Did Morrissey deserve a songwriting co-credit for the songs of the Smiths?

[Anonymous]

In the year 2014 an incredible thing happened in Great Britain. S Morrissey and J Marr both released brand new albums.
Both albums were preceded by brand new singles - Istanbul for Morrissey and Easy Money by Marr. Both were released to radio.
Would you believe that the radio stations of Great Britain actually decided they would rather play a song sung by the guitarist of the Smiths than by the singer of the Smiths?
This is what actually happened. Istanbul scraped the top 70 airplay chart, whereas Marr's Easy Money coasted into the top 30. Absolutely f***ing unbelievable.

For perspective and context, this would be like Morrissey teaching himself to become a guitar-playing songwriter, and for guitar/songwrriting websites/stations etc deciding that his guitar playing and songwriting was actually better than that of Johnny Marr's.

The implications are immense. People would rather hear Johnny Marr sing his own melodies than Morrissey.
If the Smiths had been a three piece (Marr, Rourke and Joyce), they would have enjoyed more commercial success (but probably not critical acclaim) without Morrissey than with him.

Unbelievable, folks, but true. All the nonsense that you hear about the significance of Morrissey's vocal melodies' is exactly that. Absolute bollocks. Clearly, a great lyricist (back then of course), and a lovely singing voice. But musically, he was completely and utterly superfluous to the success of his band.

 

[Anonymous]

um istanbul was one of four singles released at the same time which still reached top 100. i dont think that easy money would have done the same had it been released along with four other songs from playland. if you wanna play the popularity game id suggest album sales and show attendance to see whos the more popular with the public.

 

[butley]

Morrissey's musical input into The Smiths songs was crucial to their appeal. On youtube there are tutorials on how to play Smiths songs. As instrumentals a lot of them really go round and round and end up being rather dull. Johnny was an average songwriter but a brilliant guitar player. Morrissey was a brilliant singer and lyricist and a very good songwriter.Nobody is humming Johnny Marr's solo stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqJJH2Y5fc

 

[Charlie Cheswick]

A lot of stuff on this site gets written about songwriting and musicianship and let's face it, much of it is utter bollocks. This all reads like someone who's girlfriend has run off with someone else and the jilted person is thinking of reasons to feel bitter about the departed. Everyone claiming their man is better than the other. It seems a bit sad in the immediate aftermath but 26 years after the event? Come on!

 

[Anonymous]

In the year 2014 an incredible thing happened in Great Britain. S Morrissey and J Marr both released brand new albums.
Both albums were preceded by brand new singles - Istanbul for Morrissey and Easy Money by Marr. Both were released to radio.
Would you believe that the radio stations of Great Britain actually decided they would rather play a song sung by the guitarist of the Smiths than by the singer of the Smiths?
This is what actually happened. Istanbul scraped the top 70 airplay chart, whereas Marr's Easy Money coasted into the top 30. Absolutely f***ing unbelievable.

For perspective and context, this would be like Morrissey teaching himself to become a guitar-playing songwriter, and for guitar/songwrriting websites/stations etc deciding that his guitar playing and songwriting was actually better than that of Johnny Marr's.

The implications are immense. People would rather hear Johnny Marr sing his own melodies than Morrissey.
If the Smiths had been a three piece (Marr, Rourke and Joyce), they would have enjoyed more commercial success (but probably not critical acclaim) without Morrissey than with him.

Unbelievable, folks, but true. All the nonsense that you hear about the significance of Morrissey's vocal melodies' is exactly that. Absolute bollocks. Clearly, a great lyricist (back then of course), and a lovely singing voice. But musically, he was completely and utterly superfluous to the success of his band.

Except for the vocal melodies, of course.

 

[Anonymous]

A lot of stuff on this site gets written about songwriting and musicianship and let's face it, much of it is utter bollocks. This all reads like someone who's girlfriend has run off with someone else and the jilted person is thinking of reasons to feel bitter about the departed. Everyone claiming their man is better than the other. It seems a bit sad in the immediate aftermath but 26 years after the event? Come on!

maybe thats a few but some here have displayed a knowledge of musicianship. two song writers together who go on to two separate solo careers it seems to beg and naturally invite comparison and analysis among fans. its part of the fun of being a popular music fan. i like and love them both but sometimes johnnys down to earthness can be a flaw in his song writing. id like something more in the clouds because his music can lift me there on occasion. morrissesys flaws are way more obvious but dont get in the way of the music imo so it works.

 

[Mr Education]

A lot of stuff on this site gets written about songwriting and musicianship and let's face it, much of it is utter bollocks. This all reads like someone who's girlfriend has run off with someone else and the jilted person is thinking of reasons to feel bitter about the departed. Everyone claiming their man is better than the other. It seems a bit sad in the immediate aftermath but 26 years after the event? Come on!

I find these discussions much more interesting than most here, and, having fed all the relevant information into a big 1970s computer with flashing lights and spooling tapes, can reveal that the artistic creativity in The Smiths was split thus: Morrissey 47.2%, Johnny Marr 47.2%, Andy Rourke 4.9%, Mike Joyce 0.7%

 

[Amy]

In the year 2014 an incredible thing happened in Great Britain. S Morrissey and J Marr both released brand new albums.
Both albums were preceded by brand new singles - Istanbul for Morrissey and Easy Money by Marr. Both were released to radio.
Would you believe that the radio stations of Great Britain actually decided they would rather play a song sung by the guitarist of the Smiths than by the singer of the Smiths?
This is what actually happened. Istanbul scraped the top 70 airplay chart, whereas Marr's Easy Money coasted into the top 30. Absolutely f***ing unbelievable.

For perspective and context, this would be like Morrissey teaching himself to become a guitar-playing songwriter, and for guitar/songwrriting websites/stations etc deciding that his guitar playing and songwriting was actually better than that of Johnny Marr's.

The implications are immense. People would rather hear Johnny Marr sing his own melodies than Morrissey.
If the Smiths had been a three piece (Marr, Rourke and Joyce), they would have enjoyed more commercial success (but probably not critical acclaim) without Morrissey than with him.
efor
Unbelievable, folks, but true. All the nonsense that you hear about the significance of Morrissey's vocal melodies' is exactly that. Absolute bollocks. Clearly, a great lyricist (back then of course), and a lovely singing voice. But musically, he was completely and utterly superfluous to the success of his band.

Apples and oranges comparison, surely?

Easy Money is repetitive, radio-friendly 80s pastiche. It sounds like 2000 other songs, it's easy on the ear and you can hear it without really having to listen to it. Marr also promoted the single with numerous interviews and a proper video, so of course it was going to chart somewhere. "Istanbul" is a piece of trippy, crooner-like storytelling. It's not immediately catchy and the subject matter is hardly typical no.1 fodder, is it? Surely after all these years, we've realised that the quality of a song is not reflected in how much airplay it gets.

 

[Anonymous]

Surely after all these years, we've realised that the quality of a song is not reflected in how much airplay it gets.

Well, that's an understandable view but only partly true. Radio stations ultimately need songs with brilliant melodies (and songs/artists whose image fits that of the station).
Of the 15 or so singles that Morrissey has released this century, only 2 continue to pick up decent airplay in the UK.
Would you believe, those songs came 1st and 2nd in our very own poll of his singles on this website? The Morrissey songs we love the most are the ones radio stations play the most.
There's a reason why stations still play FOTG but would never play That's How People Grow Up. One's brilliant, the other's a bit crap.
Good points about all the other stuff - apples and pears etc.
Marr's singing and lyrics are pretty bland but he's shown he doesn't need anyone else to write a catchy pop song - Morrissey needs songwriters and musicians.