Thirty years ago today a ground-breaking, earth-shaking event hit the world of music.
Four Mancunian lads released their third – and many of us would argue, their greatest – studio album.
I instantly fell in love with The Queen is Dead, from the first listen.
This is arguably one of the most shaping and influential musical works to be released by Rough Trade Records, The Smiths’ third studio album was a game-changer.
The Queen is Dead elevated The Smiths.
Instead of being regarded as just four northern indie artists, The Queen is Dead made the London-based media sit up and take notice.
So too did the rest of the world.
Morrisey’s haunting voice projecting his articulate story-telling lyrics, backed by Johnny Marr’s intelligent, deft-touch guitar-work, thrust the band far about their early appearance at the Haçienda.
- The Queen is Dead
- Frankly, Mr. Shankly
- I Know It’s Over
- Never Had No One Ever
- Cemetry Gates
- Bigmouth Strikes Again
- The Boy with the Thorn in His Side
- Vicar in a Tutu
- There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
- Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
My own favourite, and my all-time favourite Smiths track is There Is a Light That Never Goes Out; a track so great it features in my list of All Time Top 25 Tracks.
Great musical moments, such as the first time I listened to The Queen is Dead, will stay with me for ever.
But I can’t help wondering how many of today’s artists will invoke the same feelings in today’s listeners?
Happy Birthday The Queen is Dead.
I like the Smiths. I like some of Morriseys solo work. I certainly liked “the first of the gang to die”. I do find though I can only take so much at a time before I need to inject something else. I start off with good intentions of listening to a number of tracks but after about three my mind starts wandering.