Work is a 4 letter word.

[Stuheff]

Did anyone else notice that you can know buy Work is A 4 Letter word on Itunes?

I have had a listen and I now understand why this was one of the reasons Johnny left the Smiths.

It is worse to my ears than Golden Lights - which can be quite catchy on the right day. Truly the Smiths split at the right time if this cover is anything to go ny.

Does anyone else think that the song actually confirms the concieved stereotype that most people have about Moz's singing voice?

[boinging]

Eh? You know it's a cover right? Cilla Black...

Don't get too upset over it, it's okay... I quite like it actually.

PS - I can't find it on itunes uk.

[DeliciousDemon]

I actually quite like that song although it will never make it to my top 10

[Still ILL]

Work Is A 4 Letter Word is not wonderful, but it's a lot better than Golden Lights which is far easily the WORST Smiths song ever, in my opinion.

What's The World was a far better cover version song even though it was only played live.

[dallow_bg]

What? I like the cover of Golden Lights!

It's better than "Death At One's Elbow".

[davdavon]

I love this song! One of the real hidden gems...

[Worm]

I rather like "Work Is A Four Letter Word". Even granting the silliness of the best band ever doing a Cilla Black cover, the song is a welcomely upbeat book-end to "Jeane". The song gets a bad rap because it was one of The Smiths' final recordings. How could they have laid down such an inconsequential track during their final session? Well, they didn't know it was their final session.

If the group had continued and 'Work' had been merely a throwaway B-side among, say, five or six other "Strangeways" original B-sides, I think it would be thought of more fondly.

I agree with Still ILL about "What's The World". It's a great tune. Pity it was never properly recorded. A Peel session would have been amazing.

[Stuheff]

Nah.... Its definatley rubbish.

Its all over the show.

But you know opinions are like arseholes and all that...

[Worm]

Does anyone else think that the song actually confirms the concieved stereotype that most people have about Moz's singing voice?

Can you elaborate on this? What's the stereotype?

[dallow_bg]

I know one stereotype, at least an early one. Was that he could only hit 2, maybe 3 notes.

Still, I'm not sure what the original poster meant.

[Jones]

I can't believe anyone would fall for Johnny's line that a reason he left the Smiths is because of this song. Why didn't he just say at the time that he didn't want to do it? Because he wasn't bothered at the time, that's why.

It was just a reason he came up with off the top of his head when challenged by journalists. He couldn't exactly say "Because I want an easier life sitting on my arse and taking drugs with my mates" could he?

[boinging]

Was the Cilla version not on a intro tape from a recent tour? Maybe I'm justing getting Cilla on my mind this afternoon...

Completely agree that it seemed a fitting end to Smiths B Sides.

[Stuheff]

The stereotype is that the signs flat and like a miserable bastard!

We all know this isnt true - but to me Work is a 4 Letter word sounds just dull. As does Moz's voice.

A fitting end is quite right.

[Worm]

I agree with your reasoning, Jones, but Marr only said that it was "the last straw" or something like that. It's certainly a believable "last straw" scenario I think.

My understanding is that Marr was exhausted and wanted a break to clear his head but Morrissey insisted they record B-sides for the new single and more or less dragged him into the studio. You can imagine how upset he must have been to show up at the studio, where he didn't want to be, only to have Morrissey suggest doing a Cilla Black cover.

They recorded the cover (and the splendid "I Keep Mine Hidden") but Marr didn't quit solely because of the session. He quit because when he finally went away to relax and clear his head, as he said he wanted to do, there followed certain strange occurrences (like the NME "Smiths Split" story) that made him want out.

Lots of games were being played by various parties, it seems. Even with all the accounts of what happened to make the group split, the truth is still murky. Was "I Keep Mine Hidden" really Morrissey speaking indirectly to Johnny about their relationship? Did Morrissey thank Angie Marr on the sleeve of "Girlfriend In A Coma" because he knew things were deteriorating? Did he plant the story in the NME to force Johnny into action?

I have to agree with you that there's more to the story than has been recorded, namely that there was an emotionally charged element to Johnny and Morrissey's relationship that caused the split. (That said, I think the idea that they were in love, or that Morrissey was in love and pushed it too far, is not accurate.)

I just think we know most of the story, and I tend to believe the reasons Johnny has given. It wasn't one or two reasons, it was many. Any one of Johnny's publicly stated reasons sounds a bit off taken by itself, but together they add up to a coherent picture. The Smiths were inherently unable to last longer than a few years and a few albums-- frankly they didn't stand a chance in hell-- which is a big clue as to what Morrissey's real criterion has been in choosing his musical partners since The Smiths broke up.

[Jones]

I don't think it was Morrissey that dragged Johnny into the studio to record b-sides. From what I have read from people around the band at the time it was the record company putting pressure on both Johnny and Morrissey to record the b-sides. From what was said about that session, no one wanted to be there, everyone was very flippant about the session which is probably why they recorded covers. Maybe Johnny blamed Morrissey for not saying "no" to the record company, but why was this always Morrissey's responsibility?

Morrissey thanked Angie because she was more or less working as his PA at the time. People around the band said she was spending more time with Morrissey than Johnny by the end.

I just think people take Johnny's version of events too much on trust. Some of the interviews with people working for the Smiths at the time do not tally with his version of events. His attempt to portray himself as the put upon one who had to do all the work doesn't tally with the pothead who drank too much that other people talk about.

[Worm]

Interesting, Jones, I hadn't heard that angle. Are there any interviews online that you know of, that I can check out? I'd love to read them.

Johnny's alcoholic intake has always been a curious part of The Smiths' story. Did his drinking cause the strain, or did the strain cause him to drink?

Anyway I've never thought Johnny was blameless, or that he would have made another five albums if he'd simply been allowed a one-year break or something along those lines. My sense of the break-up is that the pressure had gotten so intense that both Morrissey and Marr did things they normally might not do. And the pressure seems to have come from the lack of proper management.

[bikubesong]

Can someone upload 4-letter word? I.. haven't heard it yet! I've searched EVERYwhere. Almoust

[Comtesse]

I actually LOVE "Work is a Four-Letter Word" and I think Morrissey's vocals are quite endearing. And I also quite like "Golden Lights". I guess there's one in every crowd, eh?

[Shifty]

I think 'I Keep Mine Hidden' is the only officially released smiths song that I've never heard, which is annoyng as everybody says it's ace. Is it available on anything, anywhere?

[Comtesse]

Who says "I Keep Mine Hidden" is ace? It's the worse thing that the Smiths ever committed to vinyl. "Work Is A Four-Letter Word" is much better. IMHO, of course...