The second single from the Smiths this is the one that seemed to put them on the map in the circle I moved in. Hand in Glove was the first single but I didn't take much notice of it at the time. But it was the Motown beat meets Byrds jangle of This Charming Man that got everyone dancing at the nightclubs I was frequenting. The Venetian Room was the main one but in 1983 we starting going to clubs open on every night of the week. The Underground. Inflation ..some place in the city on a Tuesday night. Mod nights, New romantic nights. Soul clubs.We were going out every night. Plus I was playing 3 or 4 times a week. Then getting up at 7am to go to work. Looking back I'm not sure how I did it. I do remember turning up to work dressed in black with the traces of black eyeliner now and again after not making it home. Always the same remark. "did you bring the Herald?" In those days the Herald was the afternoon paper.
Anyway as soon as I heard Charming Man I just knew I was listening to my new favourite band. The b-side Jeanne was just as good. Later I would play it in my solo sets. Then there seemed to be a flood of Smiths songs. I went back and really listened to Hand in Glove. I couldn't wait to pick up the first album. All of it made me want to hear more. And then we got Hatful of Hollow. So many great songs. Great playing. Great lyrics. The Smiths were the band of the Eighties. Well really they're up there in the top 10 of all bands.
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