[Linda Smith archival photo courtesy of Paul Krolian]

A pioneer of the home recording movement, Linda Smith released several collections of solo music on cassette in the 1980s and ‘90s. The 2021 release of Till Another Time: 1988-1996, Captured Tracks’ compilation of Smith’s work, has helped shed light on an ahead-of-her-time artist.

Captured Tracks has now done a deeper dive into Smith’s catalog with the release of two full-length companion albums, Nothing Else Matters and I So Liked Spring, now available for the first time on vinyl & streaming formats.

Linda Smith has this to say about the reissues: Nothing Else Matters and I So Liked Spring were recorded in the 1990s but are not of that time in many ways. Inspired by AM radio of the 1960’s, post punk of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, and poetry of the early 20th century, both albums represent my attempt to make music in a personal and very individual way using limited means.

Now that both albums are being released on vinyl for the first time, they seem to be entering a larger sphere that has no specific time frame, with new listeners who never heard them when they were originally released. Though vinyl is an old format for music that has (thankfully) returned, for me it has always been the best way to hear new music. While Nothing Else Matters and I So Liked Spring may contain songs I wrote and recorded years ago, hearing them on vinyl for the first time makes them sound almost new to me, as if someone else created them. In this case, and in these times, the old saying ‘everything old is new again’ seems particularly apt.

Linda Smith has also confirmed some East Coast Tour Dates in April 2024 to celebrate the reissues with The Smashing Times:

Linda Smith TOUR DATES w/ The Smashing Times:

Weds April 10 – Baltimore – Normal’s (tickets + info)

Thurs April 11 – DC – Rhizome (tickets + info)

Sat April 13 – Philadelphia – Pageant Soloveev (tickets + info)

Sun – April 14 – NYC – Union Pool (tickets + info)