The Smiths - Los Angeles USA 1986

Regarded by many as the best The Smiths live bootleg (and vastly superior to the 'contractually obligitory' live album Rank), this concert recording was from the second of two nights at the Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre and performed on August 26th, 1986.

Circulated as a silver disc by 'Big Music' and titled Thank Your Lucky Stars. (Big Music :: BIG091) the CD version uses artwork reminiscent of The Smiths own album covers.

The NME reviewed this concert as follows - Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre - August 25-26, 1986

Whoever said that misery loves company wasn't kidding - almost 12,000 people turned out for The Smiths' two-night stand in Los Angeles. What they heard were 24 perfect pop sparklers, exquisitely executed by maestro Johnny Marr, while the Most Miserable Man in Manchester camped around the stage, occasionally stopping to pose languidly across the monitors, nipples to the wind, to face his adoring public.

But this was a wondrous journey through The Smiths' songbook, from 'Hand In Glove' to 'Panic', with all those funny, depressing, and anguished points in between.

Listening to The Smiths on record forges such a bond of intimacy between Morrissey, the music, and the listener that hearing those same songs played live, in front of thousands of people, is like having your diaries read aloud in public. Sharing The Smiths can be painful.

The man Himself was at his most winsome, triggering a minor stage invasion by telling the restless crowd, "If you get stopped by a security guard, kiss him on the lips!"

After being pelted with enough flowers to start his own nursery, the Singer acceded to popular demand by divesting himself of his shirt, revealing, appropriately, the hairless, caved-in chest look usually associated with seven-stone weaklings. Morrissey was, by turns, foppish, funny, and effete, but never dull."

- Jane Garcia, New Musical Express

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps. 

Genre: Indie Pop and Rock.

Set: Full set. 

Set List:

01. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
02. Still Ill
03. I Want The One I Can't Have
04. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
05. How Soon Is Now
06. Frankly Mr Shankly
07. Panic
08. Stretch Out And Wait
09. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
10. Is It Really So Strange
11. Cemetry Gates
12. Never Had No One Ever
13. Rubber Ring - What She Said
14. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
15. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
16. The Queen Is Dead
17. Money Changes Everything
18. I Know It's Over

Website: Two Good Sites - Files Online HERE. Ask Me (Ask Me Ask Me) HERE.

Comments: 

The will they or wont they debate over a reunion of The Smiths has dragged on through out this decade with incredible sums of money mentioned for a tour. Both Johnny Marr and Morrissey have repeatedly said in interviews that they will not reunite the band. With sums of £40 million being mentioned clearly it is not the money. The magic of The Smiths live in concert is atleast done justice by this concert recording.

Reloaded 25/May/2015 - download link in comments.