May 20, 2019

1986 - July - The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

45 minutes

When you think of college alternative rock of the 80's, the group you are most likely to have in your head is The Smiths. Their third studio album, “The Queen Is Dead,” continues their brand of Manchester Brit-pop, decidedly pessimistic, but with accessible muscial hooks. The Smiths’ sound is largely due to the collaboration between front man Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr - sophisticated, critical, and downright depressing. Still this influential group has had a staying power beyond their contemporaries. Tim Andrews brings us this complex and bleak album as he guest-hosts this week's episode.

The Queen Is Dead

This anti-royalty track criticizes the royal family and the continual media frenzy around them. Morrissey considered royalty to be "a hideous joke."

Frankly, Mr. Shankly

This track describes a letter written by an unhappy worker to his tyrannical boss.

I Know It's Over

This emotional ballad depicts a man at the end of a bleak life. "I know it's over - still I cling, I don't know where else I can go."

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

This is a better known track from the album. The music sounds upbeat until you catch the lyrics: "And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."

STAFF PICKS:

Billy Joel - Big Man on Mulberry Street

Bruce's staff pick highlights a jazzy deep cut from Joel's album "The Bridge." This song made an appearance as the music behind a dream sequence from the TV show "Moonlighting."

Van Halen - Dreams

This synthesizer-heavy hit from the Sammy Hagar era of Van Halen is off "5150," the first Van Halen album with Hagar as frontman. Rob loves the irony that “ 5150” is the California Welfare and Institutions code for an insane person.

GTR - When the Heart Rules the Mind

Brian brings this supergroup featuring Yes guitarist Steve Howe and Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. GTR only had this single album, and this track was their biggest hit.

David Lee Roth - Yankee Rose

Wayne reminds us that both Van Halen and David Lee Roth had hits at this time. Steve Vai was Roth's guitarist on this song. Although you might think this was another song about girls, this song is actually about the Statue of Liberty on which refurbishment was completed at the time.

The Fixx - Secret Separation

Tim's staff pick features the UK band famous for their earlier album "Reach the Beach." This later hit has great harmonies

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

REM - The White Tornado

This instrumental off the collection album "Dead Letter Office" closes out our podcast for the week.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks and Brian Dickhute

4.8

4646 ratings