I think Paul Morley did a tremendous job. Interesting that the non-performing songwriters (the Adam Faith fellow and chap from Kylie/Mud) have both aged very well indeed. Obviously not had to do much work these years other than bank the royalty cheques.

you really never got the Smiths?

As a teenager I belonged to that particularly unhealthy 'Rocker' tribe, and was therefore unable to admit that the hairs on my arms stood up every time I heard 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One' or 'Hand In Glove'.

I missed the whole 'greatest thing since the last greatest thing' and the impact they had on the UK music scene, but for me their ability to mix humour, melody and melancholy and dress it up in 3 minute pop songs remains undimmed. Another band who give reign to the hypothesis that a short, sharp career of consistent quality is the way to go.

Morrissey solo I can take or leave; he continues almost unconsciously to become a parody of the man he was when he actually had something to say. Obviously Word think otherwise, as they grant him his third cover. Has he said something controversial recently?

But yet Riccardo, you've nigh on made a career of being miserable now ever since! (ducks and runs away).

I must say that while I think Johnny Marr's jingle jangling is wonderful I never really got the Smiths either - mostly through Mossa's contribution I guess.

As the great Mitch Benn would have it...

'I think it must have been when I was fourteen
I had turned on my radio when
A peculiar voice sang with Mancunian twang
About how he was miserable then
I sat through the song as he droned on and on
Like some pale intellectual outlaw
And when he was done I thought "That wasn't much fun
That feller wants to get out more"
And even now my friends are all amazed
When I tell them that I never went through a Smiths phase

I was just the right age at just the right stage
Just one city along to the west
Though I could tell Johnny Marr sure could play that guitar
I was never that deeply impressed
My more sensitive friends thought I was round the bend
And started looking at me down their noses
As they sat in the dark I thought "Sod that for a lark"
Went home and cranked up Guns N' Roses
And people are still startled nowadays
When I tell them that I never went through a Smiths phase
They're the same ones who gaze at me in fear and dread
When I say I can't be arsed with Radiohead'

Watched the programme too and was quite suprised to find Paul Morley an unusually sympathetic presenter for once. I find normally that his pseudery makes me foam at the mouth. The only time the bullshit red flag was raised was when the line-by-line deconstruction of 'This Charming Man' was about 5 minutes in. Even then though he rather neatly sent himself up by asking Mike Joyce what he thought, for the reply to come back, "I just thought it was a great riff!". I'd like to think he knew that comment was coming.

As for 'getting' the Smiths, I just couldn't handle them at all until a year or two ago when I realised that a relative of mine was their roadie/road manager in the very early years (Ollie May, Smithiphiles). He highlighted to me the that another listen to catch Johnny Marr's beautiful guitar would be a good idea. I did and was converted, to the extent that I think this clip is the best thing I've found on 'You Tube' by some distance, the crappy quality adding to the feel...

he wrote some great lyrics, not all of which were about staying home on your own and wanting to die, though many were, but then that seemed somehow refreshing and brave at the time - set against what else was going on musically, and especially for an act that had top twenty hits and went on TOTP. There's also a lot of humour and wit in there. Try these - 'oh why do I give valuable time to people who I'd much rather kick in the eye' or 'writing frightening verse to a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg'. I can't think of many better lyricists in fact. Memorable, true to himself, nothing 'intellectual'. Solo not as great no doubt, but there are moments. The singing not for everyone but I thought the yodelling was endearing. You can keep your Guns'n'Roses thanks.

this is heading off into a "you really ought to like Morrissey/Smiths" direction...I'm not saying they are rubbish or anything, mearly pointing out the weirdness that at a time in life when like most other spotty teenagers, I should have been a massive fan I was acting like my dear old dad, though as someone at work said today "you were born 40 years old"

oh and as for you Trevor...I shall get you at playtime.

(sorry about that)