18th Feb, 2025 10:00
The Billy Albert Collection Of Smiths Vinyl and Memorabilia
THE SMITHS - MEAT IS MURDER (LIVE) - 1985 WITHDRAWN AND UNRELEASED 7" TEST PRESSING (RT 186)
THE SMITHS - MEAT IS MURDER (LIVE) - 1985 WITHDRAWN AND UNRELEASED 7" TEST PRESSING (RT 186). Incredibly scarce original 1985 UK 7" test pressing of the unreleased 'Meat Is Murder Live E.P.'. The Smiths' concert at the Oxford Apollo in March 1985 was recorded for broadcast by the BBC, which led to the idea of releasing some of the live recordings as an EP later that year. However, the project never got beyond the test pressing stage, and when 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' was issued in its place, all of the live tracks on this withdrawn 7" got recycled on the 12" B-side for 'That Joke...'. This withdrawn test pressing has the live 'Meat Is Murder' on the A-side and the live 'Nowhere Fast' and 'Stretch Out And Wait' on the B-side. The record is in fantastic Ex+ condition showing only a couple of extremely faint, slight and wispy paper marks. A-side Matrix Etching - RT 186 A-1U-1-1-1 OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS. B-side Matrix Etching - RT 186 B-1U-1-1-1
Sold for £1,200
Hammer Price
THE SMITHS - MEAT IS MURDER (LIVE) - 1985 WITHDRAWN AND UNRELEASED 7" TEST PRESSING (RT 186). Incredibly scarce original 1985 UK 7" test pressing of the unreleased 'Meat Is Murder Live E.P.'. The Smiths' concert at the Oxford Apollo in March 1985 was recorded for broadcast by the BBC, which led to the idea of releasing some of the live recordings as an EP later that year. However, the project never got beyond the test pressing stage, and when 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' was issued in its place, all of the live tracks on this withdrawn 7" got recycled on the 12" B-side for 'That Joke...'. This withdrawn test pressing has the live 'Meat Is Murder' on the A-side and the live 'Nowhere Fast' and 'Stretch Out And Wait' on the B-side. The record is in fantastic Ex+ condition showing only a couple of extremely faint, slight and wispy paper marks. A-side Matrix Etching - RT 186 A-1U-1-1-1 OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS. B-side Matrix Etching - RT 186 B-1U-1-1-1
Auction: The Billy Albert Collection Of Smiths Vinyl and Memorabilia, 18th Feb, 2025
A few words from Billy Albert himself..
"The time has come to finally let go of my Smiths treasures, a wealth of treats for the casual Smiths collector and the hardcore completist. Yes it's an old cliché, I've enjoyed collecting and owning all of this, but it's now time for other collectors to enjoy these items.
I've long battled with the pros and cons of whether to sell this collection off piecemeal over time (like a small pension), or whether to let it all go in one sale with all the limitations that can possibly go with that alternative. My vanity ultimately won over to let it all go for the spectacle that you see before you.
Please fill your boots, you are unlikely to see another collection go up for sale like this for a long time until another hardcore collector either sadly passes on or has the bank manager knocking at their door. Thankfully neither of these circumstances have caused this sale. I am just too selfish to let my next of kin enjoy the proceeds of all of this after I am gone, when I can spend it on myself instead!"
Viewing
Viewing by appointment 17th February
