The Pablo Cuckoo Tape

Echoes of the Smiths early days in Manchester

In May 1983, just after signing with Rough Trade Records and the subsequent release of their first single ('Hand In Glove’), the Smiths recorded a selection of songs that they wanted to include on their anticipated debut studio (which was not actually green-lighted by Rough Trade until that summer). This rather primitive recording - on a cassette with a single stereo microphone - took place at a rehearsal room above manager Joe Moss' Crazy Face retail shop in Stockport, Greater Manchester¹.

Undated photo of Smiths’ manager Joe Moss’ Crazy Face shop at 7 Tiviot Dale. The 2nd floor window beckons the viewer with the Smiths’ musical history contained within.

The tape, little more than 39 minutes in length, encompassed nine songs including some of the earliest tracks written by Morrissey and Marr the prior year:

-You’ve Got Everything Now
-Accept Yourself
-What Difference Does It Make?
-Reel Around The Fountain
-These Things Take Time
-I Don't Owe You Anything
-Hand In Glove
-Handsome Devil
-Miserable Lie

Troy Tate, whom Morrissey describes in Autobiography as being “…appointed producer by Rough Trade.”[with respect to working with the Smiths on their debut album], was provided with the tape so he would have a sample of the songs he would be working on in advance of going into the studio.