-disc. THE SOUND OF THE SMITHS will also be available digitally $11.99 (single-disc) and $25.99 (double-disc). The same day, The Smiths full catalog (seven albums) will be available digitally from all digital partners.

Notice the bolded statement from the release? Morrissey and Marr worked together on this? I have a hard time believing they spent any time together doing this, but you never know I guess. Either way, its a must have for all Smiths fans, so get ready for this November 11th.

In the meantime, feel free to start listening now to some of the tunes in this listening party link…

Full tracklisting of the albums after the jump…

THE SOUND OF THE SMITHS

SINGLE-CD VERSION
1. “Hand in Glove” – Single Version
2. “This Charming Man” – Single Version
3. “What Difference Does It Make” – Peel Sessions Version
4. “Still Ill” – Album Version
5. “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” – Single Version
6. “William, It Was Really Nothing” – Single Version
7. “How Soon Is Now?” – 12″ Single
8. “Nowhere Fast” – Album Version
9. “Shakespeare’s Sister” – Single Version
10. “Barbarism Begins At Home” – 7″ Version
11. “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” – Single Version
12. “The Headmaster Ritual” – Album Version
13. “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” – Single Version
14. “Bigmouth Strikes Again” – Single Version
15. “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” – Album Version
16. “Panic” – Single Version
17. “Ask” – Single Version
18. “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby” – Single Version
19. “Shoplifters Of The World Unite” – Single Version
20. “Sheila Take A Bow” – Single Version
21. “Girlfriend In A Coma” – Single Version
22. “I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish” – Single Version
23. “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” – Single Version

DOUBLE CD DELUXE VERSION
(Includes the Single CD along with the following)
1. “Jeane” – Single B-Side
2. “Handsome Devil” – - Single B-Side, Live 1983
3. “This Charming Man” (New York vocal)- 12″ Single
4. “Wonderful Woman” – 12″ Single
5. “Back To The Old House” – Single B-Side
6. “These Things Take Time” – 12″ Single B-Side
7. “Girl Afraid” – Single B-Side
8. “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” – Single B-Side
9. “Stretch Out And Wait” – Single B-Side
10. “Oscillate Wildly” – 12″ Single B-Side
11. “Meat Is Murder” – Live In Oxford – Single B-Side
12. “Asleep” – Single B-Side
13. “Money Changes Everything” – Single B-Side
14. “The Queen Is Dead” “Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty” – Medley
15. “Vicar In A Tutu” – Single B-Side
16. “Cemetry Gates” – Single B-Side
17. “Half A Person” – Single B-Side
18. “Sweet And Tender Hooligan” – 12″ Single B-Side
19. “Pretty Girls Make Graves” — Single B-Side, Troy Tate Version
20. “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” – Album Version
21. “What’s The World” -Live In Glasgow
22. “London” – Live In London