Happy Anniversary: The Smiths, Rank

26 years ago today, The Smiths officially completed their contract with Rough Trade with the release of their only official live album, Rank.

Recorded on October 23, 1986 at the National Ballroom in Kilburn, London, Rank is really the only Smiths album which honestly could do with the “reissue, repackage, repackage” treatment, as it only features 14 of the 21 songs performed by the Smiths during their concert that evening. (MIA from the proceedings: “I Want the One I Can’t Have,” “There is a Light That Never Goes Out,” “Frankly, Mr. Shankly,” “Never Had No One Ever,” “Meat is Murder,” and “How Soon is Now?”) Still, even as it stands, it’s a strong show, spotlighting the band during the five-piece era, i.e. with Craig Gannon contributing rhythm guitar alongside Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. It’s also very likely the first time many youngsters had ever heard “His Latest Flame,” previously made famous by the one and only Elvis Presley, as it wasn’t exactly one of the King’s most prominent hits.

Rank proved to be a pretty big hit in the UK, making it all the way to #2, and it didn’t do too shabby in the States, either, hitting #77 on the Billboard Top 200. (Look, you have to consider that even their highest charting album, Strangeways, Here We Come, only hit #55.) Unfortunately, it’s as close as you kids today are likely to get to experiencing The Smiths in concert, as there would seem to be an insufficiently large number to get all four members of the band to reunite and play together again, so if you want an idea what it was like to see them in they heyday, give it a listen.