Happy The Queen is Dead Day

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Christ, you're kidding right? What Johnny Marr did on that track is simply staggering.

For me, the 'weaker' tracks on the album are Never Had No-one Ever and Vicar In A Tutu. They're good tracks, but not quite up to the astronomical standards of I Know It's Over, Cemetry Gates, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out etc...

P.S. Strangeways, Here We Come is the best Smiths album.

I did comment a few posts after that I was referring lyrically to the song, not musically and that even Johnny expressed disappointment that the tune deserved better lyrics.
The song was only played once live - at the very last gig and an extra verse was added (on the shop floor, there's a calendar, as obvious as snow, as if you didn't know)

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

When you think how big they were by 1986 and were still playing University venues. Nowadays they would be filling the Etihad. Another way life has changed and concerts have become much more popular despite the ridiculous ticket prices. How much did you pay about £4 ?

This one looked a fun one to be at in the early days. I remember watching it on Whistle Test and it was how I got into the Smiths.

I am always talking to friends who 30 years on now say ''yeah I really like them now'' when at the time they wouldn't go anywhere near them. I suppose the cult and mystique around the band just grows and grows and yes I suspect if they did a stadium tour I'd probably miss out on a ticket through the stampede!
I will have a look at the ticket when home later (they are all framed on the wall) I know the Free Trade Hall gig a few months later was £4.50 (£4.00 with UB40 card lol)

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Best album ever made? Give me the Holy Bible by the Manics any day of the week over that. The lyrics are beautifully haunting and so well constructed that it dissects and covers more or less every aspect of how depraved humanity can be.

From prostitution to the holocaust, from suicide to anorexia and from political corruption to serial killers, there is nothing that isn't discussed in pure, honest detail with possibly the most gripping soundtrack I've ever heard. How James Dean Bradfield managed to string such a vast array of lyrics together in time still astonishes me. No matter how many times you listen to the album, no one will ever be able to sing it word for word.

Very interesting but this thread is about The Queen is Dead. Start your own fucking thread if you want to discuss that shite. ;)

 

[tonea2003]

Worthy of its on thread ;)
Love the acoustic version too

agree, the ep is staggeringly good, swamp thing, paradiso and inside out, doesn't get much better

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Great album. The Smiths stand the test of time. Quality band that take me back to my teens.

 

[cookster]

Great album but Hatful of Hallow is my fave.

 

[masterwig]

Great album but Hatful of Hallow is my fave.

That's like Alan Partridge saying his favourite Beatles album is 'The Best of the Beatles'.

 

[cookster]

That's like Alan Partridge saying his favourite Beatles album is 'The Best of the Beatles'.

I know what you mean but alot of people didn't realise how good the B sides were from the early Smiths, Hatful fixed that.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I know what you mean but alot of people didn't realise how good the B sides were from the early Smiths, Hatful fixed that.

The 2 cover versions apart, they didn't record one duff song.
*sits back and awaits a couple of suggestions* ha ha

 

[Lancet Fluke]

The 2 cover versions apart, they didn't record one duff song.
*sits back and awaits a couple of suggestions* ha ha

There's one or two on strangeways that I haven't bothered listening to for years. Not that they're terrible but IMO nowhere near their usual standards. It's comfortably my least favourite Smiths album I reckon.