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The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life
They were the most outstanding British guitar group of the 1980s, and one of the most successful indie acts of all time. Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyces distinctive record covers, and scores of rare stills.
Paperback, 360 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by Reynolds & Hearn
(first published 2003)
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This is hand in gloves down the best book about The Smiths and Morrissey out there. None of the gossip but real information about the great music.
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I bought this after (like many people my age) my life was turned on its head when i first heard "Bigmouth Strikes Again" and after that i became (almost)crazily obsessed with The Smiths (moreso with the (IMO) alien frontman Morrissey). I have to say this is a beautifully written book both professional in its conviction to not read like the gushing ideas of a strong fan who gathered bits and pieces to fomr his take on what happened, But also in the very human approach to not simply make...more
This is the perfect book for fans of the Smiths and Morrissey. Every song, concert or TV appearance is listed and it's a great history of The Smiths from the beginning to the bitter end with the royalty disputes, court cases and the beginning of Morrissey and Marr's solo careers.
I loved it so much that I have started to listen to the complete collection on Spotify "reissue! repackage! repackage!" (Paint a Vulgar Picture).
I loved it so much that I have started to listen to the complete collection on Spotify "reissue! repackage! repackage!" (Paint a Vulgar Picture).
This book brilliantly compiles a chronological encyclopaedia of The Smith's music, performances and television appearances while giving context to some of modern pop-music's most influential music. It's less a biography of a band and more a biography of modern Indie Music's greatest influence.
Have to be a fan and know the songs to get anything out of it, but being that I did enjoy some "flashback" reading.
, its was really nothing!
A bit too figures-orientated for my liking although it did provide the good old gem about the band.
Glenn Harper
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in The Smith and Morrissey.
Great, except for two things. Why is it that people always underate Unloveble? And, in that song, Morrissey quotes a published James Dean letter with the lines "I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside" and "if I seem a little strange, well that's because I am", which Moz biographiers always miss.
I am obsessed with the Smiths. This is well known. I bought this book (one I've been after for a few years) while in Portland at Powell's City of Books. It's a chronological breakdown of every Smiths song: the where, when, and how of it. Fantastically done, very thorough and with lots of great little stories.
A start-to-finish index of all the songs The Smiths ever played or performed. While you can look up individual songs and just read about your favorites, the book read cover-to-cover provides an overarching look of the band's history. Don't expect a narrative, though; each song listing is a separate entry.
Definitely geared towards the hardcore Smiths fan, this book has all the info & stats on every song they ever recorded/performed... We're not getting any new music out of them, so a deeper knowledge of what we have is the next best thing. For the misunderstood teenager in all of us...
Detailed book on every Smiths song and unheard tapes.Well written without all that digging in the past (see Johnny Rogan).This is to Smiths Fans what 'Revolution in the Head' is to Beatles fans.
I bought this to mark having lived two years past the day I had marked off as for suicide. Appropriate title is appropriate. Anyway, this is a great resource.
This book focuses more on the songs & meanings behind them.
completely educational!
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