I did once hear him suggest, in reply to a listener's letter, that if you were starting on a Fall collection, the first LP you should buy should be Grotesque. Personally I think Slates, Grotesque, Hex Enduction Hour and A Part of America therein belong to the highest category of Fall records (and by extension of recorded music by homosapiens). There is nothing like them, not just by other bands but by the Fall themselves. Smith's dictatorial tendencies hadn't begun to work to the expense of the band's music, they hadn't begun their doomed to fail flirtation with more accessible music (am I wrong or were their two highest chart entries with cover versions (Ghost in my House+Victoria))? The lyrics contained the fantastic narrative drive he self-consciously abandoned afterwards. The alcohol and speed hadn't had the deleterious effects that were so evident in the 21st century. If I had to choose my favourite 30 British rock albums, it would certainly contain those 4, and I'd also think about Live at the Witch Trials, Dragnet and a couple of the singles compilations. For my own sanity I'm not considering Peel session CDs. They're not 'albums' as such', but I wouldn't try and pretend that they didn't contain a double albums worth of genius. No doubt I'm missing out something crucial, but my basic point remains. 80-82 Fall is *the* Fall, the plinth on which their genius rests.
Absolutely brilliant assessment, and not only because I agree with it wholeheartedly. Was hoping you'd make a Brix Smith remark but by calling out the era just before her arrival as the pinnacle of Falldom, you've avoided that sticky wicket.@@Spectrescup
I always thought he was singing “Exit this Roman shall”…as if HE was “the Roman”! And later on “I’ve been there, I’ve been there” for “I didnae, I didnae”! In fact, pre-internet, most Fall fans would’ve had their own personal translations for most of MES’ lyrics, and the vast majority of them would’ve been wrong! And even now that I know what the actual lyrics are, I STILL hear them as the ones I thought they were back in the 70’s/80’s!
In a world of complete shit and absurdity, Mark E Smith's weird world is the best and safest place to be. God always takes the best ones first....lets hope he is enjoying his Music Teachers and Welsh Cap Caravans.....a true Leg End!!!
