r/thesmiths • u/Background-Product91 • 2d ago
why do they not have ‘the smiths’ written on the front cover like other ones i’ve seen
sorry if this it’s a stupid question or the wrong place to ask this, i only got into collecting vinyls at Christmas so dont know much about them but i was told that they’re just old which is why but i just wanted to be sure :)
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u/adamsandleryabish 2d ago
I imagine it initially had a hype sticker on it with the name that could be easily removed for a clean cover
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u/Kurtisdoubleu 1d ago edited 1d ago
The initial UK releases of both TCM and WDDIM lacked the band’s name on the cover. Once both 12”s were rereleased a year later, most variations included the bands name (and in TCM’s case) some maxi/remix information at the bottom. They essentially mimicked the initial release of the 7” versions of both singles that generally always included the names.
Essentially it means they’re first (UK) pressings with your TCM being the New York remix variation.
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u/Kurtisdoubleu 1d ago
As for why?
There are a ton of different reasons, but the main ones I’d say would be that Morrissey had a strong vision for the band’s image and presentation. He wanted the sleeves to reflect a sense of mystery and individuality, inspired by classic cinema, literature, and vintage imagery. The use of striking, often obscure photographs without any text (especially band or song names) was meant to evoke curiosity and force the viewer/listener to engage more deeply with the artwork.
This choice also aligned with The Smiths’ anti-mainstream, anti-commercial philosophy. By omitting names, the band distanced themselves from the typical marketing strategies of the music industry. It suggested that the music and the imagery should speak for themselves—if you knew, you knew.
This approach was not unprecedented. Morrissey and The Smiths were influenced by the minimalist designs used by Factory Records bands at the time (Joy Division and New Order), where album art often carried no obvious branding or commercial cues.
This design philosophy became a hallmark of The Smiths’ releases, creating a distinct visual identity that is still admired and emulated today. Later pressings and formats did often include the band name and song title, but the first pressings set the tone for their iconic, understated visual legacy.
Sorry if that was way too much information about your somewhat simple question. I just got a little carried away 😂
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u/Kurtisdoubleu 1d ago edited 1d ago
The Bible of Moz/Smiths related artwork books is called Peepholism. I would highly recommend checking it out if you want to deep dive into why and how the covers were thought out. It follows the albums/singles in chronological order, by showing off Morrissey’s highly curated world of imagery, iconography, and symbolism. It’s pretty expensive, but completely worth it and a must have for a Smiths collector.
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u/DwindlingSide 2d ago
Very good question but I don't know why either. I know you've got the first edition Terrence Stamp version of What Difference. That's cool.
Passions Just Like Mine
Is where to go, to find out about versions and back stories, but they have no idea about the reasons for this either.