The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life [Paperback]

Simon Goddard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

They were the most outstanding British guitar group of the 1980s, and one of the most successful indie acts of all time. Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce—better known as The Smiths—created just four studio albums during their brief career together, but left an influential legacy that can still be heard in many of the groups that followed in their wake. In the new edition of this indispensable guide, the exhaustive track-by-track commentary has the input and full cooperation of Mike Joyce, as well as contributions from Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr. Drawing upon the group’s private collection of studio tapes, Goddard describes numerous previously unheard takes, and reveals for the first time the names and details of songs that were never released. The book is illustrated with outstanding examples of the group’s distinctive record covers, and scores of rare stills.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

One of the seminal groups of the Eighties, The Smiths’ career was as brilliant as it was brief. Now, drawing on interviews with band members, producers, and colleagues, music journalist Simon Goddard presents a meticulous chronological survey of the group’s musical evolution, from their first demos in 1982 to their final fractured studio session five years later. Investigating the stories behind the songs, and detailing every British TV and radio session, he also offers a unique analysis of each track’s concert life. Granted unprecedented access to The Smiths’ studio archives and to the private collection of outtakes and rehearsals retained by drummer Mike Joyce, the author lifts the lid on unreleased material as well as the lost songs and alternate versions that have remained closely guarded secrets until now. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Simon Goddard is a music journalist who writes for publications such as Q, and has written liner notes for musicians including Nico and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905287968
• ISBN-13: 978-1905287963
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #973,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simon Goddard was born as Britain was swinging to the number one sound of Benny Hill's "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)". All these years later it still says nothing to him about his life.

His Mozipedia was voted Best Book of 2009 by the readers of MOJO magazine. The UK hardback edition is published by Ebury Press. The US hardback edition is published by Plume/Penguin.

His first book about The Smiths, Songs That Saved Your Life, will be resuscitated, reupholstered and republished in the UK by Titan Books in early 2013. **(Old editions of the book are currently being listed on Amazon Marketplace for preposterous sums of money which it really isn't worth. The new version will be cleaner, faster, more fragrant and less lumpy. Please don't waste your money on extortionately priced copies of the old stale one.)**

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Edifying..., August 17, 2003

By 

"morrisseytour" (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life (Paperback)

This mammoth undertaking called, The Songs that Saved Your Life is an ultra-detailed extremely meticulous look into the production of virtually every Smiths song in existence. It's simultaneously fascinating and annoyingly detailed.

How much you'll enjoy this book ultimately depends on the depth of your fandom and your interest in the Smiths' musical production.

The Songs that Saved Your Life is engaging and edifying, however, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

This book is not for you if:
1. You're only looking for Behind the Music / E! True Hollywood Story type gossip.

2. You're only looking for lyrical interpretations of Smith songs.

3. You're more interested the big picture rather than smaller details.

Despite whatever feelings you may have for Mike Joyce, he actually writes a touching forward for the book -- mind you not as brilliant at Mick Middle's forward for Morrissey's Manchester -- but surprisingly optimistic and celebratory of the Smiths' legacy.

The book lists about 80 Smiths songs in the order of the finished studio mater tape. To say "lists" is a bit of an understatement as The Songs that Saved Your Life is more or less the Encyclopedia Brittanica of Smiths songs.

Not only does it catalog singles and B-sides, it includes detailed information on Smiths songs that have never seen the light of day by the general public. The most famous of these songs is, "A Matter of Opinion" which was uncovered by author Simon Goddard while listening to Mike Joyce's own master tapes in preparation for writing the book.

There are also a number of untitled instrumentals produced by John Porter, Grant Showbiz and Stephen Street that are detailed as well.

Each of the songs in the book lists the day & place it was recorded, who it was produced by and the format & month of the first UK release (admittedly a bit confusing from an American POV). Next comes the detailed history of the song, e.g. how the song came about, what influenced the song, musical and or lyrical drafts, anecdotes, UK chart placement, song keys, quotes from band members (including Morrissey), Rough Trade / Geoff Travis reaction and headlines and controversies.

Now just when you thought you've learned everything possible about 'Wonderful Woman' for example, there are three more sections regarding the song's life in concert, on television and on the radio. The concert information is current to Morrissey's 2002 where Moz performed several Smiths song live. It did, however, feel somewhat eerie seeing in print information about a tour that just ended a couple months ago.

What's good:

The book can be read chronologically, or out of order. Skip the songs you hate (as if you'd actually hate any Smiths song) or pick a song you lurve and read up on it. You do, however, get a better sense of continuity having read it cover to cover.

Short chapters - good for those of us with attention deficit disorder.

Extremely detailed - More than you ever really wanted to know

The Verdict: Undoubtedly Simon Goddard has created a masterpiece. By the time I got to page 250 I'm sure my IQ went up a point or two. The vast amounts of data included in the book are incredible. If you're a Smiths fan and you haven't bought this book yet. I have to ask, what are you waiting for?

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome band - awesome book!, March 22, 2003

By 

Sally Edelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life (Paperback)

If, like me, you believe that The Smiths were the greatest band that ever existed then you don't merely NEED this book, you simply CANNOT LIVE without it! There have been loads of books about The Smiths and Morrissey so far but what's great about this one is the fact that it really goes into the songs and there's so much information that's never been made public before. Not just the unreleased music and lyrics (which is fascinating) but a lot of where Morrissey borrowed lyrical ideas from and who/what inspired them. Like did you know that William It Was Really Nothing was about Billy MacKenzie of The Associates? Or that I Won't Share was about Morrissey's old friend Linder Sterling? Or that I Keep Mine Hidden was Morrissey's personal letter to Johnny Marr as the band was splitting? Well if you didn't you need to read this!

Because every song is listed in the order it was written you really get a sense of how The Smiths grew as a band and how the break up was inevitable. It really makes you want to go back and listen to the songs again and hear new things. Maybe it isn't the sort of book you'd read cover to cover, more as a reference guide, but if you love The Smiths you simply cannot afford to miss out on this. Even if you only quite like them, I think reading this book will really make you appreciate the brilliance of the songs and the lyrics and may well turn you from a partial fan into a raving Smiths maniac!

All in all Songs That Saved Your Life is an awesome book about an awesome band. Like it says on the back cover - apart from the records themselves there is nothing else you need on this subject!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nice researchal job, January 31, 2003

By 

LUIS (MEXICO City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life (Paperback)

At last an interesting, well documented book about The Smiths, it's important to remark that it's quite objective, it seems with some other books about them (yes, Rogan ones) that the author more than trying to tell the story of this seminal band, is trying to slaughter them as persons.
This book is not about El Mozzer grand parents, nor trying to show him as a fake, or taking part on a 3 way high court war, it's just about what matters: some of the best pop music ever done, how each song developed trough time, adding interesting stories around them.
Oh dear little boys, how empty seems the world since you are not around anymore...
It's a must if you dare to think yourself as someone with taste.