Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The Smiths/Morrissey: Top 50 Songs

The Smiths

left to right: Andy Rourke, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, and Mike Joyce;
image from Wikipedia.org

The Smiths were a college rock/synth-pop group formed in Manchester, England. They only lasted five years (1982-1987), but had a significant impact. The band was comprised of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), and Mike Joyce (drums). The Smiths’ 1986 album The Queen is Dead is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

Morrissey went on to a successful solo career after the band broke up. Marr worked with other bands, most notably The The (1988-94) and Electronic (1989-98), recorded a couple of solo albums (2013-14), did session work with Beck, Bryan Ferry, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads and others and produced Modest Mouse (2006-09). Rourke died on 5/19/2023 at 59 years old.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Check out the DMDB podcast episode The Best of the Smiths, 1983-1987 (In Memory of Andy Rourke) based on this list.

Awards (The Smiths):

Awards (Morrissey):

Top 50 Songs

This list includes material by the Smiths and Morrissey as a solo artist (noted in parentheses). Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. How Soon Is Now? (1984)

DMDB Top 2%:

2. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
3. This Charming Man (1983)

DMDB Top 5%:

4. Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey, 1988)

DMDB Top 10%:

5. Suedehead (Morrissey, 1988)
6. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (1984)
7. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (1984)
8. The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get (Morrissey, 1994) #1 MR

DMDB Top 20%:

9. Panic (1986)
10. William It Was Really Nothing (1984)

11. Bigmouth Strikes Again (1986)
12. Girlfriend in a Coma (1987)
13. Irish Blood, English Heart (Morrissey, 2004)
14. Hand in Glove (1983)
15. Ask (1986)
16. Shoplifters of the World Unite (1987)
17. Sheila Take a Bow (1987)
18. Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before (1987)
19. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (1985)
20. What Difference Does It Make? (1984)

21. First of the Gang to Die (Morrissey, 2004)
22. Half a Person (1987)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

23. The Last of the Famous International Playboys (Morrissey, 1989)
24. Tomorrow (Morrissey, 1992) #1 MR
25. Is It Really So Strange? (1987)
26. Paint a Vulgar Picture (1987)
27. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (1987)
28. Shakespeare’s Sister (1985)
29. That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore (1985)

30. Girl Afraid (1984)
31. Asleep (1985)
32. Sweet and Tender Hooligan (1987)
33. Still Ill (1984)
34. I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish (1987)
35. November Spawned a Monster (Morrissey, 1990)
36. Interesting Drug (Morrissey, 1989)
37. You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby (1987)
38. You Have Killed Me (Morrissey, 2006)
39. The Headmaster Ritual (1985)
40. Ouija Board, Ouija Board (Morrissey, 1989)

41. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful (Morrissey, (1992)
42. Boxers (Morrissey, 1995)
43. Piccadilly Palare (Morrissey, 1990)
44. The Queen Is Dead (1986)
45. Our Frank (Morrissey, 1991)
46. Sing Your Life (Morrissey, 1991)
47. Frankly Mr. Shankly (1986)
48. Death of a Disco Dancer (1987)
49. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (1986)
50. Reel Around the Fountain (1983)

Resources and Related Links:

DMDB Encyclopedia entry for The Smiths
DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Morrissey
DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Johnny Marr
Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists”

First posted 2/7/2020; updated 6/14/2023.

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