The Smiths Early Days

Formed in 1982, The Smiths were an English band from Manchester, regarded as the definitive indie rock band of the 80s, highlighting the end of the synth-driven new wave and introducing us to the beginning of the guitar-heavy English rock that dominated the 90?s.

Based on a partnership from then-strangers Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr, we also saw bassist Dale Hibbert and drummer Simon Wolstencroft recruited to form a complete group. When it became apparent this group dynamic wasn?t a good fit after only one gig, Hibbert and Wolstencroft parted ways, leaving an open space for drummer Mike Joyce, and Marr's old friend and fellow guitarist Andy Rourke, finalising the lineup.

Avoiding what was thought to be ?flashy? and ?pretentious? names of synthpop bands in the ?80s such as Duran Duran and A-ha, by late 1982 Morrissey had chosen the name ?The Smiths? due to it being ?the most ordinary name....and it's time the ordinary folks of the world showed their faces." The Smiths were soon signed to independent record company Rough Trade Records, and taking inspiration from the D.I.Y. ethics of punk, The Smiths became the first indie rock outsiders to achieve headline recognition on their own terms, a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time.

The Smiths and Hatful of Hollow

In May 1983 The Smiths released their first single, ?Hand in Glove? which sold well for 18 months, although it failed to chart in the UK Top 40. The two following singles ?This Charming Man? and ?What Difference Does It Make?? gained a greater response when they both placed higher numbers of 25 and 12, respectively. With help from positive music journalist reviews and a successful series of studio sessions for John Peel and David Jensen at BBC Radio 1, the Smiths began to build a dedicated fanbase.

In February 1984, the group released their debut eponymous album, The Smiths, which reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. This was then followed shortly after by the release of popular singles ?Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now? and ?William, It Was Really Nothing?, which featured ?How Soon Is Now?? on its B-side. The year concluded with the compilation album ?Hatful of Hollow?, grouping together a selection of singles, B-sides and the versions of songs that had been recorded in the Peel and Jenson shows throughout the previous year.

Meat is Murder

A second album titled Meat Is Murder was released in February 1985, which was directly more strident and political than its predecessor, including the pro-vegetarian title track. During this time the band had also grown more musically diverse, with Marr experimenting with rockabilly riffs and Rourke introducing funky bass solos on the likes of ?Barbarism Begins at Home?. The album was the band's first and only chart-topping work, and in 2003 was ranked number 295 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The Queen is Dead

Throughout 1985 the band were touring the UK and US while at the same time recording their next studio album, ?The Queen is Dead?. The album was released soon after the single ?Bigmouth Strikes Again? in June 1986. The single featured Marr's jangly arpeggios and lead melody guitar lines. "The Queen Is Dead" peaked at number two on the UK charts and featured a mixture of witty despair and dry humour.

With the stresses of touring and releasing music growing on the band, tensions were high and Marr turned to the bottle to cope. Rourke was later fired, reportedly learning this by the means of a note handwritten by Morrissey and left on his car, although he was reinstated after a fortnight. Morrissey has since denied these accusations. Frustrations with Rough Trade on the part of The Smiths accumulated, and the group sought after a new deal, ultimately (and controversially) signing with American label EMI.

Strangeways Here We Come

In early 1987, ?Shoplifters of the World Unite'' reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, which was then followed by a second compilation album titled ?The World Won?t Listen? highlighting Morrisey?s annoyance with the band?s lack of recognition within the media. This went on to reach number 2 in the charts, with the single ?Sheila Take a Bow? following in its footsteps, becoming the second (and last) of the band's singles to reach the UK Top 10.

The Smiths' fourth album, ?Strangeways, Here We Come? strayed away from tradition and opened with a piano introduction, as Marr wanted to get away from the Smiths' usual sound. This peaked at number two in the UK and was their most successful album in the US, hitting number 55 on the Billboard 200. It received a welcome yet lukewarm reception from critics, despite both Morrissey and Marr claiming it to be their favourite Smiths album.

The Smiths Split

Despite the continued success of The Smiths, it was growing more apparent that tensions were emerging within the band. Exhausted and growing closer to the verge of alcoholism, Marr took some time away from the band in June 1987, which he felt wasn?t well perceived by his bandmates. In July 1987, Marr left the group permanently, with suspicions that the NME article entitled "Smiths to Split'' was planted by Morrissey. The article stated that Morrissey disliked Marr collaborating with other musicians, and that Marr and Morrissey's personal relationship had finally reached its breaking point. Marr later contacted NME to explain that he did not leave The Smiths due to personal tensions within the band, but because he wanted to experiment with a wider musical range.

By the time "Strangeways, Here We Come" was released in September 1987, the band had split. In a 1989 interview two years later, Morrissey blamed the lack of a managerial figure and background business problems as reasons for the band's split, and ever since it has been a unanimous decision that there will be no chance of a Smiths reunion due to bad blood.

Originally known as Peter Green?s Fleetwood Mac, the group started out as a British blues band releasing LP?s such as ?Mr Wonderful? and ?Play On?. Formed in 1967 by founding members Peter Green (previously part of John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers) and Mick Fleetwood, they were joined by Jeremy Spencer and John McVie and later Danny Kirwin. The band released a number of singles including ?Need Your Love So Bad?, ?Man of The World? and their only UK Number One ?Albatross?.

Fleetwood Mac were to undergo numerous line-up changes over the years including the addition of McVie?s wife Christine before the departure of Peter Green in 1970. Green went on to release albums in his own right including ?In The Skies? and ?Kolors?. In late 1974 the band relocated to the US and added singer-songwriter couple Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the personnel. This was to be the most commercially successful Fleetwood Mac line-up.

The World Acclaimed ?Rumours? Album

Now with more of a soft rock/pop sound they released a further self-titled Fleetwood Mac LP featuring the hit ?Rhiannon? before the world acclaimed ?Rumours? album. Spawned from the breakup of the relationships of John and Christine McVie as well as Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, the album boasted four Top Ten US singles ? ?Dreams?, ?Don?t Stop?, ?Go Your Own Way? and ?You Make Loving Fun?. One of the most commercially successful records in history, ?Rumours? was listed as Number 7 in Rolling Stone magazine?s list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Album Success in the 1980s

They followed up this success with the release of albums ?Tusk? and ?Mirage?. In 1987 the band released ?Tango In The Night? which was to become the final Fleetwood Mac record from the line up before Lindsey Buckingham exited the band that same year. Again producing a number of US Top 20 hits including ?Big Love?, ?Little Lies?, ?Seven Wonders? and ?Everywhere?, it became Fleetwood Mac?s second most successful studio album.

There then followed individual solo albums Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham. At this time the Fleetwood Mac line-up was a fluctuating entity with personnel changing regularly.

Album Success in the 1990s

The Fleetwood Mac ?Rumours? line-up of Fleetwood, Buckingham, Nicks, McVie and McVie however did come together again at the request of incoming US President Bill Clinton, who had used their ?Don?t Stop? track as his campaign song, to play at his Inauguration Ball in 1993.

1997 saw the core members re-unite and release a live greatest hits album ?The Dance '' which again topped the US album charts. However, it was not to last and with the departure of Christine McVie the following year, the band again underwent various line-up changes with Neil Finn from Crowded House and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers both joining the band. Unfortunately, they never reached the same dizzy heights although tours and albums both followed.

Fleetwood Mac were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Founding member Peter Green died in his sleep in 2020 aged 73.

With re-releases of various albums, Fleetwood Mac?s records are as popular as ever with ?Rumours? still in the Top 50 Vinyl Record Charts in 2021.

Originally formed in 1972, members Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog recorded their first song together ?People Need Love First? under the name of Bjorn and Benny, Agnetha and Anna-Frid. With only limited success, the band entered the song ?Ring Ring? into the Eurovision Song Contest selection competition. Whilst finishing only third the song did go on to become a hit in their native Sweden as well as throughout Europe.

Spurred on by this success (and following name change - now being called ABBA), they again entered the Melodifestivalen the following year with ?Waterloo?. It won and of course later went on to success in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest making them the first winners to represent Sweden. ?Waterloo? became the first of many number one hits for the group during the 1970?s as they went on to dominate the charts.

Success did not follow immediately however as they struggled to be acknowledged as a serious singer-songwriter outfit. It was not until the release of their third studio album ?ABBA? featuring the singles ?SOS? and ?Mamma Mia? that they again topped the charts. They would go on to have 9 UK Number One hits before the end of 1980. To this present day, ABBA?s glittery outfits and songs capture the iconic look and sound of 1970s fashion and music.

Abba Best Selling Records

ABBA?s best selling album ?Arrival? was released in 1976. Containing what has become one of their signature singles ?Dancing Queen? as well as ?Knowing Me, Knowing You? and ?Money, Money, Money? the record has spent 11 weeks in the top spot of the UK album charts.

In 1977 the ABBA phenomenon hit the big screen with the film ?ABBA - The Movie? simultaneously releasing the record ?ABBA - The Album? again spawning hit singles including ?Take A Chance On Me? and ?The Name Of The Game?.

1979 saw the break up of Bjorn and Agnetha?s marriage as well as ABBA?s next studio album ?Voulez-Vous?. Further albums followed over the subsequent years with the 1980 LP ?Super Trouper? featuring another hit for the band ?The Winner Takes It All?.

ABBA?s next album ?The Visitors? was released at the end of 1981 and followed the news that Benny and Frida were also to divorce. This seemed to mark the beginning of the end for the band.

1982 saw the various members embark on solo projects and collaborations, with Benny and Bjorn working alongside Tim Rice on the musical ?Chess?. ABBA finally announced they were taking a hiatus from working together.

The legend of ABBA did live on. The release of the stage musical and film ?Mamma Mia? brought ABBA?s music to a new generation. The popularity of their songs has seen them covered by a range of other stars including Cher (who also starred in the movie ?Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again?), Portishead whilst Erasure released the ?ABBA-esque? EP featuring their take on ABBA classics.

ABBA vinyl records are regular entries in the album charts today with the LP ?Gold? becoming a best seller around the World proving that the phenomenon that is ABBA has certainly stood the test of time.

With a new ABBA album scheduled to be released in November 2021, ?Voyage? is sure to be a must have record for ABBA and pop fans everywhere.

Initially going under the name Rollin? Stones, the band?s original line-up consisted of Brian Jones, Tony Chapman, Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, playing their first live gig under this name at the Marquee Club in London in 1962. Shortly after Chapman and Taylor Taylor both left the band, being replaced by Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman.

Recruiting Manager, Andrew Oldham, the Rollin? Stones became the now legendary Rolling Stones and their first single followed shortly after - ?Come On? written and previously released by Chuck Berry giving the band their first Top 50 UK hit (reaching No.2 in the charts).

Their follow up single ?I Wanna Be Your Man? was actually written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and gifted to the band (including the copyright) although The Beatles did also include the song on the ?With The Beatles? LP. The Lennon and McCartney song just missed out on the Top 10 peaking at No.12 in the UK singles chart.

1963 saw the Rolling Stones become a 5-piece ensemble following the departure of Ian Stewart with Stewart retaining his links with the band becoming tour manager and session musician.

Further releases saw them cover other songs including the Womack and Womack composition ?It?s All Over Now? which became The Stones? first UK No.1 single and their classic rendition of Willie Dixon?s ?Little Red Rooster?. In fact, their first two UK studio albums ?Rolling Stones? and ?Rolling Stones No.2? actually only featured two original songs written by Jagger and Richards.

Unlike The Beatles, The Rolling Stones were portrayed as hard living rebels with their drinking and drug taking exploits hitting the headlines as well as their music (ironically although living similar lifestyles The Beatles were rewarded with MBE?s whilst The Rolling Stones were berated for their debauchery). In spite of their opposite press, The Rolling Stones were signed by label Decca who had rejected The Beatles.

"Satisfaction" Their First No.1

1965 and The Rolling Stones finally get a No.1 single with the release of ?(I Can?t Get No) Satisfaction? penned by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Not appearing on the UK release of their album ?Out of Our Heads? the song initially went to the top spot in the US, with only limited play in the UK due to the controversial lyrics before finally reaching No.1 in the UK singles chart in September 1965. ?Get Off Of My Cloud? followed, again from a US album release ?December?s Children (and Everybody?s)?. Now more confident and enjoying the control they had by writing their own material, the band began steering a new course away from covers and into their own original compositions. The release of The Rolling Stones record ?Aftermath? saw all tracks written by Jagger and Richards and included classic tracks ?Paint It Black? (in the US) and ?Under My Thumb?.

However, following this success The Rolling Stones popularity plateaued - their rock style not quite in keeping with the ?free-love? ethos of the 1960s. The 1967 release ?Their Satanic Majesties Request? reached just 23 on the UK album charts.

"Sympathy For The Devil"

Brian Jones? drug taking and personal issues saw his place in The Rolling Stones being taken by Mick Taylor and the 1968 release of ?Jumpin? Jack Flash? saw the group back at their very best with the single giving the band another UK No.1 and the associated album ?Beggars Banquet? peaking at the No.3 spot. The same LP featured an all-time classic from The Rolling Stones "Sympathy For The Devil" regarded by many critics and fans alike as one of their greatest songs.

The next few years saw The Stones at their very best. The ?Let It Bleed? LP was released in 1969 giving them another chart topping record. Sadly 1969 also saw the passing of Rolling Stones founder, Brian Jones, who unfortunately became another member of the so called ?27 Club?. Ironically it was also the same day that The Rolling Stones released their best selling single ?Honky Tonk Woman? which they had started when Jones was still a band member but was finished after he left.

The legendary and iconic Rolling Stones logo of the big lips and tongue was introduced in 1971 and has featured ever since. Designed by John Pasche, who went on to work with a host of other rock stars from Paul McCartney to The Stranglers, the symbol has long been associated with the band and their enigmatic front man, Mick Jagger.

Three further No.1 LPs followed with the release of ?Sticky Fingers? in 1971 ?Exile on Main Street? the following year and the 1973 album ?Goats Head Soup? featuring the legendary blues vocals of Jagger on the single ?Angie?.

Mick Taylor was the next member of the band to leave in 1974 to be replaced by Ronnie Wood who had previously played in Faces, The Birds and The Jeff Beck Group. In 1976 this line-up released their first studio album ?Black and Blue? and followed it up with the 1978 LP ?Some Girls?.

Another decade and more albums followed. The Eighties saw The Rolling Stone record the now classic ?Emotional Rescue?, ?Tattoo You? and ?Undercover?. Live dates also followed with the UK Urban Jungle tour proving the longevity and popularity of the band. It was also to be the last live tour with Bill Wyman before he too decided to leave 1993 in order to pursue solo projects.

Fuelled by tensions within the band, various solo projects were undertaken seeing Mick Jagger team up with David Bowie in 1985 to release ?Dancing In The Streets? for Live Aid. The single went to No.1 in the UK with the video being played during the Wembley concert.

"Goats Head Soup" 2020

The re-release of ?Goats Head Soup? in 2020 and with some copies also including the bonus of ?The Brussels Affair? record (their legendary live performance from 1973) the album again reached No.1 meaning The Rolling Stones were the first band to top the UK charts in 6 different decades.

The lockdown during the COVID pandemic saw The Rolling Stones revisit a 1974 song releasing ?Scarlet? (featuring Jimmy Page on guitar) as a single alongside a new composition ?Living In A Ghost Town?.

The popularity and durability of The Rolling Stones have seen them bestowed with many accolades including being the first band to appear on ?Top of the Pops? on New Years Day 1964; they have been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the GRAMMY?s in 1986 and two GRAMMY?s in 1994 with ?Voodoo Lounge? being voted Best Rock Album and ?Love Is Strong? Best Short Form Music Video; 1989 saw The Rolling Stones inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2003 Mick Jagger was knighted (something that did not go down well with Keith Richards his co-writer who was not afforded the honour).

Sadly, drumming legend Charlie Watts, died in August 2021.

The Rolling Stones Record Sales

So how popular are The Rolling Stones? How many records have they sold? Well, since their inception in 1962 they have made over 40 albums, released over 100 singles and sold over 240 million albums!!

180 Gram Vinyl Explained

For decades, 180 gram vinyl records have won the hearts of many audiophiles. Although they became less popular at the dawn of the digital age, not everyone wanted to abandon them. The sound quality and the unique experience these vinyl records provided was the reason behind this loyalty. This article discusses the meaning, sound quality, and benefits of 180 gram vinyl.

What Does 180 gram Vinyl Mean?

In a nutshell, it's all about weight. Most 12-inch records manufactured in the twentieth century weighed between 120 and 140 grams. However, the 180 gram vinyl is larger and heavier than other records. In the eyes of many, this record's texture and size (12 inches) make it an "audiophile-grade" vinyl.

On the other hand, heavy-duty recordings are unlimited to the 180 gram restriction. Some new and re-releases come on platters weighing up to 200 grams. 7-inch records (sometimes known as "45s" since they need 45rpm or "revolutions per minute" playing) can weigh 50 grams or more.

Often, 180 vinyl records come in the traditional black shade. However, other colour variations and some blended colours are available to entice buyers. Their sturdiness and durability mean they are long-lasting and resistant to fracture as well as warping than ordinary weight records.

If a record warps or bends, it may distort the sound pushing against it and make the stylus bounce or jump. The thicker vinyl provides a more stable base for the stylus and cantilever suspension by providing more support and preventing undesired vibration. Unnecessary vibrations may compromise sound quality at the micro-level.

The relationship between total vinyl weight and record thickness depends on the dyes applied to that record. The pigments are created independently and may differ from one label to the next.

Is 180 gram Vinyl Truly Superior?

There are numerous commonly-held misunderstandings regarding audiophile quality albums, even among the audiophiles who are supposed to buy them. First and foremost, it is critical to recognise that 180 gram vinyl is not very remarkable. People credit 180 gram vinyl to a slew of sound advantages, including noise control, deeper bass/higher treble, and improved stereo image. While no one can argue that many 180 gram releases come with these and other audio advantages, the record's weight is seldom the primary reason for these enhancements.

With ordinary weight vinyl releases, an implied quality level connected with audiophile grade vinyl does not exist. Essentially, record labels who care about releasing an album on 180 gram vinyl also care about the entire mastering and manufacturing process. They use superior source material (like original master tapes) and enhanced processing mechanisms. They also prefer "virgin" vinyl, which excludes recycled plastic that might include contaminants renowned for noisier playback.

Does The 180 gram Vinyl Sound Better?

Many say higher-weight vinyl allows for deeper grooves and greater "detail." However, the technical criteria for cutting grooves on vinyl master discs remain the same regardless of weight.

As a result, the weight of a vinyl record has little to no effect on sound quality; the cut grooves are set at the mastering step, not during the manufacturing process.

In reality, the conventional grooves etched into a piece of vinyl are so narrow that you could probably print a perfectly decent record at 100g (or even lower). The record would feel frail, but it would play and sound fine. When everything is said and done, the source music content and the mastering and manufacturing processes have the most impact on sound quality. In contrast, the influence of vinyl weight is minor.

Benefits of 180 gram Vinyl

While it's debatable if a 180 gram vinyl record has superior sound quality compared to its lighter counterparts, it has some unique characteristics that add to a fantastic listening experience. Here are a few examples.

Durability

Increased durability is the most obvious benefit of heavyweight vinyl. The enhanced resistance to breaking or warping over time is what we mean by durability; the grooves themselves are not more durable.

Decreased Wow and Flutter

Some pressing facilities claim that since thicker records have a higher mass, they may assist lessen wow and flutter by allowing the platter to travel more consistently. However, these facilities quickly add a caveat: "...on low-end turntables, the greater weight might produce excessive strain and friction on the platter."

Improved Isolation

Thicker records naturally enhance isolation, protecting your stylus from vibration interference. Of course, you could buy a cork slip pad, but greater disc weight can help contain some vibrations.Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

In the end, there are certain advantages, but weight alone does not guarantee superior vinyl pressing. On 180 gram vinyl, there are a lot of bad pressings. Some record labels use it as a marketing tactic to get you excited about a new pressing. These pressings still have advantages, but the glossy sticker on the dust cover shouldn't be the primary determining factor when purchasing a new record.