Sheet Music

The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life

Reynolds & Hearn, 176 pp., $19.95 (paper)

Though they've arguably been eclipsed in influence by New Order, the Smiths remain the most important British rock band of the Eighties, and the mere existence of this exhaustive song-by-song recount of their career speaks volumes about their fervent fan base. In author Simon Goddard's own words, The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life is a parallel to Ian MacDonald's Beatles compendium Revolution in the Head, and thusly tracks the stories behind the recordings, chord changes, and even concert, radio, and television performances of every last piece of music ever recorded by the band. This is "not the story of the Smiths, but the story of their music," writes Goddard in the preface, and this is both good and bad. The song-stories are presented in chronological order of recording, so a narrative emerges over the course of the book, but it's doubtful anybody but the most fervent Smiths fan will have the patience to plow through them from beginning to end. How many folks really want to know the history behind the chord changes on "Vicar in a Tutu"? Yet the information on "How Soon Is Now" -- one of the most successful B-sides ever -- reveals an origin steeped in Johnny Marr's love of Bo Diddley, Fifties rockabilly, and most importantly, tons of Fender Twin reverb and vibrato. And that was before Morrissey even had a crack at it! Goddard's zeal shines through in his choice of vignettes and the impressive inside knowledge he brings to the table. He also makes his share of controversial assessments, touting Meat Is Murder as their finest album, while summarily dismissing The Queen Is Dead's "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side." While The Smiths is a bit meticulous at times, it's also a gift from above for hardcore fans.