Radio programmes
collectors appendix

This is a list of compact discs and LPs (transcription discs) sent to radio stations for broadcast. Everything listed here is therefore very limited. If you are looking for a complete list of radio appearances by the band, see here.

 

BBC In Concert 354 [UK BBC, LP: 155154-S]
This is what is commonly referred to as a "BBC transcription disc". The LP features the following nine songs recorded live at the Oxford Apollo on 18 March 1985: "William, It Was Really Nothing", "Nowhere Fast", "Hand In Glove", "How Soon Is Now?", "Stretch Out And Wait", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Shakespeare's Sister", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Still Ill", "Meat Is Murder", "Miserable Lie", "Barbarism Begins At Home", "You've Got Everything Now". It is distributed in a generic yellow die-cut and poly-lined "BBC Transcription Services" sleeve (view). The labels are white and pale green with black text and a pale green BBC TS logo at the top. The black printed information includes duration, side number, catalogue number, expiration date ("31.8.89"), release information and copyright ("BBC 1985"). The record comes with two inserts. One has information on the Smiths and shows a press photo of the band (including Morrissey wearing a hat). The other insert features content information and serves as a cue sheet. This is supposedly limited to 50 copies.

§

BBC In Concert 399 [UK BBC, LP: 157588-S]
This is what is commonly referred to as a "BBC transcription disc". The LP features the following songs recorded live in Kilburn on 23 October 1986: "The Queen Is Dead", "Panic", "Vicar In A Tutu", "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", "Ask", "Frankly, Mr Shankly", "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side", "What She Said", "Is It Really So Strange?", "London", "I Know It's Over", "The Draize Train", "How Soon Is Now?" and "Bigmouth Strikes Again". It is distributed in a generic yellow "BBC Transcription Services" sleeve die-cut to show the labels ((view). These labels are white and pale green with black text and a pale green BBC TS logo at the top. The black printed information includes duration, side number, catalogue number, expiration date ("30.4.91"), release information and copyright ("BBC 1987"). The record comes with two 2-sided inserts. One shows a press photo of Morrissey in a New York Dolls t-shirt on one side, beneath "In Concert - 399" and a red BBC Pop-Rock identifier, with "BBC Transcription Services" in red along the left edge and the date "Wk 4/87" at the bottom (copies without these in red are photocopies). A biography of the band, personnel and the radio show's track listing is printed on the reverse. The other insert features content information and serves as a cue sheet (more detailed information needed). The two inserts have holes punched into them so they can be binded. This radio show is supposedly limited to 50 copies.

§

BBC Classic In Concert 35 [UK BBC, CD: TCDC0038]
This is similar to what was described above, but on cd format. The cd, produced in 1994, features 13 songs recorded live at the Oxford Apollo on 18 March 1985: "William, It Was Really Nothing", "Nowhere Fast", "Hand In Glove", "How Soon Is Now?", "Stretch Out And Wait", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Shakespeare's Sister", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Still Ill", "Meat Is Murder", "Miserable Lie", "Barbarism Begins At Home", "You've Got Everything Now". It comes in a custom generic 'Classic Concerts' title sleeve with tracklisting insert. The cd is silver with green text: BBC Transcription logo at the top, compact disc logo at the left, copyright and catalogue number on the right and "Classic In Concert 35 featuring the Smiths" at the bottom.

§

The Smiths At The Beeb [UK BBC, CD: TCD-0710]
During the 1990s the BBC put together radio documentaries on various artists "...At The Beeb". The Smiths are the only band from the 1980s to have been given the treatment, the others having had their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. "The Smiths At The Beeb" is a one-hour special first broadcast in 1994 (week 20) featuring radio sessions, excerpts of past interviews with Morrissey and Marr as well as contributions by John Peel, David Jensen, John Porter and Scott Piering. The featured radio sessions are "William, It Was Really Nothing", "What Difference Does It Make?", "Handsome Devil", "These Things Take Time", "Pretty Girls Make Graves", "Reel Around The Fountain", "This Charming Man", "Back To The Old House", "Nowhere Fast", "How Soon Is Now?", "Half A Person" and "Is It Really So Strange?". The front of the booklet (actually a folded insert) shows the generic BBC transcription cd artwork, with the BBC Transcription logo beneath the slogan "Radio at its best". Over the left and right of the inner side of the insert are suggested opening and closing DJ announcements, in cue sheet form. Information about the BBC's Transcription services is found on the back of the insert. The BBC Transcription logo and slogan "Radio at its best" is repeated on the back tray inlay next to a BBC address and reproduction warning and a Compact Disc logo. "The Smiths At The Beeb" is printed in black over white on the spine, between a BBC logo and the catalogue number (and a pink square). The disc is white and shows a BBC Transcription logo at the top, a Compact Disc logo on the left, copyrights and the catalogue number on the right, "The Smiths At The Beeb" at the bottom and a reproduction warning around the edge. The cd comes with a press release consisting of three 2-sided pages. The top of the first page shows an image of the band in an abandoned train station, surrounded by logos for BBC Pop & Rock, At The Beeb, BBC Transcription and Compact Disc. The story of the Smiths' BBC sessions and the programme's track listing are given on the reverse. The second page shows the same suggested opening and closing DJ announcements in cue sheet form as found inside the insert. The track listing including songwriting credits, running times and publisher is printed over the two sides of the third page.

§

Westwood One In Concert New Rock [USA reel-to-reel tapes, #92-28]
This is a set of two reel-to-reel tapes from 1992 featuring material from two different concerts given by the Smiths: the 23 October 1986 show in Kilburn ("The Queen Is Dead", "Panic", "Vicar In A Tutu", "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", "Ask", "Is It Really So Strange?", "How Soon Is Now?", "Bigmouth Strikes Again") and the 18 March 1985 show in Oxford ("William, It Was Really Nothing", "Nowhere Fast", "Stretch Out And Wait", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Shakespeare's Sister", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Still Ill", "Meat Is Murder", "Miserable Lie", "Barbarism Begins At Home", "You've Got Everything Now"). It is not known whether or not these tapes were used in the production of Westwood One In Concert cds like the ones described below or if they were directly used for broadcast. The latter option would be very unlikely, but the former hypothesis also appears to be invalid as radio cds numbered #92-28 have never been reported (actually this catalogue number belongs to a Westwood One concert by the band Traffic). The tapes are found in two white boxes with square white information labels stuck onto the fronts. These labels have red AT&T logos at the top and state "In Concert Alternative / New Rock", "Show #1A 92-28", reel number, "The Smiths", etc. Any additional information would be appreciated.

§

Westwood One In Concert New Rock [USA 2-cd, #93-40]
This is a 2-cd set dated 27 September 1993, featuring material from two different concerts given by the Smiths: the 23 October 1986 show in Kilburn ("The Queen Is Dead", "Panic", "Vicar In A Tutu", "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", "Ask", "Is It Really So Strange?", "How Soon Is Now?", "Bigmouth Strikes Again") and the 18 March 1985 show in Oxford ("William, It Was Really Nothing", "Stretch Out And Wait", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Shakespeare's Sister", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Still Ill", "Meat Is Murder", "Miserable Lie", "Barbarism Begins At Home", "You've Got Everything Now"). The discs are silver with black text: "In Concert New Rock" logo at the top, date on the left, disc and show numbers on the right, Westwood One logo and credit at the bottom, legal warning around the bottom edge. They were distributed in the usual generic white and blue Westwood One envelopes (view). The set comes with 2 cue sheets.

§

Westwood One In Concert New Rock [USA 2-cd, #95-40]
This is a 2-cd set dated 24 September 1995, featuring material from two different concerts, one by Morrissey and one by the Smiths. The Smiths disc is cd2 and the material was taken from the 18 March 1985 show in Oxford: "William, It Was Really Nothing", "Hand In Glove", "How Soon Is Now?", "Stretch Out And Wait", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", "Shakespeare's Sister", "The Headmaster Ritual", "Still Ill" and "Meat Is Murder". The cds are silver with black text ("In Concert New Rock" header, Playstation logo near the bottom), and they are distributed in the usual generic white envelopes with blue Westwood One logo (view). The set comes with cue sheets, folded to fit the envelope.

§

Westwood One In The Zone [USA 2-cd, #99-43]
This is a 2-cd set dated 23-24 October 1999, featuring material from two different concerts, one by Morrissey and one by the Smiths. The Smiths disc is cd1 and the material was taken from the 23 October 1986 show in Kilburn: "The Queen Is Dead", "Panic", "Vicar In A Tutu", "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", "Ask", "Still Ill", "Meat Is Murder", "William, It Was Really Nothing", "Hand In Glove", "How Soon Is Now?". The cds are silver with black text: a In The Zone logo at the top, broadcast date on the left, show number on the right and Westwood One Americas Radio Network logo at the bottom above some serial number. They are distributed in plain white paper envelopes with round clear plastic window. The set comes with folded cue sheets.

 

Various artists including the Smiths

BBC Rock Hour
BBC Rock Hour was a British radio show hosted by Richard Skinner. It appears that the Smiths only appeared once on the programme, with "William, It Was Really Nothing" on 30 September 1984. The radio LP comes in a black card sleeve die-cut to show the labels which are yellow. It comes with a single cue sheet. Any additional information or correction is welcome.

§

BBC The Mix
Programme no 49 of this BBC radio show from 1995 features a 30-minute interview with the Smiths, supposedly including one song. The Smiths material is spread over 4 cd tracks. The catalogue number is TCDM9511, the exact broadcast date is unknown. Information on the packaging is needed. It may be very similar to the packaging of the Top Of The Pops cd described below.

§

BBC Top Of The Pops
This is not to be confused with the television programme with the same name. The Top Of The Pops radio programme was put together to promote British chart music to countries outside the UK. Back in the 1960s and 1970s it originally featured material recorded in the studio specifically for the show, but by the time the Smiths came around in the early 1980s this was not the case anymore. The versions of the songs found on the discs listed below are therefore the usual album/single versions. The show was chart-oriented so the Smiths were featured several times between 1983 and 1987, and then again in 1992 when the re-released "This Charming Man" charted.

The 1983-1987 shows that feature the Smiths were distributed on LP format. Side 1 features the presented show and side 2 features the banded items (without introductions). Each record is slipped inside a plain white paper inner bag and distributed in a generic yellow "BBC Transcription Services" sleeve die-cut to show the labels (view). Nowadays many copies have stickers or handwriting on the sleeve identifying the radio station they once belonged to. The labels are white and pale green with black text and a pale green BBC TS logo at the top. The black printed information includes, amongst other things, the show number, the date, the catalogue number and an expiration date. Each disc comes with a cue sheet.

  • Show #996 dated 9 December 1983 features "This Charming Man"
  • Show #1005 dated 8 February 1984 features "What Difference Does It Make?"
  • Show #1022 dated 6 June 1984 features "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"
  • Show #1033 dated 22 August 1984 features "William, It Was Really Nothing"
  • Show #1035 dated 5 September 1984 features "??"
  • Show #1057 dated 6 February 1985 features "How Soon Is Now?"
  • Show #1064 dated 27 March 1985 features "Shakespeare's Sister"
  • Show #1080 dated 17 July 1985 features "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore"
  • Show #1090 dated 25 September 1985 features "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"
  • Show #1125 dated 29 May 1986 features "Bigmouth Strikes Again"
  • Show #1133 dated 24 July 1986 features "Panic"
  • Show #1136 dated 14 August 1986 features "??"
  • Show #1148 dated 6 November 1986 features "Ask"
  • Show #1161 dated 5 Febraury 1987 features "Shoplifters Of The World Unite"
  • Show #1189 dated 20 August 1987 features "Girlfriend In A Coma"
  • Show #1201 dated 12 November 1987 features "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"
  • Show #1208 dated 31 December 1987 features "Sheila Take A Bow"

By the time the Smiths made the charts again in 1992, the format had changed to compact discs. The cds came in a regular jewelcase with generic BBC 'transcription cd' artwork (view front artwork, back artwork). The disc surface is silver with green text: BBC Transcription logo at the top, compact disc logo on the left, copyright and catalogue number on the right, generic track listing at the bottom. Legal warnings are printed in black around the edge. It appears that only one cd has featured Smiths material:

  • Show #1450 dated ? August 1992 features "This Charming Man"

§

British Top 30
This appears to have been a short-lived syndicated radio programme aimed at the American market. The broadcast records came in sets of three for one show, with one hour of programming per record. Their labels are white with blue text and graphics. They feature mainly the show's logo, a blue pair of sunglasses with the Union Jack motif in the lenses. Information about the packaging (sleeves, inner sleeves if any, etc.) is needed. Each set comes with a cue sheet showing the sunglasses logo at the top. Only two shows have been reported to feature material from the Smiths, but there may be more.

  • BT-027 aired 10 March 1985 features "How Soon Is Now?"
  • BT-029 aired 24 March 1985 features "How Soon Is Now?"

§

MCA Radio Network
An MCA Radio Network 2-cd radio programme featuring "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" has been reported. Packaging and broadcast date information is unknown. The programme must have been aired at some point in the late 1980s or early 1990s as this appears to be the time span during which the show existed. All that is known about this particular programme featuring the Smiths is that it also featured music by the Bangles, REM, the Sisters Of Mercy, the Mission, the Jesus And Mary Chain, etc.

§

Music View
Music View was a weekly music news programme distributed to American college radio stations on in the late 1980s (on vinyl) and early 1990s (on cd). It was produced by Joseph Fox Communications supposedly to promote the Columbia House Record Club. "Wonderful Woman" was featured on show #135/136 from 1991 or 1992. The cd was numbered #1CD-8184 and also featured interviews with Blur, Bad Religion, etc. Information on the packaging is needed.

§

New Wave Nation
New Wave Nation with Nina Blackwood was an American syndicated radio show specializing in alternative music from the 1980s. Radio cds sent to stations for broadcast have made it into the hands of some collectors. Information about the packaging is needed. Two shows featuring the Smiths have been reported so far, but many more must exist because the band was a staple on the programme.

  • the show dated 5-6 February 2005 features "Panic"
  • the show dated 12-13 February 2005 features "Stop Me If You Think You Heard This One Before"

§

Revolution Radio
Programme no 45 of this radio programme dated 22 August 1994 featured "Jeane" alongside tracks by These Animal Men, Veruca Salt, Stereolab, the Church, etc. Little is known about this item besides the fact that it comes on cd format. It appears that this is an American radio show and has nothing to do with the Revolution Radio station from the greater Manchester area.

§

Rock Over London
Rock Over London was a syndicated radio programme broadcast from the early 1980s into the 1990s. Its goal was to promote UK music in the USA. The show was chart-oriented so the Smiths were featured several times between early 1984 until the release of their final single in 1987, then again a few times in 1992 and 1995 when some reissued singles and albums made the charts.

The 1984-1987 shows that feature the Smiths were distributed on LP format. All copies come in the same Rock Over London sleeve (view front). The back is always all white. The record comes in a white paper inner bag die-cut to show the labels. These labels have the same Union Jack design as the front of the sleeve, but the Big Ben image on the left is smaller and production credits and contact information are printed in blue beneath it. The show number and broadcast date are printed in black over the Union Jack's horizontal red stripe. A stapled 2-page cue sheet is found inside when it hasn't been lost. It is in American letter format. The first page is a one-sided rundown of the content in text form. The second page is the proper two-sided cue sheet. Here is list of the shows on LP format having featured Smiths material:

  • RL108 dated 19 February 1984 features ? (probably "What Difference Does It Make?" or something from the debut album.
  • RL111 dated 11 March 1984 features "What Difference Does It Make?"
  • RL 126 dated 24 June 1984 features "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"
  • RL 210 dated 10 March 1985 features "The Headmaster Ritual"
  • RL 240 dated 6 October 1985 features "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"
  • RL 241 dated 13 October 1985 features "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"
  • RL 242 dated 20 October 1985 features "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"
  • RL 324 dated 15 June 1986 features "Bigmouth Strikes Again"
  • RL 331 dated 3 August 1986 features "Panic"
  • RL 333 dated 17 August 1986 features "Panic"
  • RL 334 dated 24 August 1986 features "Panic"
  • RL 344 dated 2 November 1986 features "Ask"
  • RL 346 dated 16 November 1986 features "Ask"
  • RL 406 dated 8 February 1987 features "Shoplifters Of The World Unite"
  • RL 408 dated 22 February 1987 features "Shoplifters Of The World Unite"
  • RL 417 dated 26 April 1987 features "Sheila Take A Bow"
  • RL 418 dated 3 May 1987 features "Sheila Take A Bow"
  • RL 419 dated 10 May 1987 features "Sheila Take A Bow"
  • RL 420 dated 17 May 1987 features "Sheila Take A Bow"
  • RL 434 dated 23 August 1987 features "Girlfriend In A Coma"
  • RL 436 dated 6 September 1987 features "Girlfriend In A Coma"
  • RL 447 dated 22 November 1987 features "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"

By the time the Smiths made the charts again in 1992, the format had changed to compact discs. The cds came in a white cd-size paper envelope with an updated Big Ben graphic on the front (view). The disc surface is always silver with black text and Big Ben 'logo'. The different editions vary only in the show number and broadcast date. The cue sheets are as they were in the LPs, but they are folded inside the envelope. Here is list of the shows on CD format having featured Smiths material:

  • ROL 92-03 to be aired between 17-23 January 1992 features "What Difference Does It Make?"
  • ROL 92-35 to be aired between 28 August - 3 September 1992 features "This Charming Man"
  • ROL 92-46 to be aired between 13-19 November 1992 features "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
  • ROL 95-13 to be aired between 17-23 March 1995 features "The Headmaster Ritual"

§

UK Buzz
UK Buzz was a very short-lived syndicated 1-hour radio programme aiming at exposing new British talents to the American market. It was presented by John Peel. It appears that only six shows were produced before the plug was pulled. The records come in a white card sleeve die-cut to show the labels. These are light blue with dark blue text (view label). An old-fashioned Thirsty Ear Communications logo appears at the top, above the number of the show, a promo warning and credits. The track listing is found in the lower half. The record comes with two inserts: a 1-page contact sheet giving the contact information of the labels involved with the featured artists, and a 3-page feedback report which the broadcasters were asked to fill. Most of them did fill these reports or threw them out because nowadays few copies of UK Buzz still include either insert. Three of the six shows ever produced feature the Smiths.

  • UKB1 - UK BUZZ #001 features the Sandie Shaw (backed by the Smiths) version of "Hand In Glove"
  • UKB4 - UK BUZZ #004 features an otherwise unavailable 5:30 edit of "How Soon Is Now?"
  • UKB5 - UK BUZZ #005 features "Meat Is Murder" live at Oxford Apollo as released on the "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" single

§

Warner Bros Music Show promo [Sire WBMS130]
This radio show was put together by Sire in the USA as a promo for the "Meat Is Murder" album. Excerpts of every song from the album plus current UK single "Shakespeare's Sister" are featured, interspersed with bits of Morrissey discussing the tracks. The record features the Smiths on side A, and a similar programme with the Blasters on the flip. It features the usual red WBMS labels and is slipped in a generic red WBMS die-cut sleeve (some copies are found in a plain white sleeve die-cut to expose the labels).

§

Westwood One Concerts
Westwood One Concerts was an American syndicated radio programme in the mid-1990s bringing together live tracks from artists having been featured in various Westwood One series such as "In Concert", "In Concert New Rock", "In Concert High Voltage" and "Superstar Concert" (see Westwood One In Concert near the top of this page). The cds were distributed in a regular jewel case with generic blue, red and white Westwood One Concerts front insert (image needed). Information about the back artwork is needed. The back of the front insert features the show's track listing. The disc surface is silver with black, white and blue Westwood One Concerts logo at the top and blue and black Westwood One Radio Networks logo at the bottom. More information is needed.

  • One show from 1993 featured "How Soon Is Now?" alongside John Mellencamp, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Sting, Pearl Jam, Queen, the Cure, REM, etc.
  • One show from (appr 1994-95) featured "What Difference Does It Make?" alongside Edna Swap, Supergrass, the Cranberries, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Bob Marley, etc.

§

Westwood One On The Edge
Westwood One On The Edge was an American syndicated radio programme in the mid-1990s bringing together (usually non-live) music from various artists. The cds are silver with black text: "On The Edge" at the top, broadcast date on the left, show number on the right and Westwood One Entertainment logo at the bottom. They are distributed alongside folded cue sheets in a white paper envelope with blue Westwood One Radio Networks logo on the front (view). The Smiths seem to have been featured on the show once, but the show number, date and song are unknown. Other artists featured on the same broadcast include Garbage, the Foo Fighters, Rancid, Toad The Wet Sprocket, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Edwyn Collins, Green Day, Bush, Silverchair, etc.

§

Westwood One The Vault
Westwood One The Vault was an American syndicated radio programme in the mid/late 1990s and early 2000s bringing together music from artists having been featured in various Westwood One series. The cds are silver with black text: The Vault 'brick' logo at the top, broadcast date on the left, show number on the right and Westwood One logo at the bottom above some serial number. They are distributed alongside folded cue sheets in a white paper envelope with blue Westwood One Radio Networks logo on the front (view). The Smiths seem to have been featured on the show at least twice.

  • #97-07 broadcast the week of 10 February 1997 features "How Soon Is Now?" live in Oxford 1985
  • #97-31 broadcast the week of 28 July 1997 features "Panic" live in Kilburn 1986