The first Smiths selection from my oldest daughter, Sophia, is ‘Pretty Girls Make Graves’ from the band’s 1984 self-titled debut album.
This song finds the narrator unable to reciprocate the sexual advances of an aggressive woman because he’s either gay, asexual, impotent, or simply afraid. Morrissey has always been cagey about his sexuality, but many of his lyrics suggest he is gay. Just as many suggest he isn’t interested in men or women. This song supports both readings.
My next featured song by The Smiths again comes courtesy of my younger daughter, Fiona. ‘This Night Has Opened My Eyes’ was recorded in September of 1983 for a BBC Radio program hosted by John Peel. Several songs from that appearance were released on compilation albums.
This is a good example of my daughters’ interest in The Smiths leading to a better appreciation and understanding of the band by me.
Way back in July of 2009, before this Song of the Day blog was even a year old, I posted a week’s worth of songs by The Smiths.
The reaction was swift and ugly: “Ugh!” “I can’t stand it!” “Grating!” “I can’t believe you are doing a whole theme week on the Smiths.”
Even my wife, largely a stranger to the blog’s comment section, chimed in to register her disgust.
Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…
#5 – Meat is Murder – The Smiths
The Smiths released just four studio albums in their five-year existence, a remarkably small footprint for a band with such a huge and passionate fan base.
Meat is Murder was the band’s sophomore release and the one I rank lowest of the four. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t great enough to be #5 on my list of 1985 albums.
What better way to kick off 2022 than by going back in time nearly 40 years to 1984 for the latest installment of my Decades series?
First, let me recover from the stunning realization that 1984, the year I turned 12, was nearly 40 years ago. Wowza.
I wasn’t very invested in popular music back then, so none of the year’s notable albums meant much to me at the time. But I have come to know and love a few of them. Over the next four weeks, I will cover those as well as a sampling of celebrated records I haven’t heard much or at all.
Meet Me In Montauk 