Mark Simpson on "This Charming Man" a capella (July 1, 2024)

This Disarming Man

Morrissey's Smiths Solo

marksimpson.substack.com

Excerpt:

When ageing Smiths fans like me sing along to ‘This Charming Man’, The Smiths' second, breakthrough 1983 single - and the song that ruined our lives - we fondly imagine ourselves achieving some kind of crude approximation of his famous vocals, after all these years of study and devotion. Trying to live up to the lyrical command of that soliciting single.

But as this stunning, eerie, isolated - desolate, even - vocal track from the single recording, stripped back of all the bright, jangly cheeriness, proves, none of us, or his professional imitators, came even slightly close. Ever.

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Related thread:

• This Charming Man a cappella

 

[Anonymous]

A nicely observed article. I've always felt this way about Morrissey's singing.

 

[All the things you love]

I like the sound of the reverb effect too.

 

[William Fisher]

Spelt Steven wrong. Whoops.

 

[Orange Crush]

Spelt Steven wrong. Whoops.

If he was spelling Steven, i guess he spelt it correctly

 

[Juan Dulces]

That's a great track ---- especially the version on Hatful (sorry, just had to say it)

And the cover art for the single was BEAUTIFUL. I remember discovering that at 15 and was just so impressed with the band's art direction and image.

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

There seems to be a common thread in his writings…

 

[William Fisher]

If he was spelling Steven, i guess he spelt it correctly

But he wrote “Stephen”…

 

[gordyboy9]

at least mr simpson never finished his article with a BUT,most articles these days do.

 

[Les Tameside]

Simpson’s book (Saint Morrissey) is to my mind, the best Morrissey/Smiths read.

 

[goinghome]

An effervescent paean to the visceral mesmerism of Morrissey's voice

 

[Who Rattled Your Cage]

Simpson’s book (Saint Morrissey) is to my mind, the best Morrissey/Smiths read.

Agree 100%. Amazing book.

 

[Who Rattled Your Cage]

There seems to be a common thread in his writings…View attachment 106506

Are you trying to tell me a famously gay writer is...gay? Why, thank you. Always wondered about his subject matter.

 

[Seymour Glass]

That's a great track ---- especially the version on Hatful (sorry, just had to say it)

And the cover art for the single was BEAUTIFUL. I remember discovering that at 15 and was just so impressed with the band's art direction and image.

Love the guitar intro in the hatful of hollow version!