Matt Johnson last weekend released a new 7-inch by The The for the first of three Record Store Day “drops,” a single called “I Want 2 B U” that calls to mind “This Is the Day” because Johnson wrote and recorded it with the “quirky Omnichord instrument” he used on that 1983 classic. Hear it right here.

Check out the latest installment right here — this week’s episode covers news about the major Record Store Day releases from The The, New Order, The Cure, Wire and The Pretenders, plus a countdown of the top 10 albums by U2 as voted by Strangeways Radio fans.

Matt Johnson this week announced he’ll release a new 7-inch by The The for Record Store Day next month, a single called “I WANT 2 B U” that finds the musician writing and recording with the “quirky Omnichord instrument” for the first time since he used in on 1983’s “This Is the Day.” Hear a short sample here.

Last month, Johnny Marr brought his old friend Matt Johnson onstage in London to perform a cover of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1966 single “Summer in the City” — their first time onstage together in 25 years. Turns out they also recorded a version of the song at soundcheck that night, and now have released it digitally.

Fans were thrilled to see Johnny Marr rejoin the The The fold for the band’s comeback single last year, but the ex-Smiths guitarist did not join Matt Johnson’s touring band for its first concert dates in 16 years this summer — presumably as he had his own album to promote. Tonight, though, they did perform together in London.

Just a week into his The The comeback tour, bandleader Matt Johnson was hit with devastating news today as he learned that his 86-year-old father, Edward Charles Johnson, had died, according to a statement posted to the band’s official Facebook page. Read the full statement here.