ihav recently been reading a book by Simon Goddard entitled, The Smiths: The Songs That Saved Your Life. it is a nearly exhaustive account and insight into all of The Smiths' recordings [only "nearly" exhaustive because it includes special commentaries from all involved save the elusive Morrissey]. this has caused a reflection on my part to rethink juste which of The Smith's four proper studio albums is in fact their greatest.

many hav long maintained that their third album, The Queen Is Dead, is the band's true masterpiece- many save The Smiths themselves. "The Queen Is Dead is not our masterpiece" said Morrissey back in 1995. "I should know. I was there. I supplied the sandwiches."

so, what do those here at radiomute think. iam expecting another poll to predictably go to The Queen Is Dead, but ithink imay be more interested in what album ends up in second, third and fourth.


The Smiths [1984]


Reel Around The Fountain
You've Got Everything Now
Miserable Lie
Pretty Girls Make Graves
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
This Charming Man
Still Ill
Hand In Glove
What Difference Does It Make?
I Don't Owe You Anything
Suffer Little Children


Meat Is Murder [1985]


The Headmaster Ritual
Rusholme Ruffians
I Want The One I Can't Have
What She Said
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
Nowhere Fast
Well I Wonder
Barbarism Begins At Home
Meat Is Murder


The Queen Is Dead [1986]


The Queen Is Dead
Frankly, Mr. Shankly
I Know It's Over
Never Had No One Ever
Cemetry Gates
Bigmouth Strikes Again
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Vicar In A Tutu
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others


Strangeways, Here We Come [1987]


A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
Death Of A Disco Dancer
Girlfriend In A Coma
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Unhappy Birthday
Paint A Vulgar Picture
Death At One's Elbow
I Won't Share You

I've only heard Nr. 2 and Nr. 3 of those, of which Nr. 3 is clearly the best (in my opinion and maybe because I've listened to it more as it's the only one I actually own)... so I won't vote before I have heard the other two...

I can't decide between "The Queen is Dead" amd "Strangeways, Here We Come". I planned on listening to all of The Smith's albums a few times this weekend anyway (as I do from time to time), I'll vote then.

The Queen Is Dead gets my vote, but Strangeways comes in at a close second. Isn't How Soon Is Now on Meat Is Murder? That is the highlight of the album. Even though most consider Meat Is Murder to be their best, although they do seem to rock out more on this album and Morrissey's lyrics really grab you, I'm putting this album after SHWC. The band seemed to be in a bit of a transition when Strangeways was released and it would have been great to see what they would have done next if only Steven Patrick and company stayed together.

yes and no. it was included on all NA versions of the album but is absent from all other countries including the UK.

it was never intended by The Smiths to be included on Meat Is Murder as it was an older b-side [to a-side "William, It Was Really Nothing"] already included on the non-album single and the Hatful Of Hollow compilation. the band had originaly wished to see "How Soon Is Now?" issued as an a-side to a single when originaly recorded in 1984, however becos of initial trepidation from their label it did not make it on the a-side till its NA release in 1985 in an attempt to capitalize on the tracks popularity [it was a #1 on John Peel's Festive 50 for 1984].

the label tried to further capitalize on this by slapping into the middle of US versions Meat Is Murder, much to the annoyance of The Smiths themselves. therefore, it doesnt really belong on the album despite its presence there in NA.

id say strangeways

that would me morrissey's and marr's favourite right??

even though its got the shocking track 'death at one's elbow'... horrid stuff...

yes, Strangeways, Here We Come is their greatest album according to all four members of the band.

and ilike "Death At One's Elbow"- ithink its unfairly slighted becos of comaprisons with superior rockabilly tracks "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Rusholme Ruffians".

i was just disappointed greatly with it... its probably not a bad song really... just with such high expectations for the smiths...

oh and chris, how did you like joyce's forword in the book?

where? are we talkin the first edition [or even the same book]? ihav the revised and expanded [red brick] edition of Goddard's book and theres no special foreward from anyone save a preface from the author.

oops... perhaps i have the wrong book....


ill check