Iconic Albums - The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come

Iconic Albums: The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come
The definitive deep-dive into the haunting swan song of one of Britain's most legendary bands.

When The Smiths released Strangeways, Here We Come in 1987, the band was already broken. No tour. No interviews. No farewell. Just one final, enigmatic album that stood apart from everything they'd done before. For years it was misunderstood-too strange, too somber, too subtle. But decades later, it's recognized as their most emotionally complex, musically adventurous, and spiritually revealing work.

In this meticulously researched and passionately written volume of the Iconic Albums series, music historian Richard Ward takes you inside the making of Strangeways, Here We Come-song by song, studio tale by studio tale. From the prickly power dynamic between Morrissey and Marr to the eerie quiet of The Wool Hall studios, from biting satire to heartbreaking balladry, this book offers a track-by-track breakdown and behind-the-scenes exploration of The Smiths' final-and most fascinating-record.

Discover:

• How Strangeways marked a dramatic sonic evolution, with synths, string samples, and cinematic production

• The lyrical themes of irony, isolation, and impending farewell woven throughout Morrissey's writing

• The inside story of the album's recording sessions, tensions, and last-minute unraveling

• Why tracks like "Death of a Disco Dancer," "Paint a Vulgar Picture," and "I Won't Share You" remain some of the band's most enduring work

• How Strangeways predicted Morrissey's solo career-and influenced generations of alternative musicians

• The cultural context of Britain in 1987, and how the album reflected a nation in flux

• The mythology of the Richard Davalos cover image-and what the title really means

• Imagined futures: what a fifth Smiths album might have sounded like had they stayed together

Whether you're a lifelong Smiths devotee or a curious listener discovering the band for the first time, Iconic Albums: The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come is an unmissable journey through one of the most subtly powerful albums in pop history. It's a story of parting ways, whispered goodbyes, and brilliance born of collapse.

This is more than an album breakdown-it's a farewell letter to a band that never gave us one. And in that silence, Strangeways speaks volumes.