Next up in our Smiths A-Z project is this song, which appeared as a B-side of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" in May 1984, and was then included on Hatful of Hollow later that year.
The song was played live by the Smiths 46 times (all in 1984) and was then unexpectedly resurrected by Morrissey in 2019.
What do we think?
Everyone has their favourite LPs, in Smiths world its no different
I dare say if our brains were poked with computer measuring tools we would soon discover we love every single one, as much as the other,
Its just some stick to us more than others, for no other reason than chance. Like M and Marr, some prefer to be with the almost perfect Strangeways..At this stage the band were masters of their craft with priceless production.
For others it's the moody and powerful Queen Is Dead.
For me, its Smiths and Meat Is Murder. I think it was around this time, when the band were at their most magical. They were utterly unique. . They were both new and as old as the dust in hidden corners of The Church Of The Holy Sepulchre
They managed to bring an eccentric Englishness, that had never ever been in popular music before, or at least not quite in this way.
The Kinks ,The Jam, The Sex Pistols and The Specials, were as English as a bleak Wednesday afternoon. but they were straight punchers
The Smiths zig zagged, into the mystical . They were gothic in the most romantic victorian sense and it was all so natural to them.
This song, I think captures all of what I just said.
As good as they were when they landed, they were still learning, they were finding their feet. M was training his tones , feeling his way with every yelp and bark.
Johnny , played like someone who is trying to work his way through and master every single note and melody at once and the rhythm section, were born solid.
I think this song also shows how much M and Marr complimented each other.
Forget the bitching, ..Remember the loving hugs and kisses