The World Won't Listen

Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=The Queen Is Dead1986Louder Than Bombs1987compilationThe World Won't ListenTWWL.jpgthe SmithsTemplate:Start date1984–1986* Alternative rock

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Template:Music ratings The World Won't Listen is a compilation album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 23 February 1987 by Rough Trade Records. The album is the second of three compilation albums—the others being Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs—released by the Smiths while they were still an active band.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the charts for 15 weeks.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the United States Louder Than Bombs was released in place of The World Won't Listen.

Background

The album is a collection of the band's singles and select B-sides from 1985 to 1987. Additionally, the scrapped single "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (which was passed over for "Shoplifters of the World Unite") and the near-single "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (a single candidate from The Queen Is Dead that was passed over in favour of "Bigmouth Strikes Again") were included.<ref name=":2" />

The title reflects Smiths singer Morrissey's belief that mainstream radio and record buyers weren't paying attention to the band.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The compilation was succeeded three months later by Louder Than Bombs. Originally intended solely for US release, Rough Trade chose to also release Louder Than Bombs in the UK. It featured a similar, but extended track listing to The World Won't Listen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The World Won't Listen contains two versions of songs that do not appear on Louder Than Bombs: the single version of "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" and the single edit of "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore". Additionally, The World Won't Listen contains different versions of two songs that would appear on Louder Than Bombs: "Stretch Out and Wait" features an alternate vocal, and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" appears in a slightly different and longer mix.<ref name=":3" /> In Australia and New Zealand, a double LP (and double cassette) second edition was released with an additional 12 tracks on the extra disc.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The 12 extra tracks are mostly sourced (in order) from Louder than Bombs as well as "Panic" B-side "The Draize Train", which doesn't otherwise appear on either. The 2011 reissue replaced the single version of "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" with the album version. Also of note is the fact that "Ask" appears on both The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs in a slightly different and longer mix than its single version.<ref name=":0" />

After WEA acquired the Smiths' back catalogue in 1992, all Smiths albums were re-released in the UK in 1993 at mid-price, including The World Won't Listen, which was expanded to include a cover of "Golden Lights" and the original Rough Trade cassette edition bonus track "Money Changes Everything" (the "Bigmouth Strikes Again" B-side, also later released on the deluxe edition of The Sound of The Smiths).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the US, the albums were also re-released in 1993, although The World Won't Listen was not included among them.

Artwork and packaging

The CD sleeve for The World Won't Listen is based on the cassette version of the sleeve layout; the original album featured a larger picture of a 1960s fairground scene, of which this is a crop. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey, using a photo by Jürgen Vollmer from the book Rock 'N' Roll Times: The Style and Spirit of the Early Beatles and Their First Fans.

Release

The album was released on 23 February 1987.<ref name=":0" /> It first charted on 3 March 1987, remaining in the top 100 for 15 weeks and peaking at No. 2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The World Won't Listen returned to the UK top 100 for two weeks in 1995, following its re-release by WEA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011, The World Won't Listen was included in the Smiths' compilation box set Complete.<ref name=":4" /> This marked the first time the album was officially released in the US.

Personnel

• Morrissey – vocals
• Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, slide guitar on "Panic"<ref name=":2">Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 217.</ref> and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore",<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 356.</ref> harmonica on "Ask",<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 224.</ref> mandolin on "Golden Lights", marimba on "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"<ref>Fletcher, T, 2012. A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths. 1st ed. U.K: Random House.P. 453.</ref>
• Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"
• Mike Joyce – drums, tambourine on "Stretch Out and Wait"<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books.</ref>
• Craig Gannon – rhythm guitar on "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights", lead guitar on coda of "London",<ref>Goddard, S, 2009. Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. 1st ed. India: Ebury Press. P. 227.</ref> mandolin on "Golden Lights"<ref>Fletcher, T, 2012. A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths. 1st ed. U.K: Random House. P. 520.</ref>

Additional musicians

• Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "Ask" and "Golden Lights"
• John Porter – sound effects on "Ask",<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 222.</ref> drum machine and bass on "Golden Lights"<ref>Goddard, S, 2009. Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. 1st ed. India: Ebury Press. P. 149.</ref>
• Stephen Street – additional drum machine programming on "London", sound effects on "Asleep",<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 171.</ref> sampling on "Rubber Ring"<ref>Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life – The Art of The Smiths 1982-87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 169.</ref>

Production

• Johnny Marr – producer (track 7)
• Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street – producers (track 3 and 12)
• Morrissey and Marr – producers (tracks 4, 6, 10–11, 17)
• John Porter – producer (tracks 1–2, 9, 16, 18)
• The Smiths – producers (tracks 5, 8, 13–15)

Charts

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Chart performance for The World Won't Listen

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	25
UK Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Croatian International Albums (HDU)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	36

Tribute

British artist Phil Collins produced an exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art that included a three-part video project titled The World Won't Listen, which was filmed in Turkey, Indonesia and Colombia. The video features young people performing karaoke versions of songs by The Smiths.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>