Songs That Saved Your Life
Encyclopedia
The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life is a book on British rock band The Smiths
, written by UK music journalist Simon Goddard
. The title refers to a lyric from their 1985 B-side "Rubber Ring
".
The book focuses on the story of the group through their music, adapting a chronological song-by-song format explicitly modelled upon Ian MacDonald
's book, Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
. At the time of its original publication in December 2002, it was the first book to reveal the existence of lost songs by Morrissey
and Johnny Marr
, specifically "A Matter of Opinion", "I Misses You" and various untitled studio instrumentals. This same first edition carried a foreword by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce and contributions from bassist Andy Rourke
, although neither Morrissey nor Marr sanctioned its publication.
A second revised and expanded edition was published two years later in June 2004. This time, guitarist and co-writer Johnny Marr agreed to collaborate with Goddard. Marr's contributions necessitated a comprehensive re-write of the original. It is this second edit of the book which is now considered the definitive text.
A third budget paperback version was issued by publishers Reynolds & Hearn in July 2006 (ISBN 1-905287-14-3). Other than minor editing and a handful of subtle revisions, it remains the same as the second 2004 edition.
A German language edition of the book was published in hardback in 2007 by Heel publishing.
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, written by UK music journalist Simon Goddard
Simon Goddard
Simon Goddard is a British music journalist and author, best known for his writings on British indie band The Smiths and their former lead singer Morrissey....
. The title refers to a lyric from their 1985 B-side "Rubber Ring
Rubber ring
A rubber washer is a ring made of rubber used in mechanical devices. It is used to prevent vibration from spreading from one part to another, reducing the noise levels....
".
The book focuses on the story of the group through their music, adapting a chronological song-by-song format explicitly modelled upon Ian MacDonald
Ian MacDonald
Ian MacCormick was a British music critic and author, best known for Revolution in the Head, his forensic history of The Beatles which borrowed techniques from art historians, and The New Shostakovich, a controversial study of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich...
's book, Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties is a 1994 book by British music critic and author Ian MacDonald detailing every record The Beatles ever produced...
. At the time of its original publication in December 2002, it was the first book to reveal the existence of lost songs by Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
and Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
, specifically "A Matter of Opinion", "I Misses You" and various untitled studio instrumentals. This same first edition carried a foreword by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce and contributions from bassist Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
, although neither Morrissey nor Marr sanctioned its publication.
A second revised and expanded edition was published two years later in June 2004. This time, guitarist and co-writer Johnny Marr agreed to collaborate with Goddard. Marr's contributions necessitated a comprehensive re-write of the original. It is this second edit of the book which is now considered the definitive text.
A third budget paperback version was issued by publishers Reynolds & Hearn in July 2006 (ISBN 1-905287-14-3). Other than minor editing and a handful of subtle revisions, it remains the same as the second 2004 edition.
A German language edition of the book was published in hardback in 2007 by Heel publishing.