Songs that influenced The Smiths & Morrissey compilation (MP3)

Famous when dead

Vulgarian
Moderator
Here's a wonderful bit of work.
Back in the mists of time - 2007 to be precise, Uncleskinny shared a compilation that is very worthy of adding to any collection:

Songs that influenced The Smiths & Morrissey.

I have uploaded it to a static address to share, upgraded a Billy Fury track, sourced track 30 and added a picture of Victoria - which seemed apt.

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Useful information was added with each track:

1) Elvis Presley - (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame
The melody is borrowed for Rusholme Ruffians

2) The Beatles - Dear Prudence
Death Of A Disco Dancer has a very similar tune and structure

3) Hamilton Bohannon - Disco Stomp
Marr has written that he borrowed the rhythm of this for How Soon Is Now

4) Victoria Wood - Fourteen Again
Rusholme Ruffians borrows lyrically from this song. It also borrows from another Victoria Wood song - 'Funny How Things Turn Out', which contains the line "My faith in myself is still devout". However, I couldn't find this song to include in this compilation. Can anyone help? -
Now added - see track 30 FWD.

5) James Taylor - Handy Man
Reel Around The Fountain has a similar structure

6) Sandie Shaw - Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now
The title has obviously been appropriated...

7) and 8) Marvin Gaye and The Rolling Stones - Hitch Hike
The opening was borrowed for There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

9) The Velvet Underground - I Can't Stand It
Marr has written that the structure and 'feel' of the song as in his mind while writing The Queen Is Dead

10) Billy Fury - I'll Never Quite Get Over You
Goddard points out that Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me draws on this song

11) Paul Jones - I've Been A Bad Bad Boy
Uses the line "I'm not the man you think I am", as heard in Pretty Girls Make Graves

12) The Rolling Stones - Jumping Jack Flash
Often cited as an influence on The Queen Is Dead

13) Patti Smith - Kimberly
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle has a very similar stucture

14) David Bowie - Kooks
Contains the line "If your homework brings you down, then we'll throw it on the fire" - very similar to the line in Sheila Take A Bow

15) New York Dolls - Lonely Planet Boy
There Is A Light...draw on this song for inspiration, especially the bits about "..driving in your car"

16) The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Running
Drawn on for The Draize Train

17) T-Rex - Metal Guru
The inspiration for Panic

18) Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul
Although few have heard it, Marr admits it is identical in tune and structure to the lost song "A Matter Of Opinion". One of the reasons it was dropped was that Marr thought it was too blatant a steal.

19) Sparks - Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
Astonishingly similar to Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference

20) The Cookies - Only To Other People
Borrowed wholesale for Girl Least Likely To

21) T-Rex - Ride A White Swan
Recycled for Certain People I Know

22) Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run
Johnny Rogan cites this song as the inspiration for What Difference Does It Make, although it's not easy to spot

23) Johnny Tillotson - Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Lyrically culled for Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

24) Reparata - Shoes
Drawn on for A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours

25) Leonard Cohen - Take This Longing
Hand in Glove borrows the line "Everything depends upon how near you sleep to me"

26) Ricky Valance - Tell Laura I Love Her
Goddard points out that Girlfriend In A Coma draws on this song

27) Elvis Presley - That's Alright Mama
Some say How Soon Is Now owes a bit to this song

28) Joni Mitchell - The Silky Veils Of Ardor
Seasick Yet Still Docked borrows several lines

29) Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us
William It Was Really Nothing borrows the line "The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down"

30) Victoria Wood - Funny How Things Turn Out
Which contains the line "My faith in myself is still devout"

https://mega.nz/#F!I8dRAaqJ!J9WYByKhcut121N2x9bfkA

A HUGE thanks to Uncleskinny for pulling the tracks together 12 (!!) years ago.
I hope people will still find it useful.
Regards,
FWD.


 
In light of recent comments by Johnny, 'Rebel Rebel' by David Bowie could be added to this list. He cited that song as an influence on the opening riff on 'Hand in Glove.'
 
In light of recent comments by Johnny, 'Rebel Rebel' by David Bowie could be added to this list. He cited that song as an influence on the opening riff on 'Hand in Glove.'
Indeed:

This too:


The collection isn't exhaustive and could certainly be added to.
Regards,
FWD.
 
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