The Smiths

After signing a production deal with independent record label Rough Trade, the newly-formed indie rock band launched their self-titled debut album in early 1984.

Originally scheduled to be released in late 1983, the release was pushed back due to a change in production and a subsequent re-recording of the entire album. The band had originally selected former The Teardrop Explodes guitarist Troy Tate as the album’s producer, but after a series of talks between the head of the label and producer John Porter, the latter said that the original mix was unsalvageable and offered to re-record the entire album himself.

The album was released to favourable reviews, and was included in multiple lists as one of the greatest albums of the 80’s, most notably taking the #22 spot in Rolling Stone’s greatest albums list for that decade.