DSP is proud to announce the long-awaited, much-evolved Smithereens Anthology: From Jersey It Came! 2-CD release, for September 7, 2004. We have been gently involved with the project since last October, lending a small hand to the nice folks at Capitol Records, mostly with discographical and biographical information, but offering up suggestions for a track line-up, as well. Fans of the Smithereens are sure to love this compilation of hits and fan faves, plus the odd rarities, demos, and live recordings.

Wait, because that's not all! In addition to the jam-packed, 39-selection set, the package offers fabulous artwork, track annotation from drummer and band archivist Dennis Diken, and excellent liner notes from the beloved Smithereens' producer Don Dixon.

Reens-leader Pat DiNizio helped design the artwork, drawing on his love of classic-schlock Sci-Fi films, such as It Came From Outer Space, It Came From Beneath The Sea, and From Hell It Came. (See the various film art, below.)

The project went through many proposed changes, both in terms of content and packaging. The official title itself was changed at the last minute, ensuring that "the Smithereens" name was most prominent. (Ah, the modern days of marketing, ya know!) And while any Smithereens fan could suggest a boat load of rarities and personal favorites, creating two discs of music presents a finite limitation! All said, we've got never-before-released recordings of Back To Balboa, White Castle Blues, Elaine, and Cut Flowers, single edits of Too Much Passion and Top Of The Pops, a demo for Love Is Gone, and the rare "Gtr. Mix" of Everything I Have Is Blue. Don't forget that the cover performance of Downbound Train was never released on a Smithereens album, before. Most folks will be more than satisfied, and we'll enjoy the inevitable debates of "too much of this," or "not enough of that." But, to paraphrase Paul McCartney, "It's the bloody Smithereens Anthology. Shuttup!"

Special thanks to producer Dave English, Pat DiNizio and all the Smithereens for allowing us to be involved, and to DSP editor Todd Sinclair, for his invaluable input.

The track list:

 

Disc 1

Disc 2

01 Girls About Town 02 Back To Balboa (previously unreleased surf instrumental, 1982) 03 Much Too Much 04 Beauty And Sadness 05 Blood And Roses 06 Strangers When We Meet 07 In A Lonely Place 08 Behind The Wall Of Sleep 09 White Castle Blues (Live at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, 5/22/87) 10 Cigarette 11 Crazy Mixed-Up Kid 12 Time And Time Again 13 Something New 14 Only A Memory 15 If The Sun Doesn't Shine 16 Drown In My Own Tears 17 Especially For You 18 House We Used To Live In 19 Elaine (1980 demo, from acetate) 20 Elaine 21 One After 909

01 A Girl Like You 02 Blues Before And After 03 Blue Period 04 Yesterday Girl 05 Cut Flowers (no drums, and more prominent backing vocals from the Honeys) 06 Baby Be Good 07 Now And Then 08 Too Much Passion (single edit) 09 Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong 10 If You Want The Sun To Shine (instrumental) 11 Top Of The Pops (single edit) 12 Evening Dress 13 Miles From Nowhere 14 Love Is Gone (Jim's studio demo, 1992) 15 Everything I Have Is Blue ("Gtr. Mix" from promo) 16 Downbound Train 17 She's Got A Way 18 I Believe