So many of my favorite Smiths songs! From Record 1, Side A: “Sheila Take a Bow” (1987, #10 UK; its video a Top of the Pops performance because Morrissey didn’t show at the scheduled video taping), “Shoplifters of the World Unite” (’87, #12 UK) and one of its b-sides “London.” From Record 1, Side B: “Panic” (1986, #11 UK) and its anthemic chorus “hang the dj,” “Shakespeare’s Sister” (1985, #26 UK), the perfect Johnny Marr jangled “William, It Was Really Nothing” (1984, #17 UK), “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” (1984, #10 UK), and “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby” an unreleased single that supposedly was inspired by a record exec’s answer to Morrissey’s question about why the Smiths hadn’t been made a larger priority at their label. From Record 2, Side C: “Ask” (1986, #14), “These Things Take Time” (b-side to “What Difference Does it Make?”) and “Rubber Ring” (b-side to “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side”). From Record 2, Side D: The Smiths’ first ever single “Hand in Glove” (1983, #3 UK), “Stretch Out and Wait” (b-side to “Shakespeare’s Sister”) and “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” (b-side to “William, It Was Really Nothing”). The only bummer track on the double album set is “Golden Lights” (b-side to “Ask”), a sappy and saccharine little swinger that really could have been left off. However, its appearance (and the ensuing eye-rolling) on The Simpsons makes it all worth it.

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The Smiths “Louder Than Bombs” 1987. Original gatefold double LP. Today, May 22nd, is Morrissey’s birthday (b. 1959). (It’s also the Vault’s 18th wedding anniversary and fortunately we are much happier than Morrissey appears to be on his birthday.) Louder Than Bombs is a comp album stocked with Smith singles, b-sides and BBC sessions released for the US market. In ‘87 Hatful of Hollow and The World Won’t Listen were only available on pricey imports so this US release has much of that same material, plus cuts from The Smiths. The opening track, “Is It Really So Strange” does not appear on any other albums, just on single format. Notable (i.e. fave) tracks: “Shakespeare’s Sister,” “Sheila Take a Bow,” “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby” (“supposedly inspired by a record exec’s condescending answer to Morrissey’s question about why the Smiths hadn’t been made a larger priority at their label”- Allmusic), “These Things Take Time” and “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.” Their one cover, “Golden Lights” (originally by Twinkle in 1965) is a sappy little swinger that really could have been left off. However, the internet is the giver of all good gifts so while searching You Tube I discovered “Golden Lights” making an appearance on The Simpsons.

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It’s a good thing I’m in a relatively happy mood today because oh boy this 12″ is Morrissey at his best: poetically and desperately depressed with an overwhelming urge to bring the world right along with him. All three songs are beautifully sad but “Suffer Little Children” is gut-wrenching and even the background of light laughter toward the end of the track seems a bit like a sick punch to the heart, especially with the knowledge that the song is about the Moors murders, the killings of five children between the ages of 10 and 17 near Manchester, England between ‘63 and ‘65.

Over the moor, take me to the moor
Dig a shallow grave and I’ll lay me down
Over the moor, take me to the moor
Dig a shallow grave and I’ll lay me down

Lesley-Anne, with your pretty white beads
Oh John, you’ll never be a man
And you’ll never see your home again
Oh Manchester, so much to answer for

Edward, see those alluring lights?
Tonight will be your very last night
A woman said, I know my son is dead
I’ll never rest my hands on his sacred head

Hindley wakes and Hindley says
Hindley wakes, Hindley wakes
Hindley wakes and says
Oh, wherever he has gone, I have gone

But fresh lilaced moorland fields
Cannot hide the stolid stench of death
Fresh lilaced moorland fields
Cannot hide the stolid stench of death

Hindley wakes and says
Hindley wakes, Hindley wakes
Hindley wakes and says
Oh, whatever he has done, I have done

But this is no easy ride
For a child cries
Oh, find me, find me, nothing more
We are on a sullen misty moor

We may be dead and we may be gone
But we will be, we will be
We will be right by your side
Until the day you die
This is no easy ride

We will haunt you when you laugh
Yes, you could say we’re a team
You might sleep, you might sleep
You might sleep
But you will never dream

Oh, you might sleep
But you will never dream
You might sleep
But you will never dream

Oh Manchester, so much to answer for
Oh Manchester, so much to answer for

Oh, find me, find me
Find me, I’ll haunt you when you laugh
Oh, I’ll haunt you when you laugh
You might sleep
But you will never dream

Over the moors, I’m on the moor
Oh, over the moor
Oh, the child is on the moor

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