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Every The Smiths Album Ranked Best to Worse

The Smiths Cover

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The Smiths

Dive deep into the essential discography of The Smiths. Explore the defining studio albums that shaped their legendary career.

โšก Key Highlights of Article

  • Explore the essential studio discography of The Smiths ranked from best to worst.
  • Uncover iconic tracks and cultural landmarks like The Queen Is Dead.
  • Get practical vinyl pressing tips for crate diggers hunting for original pressings.
  • Learn how Johnny Marr and Morrissey reshaped 1980s alternative rock.
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๐Ÿ“‹ Vinyl Guide (4 Albums)Jump List โŒƒ

Few bands defined the sound and sentiment of 1980s alternative music quite like The Smiths. Driven by the jangly guitar genius of Johnny Marr and the sharp, melancholic poetry of Morrissey, they released four monumental studio albums that changed indie rock forever. Whether you are hunting for original Rough Trade pressings or spinning modern reissues, their catalog is essential for any serious vinyl collection.

Because they only released four official studio albums during their main run, fans often debate how to rank these masterworks. We are breaking down their core studio records from best to worst based on songwriting, cultural impact, and sheer replay value on the turntable. Grab your favorite beverage, drop the needle, and let us dive into the Smiths discography.

Essential The Smiths Albums Ranked

#1 Essential Pick

The Smiths โ€” The Queen Is Dead

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1986

The Smiths โ€” The Queen Is Dead

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1986

Widely considered a masterpiece of 1980s indie rock, this album balances biting wit with heartbreaking vulnerability. Johnny Marr’s guitar work reaches its absolute zenith here, anchoring monumental tracks that defined a generation.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ The Boy with the Thorn In His Side
โ™ซ There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
โ™ซ Bigmouth Strikes Again
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Look for original UK Rough Trade pressings with ‘A-1U’ matrix numbers for the ultimate analog experience.
#2 Essential Pick

The Smiths โ€” Meat Is Murder

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1985

The Smiths โ€” Meat Is Murder

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1985

Darker and more politically charged than their debut, this record showcases a maturing band unafraid to tackle taboo subjects. It blends funky basslines with jangly riffs, creating a totally unique sonic atmosphere.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ The Headmaster Ritual
โ™ซ Meat Is Murder
โ™ซ Nowhere Fast
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Early UK pressings feature the iconic sleeve design and feature crisp, punchy low-end dynamics.
#3 Essential Pick

The Smiths โ€” Strangeways, Here We Come

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1987

The Smiths โ€” Strangeways, Here We Come

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1987

Serving as their swan song, this album experiments with synths, brass, and sophisticated arrangements while retaining their signature melancholy. It is a brilliant, polished farewell from a legendary partnership.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Girlfriend In a Coma
โ™ซ Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
โ™ซ A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original vinyl copies sound lush and atmospheric, making them a worthy prize for collectors.
#4 Essential Pick

The Smiths โ€” The Smiths

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1984

The Smiths โ€” The Smiths

Label: Rough Trade • Released: 1984

The debut album that started it all introduced the world to an entirely fresh, guitar-driven jangle pop sound. While production on later records improved, the raw urgency and poetic brilliance here are undeniable.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Hand In Glove
โ™ซ This Charming Man
โ™ซ Still Ill
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The rare UK pressing with the ‘Sandie Shaw’ credit or withdrawn mix variations command high prices among collectors.
๐Ÿ“ฉ

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โ“ Frequently Asked Questions (Indie Pop)

Q: What is widely considered the best The Smiths album to collect on vinyl?

The Queen Is Dead (1986) is universally acclaimed as The Smiths’ definitive masterpiece and an essential vinyl record for collectors. Its iconic gatefold sleeve featuring Alain Delon and Johnny Marrโ€™s intricate jangle-pop guitar arrangements make it the crowning achievement in their studio catalog.

Q: Why is The Queen Is Dead ranked higher than the self-titled debut album The Smiths?

While the 1984 self-titled debut established their groundbreaking indie sound, The Queen Is Dead showcases peak songwriting maturity, sharper lyrical satire from Morrissey, and far superior studio production. Track-for-track, it delivers an unrivaled sequence of classic anthems like ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’.

Q: What makes Strangeways, Here We Come a unique entry in The Smiths’ discography?

Released posthumously in 1987, Strangeways, Here We Come captured the band experimenting with lush instrumentation, studio effects, and darker arrangements. Interestingly, both Morrissey and Johnny Marr have frequently cited it as their personal favorite Smiths album due to its adventurous sonic direction.

Q: Are original vinyl pressings of The Smiths albums worth collecting?

Original UK Rough Trade vinyl pressings of albums like Meat Is Murder and The Queen Is Dead are highly prized for their dynamic sound cuts and unique hand-etched matrix messages. Audiophiles and vinyl specialists value these early pressings for capturing the true, uncompressed warmth of the band’s original analog master tapes.

Q: How does Meat Is Murder fit into the overall ranking of top The Smiths albums?

Meat Is Murder stands out as the band’s most politically charged and sonically aggressive record, securing a crucial spot in their discography. Driven by Andy Rourke’s prominent basslines and experimental guitar textures, it proved The Smiths were capable of expanding far beyond conventional jangle-pop.

Vinyl Crate-Digging & Buying Guide

When hunting for The Smiths on vinyl, keep an eye out for original UK pressings on the Rough Trade label, which are prized by collectors for their dynamic mastering. If you are shopping on a budget, the 2011/2012 Rhino reissues supervised by Johnny Marr offer fantastic audio quality without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts

Whether you spin their debut or lose yourself in the melancholic beauty of The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths remain an essential pillar of alternative music history. Dust off your turntable, give these records a spin, and appreciate the timeless songwriting genius of Marr and Morrissey.

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