Actually, Stranded is better. And while we can hardly expect him to suddenly mention D***d B***e at this stage, you'd have thought he might have spared a thought for T. Rex's "Electric Warrior" - he did cover a track from it, after all.

Have never been able to understand why this band get the critical acclaim that they do. I refused the opportunity to promote them at Norwich Arts Centre back in 1989 solely on the grounds that I thought they were rather a lightweight inconsequential indie band. Fifteen years on I have no regrets, time hasn't improved them. Tracks I like such as 'She's A Waterfall' and 'Sally Cinnamon' are pleasant and sit cosily alongside my comfy slippers in the easy listening section. Hardly a fitting epithet for a "classic" LP. If every track was as good as 'I Wanna Be Adored' then things would make some sort of sense.

I guess the explanation for their continued critical acclaim lies behind the nature of their audience, and the band's rock'n'roll habits. Their fanbase was largely housing estate/football terrace in nature, and I think that to the fashion concious music media this gave them a street cred that the vast majority of indie bands of that era did not have (most of them coming from middle class backgrounds, like the kids that went to see them)

In time I expect they will be judged on their music alone, and be marked down as amiable also-rans.

Barry Newman

ps I run Wilde Club Records. Put out the first two singles by the Catherine Wheel, a band managed by Merck Mercuriadis (Sanctuary Management) Now, I wonder what he's up to these days.......

All four Smiths albums mentioned deserve to be in any top 100 like this. I personally would have had 'The Queen Is Dead' in the top ten at least, but then I'm biased. Where did 'Revolver' come, it usually wins ? And why did 'The Stone Roses' get to number one? That is nearly as bizaree as Oasis claiming the top spot with 'Definitely Maybe' in the Q poll. Surely all the Smiths' albums, The Clash's 'London Calling', two or three Beatles albums, a couple of Stones albums and many more I can't remember off hand are superior to the Roses' debut?

did you see? thin lizzy made it into the top 100. well, that's made my day.

Hate to be a spoilsport but before we start getting list upon list of "why didn't he include THIS?!" style comments can I please suggest that Morrissey was being more than a little facetious in only including one album in his top ten? Even if he is very keen on it.

Can I further suggest that half the things he says are piss-takes, and that its pretty amazing everyone hasnt worked that out sooner?

While that album was great, captured the moment quite well, I don't think it deserves the #1 spot, far from it.
I don't agree with most of this list. TQID should have been #1!
Also interesting posts above about different classes being fans of the Roses, how delightfully snobbish you English can be, I love it.

There is no singer I have heard who sounds so similar in his style to Bryan Ferry as does Morrissey. Both men's work deals in the irony of existence such as love and worldly fulfillment, or unfulfillment. And instead get lost in the beauty of their mind, their own illusions, and love. It is a beautiful nacissism.
I have been a ardent devotee of Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry since the 80's when Morrissey mentioned them/him in an interview. In fact Roxy Music became my favorite band for about fifteen years. It is difficult to hear of them in the States.
But not hearing Morrissey speaking much of Roxy Music anymore, I always wondered if he was upset Johnny Marr was allowed to play on Ferry's Bete Noire.

http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topalbums.asp

Here is the link to the best selling albums in America. Nice to see Zeppelin is respected on this list. Zeppelin is right behind the The Beatles and Elvis in America.

http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp

We seem to value the best of of Brit rock more than the Observer list.

Where is XTC - English Settlement?

I do hope the Spacemen 3's "Playing With Fire" or "Recurring" will someday seep onto one of these lists. I dream of the Jazz Butcher's "Waiting For the Love Bus" as well, but hey, I'm realistic.

These lists are always the same, with similar 'safe bet' albums at the top. I bet the people who voted the Stone Roses and Astral Weeks so highly hardley ever listen to those albums, it's just that they're a slightly more risky choice than any of the Beatles albums, which always win thse things normally, where I can safely say that I do regularly listen to the Smiths/Morrissey back catalogue and still really enjoy it.
Sorry, that was the longest sentence ever!
Good to see MBV's amazing Loveless in there though, any other MBV fans agree?

considering how the list went down, i'm pleasantly surprise to see 4 Smiths entries, tho mine would have gone HFH, Smiths, MIM, QID with Strangeways somewhere in the middle.

saint etienne-foxbase alpha. an album years ahead of its time. groups like portishead, massive attack and moby have made a fortune jumping on the s.e. bandwagon all while being hailed as gods at some point or another.

siouxsie and the banshees, undertones, soft cell, pulp and the buzzcocks must not have ever existed.

As far as "Greatest Albums Of All Time" lists goes, I've seen a lot worse. Here in America it seems to be blaspheme not to have Nirvana's Nevermind #1.
    The bet thing I can say about this list is that there are no White Stripes albums on it (unlike the NME list which had 3!!!). So kudos for not including any flash-in-the-pan new bands who have yet to prove their staying power.
    I know I'm a minority here, but I really do believe that the Stone Roses debut is the best album ever. The music, the lyrics, the vibe... Everything works.
    As for the Smiths' poor showing on the list. You may have been a Moz/Smiths fan too long and only associated with other Smiths fans too long. You may have forgotten that The Smiths are an aquired taste. They are a band few people sit on the fence about.
    But the people who do "get" The Smiths really really get The Smiths. It's easy to forget that there are tons upon tons of people who really really really hate the Smiths. Probably as many Smiths haters as Smiths lovers. I love the Smiths as much as anyone, but I also recognize that I'm a weirdo for liking them.
    I dare say that The Stone Roses had more across-the-board appeal. I live in the American midwest. If I'm trying to expose someone to English indie who knows nothing about it, I will usually try to start them out with Roses first before the Smiths.
    That having been said, the highest placed Smiths album is the debut. I think most fans will agree that this is the weakest of all Smiths releases. Hatful I believe is the best Smiths album (though as some would point out not a proper album). I also prefer MIM to TQID.
    Criminal omisions:
  No Suede. Suede are often credited for inventing Britpop but I think they started two genres. Dog Man Star really brought back the art rock that Radiohead and Muse would later make. Coming Up was possibly the best Britpop album.
    No Cure. At very least Disintegration should be on the list.
    No Mansun. I know this makes me the biggest loser in the world but Mansun are my all-time favorite band. Attack Of The Grey Lantern was the last great Britpop album and Six was a wonderful unique album.