It's an obvious practice that seems to have been lost in recent times, most likely being due to most bands forgetting an album IS an album - a collection piece and body of work, as opposed to a mish-mash of made-for singles only.

Oasis kicking off What's the Story Morning Glory with 'Hello', Strangeways kicking off the last album by the Smiths with the deliriously ambiguous 'A Rush And A Push...' and Vauxhall opening with the achingly beautiful 'Now My Heart Is Full' set the tone and pace far better than any written explanation would allow.

I don't believe that the track order (by itself) would have a monumental effect on The Queen is Dead.

Here's why: The Smiths had already gained a huge following well before The Queen is Dead. Track order would not have had any measurable or significant effect. Each song "belongs" on this album without regard to track order.

I will also take this one step further. "Vicar in a Tutu" would have been a GREAT opener--

It would not be as stirring, but it still would have been terrific--especially if it were to be followed by "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty."

I do wish, however, that "There is a Light..." would have been the last track. But there is something haunting about "Some Girls...", and it is a terrific ending track, too.

This debate has been discussed before. I don't think it makes a great deal of difference. If you have to twist my arm, "Louder than Bombs" has a perfect track listing.

Peace.

Ken

but TQID is a bad example of a great job of it.

the opener is perfect, but its unthinkable that they couldve opened that album with anything else given the songs they were choosing from- its obviously an opener.

they didnt execute the rest of the sequencing to full effect- not by a long shot. "I Know It's Over" and "Never Had No One Ever" back to back at tracks 3 and 4 is way too heavy and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" should have been the closer, though ive warmed to "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" as a closer over the past while.

TQID is actually a prime example of a great album with poor sequencing.