The Smithereens - Westwood One In Concert Radio Compilation (1989, 1990, & 1994 shows)

The Smithereens
Westwood One In Concert Radio Compilation
1989, 1990, and 1994 broadcasts (from shows #89-10, 90-06, 94-40)
Pre-FM and FM Broadcast recordings (#89-10 & 90-06, PFM; 94-40, Broadcast)
Available in both Lossless (FLAC - except tracks 17-19) and mp3 (320 kbps, all tracks) versions


Keeping with the theme of great underappreciated power pop bands, we move from the UK back to the US, and to New Jersey, for The Smithereens. The Smithereens first started around 1980, with Pat DiNizio (lead vocals, guitar, & primary songwriter), Jim Babjak (guitar, vocals), Mike Mesaro (bass, vocals), and Dennis Diken (drums), as a local band, releasing a couple of independent EPs through the mid-80's, but then burst on the national scene in 1986 with their first full-length LP, Especially For You, featuring the powerful singles 'Blood and Roses' and 'Behind the Wall of Sleep'. They followed this powerhouse debut with a couple more great albums, Green Thoughts (1988) and 11 (1989). Over the next several years the band was up and down, experimenting with some different styles and approaches, and then doing a series of theme cover albums (Meet The Smithereens-2007, B-Sides the Beatles-2008, The Smithereens Play Tommy-2009, and Christmas with The Smithereens-2007), but they have always been entertaining and a great band to see live. Their most recent studio album was 2011 (2011), and they continue to tour and perform regularly, and are certainly worth checking out if you get the chance.
This compilation comes from 3 separate Westwood One radio shows over the years 1989-1994. The first show (1989) has the best sound (PFM from radio discs) so the entire show from here is included. The second show, only the songs that were unique (not repeated) from the earlier show were included. The final show (1994) I only have in mp3 format, and is from a broadcast recording rather than Pre-FM, but still has good sound, and includes songs from their most recent album at that time, A Date with the Smithereens. All together, this compilation makes a really good full CD-length show covering a range of great material.

Tracklist:
01.  Drown In My Own Tears
02.  Green Thoughts
03.  Groovy Tuesday
04.  Something New
05.  Cigarette
06.  Behind The Wall Of Sleep
07.  Only A Memory
08.  Blood and Roses
09.  House We Used To Live In
10.  Room With A View
11.  Marie Elena
12.  Cut Flowers
13.  Blue Period
14.  William Wilson
15. A Girl Like You
16.  Blues Before And After
17.  War For My Mind
18. Everything I Have is Blue
19. Miles From Nowhere

Tracks 1-09, show#89-10, Coach House, San Capistrano, CA, broadcast, 5/1/89
Tracks 10-16, show#90-06, Coach House, Ventura, CA, broadcast 3/19/90
Tracks 17-19, show#94-40, San Diego State University, broadcast 9/26/94 (mp3-only)

mp3 - The Smithereens_WW1 radio compilation_1989-1994_mp3.rar
Links updated 12/17/24
FLAC (only tracks 1-16) - The Smithereens_WW1 radio compilation_1989-90_FLAC.rar

Thanks to draftervoi for the hi-quality digital FLAC versions of the 1st 2 shows.