THE SMITHS: Ranking the studio albums.

[@redlady935]

The cover art was just so iconic. I am not sure why Morrissey moved away from that style when he went solo as it was him who chose them all

[@Gonzax]

So true, all the Smiths album sleeves are incredible. There's some great covers in his solo work too but mostly they're boring as hell. I never understood why he did that. Very few bands manage to appear on the album sleeves and still look great (Echo & the Bunnymen come to mind).

[@DoctorMeatDic]

Maybe because The Smiths had ended because Marr left?

[@redlady935]

@@DoctorMeatDic yeh, no reason to start doing crap covers though. I think he probably always wanted to be on the cover but couldn't really do that when in a band. In that documentary 'The importance of being Morrissey' he has a photo of himself enlarged covering the whole of a wall in his house and his mate says Moz thinks he (Moz) is the most handsome creature on the earth

[@alfie9718]

Johnny was pushed out.

[@TheInfamousLegend27]

yeah, well we're also still not sure why Morrissey had the balls to say him, Andy, Marr and Joyce didn't know what they were doing and that his solo career is better.

[@romanward78]

For me their self titled is #1

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

no cap!

[@duckingforcover09]

First time in my life I've liked something on here from a Villa fan 💙🤍

[@Slowdived80]

great vid😎🍻 and great stories of the 80s and seeing The Smiths who along with The Stone Roses are my two fav bands. My Ranking would go.. 1. The debut 2. The Queen Is Dead 3. Meat Is Murder 4. Strangeways

[@ashfromlondon7008]

Hi, glad you enjoyed it, I've many great stories form the 80s, some of which would get me banned from KZbin...haha.. cheers..!

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

good choices

[@nickanderson4327]

i have the same rankings! great video

[@ashfromlondon7008]

Glad enjoyed it, you have good taste...haha!

[@timeseeds9474]

1.The Smiths 2.The Queen is Dead 3.Strangeways, Here we Come 4.Meat is Murder (In my opinion) Not many bands have quite this discography, while I have my favourites they are all some of the best albums I’ve heard.

[@miguelLDiablo]

4 debut 3 strangeways 2 queen 1 Meat is Murder I just think Meat is M has the widest variety of material.

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

interesting ranking

[@fishead1967]

Louder than bombs was a great selection of great songs.

[@TheMindOf_Reason]

As a 17 year old male, I love the smiths. Absolute favourite band and I possibly think the greatest of all time. It's sad to see self-titled is your least favourite because its my favourite... Also I love miserable lie but I understand Morrissey's falsetto isn't for everyone.

[@steenrasmussen5280]

The Smiths (The Smiths) was not only the greatest Smiths album, but one of the greatest of all time. If you were around when the album was released, you know how groundbreaking it was musically, lyrically, and structurally. The beat, the words, the subject matters, and the harmonies hit the first half of the 1980s like a lightning bolt from a clear blue sky. It captured the zeitgeist perfectly in that it combined the sound and attitudes of punk (which was dead or dying at that time) with complex guitar-based melodies to match the irreverent lyrics. The Smiths took the working class frustration, anger, and fear expressed in the punk movement (which had failed in its message of anarchy and violent rebellion) and turned it inwards: Disengage from society rather than engage - they'll miss you when you're gone. The fact that the production might not have been top quality on their first album only made it better because it set it apart from contemporary glamour productions. The rawness of the album pointed back to late 70s punk and this was an important part of the nostalgia Morrissey and Marr conjured up. In fact, imperfect/live recordings were essential to the Smiths' brand (i.e. Hatful of Hollow) in those early days. Subsequent Smiths albums were amazing, more than amazing -- but the first one reigns supreme.

[@fishead1967]

They made the 80s bearable.. Along with depeche mode, joy division, the cure.

[@johnunderwood3132]

I feel the same way

[@bastiano33]

1. The Queen is Dead 2. Meat is Murder 3. The Smiths 4. Strangeways

[@isabellamt4]

Same

[@TheIanoTube]

Having Strangeways last is sacreligious

[@ashfromlondon7008]

ADDENDUM: Morrissey didn't really rip off the New York Dolls lyrics, he was merely inspired by the track. Interestingly, another NYD track called 'Frankenstein' has a similar structure to The Smiths' 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before'...

[@redlady935]

7:35 It was "make war not love" sadly , though your version would have been preferable

[@29memyselfandi]

Very nice indeed.... I know Hatful was a compilation but I always think of it as one of their ‘proper’ albums. There’s just so many great tracks on it and most of the tracks on it taken from the Peel sessions are superior to the album versions on their debut. Such a great band. Morrissey and Marr still making great music. Mozzers last one ‘ I am not a Dog on a Chain’ is a fabulous record.

[@Guy-lo3ld]

My favorite album of theirs is Hatful even though it's not a studio album. It's actually one of my favorite albums for the eighties. Great guitar work and very spirited!

[@gavinreid2741]

Despite being described as a compilation none on the tracks were previously available on album in the versions on Hatfull of Hollow. So really it is a 'proper' album.

[@headmelter]

I love watching these videos while I do my university work! Really interesting! :)

[@stevenhilderbrandt4846]

Johnny marr solo music is better than Morrissey solo albums Johnny marr is the smiths not Morrissey his guitar playing is not easy he is my favorite guitar player of all time granted he doesn't shred like Eddie van Halen to me I like guitar player who plays with heart and soul the smiths rhythm section is amazing Andy Rourke on bass Mike Joyce on drums always sound tight listen to the beginning of the queen is dead open track that drumming Mike Joyce is outstanding I'm turning 45 years old so the smiths broke up when I was 9 years old early teens I became huge fan was show every weekend called 120 minutes played the smiths fell in love with them

[@Garylpool1]

No. Morrissey and Marr together were The Smiths not Marr alone

[@GBH001]

Joyce and Rourke were a very important part of the Smiths, even if they didn’t do any songwriting. In particular, Andy’s bass playing was exceptional. While Morrissey’s solo career has been inconsistent, his best solo work is exceptional. Marr hasn’t been able produce anything like that when he has put music out under his own name

[@thodeus]

nice ranking.. its actually the same as mine. 👍

[@alancantu2557]

Great video. For me, there’s always been one answer: The Queen is Dead. 10/10, all killer, no filler. A song for every mood, emotion, and scenario in a young adult’s life. In fact, the older the you get, the more the lyrics resonate with you. It simply never gets old.

[@marcchrys]

I checked out the New York Dolls song Morrissey "plagiarized"...can't say there was much similarity...just a line about "you're driving in your car". I'm a teacher and, if it was a student essay, I wouldn't report it.

[@graemekeable8461]

In descending order The smiths The Queen is dead Meat is murder Strangeways here we come (hat full of hollow could be added to the number one slot had it been a studio album).

[@Bartholomew_Musgrave]

“The Smiths” album is a long dialogue between Morrissey and Myra Hindley. The B side is the best thing they ever did. Morrissey is one of the few current public figures who hasn’t lost his mind to progressive politics. Almost everything he says today makes sense, and is true. Notice you’ve got a Spike Island ticket on your board. We might have bumped into each other!

[@florislok]

I had back then Hatful of Hollow, and Meat is Murder. Loved these two. But I quit when the Queen is Dead came out. I think I was very critical during the eighties...

[@fishead1967]

Don't forget the peel sessions...

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

they're some of my favorites! I hate the Still Ill version of Hatful of Hallow though, the self-titled is wayyy better

[@suzanneknowles1380]

I would have ranked the albums in exactly the same order, however i missed the other compilation/new material albums such as Hatful of Hollow, Louder than Bombs, The World Wont Listen! But yeah Queen is dead is the master! and i loved how you referenced the start of Well i Wonder which is my fave Smiths song of all time.

[@duckingforcover09]

Studio albums, best to worst: Meat Is Murder The Smiths The Queen Is Dead Strangeways, Here We Come

[@fishead1967]

They are my al time favorite, and when I was depressed they always brought me back singing along in a happy place.. when you have many geniuses in the same room it's hard to collaborate which on both having good ideas but only room for one.

[@AnAbsurdExistence]

I agree, side two of The Queen is stronger than the first half.

[@Guy-lo3ld]

I still listen to their music on occasion. I grew up listening to them. They are truly an iconic band that are very influential. I got to see them in 1986 in the US.I had tickets for the following year for Strangeways, tour, but they broke and the tour was cancelled.Anyway, I enjoyed your ranking.. Good job!

[@johnunderwood3132]

I wanted to ask a question, I have a promo vinyl of The Kids are Alright. I have the booklet it came with and also 7 pictures in another little booklet. The picture are single glossy copies. Do you know anything about this

[@ashfromlondon7008]

Ooh, sounds interesting, afraid I don't know much about that, have you tried: www.discogs.com/

[@starpier]

Strangeways is the one I always go back to. It has the most interesting sound, Marr being tired of repeating himself on guitar and opening the album instead with a song without any guitar parts, but incredibly addicting. The best opener of any Smiths album.

[@staggerleegoods5075]

Strange ways is number 1 !!!

[@xyznihall]

great vid mate

[@mr.FRESHWATER]

I agree with your order but would switch their first with meat is murder. First Smiths album I bought was Queen is Dead (also my favourite) and the first song I ever heard by them was How Soon is Now. Thank you for the video!

[@user-ym3ld5ut7b]

1)TQID/Strangeways 2)Meat is Murder/Louder Than Bombs 3)Debut

[@Octavian7771]

Of all their releases, my favorite is 'Louder Than Bombs'. A double LP comprised of singles and B-sides.

[@alfie9718]

1) The Queen is Dead 2) Louder Than Bombs 3) Stangeways Here We Come 4) Hatful of Hollow 5) The Smiths 6) Meat is Murder

[@Gonzax]

I totally agree with the order and everything you say. It's a tough call between Strangeways and Queen is Dead but Queen wins. It couldn't be any other way with songs like There is a light, The boy, Bigmouth, etc

[@isabellamt4]

I would rate them like this: 1. the queen is dead 2. meat is murder 3. the smiths 4. strange ways here we come

[@user-ym3ld5ut7b]

Only thing I'd for sure do is rank the debut as last and it is still a very good album.

[@DoctorMeatDic]

Fascinating selection.........Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@AustralianQldDad]

Meta is murder is below “the smiths”

[@ΑΡΓΥΡΙΟΣΚΟΥΚΟΤΑΚΟΣ]

Great video. My list: 1 - Strangeways, here we come (Morrissey's favorite too) 2 - Queen is dead 3 - Meat is murder 4 - The Smiths Thanks

[@ashfromlondon7008]

I think 'Strangeways' is Johnny Marr's favourite too... cheers...

[@colinjames5643]

Meat is Murder is their best album by far. The Queen is Dead, for all the acclaim, has tracks I would consider filler/B-side like Some Girls are Bigger than Others and Frankly Mr Shankly. As a massive Smiths fan I have to admit I have always been a bit baffled by the almost universal agreement that it's their peak.

[@florislok]

Totally agree with you!

[@andrewjohnstone963]

These are the days we live in peoples opinions thinking that they are valid yeah to yourself pal It's prattling for prattling sake Or are you the Guru of taste we have all been waiting on You sound like a DJ and we all know what Morrisey said about clowns like that blah blah blah oh dear!

[@NathanHautain]

Why are you so pressed about people sharing their opinions ? And do you even know what a Guru is ? As far as I can tell we live in a democracy where freedom of speech is a right, so idk why the people's opinions wouldn't be valid

[@TheIanoTube]

Imagine taking offence to someone just giving their thoughts on some of their favourite music, the issue here is with you brother. Nice video my man, subbed!

[@andrewjohnstone963]

@@TheIanoTube its Istanbul not constantinople

[@JJ_EETFUK]

Great list, I'm 18 and just getting into the smiths. I'm with you on The Queen is Dead