The original studio recordings from the summer of 1983 for the Smiths' debut album with producer Troy Tate are what is usually referred to as the Troy Tate outtakes or sessions, or incorrectly as the Troy Tate demos. Unsatisfied with his work as a producer, the Smiths re-recorded their debut with producer John Porter and this is what ended up being released. Unfinished versions (at varying degree) of the shelved Tate recordings are in circulation on various bootlegs.
There are two circulated Troy Tate versions of most songs he worked on, but for a few titles there are either only one or three versions out there. The first versions to have leaked (let's call the set TATE1) feature seemingly rougher outtakes while the versions in a later set (TATE2) seem to be more polished, possibly considered finished, and include or exclude different vocals/sounds/elements. The Troy Tate recordings of "Jeane" and "Pretty Girls Make Graves" were considered good enough to see an official release so the versions of those two titles on most bootlegs are the studio ones, lifted from vinyl. For more information of the availability of the official sources for the latter two songs, click on the titles above in bold.
TATE1 set
The first Troy Tate sessions bootlegs appeared on the market in the early 1990s. They featured what appears to be unfinished mixes. The pitch (speed) on these is often slower than it should be. Some bootleg feature speed-corrected versions. Timings given here for each title are respectively those of the uncorrected speeds followed by the corrected ones.
- Reel Around The Fountain (version 1; 6:13/6:02)
- You've Got Everything Now (version 1; 4:28/4:15)
- Miserable Lie (version 1; 4:52/4:39)
- These Things Take Time (only version; 2:48/2:40)
- Wonderful Woman (version 1; 3:29/3:19)
- Handsome Devil (version 1; 3:00/2:50)
- Hand In Glove (version 1; 3:30/3:20)
- What Difference Does It Make? (version 1; 4:13/4:01)
- I Don't Owe You Anything (version 1; 4:37/4:24)
- Suffer Little Children (version 1; 5:54/5:39)
- Pretty Girls Make Graves (officially released version 3:35)
- Jeane (officially released version 3:03)
TATE2 set (first half)
In the mid-1990s the following Troy Tate outtakes were released on the "Reel Around The Fountain" and "Wonderful Woman" manufactured bootlegs. They have since been lifted and included on other fan-made compilations. They are sometimes referred to as alternate or alternative versions. Please note that two titles were not included in the first set. The other four are significantly different to their counterparts in the first set.
- Accept Yourself (only version 4:03)
- The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (only version 5:15)
- Miserable Lie (version 2; 4:37)
- Reel Around The Fountain (version 2; 5:55)
- What Difference Does It Make? (version 2; 3:19)
- Wonderful Woman (version 2; 3:18)
TATE2 set (rest)
The complete set from which the above six were lifted has since leaked onto the internet, and is gradually finding its way onto fanmade bootlegs. Again they are sometimes referred to as alternate or alternative versions. A set circulated on the internet and labeled as 'remixed' is actually this one, with an inferior sound. So besides the above 6, this set also includes the following songs/versions, different to any one above (except for the two officially released ones of course).
- You've Got Everything Now (version 2; 4:29)
- Handsome Devil (version 2; 2:52)
- Hand In Glove (version 2; 3:24)
- I Don't Owe You Anything (version 2; 4:30)
- Suffer Little Children (version 2; 4:54)
- Pretty Girls Make Graves (officially released version 3:35)
- Jeane (officially released version 3:03)
TATE3 set
A different set leaked on the internet was labeled "Rough Trade Demos". This actually includes inferior sounding versions of many songs in the TATE2 set above, but the two songs listed below are different. They sound like pre-mixed versions of the ones above. Whether or not Troy Tate had anything to do with these is unknown as this point, but because they are circulated among Troy Tate sessions, they are mentioned here.
- What Difference Does It Make? (version 3 aka demo; 3:56)
- Jeane (demo 2:46)
In short, the completist will have more luck finding the best versions of all the above on the internet. Manufactured bootleg cds either have slow versions of the TATE1 set, or 2nd or 3rd generation fan-'remastered' versions of all sets. At this point in time great lossless versions of all the above is available on torrent sites. Still, in case one wants to know what is found on various titles, here is a rundown.
Differences between versions
Differences between the various circulated Troy Tate outtakes of each title are given below. These descriptions are not exhaustive, only the most obvious differences are mentioned.
"Accept Yourself"
Only version, TATE2 set - 4:03
This song was not part of the TATE1 set, or if it was, it was never released with the rest.
Ironically Simon Goddard in the fantastic "Songs To Save Your Life" mentions that the band recorded two different versions of this song with Troy Tate, but the other one is still uncirculated at this point in time.
"Hand In Glove"
Version in TATE1 set - 3:20 corrected / 3:30 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 3:24
This one is quite easy. At 1:36 in the TATE1 version, there is an echoey background vocal of "kiss my shades..." absent in the other version. Also there's something that sounds like flute in the outro of the TATE1 mix, but not in the TATE2 mix. There are many other minor differences, but these are the most obvious ones.
"Handsome Devil"
Version in TATE1 set - 2:50 corrected / 3:00 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 2:52
The two mixes sound quite different. A very obvious difference is found at 1:45 when in the TATE1 version Morrissey stretches the 'you' in "yooooooou deserve it", while in the TATE2 mix he sings "you deserve it, deserve it, deserve it". At the very end of the song, after singing "Oh you handsome devil!", he shouts "aah!" in the TATE1 mix, and "ow!" in the TATE2 mix.
"The Hand That Rocks The Cradle"
Only version, TATE2 set - 5:15
This song was not part of the TATE1 set, or if it was, it was never released with the rest.
"I Don't Owe You Anything"
Version in TATE1 set - 4:24 corrected / 4:37 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 4:30
These two versions are very similar. Not much work was done on the song between one and the other. The TATE1 mix has a one note bass intro before the drum kicks in, while the TATE2 mix, which is also sounds slower or smoother, has a 2-note bass intro. At 3:05 the finger clicking is more prominent in the TATE1 version. At 3:50 when Morrissey sings "life is never kind", the inflexion is more on 'never' in the TATE1 version, and more on 'kind' in the TATE2 mix.
"Jeane"
Single version - 3:03
Demo - 2:46
All the Troy Tate outtakes bootlegs seem to feature the officially released version of this song, lifted from the "This Charming Man" 7" single. However an obvious demo was found in a 'Rough Trade Demos' package circulated on the internet which mainly featured inferior sounding versions of the TATE2 set except for this song and "What Difference Does It Make". This "Jeane" demo is shorter, rougher and lacks backing vocals. Its outro doesn't have the accelerating drum and "ooh!" ending.
"Miserable Lie"
Version in TATE1 set - 4:39 corrected / 4:52 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 4:37
The TATE2 mix usually starts with a drumstick click. At the end of the TATE1 version the echo fades out properly, while at the end of the TATE2 version, it is abruptly faded out, on whatever source in circulation.
"Pretty Girls Make Graves"
Studio version - 3:35
Because the Troy Tate produced version of this song had already been officially released by the band at the time of the initial release of the Troy Tate sessions on bootlegs, it seems like the makers decided to include it with the rest. The presence of the song at the very end of the track listings of the earliest bootlegs adds more weight to this theory, but doesn't necessarily confirm it. Until someone finds any difference between the official and bootleg versions, this theory can be safely considered.
"Reel Around The Fountain"
Version in TATE1 set - 6:02 corrected / 6:13 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 5:55
The TATE1 version starts with three notes not on the other one. The note is heard again at the very end after Morrissey's voice fades out. There is no 'oh' before 'people said' in the TATE1 version, while in the other one Morrissey sings '*oh* people said'.
"Suffer Little Children"
Version in TATE1 set - 5:39 corrected / 5:54 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 4:54
This one is rather obvious. At the end of the TATE2 mix, the outro guitar is accompanied by cymbal, but at the end of the TATE1 version, there is no cymbal. Instead the song segues into the piano part that was later used by the band in "Asleep". The woman giggling or crying at the 4:00 mark is present in the TATE1 mix, and absent in the other one. Also, the "you might sleep but you will never dream" line differs.
Another slight but noticeable difference is the presence of an echoey 'tock' sound at the very beginning of the TATE2 mix. The same sound can be heard at the very beginning of the TATE2 mix of "Wonderful Woman", but in a lower pitch.
"These Things Take Time"
Only version, TATE1 set - 2:40 corrected / 2:48 uncorrected
There is only one Troy Tate version of this song in circulation.
"What Difference Does It Make?"
Version in TATE1 set - 4:01 corrected / 4:13 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 3:19
Demo - 3:56
This one is rather obvious. A look at the song lengths alone is enough to tell the versions apart. However it is worth mentioning the "oh!" before the drum kick in the intro of the TATE2 mix, and the piano that comes in right after that. Also what sounds like a violin is heard in the background soon after, while it only comes in at about 0:38 in the TATE1 mix.
At 1:36 when Morrissey sings "it makes none", the violin (or something that sounds like that) is heard in the background of the TATE1 mix, while in the TATE2 mix, there is guitar picking and an added "aaahh" back vocal. At 1:46 there is slide after "tonight" in the TATE1 version, and dreamy echo on the background vox, but in the TATE2 version there is no slide and much less echo.
The 'Rough Trade Demos' version is unique, and different to both of the above mixes. It sounds like a primitive pre-overdub version of the TATE1 mix. It could be speculated that this version predates Troy Tate's involvement.
"Wonderful Woman"
Version in TATE1 set - 3:19 corrected / 3:29 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 3:18
The two versions of this song are very similar. The guitar seems to be slightly higher in the mix of the TATE1 version, particularly around the 1:45 mark. The only obvious difference is the presence of an echoey 'tock' sound at the very beginning of the TATE2 mix. The same sound can be heard at the very beginning of the TATE2 mix of "Suffer Little Children", but in a higher pitch.
"You've Got Everything Now"
Version in TATE1 set - 4:15 corrected / 4:28 uncorrected
Version in TATE2 set - 4:29
The two versions are reasonably similar. From the 3:35 mark in the TATE 1 version, a kid's voice (or perhaps slide guitar or some studio effect) can be heard.