thesmiths-thequeenisdead music classicalbums Virgin Media

Year of release

1986

Global sales

850,000

Genre

Indie rock

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The Smiths' third album found them at the peak of their melancholic majesty, bringing a keen ear for melody to their angst-driven social commentary

Best tracks:

Frankly, Mr. Shankly
Bigmouth Strikes Again
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Top facts:

• There Is A Light That Never Goes Out wasn't ever released as a single until 1992, five years after the band split up.
  
• The album's cover image was designed by Morrissey himself and features French actor Alain Delon from the 1964 film L'Insoumis.
  
• The Boy With The Thorn In His Side was the very first Smiths single for which the band shot a video. Morrissey later revealed: "The thorn is the music industry and all those people who never believed anything I said".

If you like this, try:

Suede: Suede
Belle & Sebastian: The Boy with the Arab Strap
Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Morrissey: Vauxhall and I

Next classic album: Jeff Buckley >