The Smiths
Posted by: ryan_d on 13 February 2007
Hi all, Adam M (yes its your fault) mentioned The Smiths on a thread in Hifi Corner, and this got me thinking.
I'm a huge fan and was wondering what the fav track was and why? as this seems to cause a bit of a stir with me and my friends when we discuss them.
Ryan
I'm a huge fan and was wondering what the fav track was and why? as this seems to cause a bit of a stir with me and my friends when we discuss them.
Ryan
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by hungryhalibut
I'm not sure it's possible to have a favourite Smiths song - there are just so many brilliant ones. Shakespeare's Sister (a jolly little suicide number) and Back to the Old House are a couple of my top ones, with the (perhaps more obvious) Handsome Devil.
I saw them at Leicester Poly before the first LP came out and they had so few songs they had to play a few three times to satisfy the encore demands. Come to think of it, the gladioli will soon be out......
Nigel
I saw them at Leicester Poly before the first LP came out and they had so few songs they had to play a few three times to satisfy the encore demands. Come to think of it, the gladioli will soon be out......
Nigel
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by Chillkram
How Soon is Now?
Marr's chugging guitar just does it.
Mark
Marr's chugging guitar just does it.
Mark
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by Chillkram
Actually, scratch that it's That Joke isn't Funny Anymore.
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by Chillkram
No sorry, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.
Damn! I see what you mean Nigel!
Mark
Damn! I see what you mean Nigel!
Mark
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by ryan_d
Cheers guys. Never got a chance to see them..too young 
Fav track for my has to be 'Big Mouth Strikes Again' but Handsome Devil is up there.
It is difficult to pick a fav though as, like nigel has said, there were so many good songs. And the music is far more complexly played than on first listens. It just shows you what chemistry can do.....
Ryan
Fav track for my has to be 'Big Mouth Strikes Again' but Handsome Devil is up there.
It is difficult to pick a fav though as, like nigel has said, there were so many good songs. And the music is far more complexly played than on first listens. It just shows you what chemistry can do.....
Ryan
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by nap-ster
And don't forget the vase of daffodils on the top of your rack whilst listening
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by ryan_d
Posted on: 14 February 2007 by Shayman
quote:How Soon is Now?
Marr's chugging guitar just does it.
Great guitar part although it was done completely by electronic trickery. Forget how they did it but its described in detail in the fantastic book 'Songs That Changed Your Life'. I think it was played acoustically then echoed back and forward through various amplifiers/microphones or something. I seem to remember they got the idea from an old Bo Diddley song.
As far as I remember it was too difficult to recreate live so had to be prerecorded.
Jonathan
Posted on: 14 February 2007 by Jono 13
quote:Originally posted by Shayman:quote:How Soon is Now?
Marr's chugging guitar just does it.
Great guitar part although it was done completely by electronic trickery. Forget how they did it but its described in detail in the fantastic book 'Songs That Changed Your Life'. I think it was played acoustically then echoed back and forward through various amplifiers/microphones or something. I seem to remember they got the idea from an old Bo Diddley song.
As far as I remember it was too difficult to recreate live so had to be prerecorded.
Jonathan
I do not care this is still the best and most distinctive Smiths song.
Jono
Posted on: 14 February 2007 by ryan_d
All of them appear to be quite complex. I've got them on vinyl and they still sound superb. An amazing band that i don't think we'll see the likes of again.
Ryan
Ryan
Posted on: 14 February 2007 by Alan Paterson
This Charming Man.
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by Claret Badger
why restrict yourself to just the one track:
I nominate:
Hatful of Hollow - more than just a best of/Peel Session
The Queen is Dead
and
Strangeways Here We Come
on vinyl the sound just imerses you.
I nominate:
Hatful of Hollow - more than just a best of/Peel Session
The Queen is Dead
and
Strangeways Here We Come
on vinyl the sound just imerses you.
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by bornwina
'there is a light that never goes out' - one of those tracks I could put on repeat for at least an hour.
I've seen Mozz a couple of times in recent years when he's performed it and he always bigs it up himself when introducing it (the fact that he mumbles a few embarassed words about it is telling enough).
I've seen Mozz a couple of times in recent years when he's performed it and he always bigs it up himself when introducing it (the fact that he mumbles a few embarassed words about it is telling enough).
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
"so please
please
please
let me get what i want
this time!"
please
please
let me get what i want
this time!"
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by ryan_d
They represented a thoroughly miserable time for many people, and were a symbol for the 'tea and coal' philosophy of that era of Britian.
"let me get my hands...
on your mamarie glands"
No-one could write lyrics like these except Mozza. There aren't many bands whose lyrics were so miserable, but could write so uplifting songs.
Ryan
"let me get my hands...
on your mamarie glands"
No-one could write lyrics like these except Mozza. There aren't many bands whose lyrics were so miserable, but could write so uplifting songs.
Ryan
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by glenda
My fave is "Everyday is Like Sunday". Has there ever been more evocative opening lines than "Trudging slowly over wet sand to the place where your clothes were stolen".
Saw them twice - both ended in a riot - in County Hall, London where stage invaded by facist skinheads and in Newport where Moz was dragged into the audience. Moz flounced off . Crowd trashed the guitars and had a fight with the roadies.WOuld like to see the slightly tubbier version of Moz sometime.
Glenda
Saw them twice - both ended in a riot - in County Hall, London where stage invaded by facist skinheads and in Newport where Moz was dragged into the audience. Moz flounced off . Crowd trashed the guitars and had a fight with the roadies.WOuld like to see the slightly tubbier version of Moz sometime.
Glenda
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by badlyread
Glenda
I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking it, but 'Everyday is like Sunday' is just Stephen on his own and not The Smiths. As good as Mozza is with his collaborators they are no Johnny Marr. A partnership that shone so brightly for such a short time.
Neil
I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking it, but 'Everyday is like Sunday' is just Stephen on his own and not The Smiths. As good as Mozza is with his collaborators they are no Johnny Marr. A partnership that shone so brightly for such a short time.
Neil
Posted on: 15 February 2007 by bornwina
quote:Originally posted by badlyread:
Glenda
I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking it, but 'Everyday is like Sunday' is just Stephen on his own and not The Smiths. As good as Mozza is with his collaborators they are no Johnny Marr. A partnership that shone so brightly for such a short time.
Neil
Neil, you weren't, but in Glenda's defence, that track of all the solo material is in my view the most Smiths like of the lot.
Posted on: 16 February 2007 by hungryhalibut
quote:"let me get my hands...
on your mamarie glands"
No-one could write lyrics like these except Mozza
Ah, but Moz can spell correctly, unless you are thinking of Marmite...
Nigel
Posted on: 16 February 2007 by ryan_d
Sorry was in a rush......and i haven't obsessed over lyric sheets since i was 30
Ryan
Ryan
Posted on: 16 February 2007 by markah
quote:Originally posted by hungryhalibut:quote:"let me get my hands...
on your mamarie glands"
No-one could write lyrics like these except Mozza
Ah, but Moz can spell correctly, unless you are thinking of Marmite...
Nigel
mmmmmmmmm..........Marmite! The Smiths always sound so good first thing in the morning whilst scoffing on hot freshly buttered toast with Marmite. I love it, don't hate it!
Posted on: 20 February 2007 by fentontfox
Remember the Newport gig i was on holiday in Greece when the tickets went on sale and missed out so when it all went pear shaped a slight case of schadenfraude delight ran through my veins and a big finger to my so called mates who were too tight to get me a ticket on the off chance ,i mean lets be fair even in the faintest chance i wouldn't want it they could of sold it 10 times over at least.
Posted on: 05 March 2007 by bhazen
"Stop me if you've heard this one before..." My favourite Smiths track. What a sound that record has...
When I think of music to play on an old Naim system ("chrome bumper" or olive), I think Smiths, XTC, the Fall, Elvis Costello, Gang of Four, Talk Talk...
When I think of music to play on an old Naim system ("chrome bumper" or olive), I think Smiths, XTC, the Fall, Elvis Costello, Gang of Four, Talk Talk...
Posted on: 06 March 2007 by JoeH
My favourite track is probably 'Cemetry Gates', but 'Ask' is an overlooked gem:
'Spending warm, sunny days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxemburg'
'Spending warm, sunny days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxemburg'
Posted on: 07 March 2007 by ryan_d
Just moved house and got the tt up and running this morning....had to put 'the queen is dead' on. Just brings a big smile to my face 
Ryan
Ryan