Morrissey and Johnny Marr have both worked on a rare new seven-inch release from The Smiths. The single, featuring 'The Headmaster Ritual' on the A-side and 'I Want The One I Can’t Have' on the flip side, will be part of Rough Trade Records' upcoming boxset, 'Rough Trade 45s: Volume 2'.
Both tracks originally appeared on the band’s 1985 album 'Meat Is Murder' but were never released as a single on Rough Trade. Morrissey and Marr both requested these two tracks for the new release, marking their first availability as a single.
Morrissey also oversaw the creation of the artwork, selecting a 1939 image of American actor Billy Halop. Both former bandmates have contributed sleeve notes for the release, which will also include writing from Elvis Costello, Stewart Lee, Green Gartside, Jonathan Richman and Robert Forster.
The boxset, limited to 1000 copies, is set to be released on October 30. It will also feature tracks from other artists including The Fall, Aztec Camera, Mazzy Star, Scritti Politti, and Robert Wyatt.