The Smiths (album)
Encyclopedia
Before their debut album, single "What Difference Does It Make?
" was released in January 1984. The track peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart
. Released in February 1984, The Smiths debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart
.
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 list, the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
.
The music critic Garry Mulholland listed it as one of the '261 greatest albums since punk and disco' (the year 1976) in his book Fear of Music: "The Smiths made safe their early legend with a debut album about child abuse. The production was flat and dour, yet it succeeded in conjuring yet another Manchester-in-song, distinctly different from that of Ian Curtis
and Mark E. Smith
. But everything about The Smiths ran contrary to mid-80s pop, from Joe Dallesandro
on the cover to the restrained jangling of the songs, but mainly through Moz's dramatised disgust at sex, which here exists to ruin true love at best, and to ruin an entire young life at worst."
"This Charming Man
" was included as track 6 on all original USA releases of the album on Sire Records
(LP, CD and cassette), and on the UK cassette on Rough Trade
. Since 1992, when WEA
acquired The Smiths' catalogue, nearly all reissues worldwide also include this song, with possibly the only exception being a 2009 vinyl reissue on Rhino Records in both the USA and the UK.
What Difference Does It Make?
"What Difference Does It Make?" is a 1984 single by British band The Smiths. The single version can be found on the band's self-titled debut album The Smiths...
" was released in January 1984. The track peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Released in February 1984, The Smiths debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
In 1989, the album was ranked number 22 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s. In 2003, the album was ranked number 481 on that magazine's list, the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
The music critic Garry Mulholland listed it as one of the '261 greatest albums since punk and disco' (the year 1976) in his book Fear of Music: "The Smiths made safe their early legend with a debut album about child abuse. The production was flat and dour, yet it succeeded in conjuring yet another Manchester-in-song, distinctly different from that of Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
and Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
. But everything about The Smiths ran contrary to mid-80s pop, from Joe Dallesandro
Joe Dallesandro
Joseph Angelo D'Allesandro , better known as Joe Dallesandro, is an American actor, and Warhol superstar. Although he never became a mainstream film star, Dallesandro is generally considered to be the most famous male sex symbol of American underground films of the 20th century, as well as a sex...
on the cover to the restrained jangling of the songs, but mainly through Moz's dramatised disgust at sex, which here exists to ruin true love at best, and to ruin an entire young life at worst."
Track listing
All songs written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr.- "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
- "Still Ill" – 3:23
- "Hand in GloveHand in Glove"Hand in Glove" is a song by the British alternative rock band The Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was released as the band's first single in May 1983 on independent record label Rough Trade Records. "Hand in Glove" peaked at number three on the UK Indie Chart,...
" – 3:25 - "What Difference Does It Make?What Difference Does It Make?"What Difference Does It Make?" is a 1984 single by British band The Smiths. The single version can be found on the band's self-titled debut album The Smiths...
" – 3:51 - "I Don't Owe You Anything" – 4:05
- "Suffer Little ChildrenSuffer Little Children"Suffer Little Children" is a song by the Manchester band, The Smiths, that was included on their eponymous debut album in 1984. The song is about the Moors murders that took place on Saddleworth Moor in the West Riding of Yorkshire between 1963 and 1965...
" – 5:28
"This Charming Man
This Charming Man
"This Charming Man" is a song by the English band The Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer/lyricist Morrissey. It was released as the group's second single in October 1983 on the independent record label Rough Trade...
" was included as track 6 on all original USA releases of the album on Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
(LP, CD and cassette), and on the UK cassette on Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
. Since 1992, when WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
acquired The Smiths' catalogue, nearly all reissues worldwide also include this song, with possibly the only exception being a 2009 vinyl reissue on Rhino Records in both the USA and the UK.
Personnel
- MorrisseyMorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Johnny MarrJohnny MarrJohnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Andy RourkeAndy RourkeAndy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mike Joyce – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Annalisa Jablonska – vocals ("Pretty Girls Make Graves", "Suffer Little Children")
- Paul CarrackPaul CarrackPaul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - John PorterJohn Porter (musician)John Porter is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:He attended St Michael's School, Allerton Grange School, King's College, and Newcastle University....
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
er ("Hand in Glove") - The Smiths – producers ("Hand in Glove")
- Phil Bush, Neill KingNeill KingNeill King is a record producer and recording engineer. He studied classical music and trumpet on leaving Wimbledon College, then trained as a recording engineer at Eden Studios, Chiswick, London, before working throughout the UK and Europe with artists such as Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Madness,...
– engineers
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | UK Albums Chart | 2 |