The Smiths rarities album on the way

Available in one and two-disc versions, The Sound Of The Smiths – Morrissey chose the title – includes such gems as a cover of James’ ‘What’s The World’, a live ‘Meat Is Murder’, a John Peel session version of ‘What Difference Does It Make?’, a new mix of ‘This Charming Man’ and a demo of ‘Pretty Girls Make Graves’.

“The label approached me a few years ago with this proposal that I wasn’t into at all, but they sent me some stuff and it sounded pretty good,” Marr, who took care of the mastering, told us last October. “There are versions of the songs that are really stripped down as we recorded them as ‘live’ takes – and you’d be really surprised, we were a pretty good band!

“Also, how good some of those live bootlegs are was an absolute revelation for me. It was like, ‘Whoa, this is intense!’ Even ‘Frankly Mr. Shankly’ is intense! It’s pretty heavy and I like heavy music.”

‘Frankly Mr. Shankly’ hasn’t made the final cut, but 45 other Smiths classics have, making it a must-buy for fans.