Sandie Shaw and the Smiths
Sandie Shaw MBE (born 1947) is a retired English pop singer. She was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s, Although Shaw sporadically performed and occasionally released records through the 1970's and early 1980's, her career had declined considerably since its 1960's heyday - at one point in the mid-70's Shaw left the music business and took a job at central London restaurant as a waitress.
In late 1983 a new phase in her career began after she received a letter out of the blue from "two incurable Sandie Shaw fans" – singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr of the Smiths – telling her that "The Sandie Shaw legend cannot be over yet – there is more to be done." Shaw's husband was a friend of Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records, the label to which the Smiths were signed, and she agreed to record some of their songs.
In April 1984, Sandie Shaw's version of the Smiths first single, 'Hand in Glove', was released, peaking on the UK Singles Chart just inside the top 30 (reaching number 27). 'I Don't Owe You Anything' appeared on the B-side of Shaw's single. Shaw recorded these two Smiths covers with Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.
The cover art of the Shaw single features a still of actress Rita Tushingham from the 1961 film A Taste of Honey, which was an adaptation of the play of the same name written by Shelagh Delaney. Delaney herself appeared on the covers of the single 'Girlfriend In a Coma' and the compilation album Louder Than Bombs.
In the month prior to the single's release, Sandie Shaw twice joined The Smiths on their March 1984 UK tour, singing lead vocal on ‘I Don’t Owe You Anything’ in London (March 12th) and Manchester (March 13th). You can listen to Shaw singing 'I Don't Owe You Anything' at The Smiths London concert here beginning at 39:05:
See Sandie Shaw and the Smiths (sans Morrissey) perform 'Hand In Glove' on Top of the Pops:
You can hear Shaw's studio cover of 'I Don't Owe You Anything' here:
Unfortunately, Morrissey's friendship with Shaw faltered. In 'Autobiography', Morrissey writes that he was delighted when Sandie Shaw agreed to sing 'Hand in Glove', but grew disenchanted with her as a result of subsequent events: "Ugh," was Morrissey's reaction when Shaw told him "Twenty-seven in the charts might be great for you, but it's not good enough for me." Morrissey apparently saw Shaw's failure to treat the band "to dinner, or even a bottle of stale ale" as rising to the level of ingratitude as the Smiths had agreed to (only take) a 40% cut from Shaw's recording of their debut single (a song that effectively rebooted her career as a singer). Indeed, Morrissey's disdain shows itself when he talks about refusing to answer the door to Shaw when she visited his residence, which led to her sidling along a ledge outside his flat to talk to him through a window.
For her part, Shaw has expressed bewilderment on the dissolution of her friendship with Morrissey:
Metro News: "Are you still pals with Morrissey?"
Sandie Shaw: "Is anyone? I don’t know what goes on in the man’s mind nowadays. Although I didn’t when I worked with him."
May 1, 2013
Notwithstanding the brevity of their professional collaboration, Shaw capitalized upon her association with the Smiths, releasing music that referenced both Morrissey and Marr.
The provocatively titled 'Steven (You Don't Eat Meat)' was the B-side of Shaw’s 1986 'Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?' single. This song was included on the deluxe edition of Sandie Shaw's 1988 album Hello Angel, which was her 7th and final studio album. Incidentally, the album's title was inspired by a postcard Shaw had received from Morrissey. You can listen to the album version of the song here:
'Steven (You Don't Eat Meat)' seemingly taunts and teases Morrissey ("Are you still ill?" and "You don't eat meat but you eat your heart out, Steven"). Yet taken as a whole, the lyrics suggest that the song is in actuality something of a paean to Shaw's mercurial friend.
Shaw later remarked on getting to know Morrissey, “I thought, what a weirdo. But luckily, I actually met him, and then I knew he was. No, seriously, I fell in love with him.” Early on in their friendship, Morrissey said of Shaw, “I think she thought I was this strange and perverse figure [...] but it seemed that we just immediately hit it off in a really positive way, and the whole experience has been really quite joyful.”
Sandie Shaw's song, 'Go Johnny Go', is the B-side of her 1986 single 'Frederick'. The song is also included on the deluxe version of Shaw's Hello Angel studio album. The 'Johnny' referenced in the song is no other than Johnny Marr himself. Shaw’s admiration for Marr, albeit strained, was still largely intact given this cheeky tribute to him where she playfully chides Johnny for avoiding her overtures to speak. Marr's thoughts on the song, if any, are not known.
Listen to the song here:
If I was a Stratocaster
Shiny and new
You'd pick me up
And you'd put the call through
You'd talk to me madly like a man obsessed
Give me words on the carpet wearing only your vest
You're full of excuses
Oh, you're aching with anguish
I've pledged you my children
Just returning your last wish
You're always engaged
Or you're not taking calls
Or you're stuck in the bathtub
Or you're doing all your chores.
Ring ring ring ring
Pick up the phone
Ring ring ring ring
I know you're at home
Ring ring ring ring
I know where you are
So go Johnny go go Johnny
Johnny guitar
I got the message
Oh you don't seem to care
I know you don't answer
I just know that you're there
You say your washing your hair
Or you're taking a shower
you've popped down to Woolworths
Be back in an hour
Your working with Mary
You're taking some aspirin
You're top of the pops
Or you're not in
Ring ring ring ring
Pick up the phone
Ring ring ring ring
I know you're at home
Ring ring ring ring
I know where you are
So go Johnny go go Johnny
Johnny guitar
If I was a Stratocaster
Shiny and new
You'd pick me up
And you'd put the call through
You'd talk to me madly like a man obsessed
Give me words on the carpet when only half dressed
Ring ring ring ring
Pick up the phone
Ring ring ring ring
I know you're at home
Ring ring ring ring
I know where you are
So go Johnny go go Johnny
Johnny guitar
Ring ring ring ring
Pick up the phone
Ring ring ring ring
I know you're at home
Ring ring ring ring
You're lost in your bed
I'll smash your Rickenbacker
Right over your sweet head