I was the lone voter for Best II - I'd already heard most of the first volume (my brother had it) but getting that one out of the local library in 1995 was what really got me into the band. I don't own a copy anymore but I put it as a sentimental #5. Also nine of its 14 songs are on my ballot.
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 23:40 (eight years ago) link
(xxpost) Somewhat related: when I moderated at a user-built music database site there were constant arguments about whether Hatful should even be classed as a 'compilation', given that a slight majority (IIRC) of the tracks (the BBC ones) hadn't even had a previous commercial release. :)
― Maximum big surprise! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Wednesday, 2 March 2016 23:40 (eight years ago) link
Hatful feels distinct from the other compilations in that all the songs are from the same period and none appear (in the same form) on any other album.
― Eyeball Kicks, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 23:42 (eight years ago) link
surprised Hatful of Hollow didn't do better, I thought it was more loved than that. The only reason it wasn't my #1 is some of the live versions being inferior, but it's probably their best collection of songs (and best sequenced) though not their best collection of recordings.
― ufo, Thursday, 3 March 2016 00:05 (eight years ago) link
astonished this got 80 ballots and beat Steely Dan's 77 ballots.
i didn't even get a chance to vote despite listening to the Smiths catalog, real life got in the way.
― Bee OK, Thursday, 3 March 2016 02:39 (eight years ago) link
BTW, nate here is the link to the Moderator Request Forum, they can help you with your mistakes: http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/NewAnswersControllerServlet?boardid=56
― Bee OK, Thursday, 3 March 2016 02:41 (eight years ago) link
There's footage of them playing it at a gig in Germany on Youtube and when the track breaks down to just the bass and drums, Marr takes off his guitar and begins to shimmy around onstage, dancing with Moz.at 26:07https://youtu.be/2Y7YnL9SPjs― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, March 2, 2016 7:50 PM
at 26:07https://youtu.be/2Y7YnL9SPjs
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, March 2, 2016 7:50 PM
― groovypanda, Thursday, 3 March 2016 10:03 (eight years ago) link
There's footage of them playing it at a gig in Germany on Youtube and when the track breaks down to just the bass and drums, Marr takes off his guitar and begins to shimmy around onstage, dancing with Moz.
yeah, love that video. and the song. I wish there were more funky smiths tracks !
― AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 3 March 2016 11:16 (eight years ago) link
Most regrettable white man dancing I've seen in weeks
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 March 2016 11:38 (eight years ago) link
Interesting! I never thought to look up actual audio before now. (But probably old news for many.) Surviving demo from Marr/Rourke's pre-Smiths funk-oriented outfit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s-vZtJ3SV8
― Maximum big surprise! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Thursday, 3 March 2016 11:42 (eight years ago) link
The Dorks ! I'm even surprised Moz accepted to sing on a funky music, really...
― AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 3 March 2016 12:01 (eight years ago) link
Top 50 starting soon..
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 12:59 (eight years ago) link
Big big thanks to Johnny Fever for providing the graphics for the rundown. He's done a brilliant job, far better than I could've done - pivot tables and vlookups I'm good with, graphics and designs not so much.
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:03 (eight years ago) link
Kicking off the top 50 rundown with a cheery little number..
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:05 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/RFKA77Q.jpg
50. SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN (B-side of 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' | Album track from The Smiths)258 points | 13 votes
suffer adult listeners
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:08 (eight years ago) link
I kind of had the way that I hear this song upended earlier this week when I read a something that quotes this part:
But we will be, we will be, we will be, right by your sideUntil the day you dieThis is no easy rideWe will haunt you when you laughYes, you could say we're a teamYou might sleepYou might sleepYou might sleepBUT YOU WILL NEVER DREAM !
and the writer seemed to think that the 'you' here refers to Brady and Hindley, but ever since I first heard the song I always assumed that the 'you' was the parents of the missing children, that it was a reference back to the 'A woman said : "I know my son is dead' line, and it never occurred to me that it could read a different way. I'd be interested to know how other people had heard it
― soref, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:22 (eight years ago) link
always assumed brady/hindley
― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:25 (eight years ago) link
i like this song but it is in about the right place imo. but then on going through i realized there are only maybe 10 songs in the catalogue i would say i don't like.
― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:27 (eight years ago) link
I'm starting to think I'm wrong and that Brady/Hindley is the 'correct' reading, but I always took it to be about this immeasurable grief of a bereaved parent rather than the murderers being plagued by guilt
― soref, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:39 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/20DNMD4.jpg
49. I WANT THE ONE I CAN'T HAVE (Album track from Meat Is Murder)262 points | 12 votes
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 13:49 (eight years ago) link
I didn't end up voting for anything from Meat Is Murder. This and Well I Wonder were the only ones that made my long list.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:07 (eight years ago) link
i have this as the second worst song on MIM after the title track and this song is great so...pretty good album.
― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:10 (eight years ago) link
xp crazy talk
― groovypanda, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:15 (eight years ago) link
wow that's already two from my ballot
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:19 (eight years ago) link
the images are great
re: the images...I was only able to get today's 10 done last night before my computer said "fuck you, I'm tired," but a lot of these are Roger Mayne photos (noted source of actual Smiths/Moz cover art). I'm gonna run out of usable Mayne material before long, though, so other post-war street photographer names are welcome.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:22 (eight years ago) link
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=shirley+baker&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikiZfA3KTLAhWLF5oKHbVsDIUQ_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=899
― groovypanda, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:27 (eight years ago) link
Perfect, thanks!!!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:27 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/co0rZmc.jpg
48. THESE THINGS TAKE TIME (B-side of 'What Difference Does It Make?' 12")285 points | 12 votes | 2 first place votes
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:47 (eight years ago) link
0/3 so far
― groovypanda, Thursday, 3 March 2016 14:48 (eight years ago) link
This is my first vote to place. I like their barnburner songs.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:29 (eight years ago) link
My first vote to place too. So much better than the A-side.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:35 (eight years ago) link
Quite fond of the A-side as well. :(
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:36 (eight years ago) link
That's one of the hits that has been totally overplayed over the years for me. I'd always hear it when I went out and even though I don't really go out that much anymore, I still don't get a lot out of it.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:40 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/1Kfs05a.jpg
47. YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING NOW (Album track from The Smiths)292 points | 14 votes
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:43 (eight years ago) link
another one of mine! think this was the moment when first listening to the s/t where i thought, "ok i love this band now"
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:46 (eight years ago) link
but i don't want a loveri just want to be seeeenin the back of your car
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:47 (eight years ago) link
Love this one. Lyrically it's one of my favourite songs ever and his deadpan delivery is so perfect.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:50 (eight years ago) link
I am surprised that "These Things Take Time" wasn't on my ballot
― i like to trump and i am crazy (DJP), Thursday, 3 March 2016 15:51 (eight years ago) link
I voted for You've Got Everything Now. Great song!
― the toast of every coast (cajunsunday), Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:11 (eight years ago) link
Morrissey's falsetto on this just kills me.
― one way street, Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:20 (eight years ago) link
You've Got Everything Now is one of my least favorite Smiths' songs, but it's still pretty good.
― sacral intercourse conducive to vegetal luxuriance (askance johnson), Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:47 (eight years ago) link
I really like "You've Got Everything Now" EXCEPT for the falsetto
― i like to trump and i am crazy (DJP), Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:49 (eight years ago) link
I played it again a few minutes ago and it cracked my eyeglass frames.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:51 (eight years ago) link
but I always took it to be about this immeasurable grief of a bereaved parent rather than the murderers being plagued by guilt
― soref, Thursday, March 3, 2016 5:39 AM (3 hours ago)
yeah, I always thought of it as the haunting was being done by Hindley/Brady, and it wasn't just the parents being haunted, but "everyone" affected by the child murders. For some reason I remember (could be false memory) that some of that part was derived from actual things said by Myra & Ian in court?
― sarahell, Thursday, 3 March 2016 16:57 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/QcuHKs7.jpg
46. FRANKLY, MR. SHANKLY (Album track from The Queen Is Dead)293 points | 14 votes
― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 March 2016 17:04 (eight years ago) link
I tend to like the glass-shattering moments in the Smiths' discography, but I have a sneaking affection for histrionics. I read the end of "Suffer" along sarahell's lines: Hindley's guilt ("Hindley wakes") becomes the trauma of Manchester as a community (including the narrator).
― one way street, Thursday, 3 March 2016 17:05 (eight years ago) link
I always felt "I Want The One I Can't Have" was the highlight of MIM, the band doing what they do best. It was in my top 5. A favorite of Morrissey's, it was rarely missing from their live sets.
― Fastnbulbous, Thursday, 3 March 2016 17:05 (eight years ago) link
too low
― Check Yr Scrobbles (Moodles), Thursday, 3 March 2016 17:05 (eight years ago) link