uncertain smile the the

[ianrussll]

Brilliant song, brilliant performance

[mobidium]

Saw them live in Melbourne in the late 80 or early 80's. Can't remember . Best piano solo in a rock song of all time

[treesloth9]

universal amp. 1994 great show great song

[ronaldvanderkleij]

I have now nearly 100 numbers in my fav. But I dont know what had to be one . THIS

[bagariddum]

they drowned out the keyboard guy, and he was rocking as well as jools did. not happy.

[1122shelli]

77 T-Bird, windows down, 75mph, full blast, can't touch me! My heart remembers.

[hennaG2]

@1122shelli :-) :-) :-) <3 :-) :-) :-)

[maryqtorres]

I've been dancing to this song since it came out both on the dance floor & in my kitchen now with my kids! It's a total awesome song & brings back floods of memories dancing till 2 & 3a.m. with my brother & friends at 950 back in the 80' & 90's.... Still dancing after all these years!!!!!

[fractaljack]

Matt also was responsible for some of the most stunningly beautiful remixes and extended mixes of his classics - this song in particular was one of the best. He could weave the vibes, piano, flute, the kitchen sink and rhythms into an intoxicating mix that you never wanted to end!

When his remixes came on in the club, the dance floor was immediately packed. Ahh, those were some good times...

[madmic1967]

@fractaljack Right on brother. Lived with this guy since I was 14 and he's had a massive impact on my musical taste. Holds the record with three shelved LP. The guy's a genius by any definition and I wish he'd get his finger out and some new material released.

[fiouk]

The best song of the 80s.

[rewmer]

This is the track that introduced me to the other side of the music world. I have to echo UKgb26 comments, legendry track.

[pplpilot]

MJ is a Lyrical fucking genius. 

[cheekietoo]

@pplpilot a poet pplpilot....that is what matt is.....always been drawn to his lyrics, and the music is a delightful accompaniment.

[gbmargie]

thank you for posting...i haven't heard this song for a long time and finally found it here!!!!

[weg1967]

great great band. Very fond memories of the 1980s...

[nci3music]

This is where I HATE the S**T out of Germany because their crappy You Tune won't allow me to play original Tracks from Sony Music!

[marseyboldon]

@nci3music Try going to hidemyassdotcom and entering the web address in there - it should work

[13hellbilly69]

After Marr left The Smiths in August 1987, he was very briefly an official member of The Pretenders. In late 1987, he toured with the band and appeared on the single "Windows of the World" b/w "1969". He then left The Pretenders, and recorded and toured with The The from 1988 through 1994,

[teddyballgame406]

it's obviously Johnny.

[juanmowtie]

Johnny Marr was with The The for Dusk and Mind Bomb. 

[mkerepesi1]

awesome lyrics..Matt Johnson is a genius. So underrated.

[kjah187]

i was born to this tune, my mother makes me proud

[jupiterb2]

I defy you to watch this and not nod.....

[MZZRED2U]

Love this song!! I feel a dream sequence coming on....flashing back in time!!

[katealex6]

an absolute classic

[hst442]

Johnny Marr is playing the Strat. Who's the bass player?

[Zoloft321]

amazing the piano.

[rcrundwell]

Heard this on the way to work today. Just had to look up some videos. Such a great song.

[caporalet]

beati quelli che se li hanno visti dal vivo!!!

[porcupine34]

one of my all time favourites.

[wiifelix]

i want ore matt johnson

[twattybollock]

Indeed.

Great tune.

[HALLAMA]

This is where I was first introduced to Jools Holland.

Were The The all Session musicians?

[AccyRed]

I would say all of them

The ONLY true Thethe member is Matt,he is Thethe,hope that helps btw :)

regards

Tony

[sabaqat]

johnny marr, guitarist of the smiths, briefly joined the pretenders in 87, then joined the the and was with them from 88 thru 94... considered a "wizard" and called a genius by many... was almost a professional soccer/football player but not invited to join team because wore eyeliner... now married with kids, vegan. fwiw, according to wikipedia.

[djjoshezelle]

matt johnson is the don a la jah wobble... lost in music

[Vathanak]

Oh Shit that is Johnny Marr on the Guitar..lol. I love it. Anyone knows if johnny is playing the actual album version..?

[mdwagner721]

@Vathanak if you're asking if Johnny Marr played for Soul Mining, the answer is no. He started playing for them on Mind Bomb.

[Geo61572]

Lindos, son lindos!.... todos los integrantes y en especial el vocalista con esa voz tan sensual, mmmmmmm...

[scidriver]

Mr. Johnny Marr on guitar

[shortofalength]

Crikey is this the greatest keyboard solo of all time!!!!

[kakadukate]

absolutely

[mavrick45]

@shortofalength

I disagree. It sounds pretty pretentious in my opinion.

Also, John Paul Jones and Billy Preston agree with me.

[gazspedding]

@mavrick45 just listen to infected album...it is the best album of the 80s and the lyrics are a masterclass in songwriting

[adammacer]

@shortofalength

Yes.

[norrisonthespot]

@shortofalength Perhaps potentially but only when Jools plays it :)

[cheezfri]

@shortofalength This is an excellent one but my favorite will always be the original Jools Holland version!

[cheezfri]

@shortofalength Here's a great Jools version but still not the original: (It won't let me post the whole URL here but here's the last bit:) watch?v=xR2ImlS3v3c

[grafx1000]

Saw them in concert back in the the day, love the long version to this song

[gullygully69]

agree grafx. The 12" versions of the Soul Mining tracks were brilliant

[elo15e]

Wow! Absolutley brilliant!

[Wrackewn]

i love the the, the best music for love...

but this sounds like a wesley willis song.. all of them.

[berlyasa]

Brillant!

[Danymailand]

Fantastic song! Thanks!!

[BlueMeanieSulk]

Bees Knees :)

[cambr02]

Just on of Mr Johnson's great compositions. I moved to Long Island, NY from Aus in 2000 and found a Matt Johnson Wednesday night gig advertised one night in ~2001 or 2002 - I'm there. But, alas, I ended up being overcome by the corporate bast that I absolutely opposed and missed seeing this show. Will remain with me until I get the altzeimers...... Matty Johnson, thanks!!! Who plays the piano solo in this clip by the way??? / /the the v the world!

[doncool001]

I was a student in the late 80's and early nineties. I loved The The and Soul Mining in particular. Why the hell I didn't go and see them live then will always be a mystery to me. What a tool I was.

[autopilot4]

Just to rub it in... They were brilliant live

[shortofalength]

Gee i love this song. Why can't this guy keep turning out gret songs!!! C'Mon Matt clear your head and go!!!

[L12TCY]

The original piano solo was by Jools Holland. Saw them a couple of times - Newcastle and Glastonbury spread over a few years. Matt Johnson - very underated.

[SLPRLS2V]

exactly

[seasidersussexboy]

just the best songwriter of the eighties never got the recognition he deserved

[kardovakaterina]

I have only recently been intorduced to this music by my partner who´s been listening to then since he was 15. They are absolutely amazing..very talented, great mind! love the piano solo. The British know how to make music! :)

[sawmillfan2803]

Gotta love that keyboard solo. Thanks so much for posting this!

[ndesa]

SIMMONS

[beatpunk9]

Mentelle, you are so incredibly right. That original version was light years better than this, though I still like this. I'm looking for that original version.

[mentelle48]

Nonsense. The original version of Uncertain Smile with the flute parts was far superior. Jools Holland's solo was pub piano wank...

[adammacer]

@mentelle48

Agreed - the original is by far my favourite of the two (particularly cos of the "waah, waah, waah" 'kazoo' intro to verse) but I still love the album version.. Would love to find a version of the original on 7" cos the 12 gets a bit messy, unpolished and drawn out by 2/3 thru..

[trilobitemusic]

very nice  song... the keybords solois amazing loves this tune.

[TheFlannelShirts]

3:37-on is just pure heaven.

Best piano solo, ever.

[giromad]

Yo tengo 45 años y esta fue la cancion que me introdujo al New Wave, excelentes los años 80

[johnlemesurier]

JOHNNY MARR JOHHNY MARR....!!!

[rylo64]

On a tough musical night for many--I wasn't sure that was Johnny, but I was pretty sure. I caught their tour in '91 in Georgetown. It was perfect. Thanks for recognizing Johnny for me.

[ukgb26]

I have loved this since I first heard it, I can't tell you what this piece of music means to me, I'm 46 this year! The Jules Holland Piano was fab on the original, but this track has been with me since I was a teenager, along with the undertones, this is going to my desert island with me...I might even be buried with it!!!

[DJSaturnia]

Yes, this song means my soul to me as well.

[gribblen]

I am there with you on this one, a song I have always loved even though I never knew anyone that got this, a song for the soul

[musicman2354]

Ditto from a 43 year old. My three kids 11, 9 and 6 love it as well. It has a broody, self indulgent tone to the lyrics but the riffing on the piano gives it an uplifting and joyous feel that makes it infectious not found in similar 80s english new wave ala Cure or Smiths.

[Keyyyyzzzz]

@ukgb26 I so totally agree... and I am turning 51 this year! Uncertain Smile, This is the Day and Heartland are (a few) Johnson tunes, that since first hearing have had the power to completely transport me... they are sublime experiences... :-)

[Asuplex]

@ukgb26

The Jools Holland piano is not on the original. The original single has a sax solo. You could even say The The's second single - 'cold spell ahead' - is the original as it is the same up until the end of the first verse.

[redfishradical]

@ukgb26 Hey I'm about your age and feel the exact same way man. I remember the 1st time I heard it & while I'm a big fan anyway, this song is one of those watershed tunes for me like the first time I heard Floyd or Eric Johnson, larry Carlton or Talk Talk. Fantastic musicianship, great tunesmiths who could create fresh melodies which were somehow moody while moody at the same time. Bums me out all we got for "keyboardists" now is-retch-lady gagme etc. Keep the faith in real artists Brother!

[redfishradical]

@redfishradical ...uhhhh...should've said moody yet MOVING at the same time! Damn that insomnia dealio! ;-)

[murraydeschot]

feed I DID mean!

[murraydeschot]

Is it just my fecking retarded garbage piece of sheet laptop or is the audio and video feet out of sink?

[nevinaball]

Simply awesome! What year was this taped?

[ernestoche4ever]

mark me too more than 1000 times.and it's wonderful

[mark140262]

Matt Johnson is a genius. I must have listened to this track more than a 1000 times. All of his tracks on all albums are bloody masterpieces.

[Sunflower0122Z]

Is Johnny Marr playing guitar in this band?

[satochi159357]

no..

[grosbeak20k]

it is Johnny Marr. He played with TheThe for the recordings, Mind Bomb and Dusk.

[LuluDBelle]

@satochi159357

Did Johnny Marr play on the original album, "Soul Mining"? No. And he is not currently playing with Matt Johnson.

Marr is, however, playing guitar in the clip posted.

[morvelification]

@satochi159357

that is johnny marr.

[tim6578]

Yes J Marr did play with them

[Alisa07l]

@satochi159357 Yes, it fucking is Johnny Marr.

[danjsy]

@satochi159357 Yes

[fleaby]

Yes, it is he toured with Matt on this.

[badgerboy555]

I saw Johnny with them at Aston Villa in '89 I think. Awesome, one of best gigs I ever saw, no support, they just came on and did their thing and it was brilliant!

[beelzebubscousin]

I was there as well mate absolutely great! Took 4 friends never heard of The THE after the gig all were converts to the Church of St Matt Of The Johnson

[randgestaltung]

@Sunflower0122Z He is - for Mind Bomb

[00kunze]

@Sunflower0122Z he played on one album of the the guitar. the one with a knifed dove on the cover, cant remember the name

[chrishouchins49]

@Sunflower0122Z Well in this video that certainly looks a bit like Marr but since I don't know the date of the video I can't say for sure.... I think Marr was brought in '87 so if this show was done in '87 or later it could be him.

[Reint25]

@Sunflower0122Z Yes! It's him at 1:34 for example.

[VoidyNumbness]

@Sunflower0122Z Yes. I was at this gig at The Albert Hall and he was playing. He's there to see in the vid.

[tonepoetry]

@Sunflower0122Z Yes he is playing the guitar

[TheGodfathersInc]

@Sunflower0122Z Yes.

[arboppo]

@Sunflower0122Z Yes - that is Johnny Marr, after The Smiths had broken up. He joined the lineup and toured with the band. If you look at the back catalogue of The The, Matt Johnson surrounded himself with different top musicians all of the time. He did almost all of the writing and I remember reading somewhere that he could play most of the instruments himself. I saw them play with Johnny Marr, and he was brilliant - as was the rest of the band. One of the best gigs I've ever seen.

[Hms08735]

@arboppo in the studio he does play all the tracks.....

[arboppo]

@Hms08735 that's interesting - I'd understood that he did demos, and then got the others in to lay down the final tracks. Looking at the linder notes on the albums, the other guys do get credits. There's also the "Collaborators_and_contributor­s" listing on Wikipedia .

[smbaer424]

That piano player is mind blowing on this tune, it makes the song...long live The The

[Targus19]

I'm sure that it's Jools Holland doing the piano solo. Well it is on the the album anyway. Mr really quick fingers!!!

[murraydeschot]

A truly superb song of the '80's - and the best from the Soul Mining album! That bassline is just underpinning this great live rendition to a tee.

[shishiflea]

i agree, the bass and vocals drive that great song!

[groggyjoe]

listening to this on old LP lastnight :)

sounds better on my turntable i reckon haha

[martmako]

romatt, 12' of this is fantastic, memories of the vines in sadler gate, derby come flooding back, great times..

[R0mmatt]

I have all of the The the 12" singles on vinyl. MJ is amazing!

[pintofer]

I know "The The" since the beggining of 80's. It is a good band yet.

Keep on.

[yoonicoo]

Fantastische song, brengt veel herinneringen boven. Goede tekst.

[battj1]

Only just discovered this tune today. Now, I like piano riffs but this is something else, league of its own!!

Absolutely unbelievable!

[BIKERJAKE74]

Anyone know which song had the lyrics "it's funny how we cling to the past, as much as we cling to the present?

[sweetsecretpeace]

"Jealous of Youth" is the song, although the lyric is:-

"It's funny how as we grow old

we cling to the past, as we cling to the air"

available on the album 'Solitude' or the 'Shades of Blue' EP.

[BIKERJAKE74]

Thank you, thank you , thank you!

[witchgreeneyes]

Probably my most FAVOURITE song ever-thanks to that brilliant piano solo that sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it! :)

[tailendcharlie]

great tune ,come back the the

[korikong3]

The piano part is always one of the major substance of this terrific song.

[joanielovesjazz]

For over 20 years I just can't get enough of the piano solo that starts at 3:38 in this song!

[Hackney600]

the piano soloist on the original was Jools Holland

[kinmanyuen]

What a great song!

[chechiARG]

I love it!!

Awesome song!

;)

[breathingbook]

I love the keyboard solo. Freakin' breathtaking. Anyone know who that is?

[ssparis89]

One of the best pop songs ever written. Period. Matt Johnson is on genius level.

[chechiARG]

Hermosa canción!

[SamHusseini]

yea, i remember WLIR.

[minutegongcoughs]

Anyone remember Matt on The Oxford Roadshow. He cam on and announced "Ban The Bomb" - halcyon days indeed.

[musicvideochoices]

Ok, this song is my all time favorite song from the '80s. It's was an obscure song in the USA but it was so original and I never got old of it - even 25 years later, I play this more than any other. BTW, liked the original not the The The singer who sung this (although he does well on other The The song, e.g., The Dogs of Lust).

[DebKahn]

I used to wait for this song to come on the radio (WLIR)! I still love it!

[Poppinpaulieb]

I was there at the Albert Hall! Brill!

[merviar]

80 forever, and this the best of them.

[SyndiCat1]

"a broken soul stares from a pair of watering eyes...uncertain emotions force an uncertain smile"

Does it get more delicious?! nectar!

[hollya1112]

Beautiful song. Everything about it. Did not know about Jools playing piano, but the style is definitely his. Jools is amazing!

[Bandhavgarh31]

This is great vhs concert tape TheThe VS The World.  Wish it was available on DVD. Johny Marr at his best. Best track on this tape Jealous Of Youth Thanks for posting_

[andrew1212w]

Yes its a great song i used to dance to this at the Leeds Warehouse nightclub in the eighties....

[clivetemple]

A shiver just went down my back... raise a glass to youtube and to Satochi, thanks, utterly awsome tune.

[Fernsprecher]

amazing song still... what is Zeke Manika doing today?

[NYFMA]

Yep, it's a pretty great song. Elegantly simple structure beautifully woven out into something more complex. Glad to see it's still appreciated and getting enjoyed by folks.

[atriumdextrum]

..a broken soul stares from a pair of watering eyes, uncertain emotions force an uncertain smile...the best lyric ever..

[merviar]

total agree.

[serenitypeacelove]

uncertain emotions , force an uncertain smile . 'Soul Mining' fabulous album.

[cheeop]

I love this song, and suggested it to my keyboard player for our band to play. Hopefully we'll have our own version to post soon - though it won't be anywhere near this good, of course!

[firehorsecancer]

one of those days....days when we had a SPIN...

[leadedhypercurve]

The originally recorded piano solo was actually played by Jools Holland ... used to find this the boring bit of teh song but it has grown on me and is of course a great piece.

[frostycoldlarger]

just love the piano solo.....just wish i could play it!!

[jagandme]

: ) Don't just wish, do it. You only live once, and you don't want to be lying on your death bed saying, I would've, I could've, I should've, there will be nothing more satisfying than achieving a dream. I'm 47 soon and learning to play guitar, after listeing to music all my life, now I can contribute to my own enjoyment. Health, Prosperity and Happiness.........

[bmr21091970]

Right, me to!!!

My highest aim in this life conc. playing the piano!!!

[philbx1]

Ohh, I thought I'd missed the great piano solo. Luckily I stayed watching. Strangely this piano piece brings visions of frosty and windy conditions in the alps. Dunno why, but I think it's one of the better piano solos around. Possibly another favourite one is from the Fun Boy 3 'The more that I see...'

[Pokerbully]

Piano solo on the album is Jools Holland, not a guy you'd usually associate with a cool band like The The in the early 80s.

[jmargw]

cool for cats?!

[satochi159357]

right

[Limbiclesion]

Fabulous song one of my all time favourites thanks Mat

Limbic

[leadedhypercurve]

Gosh this takes me back to 1989 - one of my favourite songs ever!

I used to play this record over and over, a soundtrack for the time, that is what is for me.

[toiletduck23]

Apparently they are making a movie about Matt Johnson/The The et al & "Ashley" from "Coronation St" is going to play Matt Johnson.

[IamaKinsey06]

Great song from one of the greatest bands ever. What a shame the kids of today didn't grow up with the music we did when we (or at least 'I') came of age in the 80s.

If anyone knows anything about this movie about Matt please let me know. I'd like to know what he tuned into back then that made him such a prophet of today's world.

[uncertainsmile93]

I'm only fourteen, I discovered The The when I was younger and have loved them ever since. Though I do prefer the 9" version with Jools holland (the one used in the album).

[Asuplex]

Nine inch version?

I have the seven inch and the twelve inch but . . . .

[Atoyota]

surprised to see this on youtube... I have the 45 lp vinyl of this... and cherish it :)

[PERITONITIS2]

Yep! One of the best songs ever and what a line up. Still can't play like J Marr ho hum!

Keyboards brill and as good as Julian H

[leadedhypercurve]

Jonny Marr didn't join the band until much later. The first chart hitting track he played guiatr on was the Beat(en) Generation...

[MrBField]

Jonny Marr he plays guitar.

xxxxing cool track, and a great line up for the tour (and album).

La La , happy days.

[colifecape]

Excellent live version, loved it. little different from Jools.

[waahooo2]

Soul mining could possibly be the perfect Album yes album and this is the day is great also.

[graeme1957]

This song is good but I think their best song is Perfect

[BIKERJAKE74]

I just think this is one of the best songs ever written

[tlm315]

i read or heard awhile back that matt johnson wrote this song when he was 10 or 12 i dont know i dont care but i wouldnt doubt it great live version of this song thanks for posting

[Leetje69]

Back in high school, all over again!! Sweet memories....

[lwalsh1965]

Matt Johnson, what a writer, his stuff is timeless!