Two years of this and only one Smiths song? How is that possible?
Okay, I'll pull "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" from the top of the deck since it popped into my head this morning. Besides, why not belatedly celebrate Scotland's repeal of Section 28 eight years and eight weeks ago, un-corking a trickle of common sense that spread, albeit slowly, through out the UK.
The title, supposedly modeled on Communist slogan "Workers of the world, unite!" is allegedly a more commercially acceptable way of uniting the shirtlifters of the world. Of course none of this has been confirmed - or has it - because it's Morrissey and we all know how elusive he can be. But, since the release of the single perfectly coincided with the controversy of the United Kingdom's attempt to legislate local morality by making it illegal to intentionally promote homosexuality - homosexuality just happened to have a new album coming out at the time, as I recall - and since Morrissey is such a smart-ass, I'm pretty sure the sun was shining out of his behind as his little joke crept up the UK charts.
"Shoplifters Of The World Unite" was yet another perfect Smiths twelve inch, coupled as it was with the whip crack of "London" and the hysterical and lovely "Half A Person"; a threesome that seems a perfectly reasonable explanation for the urge I still have to have hug the Presley as Floyd The Barber-clad sleeve to my chest whenever I hear any of them. That the A-side continued in the band's T Rex-mania - this time "Children Of The Revolution" which, in itself, confirms that the joke is absolutely funny still - that started with "Panic" and that it sounded nothing like "Ask" only added to it's already incalculable value.
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