On this day in history (June 16, 1986), The Smiths released their 3rd studio album The Queen Is Dead featuring the singles The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
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Trivia
- As an interesting note of trivia, Kirsty MacColl originally sang background vocals for Bigmouth Strikes Again but Johnny Marr thought it sounds “really weird”. Thus, MacColl’s vocals were replaced with a sped-up vocal from Morrissey which was credted on the album sleeve as Ann Coates.
- The album was originally going to be called Margaret On The Guillotine, which eventually was a song on Morrissey’s Viva Hate album.
Favorite Song Poll
Videos
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
I Know It’s Over
Charts And Accolades
- Peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart, spending a total of 22 weeks on the chart
- Peaked at #70 on the US Billboard 200 Albums Chart
- Pitchfork ranked the 6th best album of the 1980’s
- Rolling Stone ranked #216 on the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Q Magazine ranked the #3 on it’s 40 Best Albums Of The 80’s list
- “like it or not, this guy’s going to be around for a while “ – Rolling Stone
- “Morrissey wears his wit on his sleeve, dishing the queen like Johnny Rotten never did and kissing off a day-job boss who’s no Mr. Sellack”, which “makes it easier to go along on his moonier escapades” – The Village Voice
- “There may never again be an indie-rock album as good as The Queen Is Dead” – Slant Magazine
Track Listing
- The Queen Is Dead
- Frankly Mr Shankly
- I Know It’s Over
- Never Had No One Ever
- Cemetry Gates
- Bigmouth Strikes Again
- The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
- Vicar In A Tutu
- There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
- Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
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