The Smiths: 20 Best Songs

By Ed Nash /

8. Bigmouth Strikes Again

Johnny Marr's unashamed tribute to the Stones, though I would argue this is better than anything in the Stone's cannon. My only quibble - why didn't they use the electric guitars on the record? The version they played on the Old Grey Whistle test - with Craig Gannon on rhythm guitar was so loud and powerful, a hint at the stadiums that Marr was looking to fill, but Morrissey was reluctant to play, which was ultimately a factor in their demise. Again, a relative flop as a single, but such was The Smiths lot at this stage of their career. The obvious single choice from 'The Queen Is Dead' was #2 on this list, but nonetheless, this is a force of nature. And as always, the music was so good it felt like a hygiene factor, and who else but Morrissey could utter the line "Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking when I said I'd like to smash every tooth in your head, oh sweetness, sweetness I was only joking when I said you should be bludgeoned in your bed."