# What's your favorite song off of The Smiths? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569 "2010-09-30T04:40:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/1 "2010-09-30T04:40:19Z")
Me? I chose “Hand in Glove”. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/2 "2010-09-30T04:46:02Z")
BigMouth Strikes Again and maybe Vicar in a Tutu or Girlfriend in a Coma. That’s from the Smiths… not off of The Smiths. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/3 "2010-09-30T05:07:09Z")
“Reel Around the Fountain” - I assume “This Charming Man” is the fan favorite, but I always thought this one summed them up rather well. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/4 "2010-09-30T05:09:35Z")
I agree entirely with **woodstockbirdybird** , and my vote reflects that. I will admit, however, that I prefer both _The Queen is Dead_ and _Strangeways…_ to the self titled. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/5 "2010-09-30T05:38:41Z")
Oh, hell yeah, the Smiths. One of my favorite bands ever. (I don’t know why, as my general music tastes skew towards harder punk/post-punk type music.) “Reel Around the Fountain” is my clear winner here. No contest. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/6 "2010-09-30T06:58:21Z")
Why pamper life’s complexity when the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/7 "2010-09-30T06:58:38Z")
Actually, now that I’m listening to the “Best of” compilation, I know exactly why I like the Smiths. They have melody and they have a fucking solid rhythm section. Mike Joyce is a tasty, awesome drummer, and Andy Rourke’s melodic bass is a perfect counterpoint to Johnny Marr’s guitar. And Johnny Marr. Is it really necessary to quantify his contribution to the band? It doesn’t really get much better than this: Joyce, Rourke, and Marr. All brilliant musicians in their own right, but simply unfuckwithable together. ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/8 "2010-09-30T08:33:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, now that I’m listening to the “Best of” compilation, I know exactly why I like the Smiths. They have melody and they have a fucking solid rhythm section. Mike Joyce is a tasty, awesome drummer, and Andy Rourke’s melodic bass is a perfect counterpoint to Johnny Marr’s guitar. And Johnny Marr. Is it really necessary to quantify his contribution to the band? It doesn’t really get much better than this: Joyce, Rourke, and Marr. All brilliant musicians in their own right, but simply unfuckwithable together. I disagree that they were all brilliant musicians in their own right. Maybe Mike Joyce learnt to play later on, but from recordings of early live shows he was barely competent, even by the low standards of British pop band drummers. But on the albums he did enough, or perhaps little enough not to fuck things up. ETA Hand in Glove has more lasting appeal than the perhaps more obvious choice of This Charming Man. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/9 "2010-09-30T18:05:30Z")
Voted for Hand in Glove, but want to throw an honorable mention to Suffer Little Children. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/10 "2010-09-30T18:12:23Z")
Am I going to be laughed out of study hall if I say “How Soon Is Now?” I like the Smiths, but I don’t remember their songs very well, unfortuantely. Don’t ask me why, please. How Soon Is Now is the one you hear frequently on the radio stations (at least I do), but it’s also a good tune. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/11 "2010-09-30T18:24:25Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Am I going to be laughed out of study hall if I say “How Soon Is Now?” If so, only because it’s not an option in this poll. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/12 "2010-09-30T18:41:31Z")
There’s a few stone cold classics on this album, but _Reel Around the Fountain_ is my favourite. I’ve always thought the production on this is really thin. The early compilation _Hatful of Hollow_ has better versions of some of the songs on this. It also has _How Soon is Now_, which was originally just a b-side.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/13 "2010-09-30T18:45:11Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > All brilliant musicians in their own right, but simply unfuckwithable together. The Smiths were truly great live. Tight band, charismatic front man, cracking tunes and rabid fanbase = mayhem. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/14 "2010-09-30T22:08:33Z")
> [@Manwich](#): > > I disagree that they were all brilliant musicians in their own right. Maybe Mike Joyce learnt to play later on, but from recordings of early live shows he was barely competent, even by the low standards of British pop band drummers. But on the Really? I’m not a music historian, so I really don’t know, but from what I heard of Mike Joyce, he’s a fucking excellent drummer. I’m _very_ fucking picky when it comes to drummers–to me that’s the glue of the band. What I’ve heard from Mike Joyce has always impressed me. He’s not just a good drummer–he’s a _great_ drummer in my book. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/15 "2010-10-01T01:51:47Z")
Aw, man, now I want to change my vote to “Still Ill” just to give it some love. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/16 "2010-10-01T02:25:20Z")
For me, “Still Ill” wins by a landslide. (I was surprised I had the first vote for it!) It’s my second favorite Smiths song of all time, after “I Know It’s Over.” Well, tied for second (“Rubber Ring”). It’s a tough field. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/17 "2010-10-01T03:58:55Z")
Funny how a track that didn’t even appear on the original album is winning the poll. [Smiths swot voice]TCM wasn’t on the Rough Trade release; it was added to the Sire US release.[/Ssv] John Porter’s production on the album was way overdone. If you like this album, hunt down the Troy Tate version, which has been available on bootleg for quite some time. It crushes the Porter version like a grape. Joyce and Rourke were a killer rhythm section. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the essence of The Smiths was Rourke’s bass playing - in particular, his fills. I find similarities between his style and Mike Mills of R.E.M., always doing something unexpected, melodic. All imaginable homages have been paid to Marr, of course, and Morrissey. As the years have gone by, I have grown to really appreciate the slower songs on the album. But my favorite is still YGEN, although, again, there’s a better version elsewhere (Hatful of Hollow). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/18 "2010-10-01T04:14:01Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Joyce and Rourke were a killer rhythm section. Yeah. I’m really curious now as to what **Manwich** was talking about in regards to Joyce’s drumming. Perhaps some early stuff I never heard was shaky, but everything I heard on the albums and live stuff stuff like Rank has been not just adequate, but superb. His drum parts are intricate–not the typical eighth note high hat snare on two and four crap. I can’t imagine saying he was “barely competent.” The guy was _solid_. You just can’t fuck [with this rhythm section.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHRP-IzHHw&feature=related) That is as tight as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/19 "2010-10-01T04:23:38Z")
[Fixed link.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHRP-IzHHw&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569/20 "2010-10-01T12:16:53Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Funny how a track that didn’t even appear on the original album is winning the poll. [Smiths swot voice]TCM wasn’t on the Rough Trade release; it was added to the Sire US release.[/Ssv] Huh? This prompted me to dig into my much neglected vinyl mountain, and by jings this is correct! Rough Trade must have added it in at some point because it’s on the CD. > [@](#): > > John Porter’s production on the album was way overdone. If you like this album, hunt down the Troy Tate version, which has been available on bootleg for quite some time. It crushes the Porter version like a grape. Oh, thanks for this. I didn’t know this was available (somewhat naively). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-song-off-of-the-smiths/555569.md?page=2)