ONE SONG BY THE SMITHS....A SATURDAY SERIES (Part 32)

For such a cracking and memorable track by The Smiths, it is rather strange that its only appearances were on compilation LPs, the first being on The World Won't Listen, released in 1987:-

mp3 : The Smiths - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby

It was the one exclusive track released on a compilation which brought together a large volume of singles and b-sides mostly not previously available on any album. Such was the demand for Smiths product that it reached #2 in the UK charts.

It's a track that no-one involved really denies is an attack on Geoff Travis, the boss of Rough Trade . Its also a title that was later used as part of the lyric on Paint A Vulgar Picture (as was featured a few weeks back).

A hugely enjoyable bit of music, it was seriously considered as a potential single, but dropped late on for Shoplifters Of The World Unite.

Johnny Marr has since said that the band felt the tune was a bit on the slight side, particularly after all that had been recorded for The Queen Is Dead and that Shoplifters was a better record.

Different yes, better, I'm not so sure. 'Earned It' is a personal fave in my collection.....

Two months later another compilation was released. Originally intended for the US market only, Louder Than Bombs had many more tracks going back further into the band's career, and such was its popularity on import that Rough Trade gave it a UK release. Cue outrage among fans of being exploited if they wanted to have everything.....

There was a different mix of 'Earned It' on the US release, including a more gradual build-up of guitar overdubs during the instrumental third verse along with a marginally shorter fade-out:-

mp3 : The Smiths - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby (alt)

Not long after the band split, Johnny Marr worked on new version of the song with Kirsty MacColl. This too could have been a huge hit single, but instead was relegated to the b-side of the Free World single (itself deserving much more than its lowly #43 position in March 1989):-

mp3 : Kirsty McColl - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby

Many moons later, Moz would have its band butcher it live:-

mp3 : Morrissey - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby (live)

Happy Listening

** Earlier error with links now fixed. Sorry for the cock-up....