Hello again. As referred to back here, here's Simon Goddard's updated inspiration list, an admirable companion to the previous list in Record Collector some years ago. I have followed Mr. Goddard's lead and bought all the songs to referred to here and previously.
THE ROOTS OF THE SMITHS - The Tracks That Inspired Morrissey and Marr
1 - Kimberley - Patti Smith
Smith's ode to her sister provide the basis of early Morrissey/Marr co-write The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
Get it: Horses, Arista, 1975
2 - I Want A Boy For My Birthday - The Cookies
Classic ''60s girl group fare, as covered by The Smiths at their debut gig at Manchester Ritz on 4 October 1982.
Get it: The Complete Cookies, Sequel, 1994
**I'm amazed a recording of this hasn't surfaced yet (from the gig, not the poor quality tape recording) - is one available? - Peter**
3 - Mr Soul - Buffalo Springfield
Marr borrowed Neil Young's riff for the ultra-rare A Matter Of Opinion.
Get it: The Best Of, Atco, 1969
4 - A Song From Under The Floorboards - Magazine
Sublime self-loathing from arty Manc punks: "I am angry I am ill and I'm as ugly as sin". Lifted for Smiths B-side Accept Yourself: "I am sick and I am dull and I am plain".
Get it: The Correct Use Of Soap, Virgin, 1980
5 - Gimme Danger - Iggy & The Stooges
Marr's primary guitar hero was Iggy slideman James Williamson, whose work here inspired Hand In Glove.
Get it: Raw Power, Columbia, 1973
6 - Light Flight - Pentangle
Late '60s folk supergroup featuring another of Marr's heroes, guitarist Bert Jansch.
Get it: Basket Of Light, Castle, 1969
7 - (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley
When Morrissey asked Marr to write "fairground music" for Meat Is Murder's Rusholme Ruffians, he mimicked The King's jerky ode to lost love.
Get it: 30 #1 Hits, RCA, 2002
8 - Metal Guru - T.Rex
The obvious inspiration for 1986's Panic. Marc Bolan ranked high among Morrissey and Marr's many unifying passions.
Get it: The Slider, EMI, 1972
9 - Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now - Sandie Shaw
Morrissey owed the title of The Smiths' first Top 10 single to the barefoot siren's 1969 chart flop.
Get it: The Very Best Of Sandie Shaw, EMI, 2005
10 - The Answer To Everything - Del Shannon
This Burt Bacharach tune handed Marr the melancholic tone of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want.
Get it: Runaway With.../Hats Off To Del Shannon, BGO, 1997
11 - Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadow? - The Rolling Stones
The title was Virginia Woolf's, but 1985's Shakespeare's Sister took its musical cue from this 1966 R&B blast.
Get it: Forty Licks, Virgin, 2002
12 - Disco Stomp - Hamilton Bohannon
Burn down the disco? Not if this 1975 floor-filler, cited by Marr as the root of How Soon Is Now?'s tremolo shudder, is playing.
Get it: The Story Of Brunswick, Union Square, 2002
13 - I'll Never Quite Get Over You - Billy Fury
Brooding '60s ballad, and one of Morrissey's favourite singles. Fury appeared on the sleeve of Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.
Get it: The 40th Anniversary Anthology, Decca, 1998
14 - I Can't Stand It - The Velvet Underground
A Velvet's out-take. Marr paid musical homage with the ricocheting guitar of The Queen Is Dead's title track.
Get it: VU, Verve, 1985
15 - Lonely Planet Boy - New York Dolls
Morrissey-approved New York proto-punks in tender mode. The "driving in your car" line was recycled on There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
Get it: New York Dolls, Mercury, 1973
16 - Days - The Kinks
At the back of Marr's mind when writing Cemetry Gates. He'd later play on Kirsty MacColl's 1989 cover.
Get it: The Ultimate Collection, Sanctuary, 2002
17 - Golden Lights - Twinkle
Ode to fame's pitfalls from '60s modette. The Smiths' own abysmal cover features on Louder Than Bombs.
Get it: Golden Lights, RPM, 2001
18 - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter - Joni Mitchell
Joni watches "old ideals" on "Channel 5". On Shoplifters Of The World Unite, Morrissey would do the same with "future war" on "Channel 4".
Get it: Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Asylum, 1977
**The lyrics of The Silky Veils Of Ardor from the same album are recycled for Seasick Yet Still Docked - another Goddard discovery - Peter**
19 - Young, Gifted & Black - Bob & Marcia
"Reggae is vile," Morrissey once quipped, though he loved this 1970 rocksteady hit.
Get it: Pied Piper, The Best Of, Trojan, 2002
20 - Dear Prudence - The Beatles
The whole White Album informed the mood of Strangeways...the trippy guitar descent shines through Death Of A Disco Dancer.
Get it: The Beatles, Apple, 1968
Peter
THE ROOTS OF THE SMITHS - The Tracks That Inspired Morrissey and Marr
1 - Kimberley - Patti Smith
Smith's ode to her sister provide the basis of early Morrissey/Marr co-write The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
Get it: Horses, Arista, 1975
2 - I Want A Boy For My Birthday - The Cookies
Classic ''60s girl group fare, as covered by The Smiths at their debut gig at Manchester Ritz on 4 October 1982.
Get it: The Complete Cookies, Sequel, 1994
**I'm amazed a recording of this hasn't surfaced yet (from the gig, not the poor quality tape recording) - is one available? - Peter**
3 - Mr Soul - Buffalo Springfield
Marr borrowed Neil Young's riff for the ultra-rare A Matter Of Opinion.
Get it: The Best Of, Atco, 1969
4 - A Song From Under The Floorboards - Magazine
Sublime self-loathing from arty Manc punks: "I am angry I am ill and I'm as ugly as sin". Lifted for Smiths B-side Accept Yourself: "I am sick and I am dull and I am plain".
Get it: The Correct Use Of Soap, Virgin, 1980
5 - Gimme Danger - Iggy & The Stooges
Marr's primary guitar hero was Iggy slideman James Williamson, whose work here inspired Hand In Glove.
Get it: Raw Power, Columbia, 1973
6 - Light Flight - Pentangle
Late '60s folk supergroup featuring another of Marr's heroes, guitarist Bert Jansch.
Get it: Basket Of Light, Castle, 1969
7 - (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley
When Morrissey asked Marr to write "fairground music" for Meat Is Murder's Rusholme Ruffians, he mimicked The King's jerky ode to lost love.
Get it: 30 #1 Hits, RCA, 2002
8 - Metal Guru - T.Rex
The obvious inspiration for 1986's Panic. Marc Bolan ranked high among Morrissey and Marr's many unifying passions.
Get it: The Slider, EMI, 1972
9 - Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now - Sandie Shaw
Morrissey owed the title of The Smiths' first Top 10 single to the barefoot siren's 1969 chart flop.
Get it: The Very Best Of Sandie Shaw, EMI, 2005
10 - The Answer To Everything - Del Shannon
This Burt Bacharach tune handed Marr the melancholic tone of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want.
Get it: Runaway With.../Hats Off To Del Shannon, BGO, 1997
11 - Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadow? - The Rolling Stones
The title was Virginia Woolf's, but 1985's Shakespeare's Sister took its musical cue from this 1966 R&B blast.
Get it: Forty Licks, Virgin, 2002
12 - Disco Stomp - Hamilton Bohannon
Burn down the disco? Not if this 1975 floor-filler, cited by Marr as the root of How Soon Is Now?'s tremolo shudder, is playing.
Get it: The Story Of Brunswick, Union Square, 2002
13 - I'll Never Quite Get Over You - Billy Fury
Brooding '60s ballad, and one of Morrissey's favourite singles. Fury appeared on the sleeve of Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.
Get it: The 40th Anniversary Anthology, Decca, 1998
14 - I Can't Stand It - The Velvet Underground
A Velvet's out-take. Marr paid musical homage with the ricocheting guitar of The Queen Is Dead's title track.
Get it: VU, Verve, 1985
15 - Lonely Planet Boy - New York Dolls
Morrissey-approved New York proto-punks in tender mode. The "driving in your car" line was recycled on There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.
Get it: New York Dolls, Mercury, 1973
16 - Days - The Kinks
At the back of Marr's mind when writing Cemetry Gates. He'd later play on Kirsty MacColl's 1989 cover.
Get it: The Ultimate Collection, Sanctuary, 2002
17 - Golden Lights - Twinkle
Ode to fame's pitfalls from '60s modette. The Smiths' own abysmal cover features on Louder Than Bombs.
Get it: Golden Lights, RPM, 2001
18 - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter - Joni Mitchell
Joni watches "old ideals" on "Channel 5". On Shoplifters Of The World Unite, Morrissey would do the same with "future war" on "Channel 4".
Get it: Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Asylum, 1977
**The lyrics of The Silky Veils Of Ardor from the same album are recycled for Seasick Yet Still Docked - another Goddard discovery - Peter**
19 - Young, Gifted & Black - Bob & Marcia
"Reggae is vile," Morrissey once quipped, though he loved this 1970 rocksteady hit.
Get it: Pied Piper, The Best Of, Trojan, 2002
20 - Dear Prudence - The Beatles
The whole White Album informed the mood of Strangeways...the trippy guitar descent shines through Death Of A Disco Dancer.
Get it: The Beatles, Apple, 1968
Peter
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