People go on about the 'shit' production. I'll just say this..
takes deep breath..I prefer Langer & Winstanley's production one hundred times over than the production on ANY of The Smiths records.
I'm not talking about the songs, I'm talking about the recorded sound of The Smiths songs. I must confess that I think it's shit. I know they were poorly served by re-releases over the years, which is why I was so greatly anticipating the re-mastering that Johnny oversaw. I got 'The Sound of The Smiths' and 'Singles Box'. And they
still sound tinny, indie, AM and dishwater weak. I can only conclude that that is what they were meant to sound like ~ the antithesis of all the 80s bombast and over-worked sheen that surrounded them in their day. Fair enough. But 25 years on they sound mince.
Listen, even, to the leap forward in sound between 'Strangeways' and 'Viva Hate', albums recorded within the same year, by the same producer
Feel free to flame away....