The Sound of Speed

The Sound of Speed is a collection featuring singles and uncommon tracks by the Scottish alternative rock group The Jesus and Mary Chain.

The version released internationally omits "Snakedriver", "Something I Can't Have", "Write Record Release Blues", "Tower of Song", "Little Red Rooster", "Lowlife", and "Reverberation". Instead, it incorporates "Subway", "In the Black", "Terminal Beach", and "I'm Glad I Never".

This album achieved a peak position of number 15 on the UK albums chart.

Critical reception

The Independent provided a mixed critique, highlighting that the standout pieces were cover songs such as "Guitarman" (an Elvis-inspired take on Dylan), "Little Red Rooster", and Leonard Cohen’s "Tower of Song". These were commended for their seamless integration into The Mary Chain’s distinctive style.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Jim Reid and William Reid, except where specified.

LP (4509-93104-1) Worldwide

Side 1

1. "Snakedriver" – 3:44
2. "Reverence (radio mix)" – 5:39
3. "Heat" – 3:00
4. "Teenage Lust (acoustic version)" – 2:25
5. "Why'd You Want Me?" – 3:15
6. "Don't Come Down" – 2:39
7. "Guitarman" (Jerry Reed) – 3:43
8. "Something I Can't Have" – 3:02

Side 2

1. "Sometimes" – 2:53
2. "Write Record Release Blues" – 2:58
3. "Shimmer" – 2:46
4. "Penetration" – 2:48
5. "My Girl" (Smokey Robinson) – 3:05
6. "Tower of Song" (Leonard Cohen) – 4:49
7. "Little Red Rooster" (Willie Dixon) – 3:25
8. "Break Me Down" – 2:29
9. "Lowlife" – 3:27

CD (4509-93104-2) Worldwide

1. "Snakedriver" – 3:44
2. "Reverence (radio mix)" – 5:39
3. "Heat" – 3:00
4. "Teenage Lust (acoustic version)" – 2:25
5. "Why'd You Want Me?" – 3:15
6. "Don't Come Down" – 2:39
7. "Guitarman" (Jerry Reed) – 3:43
8. "Something I Can't Have" – 3:02
9. "Sometimes" – 2:53
10. "Write Record Release Blues" – 2:58
11. "Shimmer" – 2:46
12. "Penetration" – 2:48
13. "My Girl" (Robinson) – 3:05
14. "Tower of Song" (Cohen) – 4:49
15. "Little Red Rooster" (Burnett, Dixon) – 3:25
16. "Break Me Down" – 2:29
17. "Lowlife" – 3:27
18. "Deviant Slice" – 3:01
19. "Reverberation" (Roky Erickson, Tommy Hall, Stacy Sutherland) – 3:46
20. "Sidewalking (extended version)" – 7:52

Original releases

• Track 20 is the standalone single "Sidewalking", released in 1988.
• Tracks 11,12,13,16 served as B-sides to the single "Blues from a Gun", issued in 1989.
• Track 18 was a B-side for the single "Head On", also from 1989.
• Tracks 14 and 17 originated from the Rollercoaster EP, released in 1990.
• Tracks 2,3,7 appeared as B-sides to "Reverence", issued in 1992.
• Tracks 5 and 9 were B-sides to the single "Far Gone and Out", released in 1992.
• Tracks 4,6,19 were B-sides accompanying "Almost Gold", also from 1992.
• Tracks1,8,10,15 are selections from the Sound of Speed EP, released in 1993.

CD (WMC5-520) Japan

1. "Reverence (radio mix)" –5:39
2. "Teenage Lust (acoustic version)" –2:25
3. "Don't Come Down" –2:39
4. "Heat" –3:03
5. "Guitarman" (Jerry Reed) –3:43
6. "Why'd You Want Me?" –3:15
7. "Sometimes" –2:53
8. "Shimmer" –2:46
9. "Penetration" –2:48
10. "My Girl" (Robinson) –3:05
11. "Subway" –2:07
12. "In the Black" –2:56
13. "Break Me Down" –2:29
14. "Terminal Beach" –2:26
15. "Deviant Slice" –3:01
16. "Glad I Never" –1:31
17. "Sidewalking (extended version)" –7:52

The Jesus and Mary Chain

• Jim Reid – lead vocals, guitar, production responsibilities
• William Reid – vocals, guitar, production, engineering on tracks 11–14, 16, 18, and 19
• Ben Lurie – bass guitar on track 1, guitar on track 15
• Nick Sanderson – drums for tracks 1 and 8

Additional personnel

• Brad Davidson – bass guitar on track 15
• Wiff – drums on track 15
• Dick Meaney – engineering for tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 through 10, and 15
• Anjali Dutt – engineering on track 2
• George Kaleve – engineer for track 4
• Alan Moulder – engineering duties on track 7
• Flood – engineering for track 17
• John Loder – production work on track 20
• Colin Bell – photography contributions