Record Collector: Jim Reid (The Jesus And Mary Chain) on The Smiths debut album

Couple of bits from the latest Record Collector #556 (April, 2024):

The Smiths
(Rough Trade, 1984)

"William is a massive Smiths fan. I wasn't a fan then and I'm not a fan now. It used to drive me mad because I couldn't find anyone back then who didn't like The Smiths. I don't get them at all. They leave me completely cold."

Small bit on a record shop too:

FWD.

 

[Seymour Glass]

And that's exactly how I feel about the Jesus and whatever chain.

 

[Serge Gainsbourg]

Always judge a record by the back of its cover.

 

[Malarkey]

I don't understand someone not liking the Smiths.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

There’s not enough superlatives in the world to describe Suicide. What a magnificent group (duo). And that debut album is exactly what Jim said, absolutely and terrifically unique. A 10/10 album.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

oh yeah …

 

[Tampa Moz Fan]

Don't get them at all? What an odd thing to say. Maybe if all of their songs sounded exactly the same, like Jesus and Mary Chain, he might understand...

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

What!? some people don’t like The Smiths!?

Shocking.

 

[BrokenFrame]

What!? some people don’t like The Smiths!?

Shocking.

I was more puzzled about what he said about the stone roses.

 

[Orange Crush]

I don't understand someone not liking the Smiths.

Oh, I don't know. I can see where Jim Reid is coming from

 

[SuedeMoz]

This isn't the place to find those who didn't like The Smiths . Most of my friends liked The Smiths... but I know some who either found Morrissey "too fey" ... "depressive" or just didn't like his voice. People like what they like and they weren't motivated to dig deeper on The Smiths.

 

[BookishBoy]

I always thought William was the cool one of the two, so this is nice to see. (Also: I love "Some Candy Talking" as much as any Smiths single.)

 

[Old Mathew]

I love JAMC, and don't care one iota if Jim doesn't like the Smiths. "Not my cup of tea" isn't even remotely a diss. Ce la vie.

 

[Was I ever any good]

I always thought William was the cool one of the two, so this is nice to see. (Also: I love "Some Candy Talking" as much as any Smiths single.)

SCT, was a decent song, but it is nowhere close to
Bigmouth,
Panic,
Sheila,
What difference.ECT…
Come on BB… have a word wid yer self

 

[Johnnie Ray]

And that's exactly how I feel about the Jesus and whatever chain.

No way! They are great!

 

[Johnnie Ray]

I always thought William was the cool one of the two, so this is nice to see. (Also: I love "Some Candy Talking" as much as any Smiths single.)

"The Hardest Walk" for me.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

I don't understand someone not liking the Smiths.

Oh god, I totally do. Most don't.

 

[BookishBoy]

Looking on the bright side, at least Jim didn't also add "And look what Morrissey's turned into". Small victories!

 

[BrokenFrame]

A lot of people find the smiths too depressing. I know people who wont listen to sad music at all, which is strange to me. Each to their own.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I love JAMC, and don't care one iota if Jim doesn't like the Smiths. "Not my cup of tea" isn't even remotely a diss. Ce la vie.

It is to some.