Mojo: "The Smiths’ 50 Greatest Songs" (March 2, 2023)

The Smiths’ 50 Greatest Songs

WHEN JOHNNY MARR FIRST KNOCKED ON MORRISSEY’S DOOR IN 1982, the pair’s initial plan was to become a songwriting powerhouse akin to Brill Building titans Leiber and Stoller.

Though The Smiths’ recording career was as brief as it was brilliant – just four studio albums alongside some of the greatest 45s of the era – the songs Morrissey and Marr penned cemented their reputation as one of the greatest musical partnerships since Lennon and McCartney, and made The Smiths the most important British band of the decade.

The Smiths’ 50 Greatest Songs

MOJO selects the best ever songs by The Smiths

www.mojo4music.com

(Above playlist appears backwards).
Regards,
FWD.

 

[yesnowinlose]

Famous when dead, thanks, very informative!

I really want to listen to 'How Soon Is Now?' right now and drowning in this dope of mysterious sounding is truly a masterpiece.

 

[BookishBoy]

A fun list, but by not having either "Rubber Ring" or "I Know It's Over" in their top 10, then Mojo are talking out of their arses.

 

[William Fisher]

Enjoying the YouTube rabbit hole I've fallen into.

 

[Thewlis]

No Girlfriend in a Coma?? Why?

 

[Daysleeper]

Because it’s really serious

 

[Nakedbrunch]

I have to admit, I find How Soon is Now to be highly overplayed and one of the most derivative tunes Marr ever played. As per the rest of the list, well it's all just opinions innit.

 

[DagenhamDan]

No Girlfriend In A Coma???
Always been my favourite Smiths tune, a classic underrated song.
These lists are so bloody pointless

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

No Girlfriend In A Coma???
Always been my favourite Smiths tune, a classic underrated song.
These lists are so bloody pointless

I agree. The omission of girlfriend in a coma is criminal.

 

[DagenhamDan]

I agree. The omission of girlfriend in a coma is criminal.

Too right! Hysterical lyrics put to the most bouncy upbeat tune. It’s what they did best. Preceded by Sheila, another underrated Smiths classic

 

[Surface]

I remember a documentary where Bono mentioned how good girlfriend in a coma was.

 

[Juan Dulces]

Yep...another one of THESE lists. I swear....

Barred from entering the top 10 (or top 5) every single time ---This Night Has Opened My Eyes. That is a quintessential Smiths song and belongs near the top. You know what doesn't belong there??? ---- the incredibly slow and often times boring Reel Around The Fountain (???). Also, These Things Take Time being anywhere in their top 50 (especially with the Coma omission) really surprises me. Also, I never could understand the infatuation with Half A Person --- I like the song, but I don't think it's anywhere close to say Well I Wonder (yet it's right next to it!). And finally....Back To The Old House placed so darn high on the list - also love that song (especially Hatful version), but how????

Like others have stated, I think I'm done looking at these lists....

 

[Juan Dulces]

I remember a documentary where Bono mentioned how good girlfriend in a coma was.

Yeah, I think he said he 'almost crashed his car' laughing so much when he first heard the song. Bono has mentioned that he enjoys how Morrissey is witty and funny in his songs.

 

[Nobody Knows Me]

No Girlfriend in a Coma?? Why?

I recall this being played live around the 'Ringleader..' era with the clarification
"If you were wondering if she made it. Well, she didn't".

 

[Surface]

Yeah, I think he said he 'almost crashed his car' laughing so much when he first heard the song. Bono has mentioned that he enjoys how Morrissey is witty and funny in his songs.

Yes that's the one

 

[Was I ever any good]

I heard he was washing the dishes at the time

 

[🐈🐈🐈]

Top 50 Morrissey songs? Why not?!

 

[Sarcasmos]

Top 50 Morrissey songs? Why not?!

This was the ranking for the top 50 songs on the Hoffman board, maybe someone can just make a spotify playlist of this:
1 - Now My Heart is Full - 4.87
2 - Speedway - 4.86
3 - Everyday is Like Sunday - 4.848
4 - Suedehead - 4.786
5 - Jack the Ripper - 4.72
6 - Once I Saw the River Clean - 4.7
7 - You’re Gonna Need Someone on Your Side - 4.64
8 - Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? - 4.556
9 - Lenny's Tune - 4.545
10 - The Last of the Famous International Playboys - 4.543
11 - Life is a Pigsty - 4.533
12 - Glamorous Glue - 4.526
13 = Tomorrow - 4.5
13 = My Hurling Days Are Done - 4.5
15 - The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get - 4.477
16 - Irish Blood, English Heart - 4.476
17 - Jim Jim Falls - 4.471
18 - Some Say I Got Devil - 4.409
19 - Why Don’t You Find Out for Yourself - 4.37
20 = We’ll Let You Know - 4.36
20 = The National Front Disco - 4.36
22 - What Kind of People Live in These Houses? - 4.35
23 - Dear God Please Help Me - 4.342
24 - Hairdresser on Fire - 4.321
25 - Seasick, Yet Still Docked - 4.32
26 - It's Not Your Birthday Anymore - 4.316
27 - Nobody Loves Us - 4.304
28 = November Spawned a Monster - 4.2954
28 = First of the Gang to Die - 4.2954
30 - Staircase at the University - 4.286
31 - I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday - 4.263
32 - Something is Squeezing My Skull - 4.262
33 - Lost - 4.2614
34 - Hold on to Your Friends - 4.2609
35 - Ganglord - 4.25
36 - Home is a Question Mark - 4.202
37 - Piccadilly Palare - 4.2
38 - Sunny - 4.175
39 - Trouble Loves Me - 4.16
40 - Come Back to Camden - 4.15
41 - Morning Starship - 4.143
42 - Alsatian Cousin - 4.135
43 - I Have Forgiven Jesus - 4.13
44 = I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris - 4.125
44 = Maladjusted - 4.125
46 - Late Night, Maudlin Street - 4.12
47 - Southpaw - 4.11
48 - It's Over - 4.107
49 - Disappointed - 4.1
50 - Knockabout World - 4.078

 

[Juan Dulces]

This was the ranking for the top 50 songs on the Hoffman board, maybe someone can just make a spotify playlist of this:
1 - Now My Heart is Full - 4.87
2 - Speedway - 4.86
3 - Everyday is Like Sunday - 4.848
4 - Suedehead - 4.786
5 - Jack the Ripper - 4.72
6 - Once I Saw the River Clean - 4.7
7 - You’re Gonna Need Someone on Your Side - 4.64
8 - Bobby, Don't You Think They Know? - 4.556
9 - Lenny's Tune - 4.545
10 - The Last of the Famous International Playboys - 4.543
11 - Life is a Pigsty - 4.533
12 - Glamorous Glue - 4.526
13 = Tomorrow - 4.5
13 = My Hurling Days Are Done - 4.5
15 - The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get - 4.477
16 - Irish Blood, English Heart - 4.476
17 - Jim Jim Falls - 4.471
18 - Some Say I Got Devil - 4.409
19 - Why Don’t You Find Out for Yourself - 4.37
20 = We’ll Let You Know - 4.36
20 = The National Front Disco - 4.36
22 - What Kind of People Live in These Houses? - 4.35
23 - Dear God Please Help Me - 4.342
24 - Hairdresser on Fire - 4.321
25 - Seasick, Yet Still Docked - 4.32
26 - It's Not Your Birthday Anymore - 4.316
27 - Nobody Loves Us - 4.304
28 = November Spawned a Monster - 4.2954
28 = First of the Gang to Die - 4.2954
30 - Staircase at the University - 4.286
31 - I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday - 4.263
32 - Something is Squeezing My Skull - 4.262
33 - Lost - 4.2614
34 - Hold on to Your Friends - 4.2609
35 - Ganglord - 4.25
36 - Home is a Question Mark - 4.202
37 - Piccadilly Palare - 4.2
38 - Sunny - 4.175
39 - Trouble Loves Me - 4.16
40 - Come Back to Camden - 4.15
41 - Morning Starship - 4.143
42 - Alsatian Cousin - 4.135
43 - I Have Forgiven Jesus - 4.13
44 = I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris - 4.125
44 = Maladjusted - 4.125
46 - Late Night, Maudlin Street - 4.12
47 - Southpaw - 4.11
48 - It's Over - 4.107
49 - Disappointed - 4.1
50 - Knockabout World - 4.078

You are amazing! I actually feel a sort of anxiety thinking about how I would narrow down his 50 best solo songs (even though that would still be much easier than just a top 20 or 10 - which is literally impossible). You've got some great choices on there, like Question Mark, Southpaw and Hold Onto and Your Friends.

 

[Juan Dulces]

Also, anyone who is a big fan of 'Reel Around' - I'm not trying to offend. I do like the 'I DOOOOOO' part at the end a whole lot though.