'' is
The Smiths ' second studio
Album , released in
February of
1985 . It would become their only original release to hit No. 1 in the
United Kingdom . In the
United States , the album reached No. 110.
''Meat Is Murder'' is the most eclectic Smiths album, featuring such divergent styles as
Funk ,
Rockabilly ,
Ballad , and
Dance , along with the Smiths' signature
Indie Rock . As such, it contains some of the most unique and lauded songs of the Smiths catalogue. However, because of the album's extreme diversity and lack of coherence, some fans believe it is the least listenable work from their catalogue. Considered a 'grower' rather than an instant favorite, the album is often overlooked in favour of more accessible work.
After the relative disappointment over the production of the band's
Debut Album ,
Singer Morrissey and
Guitarist Marr decided to produce the album themselves, only aided by engineer
Stephen Street . Production was officially credited to The Smiths as a whole with
Rourke and
Joyce being allowed input on the sound level of their instruments in the mix, but the major productional decisions and arrangements were done by Morrissey and Marr.
Possibly detracting from the album's appeal is the fact that no popular single came from it. The only single taken from ''Meat Is Murder'' was "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," which stalled at No. 49. A beautiful ballad and the centrepiece of the album, its selection as a single was perhaps not that fortunate.
"How Soon Is Now?", included on the U.S. version of the album and the post- to "William, It Was Really Nothing" and an album track on ''
Hatful Of Hollow ''.
Two ''Meat Is Murder'' tracks served as B-sides to support contemporary singles and promote the album: "Well I Wonder" ("How Soon Is Now?" single) and "What She Said" ("Shakespeare's Sister" single).
The album's sleeve features an edited still from
Emile De Antonio 's
1968 Documentary ''
In The Year Of The Pig ''. The legend on the
Soldier 's
Helmet originally read "Make War Not Love".
On vinyl and American CD releases four copies of the image were used, whereas on European CD issues only one is, presumably for reasons of legibility.
All songs written by Morrissey/Marr.
#"The Headmaster Ritual" (4:52)
#"Rusholme Ruffians" (4:20)
#"I Want the One I Can't Have" (3:14)
#"What She Said" (2:42)
#"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" (4:59)
#"How Soon Is Now?" (6:46) ''(some releases only)''
#"Nowhere Fast" (2:37)
#"Well I Wonder" (4:00)
#"Barbarism Begins at Home" (6:57)
#"Meat Is Murder" (6:06)
Same as release and the post-
1992 WEA re-issues.
None.
