"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" | ||||
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Single by The Smiths | ||||
Released | 23 May 1995 | |||
Recorded | 1985–1987 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, punk rock | |||
Length | 3:35 10:26 (total duration) | |||
Label | Sire | |||
Songwriter(s) | Johnny Marr, Morrissey | |||
Producer(s) | John Porter | |||
The Smiths singles chronology | ||||
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"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Recorded in 1986, it was released as a single in May 1995 by Sire Records to promote the compilation album Singles.
Background
[edit]Whereas WEA in Europe opted to re-issue the 1986 single "Ask" to promote Singles, Sire in America thought it wiser to put out a single containing rarities, even though none of them featured on the actual compilation, as neither "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" itself nor its supporting tracks had been previously released as a single. The title track had previously been recorded for the BBC and included on Louder Than Bombs and the 12" of "Sheila Take a Bow"; "I Keep Mine Hidden", "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" and "What's the World?" were previously hard-to-find B-sides to earlier singles "Girlfriend in a Coma" and "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (both 1987).
Lyric
[edit]The lyric describes the lenient sentencing of a hooligan, with the narrator sarcastically taking the side of the criminal, saying "and he'll never ever do it again / of course he won't / not until the next time".
Track listing
[edit]- "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" (Morrissey, Johnny Marr) – 3:35
- "I Keep Mine Hidden" (Morrissey, Marr) – 1:59
- "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" (Guy Woolfenden, Don Black) – 2:47
- "What's the World?" (live) (Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Paul Gilbertson, Gavan Whelan) – 2:06
Artwork
[edit]The single cover features a still of boxer Cornelius Carr from the music video for Morrissey's single "Boxers", as directed by James O'Brien in 1995.
Reviews
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jack Rabid of Allmusic described this song as "one of their great punk-inspired moments (along with "London") and as usual, should have been the A-side anyway."[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Rabid, Jack. "Sweet and Tender Hooligan Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012.