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The Queen Is Dead

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Queen Is Dead is the third album by The Smiths. After Meat Is Murder, the band withdrew to Greater Manchester to escape the pressure of London and of their record label Rough Trade. Johnny Marr and Morrissey wrote much of it at Marr's house in Bowdon. Recording ran from July to December 1985, including at RAK Studios in London and Jacobs Studios in Farnham. Morrissey and Marr produced it themselves, with Stephen Street as engineer. The title comes from the novel Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.

The music blends indie rock and post-punk. In the title song, Mike Joyce and Street made a loop of tom-toms with a sampler, while Marr played feedback through a wah-wah pedal. The album was released in June 1986 and reached number 2 in England. Critics praised Marr's guitar work and Morrissey's witty, emotional lyrics. In 2013 NME declared it the best album of all time.

Listening

Listening tip. In The Boy with the Thorn In His Side, listen to Johnny Marr's guitar playing: notice how the melody keeps singing throughout the whole song.

Track list

  1. 1The Queen Is Dead6:25Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Frankly, Mr. Shankly2:19Apple Music ↗
  3. 3I Know It's Over5:50Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Never Had No One Ever3:37Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Cemetry Gates2:41Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Bigmouth Strikes Again3:13Apple Music ↗
  7. 7The Boy with the Thorn In His Side3:17Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Vicar In a Tutu2:24Apple Music ↗
  9. 9There Is a Light That Never Goes Out4:04Apple Music ↗
  10. 10Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others3:18Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs