The Smiths (album)

Infobox Album | Name = The Smiths
Type = Album
Artist = The Smiths


Released = February 20, 1984
Recorded = Spring – Autumn 1983
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 45:36
Producer = John Porter, The Smiths
Label = Rough Trade
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:sekzikm6bb79 link]
*Robert Christgau (B-) [http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+smiths link]
*"Q" Rating|4|5
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=40778&cf=387 link]
Last album =
This album = "The Smiths"
(1984)
Next album = "Meat is Murder"
(1985)

"The Smiths" is the debut album by English alternative rock band The Smiths, released on February 20, 1984. The album was well received by the critics as well as the public, and it established The Smiths as a prominent band in the 1980s music scene in the United Kingdom.

In 1989, the album was ranked number 22 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s. In 2003, the album was ranked number 481 on that magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Overview

The album was particularly important and influential because it went against the grain of the popular music of the time. Fact|date=February 2007 Its sound stood in stark opposition to the synthpop or post-punk genres, coming off as 60s melodic guitar rock made unique by Johnny Marr's layered, note-intensive playing and Morrissey's superficially despondent but wit-filled lyrics, unique voice, and contrary song structure.

"This Charming Man" did not appear on the UK and European releases of "The Smiths". It was, however, included on the American release because it hadn't been released as a single in the States, and was also on the original cassette release of the album. When WEA re-issued all Smiths albums in 1992, the American format was used.

"Reel Around the Fountain", the lead-off track the album, was pressed and due to be released as a single in the autumn of 1983, but was aborted because the tabloid "The Sun" accused Morrissey of condoning paedophilia. The song lifts a few lines from the film "A Taste of Honey" by Shelagh Delaney.

Musically, song "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" is indebted to the Patti Smith's song "Kimberly" from album "Horses". [cite book |last=Goddard |first=Simon |title= |accessdate=2008-02-04 |edition=3rd edition |date=2006-05-01 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |isbn=1-905-28714-3]

The song title "Pretty Girls Make Graves" is a quote from writer Jack Kerouac.

Cover

The sleeve for "The Smiths" was designed by Morrissey. It features American actor Joe Dallesandro in a cropped still from Andy Warhol's 1968 film "Flesh".

Track listing

#"Reel Around the Fountain" – 5:58
#"You've Got Everything Now" – 3:59
#"Miserable Lie" – 4:29
#"Pretty Girls Make Graves" – 3:42
#"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" – 4:38
#"This Charming Man" – 2:43
#*"Originally not released on UK and European issues of the album"
#"Still Ill" – 3:23
#"Hand in Glove" – 3:25
#"What Difference Does It Make?" – 3:51
#"I Don't Owe You Anything" – 4:05
#"Suffer Little Children" – 5:28

Troy Tate sessions

The first recording sessions for this album were produced by Troy Tate from The Teardrop Explodes. Unsatisfied with his work as a producer, the Smiths re-recorded their debut with producer John Porter, and it was these recordings that formed the finished album. Most of the shelved Troy Tate recordings are available only in bootleg form, although the Tate-produced versions of "Jeane" (which the Smiths did not re-record with Porter) and "Pretty Girls Make Graves" were used as B-sides on official Smiths releases.

Personnel

* Morrissey - vocals
* Johnny Marr - guitars, harmonica
* Andy Rourke - bass guitar
* Mike Joyce - drums
* Annalisa Jablonska - vocals ("Pretty Girls Make Graves", "Suffer Little Children")
* Paul Carrack - keyboards
* John Porter – producer, remixer ("Hand in Glove")
* The Smiths – producers ("Hand in Glove")
* Phil Bush, Neil King – engineers

Notes