Influences
Commencing with "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side", the album represents a clear change in direction for Morrissey from indie pop to a more muscular rock sound; with some elements of rockabilly. It also contains a glam rock influence, due to the involvement of ex-David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. Songs such as "Certain People I Know", "Glamorous Glue" and "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday", which are respectively influenced by T. Rex, and David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" period songs (e.g. "The Jean Genie" and the last by "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"). David Bowie later covered the track "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" on his 1993 album "Black Tie White Noise".